Napping

I love a napping baby!

Nap Time

A friend, whose daughter is in M's class at school, popped in at nap time today - she emailed me this picture of my little guy cozy on his cot. They just transitioned from cribs to cots a couple of weeks ago and I still didn't quite believe they really slept on them (I had visions of M walking from cot to cot, dragging his blankie, trying to beep the other kids noses...) But clearly I was wrong! The picture made me want to leave work and drive over for a kiss - so sweet!

Second Haircut

Today M and his Mama went to a child-friendly salon at one of our local malls for his second haircut. His first haircut was in early November, but I only took video and I've been too lazy to edit (sorry Mom!) Last time I asked the stylist to leave his curls, so it grew back pretty quickly, hence the second haircut in less than a month...

It was starting to get pretty fluffy by Thanksgiving. (A very tired little M - sitting on his keyboard - after a morning of playing with Uncle M.)

He was such a sweet, mellow little guy and didn't make a bit of fuss. Perhaps because he got to sit in the chair shaped like a tractor (which also happens to be his latest word!) and watch Thomas.

He wasn't much of a fan of the clippers...



After the haircut, we played on one of those coin operated kiddy rides.

He loved it before I turned it on, but I think the motion freaked him out a bit. Now I know I can save $.50 and still have a happy kiddo!

His haircut really makes him look like a little boy. It's a little disconcerting. He was very ready for a nap when we got home, and he slept so long I had to wake him up. He was such a grumpapotamous (and wearing grumpypants) when he woke up. All he wanted to do was cuddle up and rock with me. It was so cozy - a nice reminder that he's still very much my baby.

Another milestone passed. It's a little strange, but also wonderful, to think that soon I will have lost track of the number of haircuts. So many firsts (and seconds...) It's so much fun watching this little boy grow up!

School Picture

M's first school picture. My little easygoing explorer refused to be put down on picture day, so he had his taken in one of his teacher's arms. He looks very concerned in most of the shots. This is the happiest one, and it still makes me want to give him a cuddle!

Speaking of cuddles, I love that M is such a snuggly guy. He used to not stay still long enough to cuddle, but now he'll interrupt playtime for a hug!Tonight I got the best snuggle before dinner.

And finally, we have a standard bath/bed routine. We have dinner, bath, then he sits on mama's lap and has a bottle. After the bottle, he flips over and snuggles up with his head on my chest. Sometimes he falls asleep, but usually we just cuddle quietly for about 5 minutes. The sweetest 5 minutes of my day. Then I put him in his crib and he cozies up to blankie. On Sunday, we did the usual routine, but after we dressed him in his jammies J and I were chatting about the weekend. Apparently M got tired of waiting for his bottle, because he said, "Mama!" then started walking down the hall to his bedroom. It was the cutest thing seeing him toddle in his seep sack. He looked like Swee'Pea! We followed him down the hall and when he got to his room he went to the rocking chair and pointed up at the bottle that was waiting for him. I love that my baby is becoming a little boy!

370 Baths

M at 4 months smiling at Daddy.

We realized recently that we have given M a bath before bed every day of his life, which means he's had 370 bedtime baths (not counting the hospital baths and a few extras when there were vomit incidents.) Bedtime baths didn't have an auspicious beginning, he screamed and I ended up in tears. Usually it's both Mama and Daddy, sometimes it's just one parent, but bath time is always cozy ritual to close of M's day. I had lots of grands schemes and plans about child rearing, many have already fallen by the wayside, but I'm glad bath time stuck.

I'm not going to try counting diapers - too scary - especially considering he's already pooped three times today and it's only noon...

Blankie Love

M never used a pacifier and hasn't developed a particular attachment to a stuffed animal, but he does love his Blankie. It's a Carters Super Cozy blanket my mom brought with her when she came to help us when M was first born. She arrived the day we came home from the hospital and was so wonderful. She knew just how to comfort me when I started started sobbing after M's first sponge bath (I was SO overwhelmed by that tiny, screaming little human person!) She brought me yummy snacks to help me keep my energy up during middle of the night breastfeeding marathons. And, she conquered the poor neglected jungle of our garden!

When he's teething he likes to chew on Blankie. Thankfully, Blankie doesn't seem to mind.

At first it was just an ordinary blanket. We used it a bit, but it was a little too warm for walks last September, so Blankie spent the first few months folded up on the blanket chest in his room. When M started napping regularly in his swing in mid-winter I started tucking it around him. When he was about five months old I realized that he would get excited whenever he saw his Blankie and want to snuggle with it. Then, miracle of miracles he started letting me put him down for a nap awake as long as he had Blankie. That's when the beautiful, long and best of all - consistent - naps started.

Blankie + swing = sane parents.

Once we realized the secret to daytime sleep J had a brilliant idea and bought not one, but four more Blankies (they were on sale) and thankfully, so far, M loves each and every one. I love that M has a blankie. Apparently, J had one when he was little. Pretty cute. So, thank you Gramsie, and thank you Carters, for M's beloved Blankie!

M nuzzling with Blankie.

Ode to a Swing...

No, not more poetry. Promise. This is about one of my favorite baby products - our Graco Lovin Hug swing. We got it when he was about five weeks old and he naps so well in it. At daycare, they are lucky if he naps for an hour. Total. All day. But, in his swing with his blankie, he will nap at least two hours in the morning and an hour or two in the afternoon. I plop him in the swing when he gets drowsy and tuck in his blankie and he puts himself to sleep. So nice!

It was a real turning point in my disordered, sleep-deprived new-mamahood life when I realized I could actually count him sleeping for a long stretch of time twice a day. I felt human again.

We didn't purchase a swing before he was born. My brother and sister-in-law gave us theirs, but we managed to break it the first week we used it. Then we visited my inlaws in VA when M was just over a month old and they bought one for him to nap in. It was love at first swing for M.

Every weekend I have grand plans to start putting him in his crib for his naps, but the thought of giving up those lovely naps is a bit tough. Thank goodness the swing is safe up to 35 lbs!

M at five weeks, the first time in his swing.