Reading is fun!

Here Nathan is almost 8 months, and I feel like lately he is really surprising me with what he can do.  I read him a story before every nap.  His favorite is Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert and I always read it in addition to a new book or two.  I feel like I know that thing by heart: "Apricot, Artichoke, Apple, Asparagus..." But the past couple of weeks when I open the book Nathan bursts into smiles like he is seeing an old friend.  We don't always make it through the book if he is very cranky, but I at least read the first couple of pages.

Then the most amazing thing happened.  We were reading a touch and feel board book. And normally I take his hand and clumsily force him to stroke the page.  But when I turned the page, I stroked it then he stroked it on his own. In the right spot! Now he reaches out to touch it wihtout any prompting.  I think he's got the hang of this thing.

The lady across the way

So I am getting out of the car from picking up Josh from the metra and I see the lady across the way.  I've seen that she also has a stroller and a bumpkin Nathan's age. And I know she's seen me.  But for some reason she was watching us out her window with her baby. It was bizarre.  Should I have waved?  Would that have meant I was looking in her window?  I mean it was night time and she had her lights on, she knew I saw her. And she was looking right at us!

 I know that she stays at home like I do.  Is she lonely and in need of a friend? Or is she a creepy people watcher.  Am I projecting here?  Haha!

7 months old

Oh Nathan where does the time go? Here you are, already past a half year old. Closer to being my little boy than you were my little baby.

The screaming has stopped (it turns out you do that when overtired) and the raspberries have given way to new sounds. You make this soft little high pitched growling noise. Lots of melodic cooing. The Gah sound, the Kah sound. And still lots of coo'ing.

You don't like to be held as much, you want to be down on the floor or reaching for something. You play really nice now on your own for up to 20 minutes. Especially after a nap and meal. You like to move toys from hand to hand and really get a good look, feel and taste.



We've been eating food! You aren't sure about this, but about halfway through the meal you start to really chow down and bang your hand. We've had carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, rice, pears, prunes, squash, turkey, chicken all purees.

Holiday cards

We have never sent out Christmas cards before. And I will be honest that it’s not about being lazy, more like time management. Such in, oh is Christmas next week?  Really?!  And it’s not like getting the dozen or so holiday cards from family and friends isn’t a reminder. In fact, I’ve held onto these envelopes for years to keep the address for the next year.


Now that I have baby bot, I feel like, what better way to show off his robotic mug than with a photo card. Thank goodness I stumbled onto Shutterfly. There are so many to choose from, I'm almost certain I will get caught in a loop of indecision.


Just picture replacing this perfectly cute baby with Nathan.

And then imagine getting it in your mailbox.  It's like Nathan came to visit!
They have tons of Chirstmas Cards and Holiday Cards too. Because lets face it, this is my first time at the rodeo, and I can totally see a Happy New Year's card because I missed the 25th again. 



Happy holidays!!

Nathan said "Ba"

 The past month and a half he has been blowing raspberries like it is his job to shower the world. Sometimes cute (especially if you ask him a question and he times the blow right) and sometimes annoying (baby spit everywhere can get a little old). Yesterday, he started to do a raspberry, but stopped short. And it made a "b" sound. He looked quite perplexed, and he did it again, kinda wondering himself why he didn't decide to blow that "b" sound out into a full lipped waterboat. I laughed and cheered, my mouth hurt I was grinning so much. Then he laughed and smiled real big as he practiced his "ba"s

I realize this is such a small thing. I do. But why did it fill me up with such joy? The sleepless nights, and the fussiness and the exhaustion of being his everything suddenly compressed into this singularity: This was why I am here with him every day. So that I could soak in every single amazing thing that he does and not miss a beat. So that we could SHARE these moments together and experience the fruits of our bond.

Then I thought, holy crap, this is just the beginning. Just imagine how I will shit my pants when he says his first word.

Nathan 5 months

I can't believe you are going to be six months next week. Where did the time go? They say months 3-8 is the golden age of babyhood. You are smiling and laughing and interactive, yet you are not yet on the move. I wish I could slow down time.

I'm feeling more confident. I hold you in one arm or on my hip. We go lots of places, the post office, the thrift store, grocery shopping, the library. And everywhere you go, people stop to tell you how cute you are. Your eyes (still blue) and your hair are your best features. People say you look like a doll and that you will break hearts. Honestly I feel quite homely compared to you with my glasses and my hair pulled back. I wish I looked as pretty as you.

You have slept horribly since we've moved you to the crib. Since 4 months, you've been up all night. Last night you were up every hour. Sometimes you needed a reassuring pat, or your stuffed animal readjusted. But most of the time you wake up yelling because your belly is full of gas. I wish you could just fart already. I pump your legs and everything, but you just strain and yell. I know you aren't feeling well, but I do miss when you'd only wake up once or twice a night.

You can sit up, but you still topple so I prop you up. I love the look of concentration on your face when you play with your toys. And boy are you getting a sense of humor. You laugh when I laugh but sometimes inappropriately. Like that time I was moaning in pain from spraining my thigh muscle, it made you giggle.

You've discovered how to scream when you are angry/tired/bored. It makes my eye twitch I cannot stand it. Please stop.

Every day you do something new, and it is amazing. You are hitting every milestone. My favorite new thing is when I pick you up, your little arm wraps around my neck.

Nathan, let me just sit you here for a second..

Going...

Going.....

Gone!!