Cinco de montho

Logan is 5 months old today. I am SO glad Dan and I decided to delay our mutual suicide pact long enough to get to this point. Like I said before, the first few months were tough, a shock to the system, yes, but then you finally get the baby that you originally had ordered.

This is going to be a very long post, but we seem to have been bombarded with milestones in the past week or so and have a lot to share. Aside from increased cuteness, Logan has the following achievements:

1. Individual body part fascination


2. Rolling over for the first time by himself, from back to belly and sometimes back to his back


3. Sitting at the table (in his high chair) like a big boy and starting to eat some rice cereal


4. Holding and chewing on a Sippy Cup (I didn't say drinking from...)


5. Reaching for objects purposedly and inserting them in his mouth


6. Floating on his back with minimal head assistance in swim class and holding his breath for a second instead of swallowing the water


7. Has mastered long division.

Below are some pictures of the above list.

He had found his hands and fists before, but this past week, that fist is just the most exciting thing he has ever seen. Here he is discovering that throwing a leg over could, in fact, give him some sideways propulsion...
Which a few days later, led to a complete turn onto the belly. I was actually spying on him when I took this picture... I saw him roll over on the monitor and ran into his room and watched him do it a few more times.
Another major development for us is that Logan started going down for his naps without his Nap Nanny... which may mean he might be over his reflux? I hope I didn't just jinx myself.
He has been sleeping thru the night and naps were going great and then one day, he just started waking from his naps at 45 minutes. All of a sudden, my perfect sleeper was all over the place. I felt that if I heard or read, one more person say "Oh, just help him go back to sleep, and he'll sleep for another hour or two" I would punch them in the neck. Short of starting an IV and sedating him (don't think I didn't think about it) I just couldn't "convince" a baby to sleep that didn't want to sleep... I felt that way... and then I read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and "The No Cry Nap Solution." Both have great tips to offer and they do a great job at explaining what's going on with babies' sleep cycles. It then became clear what I could do to help Logan do what he was trying to do anyway... I do have to say he does sleep great, even if some days he still decides to sleep "like a baby!" He's gotta keep us on our toes, after all. As you can see, he likes to make laps all over the crib. I wish OUR bed was this big to us! He looks so huge to me in this picture... is my little baby a big boy already?

On to his collecting of skills... I also let him play with his sippy cup and he seemed to know exactly what to do with it. Well, everything goes in the mouth, so I guess the sippy cup was no exception. He appreciated the handles, I'm sure... Here he sits in his brand new high chair pulled up to eat dinner with Mama AT the table! I've started giving Logan some rice cereal at dinner time. SOME of it might have gotten down into his stomach. Most of it served as moisturizer. Much to my surprise, he is still breastfeeding, so according to his pediatrician, I don't need to supplement him with cereal until 6 months if I don't want to. (Something about he could breastfeed less if I give him cereal) But I think a tablespoon a day is mostly just fun for both of us, plus it introduces a new skill. Oh, and it kills another hour before bedtime...

He thought washing the rice down with a Blue Moon was a splendid idea!

This past month, Logan also made a few lady friends. Sierra (left) and Skylar. He was a bit overwhelmed. Sierra's mom: Guluzar and a very out-numbered little guy in a house full of women.

Here he is already puting the moves on Sierra...

After all that, Logan decided that at least until he's 30, he still prefers the company of his male buds. Especially his BFF, Ryan. The weekly swim lesson still being our favorite day that they get to hang out together. Ryan and Logan are naturals in the water. They are so relaxed and they just love it.

Happy 5 month bday Logan and Ryan!

Papa's Birthday

We celebrate birthdays all month long. Daddy got to go ride his motorcycle for a whole weekend but Logan and I could not go. The following weekend, though, Logan got to got to the beach for the first time to continue celebrating his Papa's bday with family.

The birthday boy in a moment of deep meditation...

Logan was very relaxed at the beach... loves the sound of the waves (sound just like his wave sounds at home!:)

He did try to eat the sand. But I caugh him just in time.

The next night we celebrated with our friends at home...

And the following night we celebrated with more family.

Four (and a half) month stats

Since we could not get an appt when Logan was exactly 4 months we just had our 4-month check up and shots today. The little guy did very well and was in good spirits.

His stats are

Weight: 17 lbs 9 oz, Height: 26.5 inches, Head circumference: Huge

Pulling at my heart strings

Logan LOVES the guitar. He has been listening to it since he was in utero and Dan and I have noticed how much he really loves it when Dan plays it for him.

One of the ways I've gotten Logan to stay on his tummy longer is by distracting him with the guitar.

I of course, can't play guitar, but I just strum it for him, and noticed how much he really seems interested by the sound. This particular day, he actually reached out to strum it himself!

I almost melted. And luckily, Meagan was there to capture this with these pictures.

Miss Jones and a monkey's uncle

This past week, Logan received a visit from one of our dearest friends, Miss Meagan Jones. He LOVES her.

Also in the past week, I got back in touch with my aunt Toby and uncle Larry, whom I had not seen in many years. I was so happy to see them and have them meet Dan and Logan.

Ironically and totally not on purpose, Logan was wearing a monkey shirt and had his stuffed monkey. One of my fondest childhood memories is one of playing "monkey" with my uncle Larry... I wonder if that's where the expression "I'll be a monkey's uncle" comes from?

Climbing the walls

I decided to give bringing Logan to the Rock Gym a try. He did really well! He actually seemed to enjoy it. He watched us, and was very chatty. And when nap time came, he even took his nap when I put him down! He is such a social little guy. And he LOVES the ladies.

Here he is with Destiny, Monika and I after our climbing session.

I wonder what Logan was thinking when he was watching us climb?

Later that night "uncle" Jeffe finally got a chance to come down for a visit. Here, Logan gets a little grillin' lesson from the King of the Grill himself!

Logan: FOUR months

Another month has gone by already! Let me just say that I am loving the 5th trimester. Our little boy is more aware and interactive which equals = fun. We love cracking him up...hearing him laugh is our new most favorite thing in the whole world. But I must say, my FACE hurts by the end of the day from being so animated, status post entertaining an infant for 12 hours.

I know that when it comes to safety and health I'm pretty clear about what I believe is safe and healthy for my baby. But I've learned that I'm pretty flexible in other areas. Granted, I started out pretty dedicated about some things, for example, cleaning all his clothes with baby detergent and having a baby-dedicated set of towels and washcloths with the intention that nothing with chemicals would ever touch my baby.

Well, I have found myself in different situations that have made me realize that practicality sometimes beats intentions.

For example, yesterday, he tried, yet again, to break his own record at the hugest poop blowout while he was sitting in his exersaucer, watching me in the kitchen. This was the mother of all blowouts. Before the poop had a chance to run all the way down his leg, he ended up in the kitchen sink.

And now, me washing him off with Joy ( the soap, not the feeling ) and then wrapping him up in a kitchen towel to run him upstairs for a change of clothes, became perfectly acceptable.

And I have decided that a bath in the kitchen sink is a lot easier on both of us at this stage of the game...

Here's an outfit I love that has not been yet ruined by a poop blowout. I love Logan in this one. And he loves his giraffe, Sophie. He has learned how to grab it like this and then try to hit me with it. That's my son! We started spending some time in the Pack'n'Play. Not much time, (he's not thrilled about it) but some.

Another favorite this month has come every night at bedtime when we read a book. Last week, whenever I opened a book, Logan started "babbling." I guess after several weeks of me reading to him he has caught on.

"Every time she puts this thing in front of me, she makes noise. Ok, I got it."
Mama got to break out another gadget, the Exersaucer! Thanks, auntie Amie! He loves it. Especially because he can kick and bounce! More Bumbo time. "Ok, guys. There's a reason I've gathered you all here today."

" I see you in the mirror, Mama. Do I have two mamas?"

Somebody around here is not short on cute...

As you can see, Logan works very hard on his tummy time. Not!

Hey, kid! Wake up and get that head up!
More lounging with Daddy...
Kitty needs cuddles too...
"Look Ma! A flying Karate kick and a judo chop!" Pure adorableness

In the next three pictures, Logan demonstrates the double chin and the belly he has been working on in the past month:

He is 16 weeks today, but his 4-month check up with the Pediatrician is not for another few weeks simply because I couldn't get him in. So we don't know his measurements yet, but I weighed him myself at the breastfeeding clinic and he is now 16lbs, 9oz and has gone up another diaper size, to 2-3.

And last but not least, we had a short visit from uncle Ivan and he finally got to hold Logan. It's funny, Logan actually looks kindda SMALL when he holds him!