Starting to Become Mobile

After a few practices, Michael seems to mastering this little trick very well!








Oh, the past 3 months have been fun, but I have a feeling once this little guy gets rolling, the fun will just increase ten-fold!

Father and Son working together to save babies

Michael made this pro-life ad with some of his students at JP Catholic. It is very powerful! I will let it speak for itself:

The Roaming Baby

So Michael has a new trick, thanks to his ever-increasing mobility: moving around the crib in every which direction.

When we put Michael to bed, we put him in this direction:

Two nights ago when I got up to feed him, I was really concerned because where his face was supposed to be, I saw fabric. How is that possible? There is no more swaddle blanket!

Well, what I was looking at were his pants (ok, give me a break, it was 2 am!)...but what was his bottom half doing where his top half supposed to be?! Michael ended up in this position:

While I was feeding him, I began to be concerned that someone had broken in and picked up the baby and moved him. After all, how else can a baby move 180 degrees so quickly? A perfect 180 degrees.

I looked around seeing that our computers, and valuables were still there....so no one appears to have broken in, and Michael Sr. certainly wouldn't have moved him in the opposite direction. So Michael must have moved that way himself!

Well, yesterday morning, I woke up to see this when I walked in the room:

Baby Michael apparently wants to escape from his crib, hoping he can squeeze his body through the bars.

Honey, have you seen yourself lately? Do you think that chin and these rolls:

can get through those bars? I don't think so.

But he wasn't mad, wasn't bothered...he was just chilling out. When I saw him, he looked at me as if to say,

"What's up, Mom?"

This afternoon, I got to witness Michael as he progressed to his different positions around his crib during his naptime (a nap which lasted an hour and half, I might add!!). He rolls on his side, and then props his feet against the bars to keep pushing himself around the crib.

What a crazy baby!

Well-Done, Good and Faithful Swaddle Blanket

Who knew that a cleverly crafted piece of cloth could yield so many otherwise unattainable hours of sleep?

But it did. And for that, we salute you.

However, Michael Jr is now no longer in need of your most excellent services, and after a final run through the washing machine, you will be retired...until our next little one, that is.

It has been a slow process of Michael growing out of his need to be swaddled. First, he was totally swaddled: arms, legs, the whole enchilada.

Then, he became just a little too long, so we swaddled just his arms, but left his legs free to kick.

Then recently, Michael seemed to be comforted by sucking on things before he drifted off to sleep. While a pacifier is nice, they easily become spit out and then Michael has nothing left to suck. So we unswaddled one arm so he could comfort himself with his fist.

Now, a momentous occasion, that last limb is now free as well, and the Miracle Blanket is put to rest. What a relief that we can finally have that last piece of fabric out of his bed! As much as we loved the blanket, it was a great form of anxiety for us since he was pretty good at wiggling out of it. On a few occasions, we would find a flap of the fabric over his face or something frightening like that.

Now, we don't have to worry as much since he won't be using any blankets...just warm clothes.

Our boy is growing!!

Of course, our swaddling days are not without memories. First, like the very first time he was swaddled and how he sleep 3 hours straight in his crib! Secondly, all the times during the night when he would have to be re-swaddled because had broken free. We can't forget how much he first hated his Miracle Blanket because he couldn't easily get his arms free...but how he learned to love it and would look so happy and peaceful when he knew he was getting wrapped up. Of course, there was the time that Michael dirtied our one and only Miracle Blanket, which meant I was furiously cleaning it and blowing drying it so he could have it ready for bed (all the dryers were in use!).In celebration of this, here are a few pictures of our little swaddled bundle:

Now, Michael sleeps with his arms relaxed at his side, or sometimes straight out to the sides, or my personal favorite, straight above his head! We love our Michael!

Cute Tummy Time Pictures

After bath time, Michael likes being on his fuzzy blanket...he even likes it on his tummy! He is really getting to sit up high on his forearms during tummy time, and he even is figuring out how to tilt over to one side and once he even toppled over on to his back! After he did that, I thought it would scare him, but instead he laughed! I think he was happy to figure out how to get himself off his tummy...."Haha Mommy! You can put me on my tummy, but I'll just roll over and be on my back again!" That's what he was laughing at, I think.

Even Hard-Working Daddies Need a Sabbath Rest

Today was a GREAT day because we got to spend it with Daddy!!!

After Mass and RCIA, we came home and after Michael got in a little nap, Michael Sr. came home and we had the best afternoon ever.

Nothing complicated or fancy, just a nice day together as a family.

After playing with the baby for a while, we gave Michael a bath and then went for a fun walk. Here are some pictures from our adventure:

Next, Michael went down for another little nap and spent some play time with Daddy while I did something at work and ran to the store. After that, Michael Jr had dinner and went to bed, peacefully with no crying!

So it was a fantastic way to spend a Sunday and we look forward to many more of these after the dissertation is done. Keep praying for Michael!

Just look at these arms! I love these rolls!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Today is a special day in the Barber house!!

It's Daddy's birthday today and Baby Michael is celebrating with a good handful of naps (!) and then we are continuing the celebration with a nice dinner at home.

I don't want to gush too much about my wonderful husband, but he is such an amazing man. He works hard yet still makes time for the family....he is always pushing himself to the max, but at the same time remains full of love and joy and is always willing to drop anything to help me out for any reason whatsoever.

Michael, we love you SOOO much! Happy birthday!!!

Love,

Kim and Baby Michael

Bath Time Adventures

Michael really does like a bath!

He always has a very serious look on his face when he takes a bath, like he is concentrating really hard, and by his fascination with his feet, I think it's because he is observing his feet and watching himself move them.

It was so cute to watch him kick and splash, and he even went after the rubber ducky with his feet! (Used here for censorship :) )

Ah...he's so cute! And having him all clean, and then bundling him up in a towel...it's just the best!

It is Working

I am so happy to report that Michael's sleep training is going exceedingly well!!

For the past two days, Michael has been much more cheerful and well-rested.

Tuesday, Michael took a 2 hour nap in the car seat...two hours!! The rest of the day, he was playful smiley and back to his normal self.

In the afternoon, he took a brief nap as I was driving around, but didn't continue it once we got home. He didn't take an evening nap, so once it was 6:30, we bundled him up for bed. We said our prayers, laid him in his crib awake, and sadly, listened to him cry. But this time, the crying was for just a few minutes and he was asleep for hours and hours (until I went into his room to turn off his fan. That woke him up, so I fed him and put him back down for the night!

Michael woke up cheerful this morning, bright and early at 6 am. After feeding him, I put him back down, but I don't think he actually slept...he just dozed (as did Mommy!) and we both got up to play at 7am.

After about 45 minutes, Michael was looking pretty tired again (it's normal for babies to need a nap about an hour after they wake up), so I put him to bed...he fussed a little, but then was asleep within 5 minutes!! On his own!!

He slept for about 30 minutes, then was up, so after waiting to see if he would get himself back to sleep (he didn't...but at least he wasn't crying!) we got up to eat and play.

After some play time, changing time, and eating time, Michael was looking drowsy again. I wasn't sure what to do, because it really hadn't been that long since his last nap...then again, his last nap was only 30 minutes....I was torn. I didn't want him to spend all day in bed. However, my instincts told me that he looked tired, he was slowing down in his play and getting a quiet, serious-type disposition. I figured I would put him down and see what direction it took.

He relaxed in his crib for about 15 minutes...not crying, not fussing, just looking around. At that point, I noticed he kept looking to the side and staying still for a few minutes. He was falling asleep, but then at about 1-minute intervals, he would startle and wake up, only to turn his head to the side and fall asleep again. This went on about 6 times...until now, when he stayed asleep, no crying whatsoever.

I know he may have a few episodes where he cries, or where I am not quick enough in responding to his sleep cues and he'll become overtired and fussy, but I am so proud of him for learning this skill so quickly!!

Thanks for everyone's support and prayers!

Learning to Sleep

Baby Michael is one tired boy during the day....

It's his little sleep issue he's got...he just can't seem to stay asleep for longer than 20 minutes almost all the time, with just a few exceptions here and there. It's a snowball effect.

In the morning, after his long night sleep, he's cheerful and playful. Then, the morning nap time hits, and he only gets about 20-30 minutes. He wakes up groggy, but not tired enough to easily fall back to sleep.

We try for a little while, but in the end, without a long a stressful fight for both of us, naptime passes and we wait for the next opportunity, resuming playtime and active time until around 11:30 or noon.

By that time, it's time to eat...but he's too tired to eat...so he gets swaddled for a nap, which he may or may not take. If he does take it, it's only for 20 minutes. When he wakes up, he's rested enough to eat (and by now he's very hungry) but not rested enough to be rejuvenated. He'll usually fall asleep while eating, get transferred to his bed, and either awaken instantly, or sleep only for a few minutes more.

After attempting to get him to sleep again and failing, we've now wait until the afternoon for his afternoon nap, usually about 2:30 or 3. By this time, Michael is exhausted. His eyelids are kind of a pinkish color, and he's got major bags around his eyes. Every time I pick him up, he tries to fall asleep on my shoulder, and now anytime I try to feed him, he is fussy.

But...you guessed it! Repeat cycle. His nap, if he takes one is short.

Normally, this time when he wakes up, he is in slightly better spirits and good for some afternoon play. We go for a walk, get some fresh air and see what the world has to offer. By this time, I'll run some errands, or go to work if I have to for a little bit until it's time for his next nap around 5ish. Sometimes I can get him to sleep while I cook dinner...most of the time not.

Next, he gets up, plays with Daddy for a little bit, eats his dinner and then goes off to bed, tired and exhausted at around 7pm, sometmes a little before.

Agh! This is tough! Usually in the afternoons, I will try to ensure he gets a good nap by holding him, but I'm noticing that he never really seems that much regenerated when he gets held for his nap. It's almost like he is in this transitional period where he's no longer so accustomed to sleeping in our arms, but he is still not capable of sleeping in his bed for long periods during the day. It's really really hard to watch.

I've looked online to see what some people (who may or may not be experts) have to say about short sleep cycles, and consistently, people say that it is all about whether or not the child knows how to get himself to sleep.

Over the past few weeks, I've been attempting a "no-cry" shot at this...and it has worked pretty well, with the help of a pacifier, but I have used it primarily when I get him to sleep in my arms, and he wakes up after I transfer him to the crib. Now, I'm taking it a step further and putting him in the crib drowsy yet awake, and trying to soothe him in his bed. That way we don't deal with the hassle of the transfer, and he wakes up in the same place he fell asleep (one reason, the "experts" say is what wakes him after the 20 minute sleep cycle, preventing him from moving smoothly into another sleep cycle).

The past few days, I am taking it just a step further and having the baby just cry it out for limited periods of time. And do you know what? It is working. It's not easy, but it's working.

A few nights ago, in the middle of the night when Michael was unusually alert and playful after a late night feeding, I didn't have the energy or the patience to rock and rock and rock him to sleep. So I just put him in his crib, counting on the fact that it was 3 am, and totally dark in his room to put him to sleep on his own. It did.

Last night, I let Michael cry for 15 minutes, went in and put the pacifier in his mouth, rubbed his tummy and his forehead, said our prayers and left the room. After 3 cycles of this, he finally got himself to sleep.

Today, for a nap, he cried it out for 15 minutes and then fell asleep. He woke up after 25 minutes, and was unsuccessful at getting back to sleep despite my assistance, and despite crying for a little while. I guess you can't win 'em all. He still woke up exhausted, but we gave him a bath and waited for the next sleep period which was bed time.

I did our bedtime routine, except I laid him in his bed awake...unswaddled one arm so he could suck on it. After a little while of on-and-off crying/whimpering, he finally fell asleep and stayed asleep. Actually, he even woke up on several occasions to move around, but got himself back to sleep.

So, is it working? I will only know for sure once he takes longer naps and is able to restfully go to bed, even though I put him down awake...but, by golly, we are working on it.

I know he may be mad, but I think it's best for him to be well-rested, and to have more alert playtime in the day so he can learn new things and be more active.

I'm pleased with our little successes today (and it really wasn't all that much time of him fussing), but am very anxious to get through this period in his learning where he learns to put himself to sleep.

Once again, much solace and company is found online! And thanks to family and friends who listen to me as I drone on and on (since his birth!) about his little sleep issues! May we soon be past them.

I love the Internet

I don't know how parents did it without the Internet. I love this thing so much, and it is has caused so much relief of stress as a parent.

First, I love that I can shop online. I love that I don't have to drive around town to get everything I may want or need. Driving around town with a baby is not nearly as fun as driving around alone.

Secondly, it has a plethora of advice. Granted, some of it has to be taken with a grain of salt, if that, but I love not necessarily calling a doctor or whatever for every piece of advice I think I need.

Third, I love that I don't feel like I'm the only mom who experiences this or that. Like, I can type in "baby has 20 minute sleep cycle" and I can read about why Michael wakes up every 20 minutes on the dot from a nap, and how I can help him fall back asleep and extend that time so he is getting more than just catnaps throughout the day, leading to a drowsy baby most of the time.

I love that I can type in "my baby doesn't like car rides" and find a whole host of other moms whose kids are going through the same thing I am when we get in the car and hear some suggestions on what they did to help soothe their baby in a car ride.

I just can't believe what a source of comfort it is to type in pretty much whatever I feel like, and I can find so much information on the subject, and then weed through what seem like credible sources and try different things.

I don't know what people did without the Internet! My hat goes off to you because I know without it, I would feel so much more lost than I already do!

*Mute*

Pacifiers seem to be the sort of thing that people develop a philosophy about. It almost seems to be elevated in some circumstances to the level of the moral. Many people establish themselves in camps of Pacifiers where "Orthodontically designed" is their battle cry...or Thumbsucking where "God-given" is their battle cry.

I am not in a camp.

I just know that our doctor said that research has shown pacifiers seem to contribute in lowering the risk factors for SIDS. Enough said. I'll give it a try.

For weeks, Michael didn't want a pacifier. We would offer it to him...he'd smile, but then quickly spit it out with a definitive Pttang! Ok, Michael, you don't want it? You don't have to have it.

But on one specific occasion when I was putting Michael down for a nap, he was sleeping in my arms, I leaned over to put him in his bed...and *bing!* his eyes opened up. Arg! I thought. I worked so hard and now I have to start over. For some reason, though, I didn't pick him up. I just put the pacifier in his mouth and began to rub his head. I rubbed his forehead, his eyebrows, his nose, his head....trying to lull him into sleep.

And do you know what?

It worked.

Of course, it only worked for about 5 minutes. But you know, Michael, for the first time since I can remember, dozed off to sleep without being bounced, rocked or jiggled (the usual magic combination). His eyes just got heavier and heavier and heavier, until finally, he went to sleep. What a victory!

Since that day, whenever Michael wakes up and is still in a slightly dozed state, a pacifier will help to get him back to sleep. The sucking sensation is apparently soothing, and helps him get himself back to a dreamy state.

And the best part is when I am trying to get him to sleep and I rock him to sleep in my arms, put him down and he wakes up again angry and mad and crying...do you know what quiets him down without having to pick him back up again and start from the top? You guessed it...that silly pacifier! On several occasions now, he has gone from upset to sleeping by one little *pop* of that thing. I'm sold.

Now, I know the dangers of pacifier use: namely addiction. Since we are at the early stages, I may one day be looking back and cursing myself for ever introducing the darn thing. But for now, if it seems to help him sleep (a definite plus!) and since there is even a slight chance it helps reduce SIDS, it brings about a little more peace of mind.

But the thing that really does it for me....

He is just so darn cute with it!

"Mike" TV*

* Note, this is one of a very few occasions where I will refer to him as "Mike"...unless of course he grows up to prefer it...but it suits the scenario due to its connection to Willy Wonka :)

Now that Michael is sleeping in his own room (see previous post) we want to keep an "eye" on him from a distance. Instead of just getting a sound monitor, we decided to get a video monitor as well, primarily because Michael still sleeps with his swaddle blanket, and he has been known to wiggle free of that thing and get it over his face. The video monitor is a perfect solution for us to see him, without having to get up and open the door, risking waking him, but still be able to see his little face.

Michael Sr and I are fascinated with this device. It's so cool! Our little closed circuit TV, with Baby Michael as the star! We have it out with us as we sit in the living room, and I admit even though he is just laying there, it is quite enthralling!

We don't buy too many baby gadgets...so we decided to splurge, and so far (it being only a few hours since we opened the box) we love it!

Sleeping in his own room

Tonight is the first night Baby Michael will be sleeping in his own room.

For the past several nights, he has been particularly...um...shall we say, chatty? whiny? demanding? throughout the night, leaving Mom and Dad pretty darn tired. He's not always hungry, but sometimes just needs a little hug before he goes back to sleep. He also wiggles so much during the night that the pin in the cradle loosens and he ends up tilted towards one side or another.

Sometimes, he just whines, maybe even while still sleeping, but it is disturbing enough that one of us is bound to get up and try and figure out what he needs, only to find out that by the time he is in our arms, he is already asleep again. So, did he really need that involvement from us? Did we really have to get up? Could he have gotten to sleep on his own?

We've been exhausted, and are definitely at the point of seeing if a softer, bigger, comfy-er bed will do the trick. Not only that, but him being in his own room will give him the freedom to fuss a little in is bed a little and see if can get himself to sleep without having mom or dad interrupting him.

So, we'll see how he does. It may be short-lived, but so far, he seems pretty happy in there. But I miss him in our room already. It's a big step--our little boy in his own room!

No words needed

A really good day

In these three months of taking care of Michael, there have been up days and down days. Days that go by like this:

And days that go by like this:

And there are many days when I feel like if Baby Michael could talk, he would ask me:


Lady, do you even know what the heck you are doing?!

Of course, the over-arching sentiment is that I am having a blast, despite my constant worry over whether or not he is getting enough sleep, or I am messing up his schedule by bringing him here and there, etc.

But there are certain days that are just more fun than others. Certain days where I feel like, for a fleeting moment, we got the hang of it. Certain days where I don't have suspicions that baby Michael is filling out a secret baby petition to be mailed off to the Mommy Distribution Center, asking for a reassignment.

Today was one of those days.

From his first waking up, Michael was all smiles today (minus a block of time where, for one reason or another, he was just totally and completely inconsolable. Not sure what was up with that. He had napped, he was clean, he was burped, he was fed. I suppose he has a certain quota of crying he must fill for one day. Usually he spreads it out...I guess yesterday he just got it out all at once and was perfectly charming the rest of the day).

But most of the day:

I look at him...he laughs.

I kiss him...he laughs.

I go in after a nap...and instead of crying, here's what I see:

It's been such a fun day!

Michael's mom came down to look after Baby Michael while I took care of a Bible study at Church. It was great to not worry about dragging Baby Michael everywhere late at night postponing bedtime.

And he was all smiles for her too! It was great! Definitely a win-win!

So, tomorrow is promising to be a good day as well (because Grammy and Poppy are coming!)....

But whatever the next day brings, today is a day that I thought to myself...I think I'm kind of getting the hang of this!

They must think I'm crazy

I was reading the washing instructions on one of Michael's outfits and couldn't help but utter a loud "Yeah right!" when I saw this:

Notice the instruction:"Warm iron when needed."

Is it just me, or does it seem ludricous to iron a baby onesie? First of all, it's smaller than an iron itself...but secondly, what is the point? To impress all their friends at the Baby Country Club? So the Baby Employers don't think they are slobs? I've done baby laundry before, and let me tell you, the biggest problem an outfit of a baby can have is definitely not a little wrinkle...I'll leave it at that.

Maybe I'm a lazy mommy...maybe I should develop a keener sense of presentation for my kid, so that ironing his onesie doesn't seem so silly. Maybe I need to get a nanny so I have time to tend to these meticulous details. I'm satisfied if no one can see the baby spit-up on my shoulders I have on any given day!

So to you moms out there who do iron their child's onesie, I salute you! If we meet on the playground of life, please feel free to stop by and give me some advice on how you find the time. I'll be easy to spot...I'll be with the kid in wrinkled clothes!

Random Thoughts....Bad Product Name

I know I am no marketing specialist, and I know that Breyers is simply naming the product for what it is double-churned ice cream. But everytime I see this in the freezer section of the grocery store:




I always have to do a double take because it looks like it says Double Chin.


Not exactly the type of word association you want with a product like ice cream....right? People have an inkling to buy it, they see the word "double chin" and maybe think twice about it, because the product is foretelling the future. And that future looks something like this:

Bon Appetit!

Tummy Time is improving

Michael still does notlike tummy time very much, but his skills at keeping his head up are greatly improving.

Check out this adorable picture of the Michaels:

He lifted his head up really high to get a good glimpse of Daddy!

The last time we went to see the Campbells, she pulled out her Boppy pillow and demonstrated with Peter how well it can be used to make Tummy Time a little more palatable to babies. So I went home and tried it with Michael and she was right! The pillow gives them a little head start on seeing the world with a new perspective, which helps them maintain interest enough to want to see more!

I also love how Michael needs to raise his eyebrows in order to lift his head higher. I guess that little lift of the forehead gives him the momentum he needs to keep his head up!

Why a few minutes in Photoshop is a Dangerous Thing

After seeing Kathy's recent blog post...





I just couldn't resist it.



It only took a few minutes in Photoshop, yes, minutes I should have been sleeping. But nonetheless. I was up anways and the picture just insisted that this be done to it:




Crazy babies.

The Mommy Substitute

Tonight, I have a class at the Diocese, and so Michael is going to be putting Baby Michael to sleep by himself tonight. I'm going to feed him at the class, but in case Michael wakes up before I get home and wants a second feeding, I left Michael Sr with a bottle for him to feed him.

In order to make sure everything goes smoothly, Michael practiced last night, and it went well! This was not our very first time bottle feeding, but it was the first time that it was a substitute for a full meal. The other times have been just supplements, and then I will feed him the rest myself.

I think it was WAY cute to see father and son together. Little Michael, I think, was a little confused as to why Daddy was feeding him and Mommy was over on the other chair..definitely a mix up from the normal routine. But, with just a little fussing, Michael got a full tummy and went off back to sleep.

Which means, that Mommy is officially "replaceable" :) My one corner on the market is now up for grabs to anyone that can heat and hold a bottle. It's nice to know that if I need to be somewhere and it just isn't conducive to bring the baby, he'll be taken care of in my absence.

Yet, it did cause me to reflect on the fact, that after a rough month getting adjusted to nursing, I actually really enjoy it, and when Michael was feeding him, I found myself feeling like I was missing out a little on something that I normally do. I was looking forward to the next time he was going to eat so I could feed him again. Even if that next time was at 3 am :)

But this really does open up a whole new world of freedom for me! Now we can have someone watch the baby which extends over the time it takes between feedings. Now I can say "the bottle's in the fridge when he gets hungry" and that buys me 2 additional hours of away-time, whether that time be for a class, or errands, or even a special night out with the mister.

We'll see what horizons this new world opens up!

I like this picture

Michael's sisters came by for a little visit the other day, and I caught a few snapshots of them playing with Baby Michael.

This one stood out in a particular way to me.


Something about it really strikes me....it's "dynamic" or something. Maybe because everyone is looking at someone and seems happy about it. I don't know.

Anyways, it was a great visit and they were even so kind as to watch Michael while I ran to the office to get some work done! Thanks!

The rest of the pictures from that visit are on Flickr.

Random Thoughts...The Hungry Hunter

Driving into San Diego from the north on I-15, I always pass this restaurant:

As a steaklover, I like the idea of a steakhouse just as much as the next gal. But something always strikes me as odd in the name of the restaurant.

Do you see it too?

Here's a hint at what I find so amusing: What type of animal does steak come from?

...and how...may I ask does a person hunt a cow? I mean...hunting....there implies some thrill, some challenge...some prowess and perserverance. When I think of hunting, I think of camoflauge so one can sneak up on its prey....catching it off guard, and, even with a rifle, having to face some sort of difficult in getting a shot off, and you only get one chance because if you shoot and miss, that thing will go running and you'll never catch it.

But a cow? Hunting a cow?

Well, that just seems silly to me. But you know, after doing some research I've actually discovered it to be a dangerous sport...even life threatening!

So, I guess I stand corrected. It is possible to hunt a cow. So next time you enjoy a burger, a nice piece of steak or even some ribs, say a little "Thank you" to the brave hunters who got it to your plate!

What happens if we don't swaddle

Last night after the Bible Study, it was a little later than Michael's normal bedtime....not to mention he went on a veritable "Nap Strike" yesterday and didn't take any nap in the morning. He was exhausted!

So I took him out of his car seat and fed him a little and he fell into a very deep sleep. Not wanting to wake him and anxious to experiment and see if he still really needs to be swaddled, we just laid him down without swaddling.

We tiptoed out of the room, thinking it would only last about 5 minutes. It actually lasted about 15! And at that point, we saw the above picture.

Poor kid! He needs his swaddle!

Big Bed, Little Boy

Michael is now using his crib for naps instead of his bassinet...and he looks so little in it!

I was just thinking, while seeing him in his bassinet how big he is getting, but now seeing him in his crib, he looks like a little newborn again!

We are still keeping him in his bassinet at night for us to keep an eye/ear on him while he sleeps, but in order to ease the eventually permenant transition to his crib, I'm starting off with naps during the day. So far (meaning 15 minutes into the attempt :) ) so good!

The transition had a few very cute moments...first, just putting him in the bed and seeing how little he looked.

Second, when he immediately woke up and starting looking around the room, and then kicking his feet and feeling the whole bed bounce. He really really enjoyed that, i think.

Third, when after deciding to put his mobile on his crib to help him feel more at home, I came into the room with his little Dodger mobile, and got a HUGE smile from him, as if to say "Yeah!!! My friends are coming too!!!"

After our second attempt, Michael stayed asleep right after I put him down, so it seems like there is hope that he might actually sleep as long in the crib as he does in the bassinet (which is typically 20-40 minutes max)....but maybe, with a nice comfy mattress, there is hope he'll stay asleep a little longer.

This transition does have me keen on one thing: making that room into more than just a storage room, at least for the part of it that he can see from his crib...he was looking around so much, I don't want him to think we are demoting him from our bedroom to the garage!

So I'll be putting up some pictures and moving some boxes out of view of the crib and trying to make it look a little more comfy for him.

***UPDATE****

Michael slept for an hour and fifteen minutes!!! The longest daytime nap in a crib ever!!! When he woke up, he seemed so cheerful! Yay!!

Michael likes to read

I've always heard it's important to start reading early. So after rummaging through some baby things, I found a book designed specifically for infants, and I thought I would give it a try.

I thought, "He's just a baby! How is going to know what is going on with a book. He just barely learned that he has hands for crying out loud!"

But, as I read the book to him, I stood amazed, surprised and corrected. Michael likes this book!

As soon as I began reading it to him, his attention was fixated on the pages. They are super colorful with characters with big faces that must be appealing to his little brain.

The more I read the pages, the more noises he made, over and over and over again, "talking" to the book. In fact, I've noticed that he has a favorite page: the police dog page. He always reacts the loudest to that page. It's amazing!

Next, we tried sitting up and reading the book to him, and our amazement was even greater still. Michael, for the first time reached out to touch something in front of him.

Michael has been doing well getting his hands to his mouth, and if you put a toy next to him within his grasp, he will eventually clutch on to it, but this is the first time, with this crazy little book, that Michael will fix his attention on something in front of him and put his hand to it. It's no accident...see for yourself!

So it's official. Michael is like his Daddy. He loves to read! And you know, after we were done reading, the first thing I did was get online and order more of these Lamaze books.

Goooood Books!