We have crossed over into solid food, folks! Griffin is in love with bananas. He also ate some rice cereal today, but banana was the clear winner. I’ve been wanting to officially introduce him to real food, and today just happened to be the day. With six teeth already, I’m sure Great-Grandma Doris would say, “It’s about time!”
Dear Griffin,
You and I have been home during the day by ourselves for three weeks now. Daddy is extremely busy with school since after the first day of classes he was reassigned to teaching eighth grade history and English in addition to reading (which he’s taught for four years). He’s also trying to finish his master’s degree thesis in addition to being your dad, so he’s definitely got his hands full. I am not teaching kindergarten this year, the grade I’ve been teaching for four years, so that I can stay home and take care of you. You, my little five month old, keep me busy and challenge me in ways no class of 20 five-year-olds ever has. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, though. I am so glad we’re spending so much time together.
Today you nearly decided to wipe “nap” off of your to-do list, but after a little time in your crib alone, you’ve finally drifted off. I think life is just too darn exciting for you to want to sleep. You’ve been eating like crazy, multiple ten-ounce bottles at a time, so I think you’re going through a growth spurt. You have six teeth, with two more possibly coming in. This is extremely early for a guy your age, so I’m thinking of starting you on mushed up food soon. You’re always very interested in watching me eat and want to grab whatever it is I have and put it in your mouth. You’re not very discerning about what you put in your mouth, though, so maybe I’ve just decided it’s time for you to start on some food. You are extremely good at rolling and have been scooting yourself all over the floor lately. It’s only a matter of time before you figure out how to crawl. We’ve been working on sitting up lately and you don’t really like it too much, but I suspect you’ll like it soon enough.
You laugh a lot lately. There’s something very funny on your wall, but I don’t know what it is. Is it the giant ant? The strawberry? You LOVE the fish mobile above your changing table. It helps keep you distracted while I put on a fresh diaper. Many times, you would prefer to go without a diaper. Naked time is one of your favorite pastimes. I let you go without clothes and diaper at least a couple of times a day and you are just happy as a clam. Last night after you had your clothes-less time, I got you in your jammies and we laid on the futon and read books for a whole hour. You really love the books Baby’s Birthday Cake and Where’s Mommy? They have flaps that you can help me lift as the baby looks for his cake and his mommy. Much to my surprise, you are actually quite good at lifting the flaps, and I’m discovering you have a clear preference for books that are interactive. I tried reading you just a plain old story and you got frustrated. As soon as I read one that you could participate in, you were much happier, which looks like you flapping your arms up and down and kicking your legs.
You can manipulate things with your hands much better than you could a month ago. You pick things up, put them in your mouth, and pass them from one hand to the other. You really like touching my face while you’re breastfeeding or eating from the bottle. You grab my nose, cheeks, and lips and think it’s extremely funny when I yell “ouch!” You are also using your feet to explore the world. Much to your delight, you recently discovered that by kicking the arches on your play mat, it makes everything move.
You are a really, really great baby, often very flexible and accommodating. Sometimes you are grumpy, though, and it’s frustrating for both of us. You’ve gotten into the habit, when you’re over-tired and hungry, of sucking on the bottle a few times and then crying for 30 seconds, sucking on the bottle, crying, over and over. It usually happens at the end of the day when we’re both exhausted. I’ve had to leave you in your crib crying a couple of times as our frustrations played off of one another. It makes me feel like a less-than-adequate mom, but those few minutes apart are usually enough for me to cool off and for you to decide you really do want to eat and go to sleep.
Thank goodness we’re here together. I don’t know what my life would have been without you. You’ve got a smile that stops my heart and a face that makes me melt with love. I love watching you discover the world and can’t wait to see what’s next.
Love,
Mama
Now that I’m working as a mom instead of a teacher, I have taken on more of the household duties. Andrew and I feel a bit like we’ve stepped into a time warp, and it still feels a little weird to both of us. To be fair, we had decided that whichever one of us stayed home with Griffin, that person would end up with more of the household responsibilities, but it still feels strange sometimes to be fitting into these fairly traditional stereotypes.
Laundry has been the duty that has changed the most. Our hamper has never been so empty! I thought washing Griffin’s cloth diapers would make our infrequent laundry leanings even worse, but to the contrary, it has actually facilitated more frequent washings of everything. Naturally, Griffin accompanies me down to the basement and keeps me company as I sort, fold, and put clean laundry away.
Yesterday, I discovered that Griffin loves a game that I used to love when I was little. Anytime my mom would change the sheets on my parents’ bed, I would delight in laying on the fitted sheet while she would float the top sheet over me like a parachute. I always loved the feeling of the crisp, cool sheet coming down on me and wanted her to do it over and over. Laundry is much more fun now that Griffin thinks this new old game is great, too.
As of today, Griffin has six, count ’em SIX, teeth. Understandably, they are very interesting to him. He often is feeling them with his fingers or running objects over them (I try to avoid those objects being my fingers…ouch!). I think the sensation of teeth on his lips is what led to the Mick Jagger look. And oh yes, he has also been grinding them and the sound sends me straight up the wall.
Well, last night the teeth-in-the-mouth-exploration led to him repeatedly opening and closing his mouth like a guppy. It is absolutely hilarious. The line from the Pictionary scene in When Harry Met Sally jumped into my head as I watched him stare off into space and act exactly like a “baby fish mouth! baby fish mouth!” I will try to catch it on video.
Griffin started channeling Mick Jagger today.
I have to take a moment of what will soon be the end of the longest nap Griffin has ever taken to say how great it is to be able to have two hours in the middle of the day to do things like laundry, dishes, tidying up, and writing blog entries. Let’s hope this turns into a trend!
Grummy is in town for a visit, so the whole Stocco-Palmer-Roy family (minus Andrew, who was working hard getting his classroom ready for students on Monday) went out to the Eat Real Festival at Jack London Square on Oakland’s waterfront.
Our bedtime routine for the past couple of weeks developed from the discovery that Griffin really likes to play on his changing table without anything on. The first night I was ready to put on his diaper after only a couple of minutes but was met with so much protest, it was obvious he didn’t want the fun to stop. We played for longer and after he’d had his fill, he was ready to move on to diaper and pj’s and settle in for the night. He has clearly been delighting in naked time, squealing and laughing as I tickle him, pretend to eat his toes, and kiss him on his neck, tummy, and armpits (his favorite). This has turned into a 30 minute affair that we both really enjoy! It’s so different interacting with him now that he has stronger likes and dislikes.
Today is already turning into a warm one, so I decided to let him have naked time in the middle of the day while I folded diapers. He rolled around his quilt, babbling at me and playing with his toys. It seems inevitable that he will soon be asking me why naked time isn’t all the time!
Over the past few weeks Griffin has been getting better and better at front-to-back rolls. He sometimes goes the other way, but never quite makes it. There’s always an arm or an elbow preventing him from completely rolling onto his front. Tonight, inspired by a visit from his friend Rosie, he managed an effortless roll onto his tummy! (Rosie is two months older and is an Olympic class roller.) Pretty soon Griffin will be rolling clear across the room.
Yes indeed, Griffin ate himself some watermelon today! Click on the thumbnails for larger versions with captions.
