five months

Happy five months, buddy. You continue to defy the odds by getting cuter every day. We really don't know how you do it. The theme for this month is: Baby was ready, Mom was not. Turns out I've been holding you back...and you might as well just get used to it. :)

After hitting the sleep regression in a big way last month, we knew we needed to make some changes. It wasn't sustainable to keep nursing you to sleep every time, and frankly, it wasn't working anymore. Even after a few too many sleepless nights, I still dragged my feet on sleep training because I anticipated a huge battle of wills, and I was not prepared to let you cry it out. But, as it turns out, you were more than ready because you caught on rather quickly. I've probably just been getting in your way this whole time. There were some tears involved (although not nearly as many as I thought there might be), but after just 1-2 days, you were going down easily for naps and bedtime. We stayed really consistent on our nap and bedtime routines, provided a predictable schedule, and introduced some other sleep associations besides nursing. We now put you down awake, and you fall asleep on your own like a boss!

Bedtime is between 7:15-7:30 p.m. and you wake up around 7:00 a.m. Sometimes we don't hear a peep from your all night, other nights you wake up briefly but fall back to sleep on your own, and then we still do have nights where you need some soothing or a little snack. And that's ok - you are just a baby after all. You start your morning nap by 8:00/8:30 and usually sleep for two to three hours. I often have to wake you up so we can go to pilates or song time at the library. I never imagined a day when I would have to actually wake you up from a nap. Your first afternoon nap is at 1:00 p.m. and then you also take a quick snooze around 4:00 p.m. Sometimes you let Mom know it's time for your nap by quietly laying down while playing and sucking on your fingers. You are your mother's child because you love a good plan (and naps!), and you've been a much happier camper due to all this sleep, and so is Mom.

You sleep in your crib now - all the way on another floor away from Mom. I'll let you guess which one of us had more trouble with that...You also went to the nursery for the first time at church last Sunday. Yet again, Mom was reluctant, but you weren't. You charmed the socks off the caregivers during both the morning and evening service. We had to talk them into giving you back to us both times. You've also stayed home with babysitters a couple of times over the last month, and been a little angel every time. Your most recent big boy move is getting rid of your pacifier. You haven't really been taking it during the day for some time now, but we did find it helpful in soothing you to sleep. Yet again, I expected a bit of a battle, but you haven't used it the last two days and seem completely unaffected by its absence.

There isn't too much you don't like these days. You fuss when you can't figure out how to do what you want (i.e. crawl or sit up) or when you are ready to move to a new activity. You can also get a little cranky when we are approaching nap or bedtime. We did learn that you hate power tools. Dad turned on the drill the other day, and you immediately went ballistic. You spent the next several minutes clinging to Mom. We felt bad you got so scared, but I didn't mind the extra snuggles.

You are working on sitting up, but you insist on doing it the hardest way possible. You try to pull yourself up while laying flat on your back - as if you are doing a crunch. Maybe you've been paying attention in pilates? When we help prop you up, you can sit without assistance for several seconds or even longer if you use your arms to create a little baby tripod shape. If we put you down on your back, you immediately roll over to your stomach (you sleep on your stomach now too) but then you get frustrated because you can't crawl forward. You push up on your legs in frustration and usually end up in a down dog yoga position before giving up and collapsing back down. You clearly want to be on the move, but you have no idea how to get your arms and legs to work together to make that happen. That's fine by me for now - I'm not ready to baby proof!

You've discovered your feet much to your delight. Happy baby pose is your jam. But don't worry, you don't neglect your hands. You are still a prolific hand chewer. You like anything that lights up and makes noise. You enjoy music and singing songs. The itsy bitsy spider is a favorite - you love watching my hands mimic the sun coming out. You enjoy playing peekaboo, watching Sesame street, and being tickled or attacked with kisses. But your favorite activity right now is your jumperoo. You can spend up to 45 minutes in there happily bouncing and squealing away.

You've started putting EVERYTHING in your mouth - especially whatever mom and dad are drinking: starbucks cups, coke cans, water bottles. You get mad when toys or stuffed animals are too big to fit into your mouth or when you can't quite pull the objects hanging from your baby gym to your mouth. You like to pull Mom's hair out of her ponytail. Saying you have a tight grip would be an understatement. Ouch!

Dad and I have stopped arguing about who's the favorite because it's neither of us. There is no doubt Papa Butch wins that title. I'm pretty sure he could just look at you and you would start to smile and laugh. The rest of us have to work a little harder, but your baby giggles are so worth it.

Highlights of the month: Went to two more Nats game, Schmeema & Papa Butch came to visit, learned how to fall asleep on my own, stayed home with babysitters twice, went to my first crybaby matinee movie (The Meddler), moved to my nursery and crib, went to church nursery for the first time, gave up my pacifier, worked on sitting up.

visits with schmeema & papa butch

We've had the pleasure of seeing Schmeema & Papa Butch twice in the last month! Charlie and I flew to Wichita in mid-April while Jon was at a work conference in San Diego. And last weekend, they came to visit us here in Alexandria.

Yet again, Charlie was an expert traveler - and thank goodness because I was flying solo this time. He made friends on all of his flights and barely made a peep the entire trip. We spent one night in Wichita and then drove down to Oklahoma to see Aunt Megan, Uncle Aaron and cousin Abby. Schmeema and Papa Butch will hopefully be moving to Norman, OK soon so we went to shop for a house. Turns out house hunting is not Charlie's favorite activity, but he hung in there like a champ.

This is what I do on planes.

First time sitting up in a high chair (just shy of 4 months old) - with the help of mom's boppy pillow.

Do we have to go look at another house?!

Abby sharing her toy with Charlie. 

Do we have to fly home, Mom?

While they were in town last weekend, we celebrated Schmeema's birthday and Mother's Day. Schmeema and Papa also had the pleasure of babysitting while Jon and I went to a wedding. It was the longest we'd been away from Charlie - and the first time someone else had to put him to bed - but all parties survived. I think we'd let them do it again. ;) On Monday night, the adults went to a baseball game while Charlie stayed home with a sitter. This whole leaving the baby with a sitter thing is pretty great. :)

Happy Birthday, Schmeema!

I showered AND did my hair. #adulting

Meanwhile, Charlie stayed home with his grandparents.

Sorta behaving during church...

Every family has THAT person. 

Learning how to sit up with Schmeema.
He is doing so well, and can completely support himself upright without help for several seconds.

baby giggles

Schmeema and Papa Butch were in town over the weekend. Papa has a way with babies. All babies love him, and Charlie is no exception. Nobody gets babies to giggle quite like Papa.

This might be the greatest sound in the world. Enjoy! :)

friday photo dump

Here is a random assortment of Charlie photos that needed a home...You'll notice a theme of eating hands and not smiling. This kid cracks me up.

someone fell asleep on our stroll to go vote in the Virginia primary. 

He pooped right before I handed him over to the Easter bunny. Sorry.

Who me?

This is my happy face.

Just a boy and his pirate. 

I'm going to hold onto this just in case someone tries to take it while I sleep.

Dad, that's a drain cover, not a hat.

When Mom tries to keep me from rolling over during tummy time. 

A little shopping at the team store before baseball season started. Also, this kid has big feet.

Mom says I have to learn how to stop eating my hands first.

I swear I'm having fun. 

Sitting in the shopping cart like a big boy because I didn't want to be in my carseat.

Sitting still is for babies.

I'll let you guess what happened right before this photo was taken.

four months

This leap from three to four months brought all kinds of changes - both big and small. When you add them all up, this stage of babyhood seems completely new and different. I'm already having trouble remembering you as a sleepy newborn. It's true. Babies don't keep.

You have made all kinds of transitions this month. You no longer sleep in your bassinet right by mom's side of the bed. But don't worry, you haven't moved too far. You are now in your pack n play about 5 feet from mom's side of the bed. :) I'm just not quite ready for you to be a whole floor away from me. Sometimes after a nighttime feed, you even get to cuddle with mom in the big bed if you are having trouble going back to sleep.

You have also transitioned out of your swaddle blanket. You now sleep in something called the magic sleep suit. It's basically just a thick, cushy bodysuit that helps keep your startle reflex at bay. You look like an astronaut in it, and we imagine you have many space adventures in your dreams.

Speaking of sleep, you had been continuing to sleep well, and we were finally making some good progress on regular daytime naps. Just a week ago you slept through the night twice without any feedings. I was feeling like a pretty awesome parent...but then the four month sleep regression bus hit us full force. I had heard tales of such a regression. Turns out these tales are true. Lord help us. The last four nights have been an epic disaster. You've been up way more than when we first brought you home from the hospital. Your dad has nicknamed you the Monster of Chalfonte Drive, but it's in jest because it's usually followed by "but he's so stinkin' cute." I'm a total zombie, and I feel bad because I know you are sleep-deprived and miserable too. Dad is the only one among us who is well-rested. If only he could feed you...

But enough about that, you are overall such a sweet little fellow that I don't want your poor sleeping of late to ruin your four month update (but if this keeps up, don't be surprised if I dedicate an entire post to your new sleep - or lack thereof - habits).

You are much more vocal and expressive now. When you aren't chewing on your hands, you jibber jabber all the time. I used to want to know what you were thinking. Now I want to know what you are saying. You've learned to squeal and make all kinds of funny new sounds. You definitely smile more, but your resting face is still pretty serious. You have a mean side eye, which I can only imagine is the start of a serious sarcastic streak.

We still have to work pretty hard for laughs, but you certainly let us know when you don't like something. With more personality comes more preferences. This can be both good and bad. It's fun to watch you learn new things and discover what you like and don't like. You get bored easily so keeping you entertained is a full-time job.

Luckily, mom and dad are on your preferred list. You like most anyone that will hold you or play with you, but there is no doubt that mom is the favorite. I mean, we do spend all day together, and I do feed you. I'm pretty sure it's mostly because I feed you. I may be the favorite, but Dad likes to say he is the fun parent and that's probably true. He sings to you all the time, watches Sesame street with you on Saturday morning while Mom naps (bless him), and he gives you rides on his shoulders. This is, by far, your favorite activity. I wish I could bottle the big smile you have on your face while you ride around drooling all over dad's hair.

You are really on the move now. Diaper changes have become more of a challenge now that you wiggle nonstop. You started rolling front to back just after you hit three months, and your newest trick as of this week is rolling back to front. Now we really have to keep an eye on you. Last month, you wanted to be sitting up instead of lying down. Now you prefer to be standing (with our assistance) and often resist sitting in our laps. I have nightmares of you just skipping over sitting up and going straight to crawling. You are more content to play on your back or hang out on your tummy now that you can roll at will. But you are most content being held preferably while on the move. No surprise there.

You've discovered your jumparoo and you've really warmed up to it. You didn't quite know what to do at first, but once you realized you could bounce, you just went to town. You love being outside, and thanks to some great spring weather, we go on walks almost every day. Mom likes to time it just right so you'll take a nice long nap while we stroll.

You have started to discover toys and "play" with things. Much to Dad's dismay, you love anything that lights up and makes sound. Thank goodness for baby Einstein products that play classical music. Naturally, your favorite thing to do with any toy is stick it in your mouth. You like to hang out on your play mat and reach for the hanging objects, but you get angry if you can't quite pull them into your mouth. You still love bath time and just being naked in general. A closeted nudist perhaps? You've recently started to enjoy reading books with us. Mom makes the best noises and voices, but Dad makes up the best stories to go with your picture books.

You stayed home with a babysitter not related to you twice over the last month. You did great both times! You also were a good traveler again this month flying solo with Mom to Wichita. You charmed the socks off everyone on multiple flights. You continue to enjoy being in new places and going on new adventures. Being home is boring, Mom.

This could probably go on for several more paragraphs, and I'm sure I'm forgetting things. There is something new or different every single day. Sure, some of it can be challenging, but a lot of it is just too much fun. It is just such a joy to watch you grow up. It's by far the best job I've ever had. We love you, buddy.

charlie goes to the white house

In between birthdays, vacations and baseball games, we recently crossed something off our DC bucket list. A friend working in the White House took us on a West Wing tour. It pays to know the right people! West Wing tours are only offered on certain evenings and weekends. Our friend was kind enough to spend part of his Saturday showing us around. 

It's much smaller and less opulent than you might expect. I was prepared for it to be cramped, but it was even less roomy and unimpressive than imagined. We saw the door to the situation room - the area around it reminded me of a cruise ship with its dark wood, windowless rooms and naval-inspired decor. It's below the oval office, and I had a hard time imagining the President walking down that same small, dark hallway. If you had shown me a photo, I would have thought it was a nondescript budget hotel hallway. If there is anything I've learned since living in DC, it's that government work ain't glamorous. ;)

The Rose Garden was my favorite part of the tour. It too was smaller than imagined, but quite lovely. Seeing the iconic white columns that frame the outside walk from the residence to the oval office was pretty cool. The Oval Office itself was exactly as you see in photos or depicted in TV shows and movies. It's just a very nice office with tall windows, thick curtains and a big ol' desk. 

We couldn't take any photos inside (other than in the press room) so you'll have to settle for outside shots. Even though Charlie slept in the Ergo the entire time, it's still really fun that we'll be able to tell him all about his visit to the White House someday. 

At the West Wing entrance 

Asleep in the press room. I'm sure he's not the first. Zzzzzzzz.

From the steps of the EEOB with the West Wing in the background.

Post-tour meltdown - probably wondering why we woke him from his Ergo nap. Luckily he didn't do this inside!

After the West Wing tour, we made a bonus stop at Dad's office, which is just a few blocks from the White House. His office is *almost* as nice as the one we toured earlier. I mean, check out that scenic view. ;)