You've officially been out as long as you were in. It's so strange to think that you've been a part of our lives for 18 months now. I can't remember life without you.
Here are a few highlights of this month:
You love watching the news. First thing in the morning you want me to turn on the tv so you can watch Good Morning America while you play with your toys in the living room. In the evenings you like to watch the local news after you eat dinner. Some may scoff, but you literally arm flap and "talk" until I turn it on. For some reason you also really like the Ken Nugent commercials that come on - more pointing and smiling and talking. You stop and stare at the tv, just grinning, every time the commercial comes on. I'll bring this up when you're taking pictures with your prom date. :)
Speaking of talking, you're becoming increasingly vocal. The only coherent thing you babble is "mama", but you make a lot of grunting and "ahh" noises about everything. Daddy really wishes you'd start babbling "dada." I always know when you're crawling from room to room because you narrate your movements in "uh..uh..uh..uh.." in rhythm with each step.
You're really starting to cruise these days, too. Grandmommy bought you a little tikes push cart that is supposed to be a mail cart. It has two little doors and three plastic letters to put in the "mail slot". You spend hours each day chewing on the letters, spinning the little top, and pulling yourself up and down on the handle. One of your new favorite activities is to walk behind it until you run into the couch or the wall and then stand there pushing and pushing until I get up and turn you around to walk in a different direction.
Cabinets are also a favorite past time these days. I've installed cabinet locks just about everywhere. You love to crawl over to the cabinet, stand up, use the knobs to open the door, and peer around the edge to see what's inside. You make Daddy hold you up so you can reach the knobs on the pantry. You're so inquisitive!
You're also becoming increasingly independent. You're no longer content to just sit in your high chair and let us feed you. There must be Cheerios or some other finger food for you to feed to yourself on your tray or there is a fit! You've also started trying to stand up in your high chair, which is a big no-no! I wouldn't be surprised if "no no, Nathan" is your first sentence with the frequency you're hearing it.
You have three teeth now, and should be cutting the second top one any day now. I used to think nothing could be cuter than your gummy grin, but those little teeth sure are adorable!
We've finally completely settled into a daytime routine. You wake around 7, eat at 8, nap at 9 (but usually only for 45 min and there's almost always some crying still involved), lunch is between 12 & 1, nap at 2 (again, only 45 min), dinner at 5, bath at 6:30, and asleep (without crying!) at 7. I resisted a routine with you for a long time, but you really seem to have adapted to this and enjoy the structure. We've learned the hard way NOT to mess with nap or bed time and heaven forbid both are thrown off in the same day. There aren't words to describe the epic meltdown that will ensue.
Sleep is still an issue. You're waking between 4 & 6 times in a 12 hour period. According to your pediatrician, we fix this by night weaning. I tried it just the other night and we only made it an hour and a half before I caved and nursed you back to sleep. It caused me physical pain to listen to you crying, knowing that I was withholding what would make you happy. So, we'll just deal with it until you decide you don't want to nurse at night anymore. I know you won't always turn to your mommy for comfort. This is brief period in both our lives and I love the quiet moments with you. I'll enjoy the sleep, but will miss it when you decide you don't need me anymore.
I love you, sweetheart.
Mama
