Gregory is growing up so fast…here are five examples from the past week.
1. Backstory: As is our habit, Gregory sleeps with Jesse and I after his 4am feeding. This helps both Gregory and I get more sleep, as he nurses when he’s hungry in those early a.m. hours and I don’t have to wake up (sometimes until 9am!). However, since Tim and Hope were visiting this past weekend, Gregory slept with us…pretty much the entire night, all 3 nights. The “danger” risk, if you can call it that, is very low, since we carve out quite a large space for him in between us, on my side of the bed. I am already a side sleeper (pregnancy solidified that once and for all!), and so I hardly need any room. We make sure all pillows and covers are far away from him, and since he only rolls towards me when he wants to nurse…well, I’m actually surprised at how well it’s worked out. And I’m PARANOID when it comes to safety issues. Hmmm…perhaps I should devote an entire post to the virtues of co-sleeping?
One of the things I love about it, is how close Gregory is to me. I can hear him breathing, which lulls me to sleep since I know he is safe and happy. I can also quickly address any issues that, if left unchecked, would have the potential to fully awaken him throughout the night. For instance: The Pacifier Drop. The moment he gets into a deep sleep, the pacifier slips out of his mouth. Usually, I hear this happen and put it back in within seconds. Sometimes, he doesn’t need it– in fact, re-inserting it can also sometimes wake him up!
The other night, I heard The Pacifier Drop. I opened my eyes to assess whether he needed it again, just in time to see him take one hand, grab the pacifier off the bed beside him, and stick it back in his mouth. Just like that. Without fully waking, without even opening his eyes. One smooth motion. It made me realize that swaddling him may not always be the answer! It also made me feel a little sad inside (I know, clingy, right?). My little boy has grown to the point where he can soothe himself, if he chooses. He has the capability of “grabbing his own pacifier, thank you very much!”
2. As I was changing him today, he became fascinated with his…crotchal region. In fact, he started playing with it, one handed, giggling the whole time. Gender confirmed.
3. He is absolutely entranced with our dog. She is sure-fire entertainment, every time. He can’t even nurse if she’s in the same room– watching her means more to him than food! That’s serious, folks.
Anyways, not only does he answer to his own name (he’s been doing that for a while), but now, he perks up and looks around when he hears Claire’s name, as if he knows she’s out there! She’s gonna be a great playmate for him, whether or not she’s ready for it!…
4. When we put him down for a nap the other day, he cried after about 5 minutes. I came in to find that he had broken out of his swaddle, flipped over to his tummy, crawled and gotten himself stuck in the corner of his crib…woah.
5. In addition to his regularly scheduled nursing (every 1.5-2 hrs still!), he ate 5 tablespoons of oatmeal tonight. The normal serving size is 2 for his age. Growth spurt, perhaps?
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