Literally the day after writing your 5-month blog, you figured out how to roll from your back to your tummy. You haven't stopped moving since! Because of your torticollis, you were only able to roll to your left. You would roll across your room (or your crib) and eventually hit a wall and get stuck since you weren't able to roll back the other way. This created a major sleeping issue. Bedtime (and naptime) became prime time for you to practice your new rolling skills. However, it would only take a couple of rolls across your crib for you to get stuck on the other side (often with a limb poking through the rungs). You would get angry and cry and mom or dad would have to come in and rescue you... This was fun and exciting the first few times ("oh, he's so strong!"), but it quickly lost it's luster after repeating itself numerous times night after night. Not only did we have to get up and reposition you more times than I can count, but all of your moving and shaking seemed to work up an appetite and you would often need to be fed around 3am. Add that to the fact that you like getting up at 5am and you had some parents who were majorly sleep deprived!
Luckily, this phase only lasted about 3 weeks (although I think we are now entering the teething phase which is also not helping with your sleep). Your physical therapy payed off and you now can roll to your right. You still move all around your crib, but can usually free yourself when you get stuck. You roll with such gusto that we are now awoken by the sound of your helmet crashing against the sides of your crib. I'm afraid of what will happen to your poor little head once you're not wearing the helmet!
Speaking of the helmet... You got your helmet about 3 weeks ago. You look so cute in it and draw lots of attention where ever we go! The first week, you gradually worked up to wearing it 23 hours a day. I have been so amazed by how little it bothers you! You are such a trooper. (Your physical therapists and orthotist rave at what a "chill" baby you are). Your helmet has to be off when we do your stretches and when you bathe, so we usually take it off three times a day for 20 minutes. These are my favorite times of day because I can kiss your head and snuggle you much more easily. Don't get me wrong, you are just as adorable with the helmet, but it definitely gets in the way. It also can be used as a weapon- I'll be surprised if dad and I don't get any teeth knocked out over the next few months! The good news is that it seems to be working. You haven't had any measurements taken since you started wearing the helmet, but I can see that your flat spot is already starting to round out.
You have just started to sit up (for very short moments) unsupported. I think the helmet puts you at a slight disadvantage, though... However, it does help when you lose your balance (especially when you're on the hardwood floors)!
After devouring your rice cereal for a couple of weeks, I decided that you were probably ready to try some fruits and vegetables. I started by mixing some pears with your cereal. You loved it! Since then, we've tried a new food every few days. (We would have tried more, but you're supposed to wait a few days between new foods to look for signs of allergies). So far you've had sweet potatoes, apples, peas, carrots, bananas, and mangoes. You love to eat and are a pro at it! You straighten your little arms and legs and squeal with excitement when the spoon is coming. I actually have to feed you your bottle first to make sure you're still getting enough milk because you seem to prefer food. A few times when I fed you food first, you cried and arched your back when I tried to give you your bottle...
Since you are doing so well with solid foods, I have slowly started to wean. My goal was to get to six months, but now that we're here I am feeling sad about stopping. My "supply" has never been over-abundant and you never took to breastfeeding, but I love knowing that you're still getting all the benefits of breast milk. I absolutely despise pumping, though, and it's getting harder to entertain you while I'm pumping. I've gone from six pumping sessions a day to five and I already feel like it's freed up some time in my day. I can't imagine how it will feel to be completely done...
We've been soaking up the last weeks of summer! You have a new big boy (aka jogging) stroller so you can look out at the world while we're on our walks. The only problem is that I can't see you as well (you faced me in your other stroller) and I have to stop every so often to look at you.
You and Christopher hanging out after one of our many walks around Lake Harriet.
We have gone to the park a couple of times and you even got to try out the swing!
We also spent a glorious summer day at the Landscape Arboretum.
Happy six months peanut!
Love, Mom
