Date: February 10, 2018 (his height and weight are from the 15th when he had his doctor's appointment)
Height: 23.25 inches
Weight: 12 lbs. 3.8 oz.
Sleeping Pattern: Pretty similar to last month but it's much more well established (I feel like as soon as I typed this James decided he'd start struggling with his naps, gah) and he's got longer wake times. More specifics on all of this in the day in the life question.
Eating Habits: Again, pretty much the same as last month-he eats every 2-3 hours during the day and wakes up once or twice in the night. He love love loves to eat-but he's become more efficient about it so it usually only lasts like 10-15 minutes (sometimes he'll even be done after like 8-9 minutes, of course other times he'll be weird and take like 20-30...kids are unpredictable) which is convenient for me lol. He tends to just lay on his boppy, eat, and have a look of intense concentration, usually doing something funny with his hands. If he's denied eating for very long (he pretty much knows that as soon as he wakes up it's eating time) he gets ANGRYYY. He also has started just like smacking his lips when he's hungry haha. And he's had a few bottles, which has been going pretty well.
Development: James is getting SO BIG. Super alert and holds himself up so well. His head control has gotten even better (and he's pretty good at tummy time although he's not a huge fan, he does tolerate it better when he does it on the boppy)-and he's already rolled over a couple times while doing tummy time on the couch. GAH. He's huge on imitation (faces, small body movements, and sounds. Faces are easiest for him but he's been experimenting with the rest) and is cooing a bunch. He's also got crazy strong legs and a strong grip (he's gotten really into grabbing stuff, particularly my hair and shirt) and has gotten pretty awesome at self soothing for sleep.
Mischief: Sometimes he wants to have super short little naps during the day. There have also been a couple times in the last week where he ends up just laying in his crib and playing (namely sticking his tongue out a lot lol) instead of sleeping (adorable, but not great for his sleep)-and he'll occasionally just refuse to nap all together. Aside from that he spits up a lot, usually at the most inopportune moments, and generally seems pretty pleased with himself afterwards. He still sometimes tries to break out of his sleepsack and, mostly at night, oftentimes he'll pop his hand out the top of it and suck on it. His hands are still a bit mischievous sometimes, grabbing at stuff and getting in the way occasionally when he's eating (not as much as they used to, though!) And um...he doesn't love to just sit and be held, he wiggles around a lot and wants to do something and look at stuff. Honestly he's pretty much just a really good baby so there's not much right now!
Cuteness: Somehow he's gotten even CUTER. He is SO expressive and it's so adorable and fun, especially when he gives you big delighted grins (although he also has huuuge playful grins he uses for when he thinks you're being funny or he's having fun that are up there with the joyful ones)-he's getting super super smiley. And he sticks his tongue out a lot lol. When I kiss him I always end it by saying "MUAH" ending with a big open mouth when I pull away and he does the open mouth too and usually loves kisses. When I take him upstairs for sleep (and just in general when I hold him oftentimes) he'll wrap his arms kind of around me in a little hug-like hold. He's also coo-ing (including, but not limited to, trying to imitate us when we go "Ooooh"). And he blows bubbles and has started sucking on his hand to soothe himself/just for fun (oftentimes with a hilarious fierce face). Plus he very clearly knows Michael and I and adores us so it's the sweetest thing ever seeing him light up when the 3 of us are together (he genuinely seems to recognize it and be thrilled about it). AND HE LOVES TO DANCE. We had a little family dance party the other day and he was grinning and essentially laughing and clearly having the time of his life. Honestly...so much cute. Hard to sum it up!
Talking: He coos and it's the cutest. He mostly just makes random little noises but sometimes tries (and occasionally succeeds) to say "oooh" or "hiii" (because when we play "the face game"-AKA making faces back and forth with him-we say those a lot with corresponding facial expressions). He's "talking" more and more, though, and I'm obsessed!
Favorites: Me and Michael. Eating. Being naked (seriously, as soon as I take off his outfit he's happier, and when his diaper comes off he's happiest)--this includes baths, he loves them. The face game (he imitates you, you imitate him, it's a cycle of fun). Dancing. Being sang to. Kisses.
Dislikes: Being taken out of the bath, his car seat, being denied food, being held in one stationary position for very long.
Firsts: He was semi-watched by someone other than Michael or I, we've done a test run with all of his parents (technically Michael was there at both houses but he pretty much left them to do everything themselves. We still have to do one of these with my mom) and it went well. So well that we ended up full on leaving him with Michael's mom and sister last weekend while we had a late Valentine's Day dinner! (He slept the entire time, woo!) James had his first non-doctor's visit outing for his baptism, and got to meet his Uncle Josh for the first time. I left him for the first time and worked for the first time (I hate it I hate it I hate it, but he always greets me with big grins when I get back that melt my heart).
Concerns: Nothing in particular, really! Sometimes he struggles with his naps or is cranky and crying for no real reason so that always stresses me out but he always ends up being fine. The severity of the flu season at present too has made us paranoid about James being around people and catching something. Other than that, at the moment things are pretty un-concerning!
A Day in the Life: If it's a normal day at home, usually wake up for the day around 6, feed him, play a bit (tummy time, the face game, walking around, the activity gym, whatever suits our fancy), then put him back down for a nap around 7 or so. Then he generally sleeps well for this nap, until like 8:30-9. Then feeding and another hour-ish of the awake time. Wake up between 11 and 12. Eat and play and back to sleep. Wake up around 2-3. Eat and play and back to sleep. Wake up anywhere from 4-5 then eat and play and sleep. Wake up around 7-7:30. Eat and play (and/or bath twice a week) and sleep. Wake up one more time at 10, change him, nurse him to sleep and then we all go to bed for the night. He then usually wakes up to eat again around 2 and goes right back to sleep. Hopefully he then sleeps until 6 but sometimes he'll wake up around 4 or 5. And, yeah, that's a typical day!