I suppose I became a mother the moment James began his life within me, so I had my first Mother's day last year. However, this year is my first with a darling baby in my arms-so it is my second first Mother's Day. Hard to fathom how just six months ago today James was so tiny (relatively) in my arms- waking me me up every 1/2 hour to perhaps a blissful 2 hours, already making funny faces, charming his daddy into changing poopy diaper after poopy diaper, and convincing me that a c-section is so worth having if it results in such a precious perfect gift from God.
The best good morning to see first thing on Mothers Day!Now six months later James is laughing, anticipating getting nuzzled and smiling at the thought, eating solids (to date he has consumed: rice cereal, peas, turkey, cranberries, apples, banana, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, avocado, prunes, green beans, wheat, onions and pears). He really likes to eat and has over the past month graduated to 3 meals a day. He is still nursing 6-8 times daily.
His sleep has greatly improved from the above mentioned newborn 1/2 hours wakings to 2-3 naps a day 1-2 of which are his normal 30 minute power naps and one that I have forced into a longer nap by refusing to get him out of his crib until an hour has passed. He was waking up crabby from his afternoon naps so I took the advice of a friend and left him in one day for an hour and he fussed for a bit and went back to sleep for quite a long time. Now 70% of the time he'll take a longer nap in the afternoon- sometimes not waking at all for 1 hour and 40 minutes, other times waking up fussing and going back to sleep several times over the course of over 2 hours.
At night when he turned 5 months I instituted a rule that I wasn't going to go in and nurse him if it had been less than 4 hours and it seemed to work in reducing his nightly wakings. Then recently I read that a 6 month old baby could theoretically sleep through the night- that they don't
need to be getting up in the night to eat. So about a week ago I decided I'm not getting up before 2am (which would mean I would only be getting up once a night to nurse James). Some nights he has gone right along with this plan, other nights he woken up at midnight and fussed and semi-cried for up to half an hour before falling back asleep. One night he woke right before midnight and I stole myself against going in to comfort him and he fell back asleep after only 5 or so minutes and then slept till 4am! Obviously he does not need to be getting up to eat so often at night if he can make it 8 hours! Unfortunately, the longer naps has resulted in shortened sleep at night- he is waking up early. This morning at 6:15! Not that early in some people's opinions, but I am not a morning person so it is early for me especially after already getting up once in the night.
He was a champ this last month gaining two bottom teeth with nary a side effect-there was some extreme drooling for a couple of days, but he didn't seem to get any of the standard low-grade fever, diarrhea or extra fussiness. Hopefully all his teething will go this smoothly!
He is getting ever more mobile- doing his first barrel rolls (back to front to back to front to back again in one fluid movement down the bed). He has the components of crawling down- first the front half and then the back half- but has yet to link the two into actual forward movement. He does have a rather unique way of creeping forward towards a desired object by placing his arms by his sides hands pointing towards his feet then pushing with his hands backwards, pushing off his toes forward and sliding on the side of his face and upper chest a centimeter at a time towards that desired object. (Tim and I are pretty sure this is why his eyelid/eyebrow were swollen one morning which necessitated me taking him to the doctor). He can pretty much navigate all over his 4 ft. x 3 ft. blanket on the floor. And today was the first time he made it up onto elbows and knees with his belly lifted
completely off the floor- even managed to lunge a small ways forward!
He has just started holding up his arms to me if he knows I am about to pick him up. And he LOVES jumping in his johnny-jump-up. He can go forward a few feet towards a goal and can pretty much swing himself around in a circle to follow us or Timber.
His hair is definitely blond and getting longer by the day. So far it is stick straight.
First attempts at the traditional bathtime mohawk.
Still has a faint stork bite between his eyebrows and left eyelid and the Mongolian spots are still holding fast on his behind.
He has a while yet before he'll be sitting up on his own, but lately is folding over less quickly and can even hold himself up a bit- perhaps a 60% angle (but not yet tripoding).
His favorite activities are being sung to, chatted with and read to. Favorite songs are: Old MacDonald; Hickory Dickory Dock; The Ants Go Marching; This Old Man; Jesus Loves Me; This is the Day the Lord has Made; Row, Row, Row your Boat; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Favorite books are: Ten Little Ladybugs; Little Quack; Baby Animals touch&feel; 5 Little Monkeys.
His favorite places to be nuzzled are under his chin, his belly and his back between the shoulder blades- any of these places will send him into peals of laughter.
This past month he has also begun to show interest in Timber- watching her walk by him, turning to follow her around the room. Hopefully they will continue to grow to like each other. We are beginning sign language with James and Timber's dog sign is certainly an easy one to keep reinforcing.
One wonderful aspect of James maturing is that his toys keep his attention for longer. I remember the first time I was able to drive ALL THE WAY to the farmer's market without him fussing and bursting into tears- that was around 4 months old- and now I would be surprised to hear him complaining so quickly. Admittedly, part of this learning is on my part- I know now the signs of impending fussiness and often will begin singing his favorite songs before he realizes that he is bored. But I can't convey adequately how much easier every day is when I know I need to do some errands and I don't have to dread having him breaking down in the car after only 7 minutes.
As I posted before he has graduated to a larger baby tub and last week discovered that he has thighs and knees and boy parts. It was highly amusing to me to see him discover that he has more than just hands and feet.
We are going to the doctor tomorrow for a vaccine and a well-baby visit- so I'll post his stats after the appointment.
Overall James continues to be a very happy and easy baby. It is a true joy and privilege to see his personality manifesting itself more and more. I am so extremely blessed.
James is now (and has been for a while) our alarm clock. He gets up before we would if given the option. Downside- less sleep. Upside- a very cheerful boy to play with in bed for a few minutes before starting the day. Here is his practicing his sitting on Tim's chest (and wearing his new 18-month sized pajamas- he is officially in the 12-month size of Carter's, but I wanted them to last longer than a couple of months at the rate he is growing).
He is getting very close to sitting up on his own. He can tripod pretty well, but tends to straighten his right leg and then topples over that side. 
