Slow down this horse!

Calvin continues to learn and try new things.  Tonight he was reclining in the bath and surprised us with a whole  new trick - first he pulled himself up to a sitting position (not a new trick), then he pulled himself further into a squatting position (that's a new trick), and then he pushed himself into a wobbly standing position (definitely a brand new trick)!  We don't have a picture of the standing, only the squatting, because who has hands for a camera when they are trying to keep a 5 1/2 month old from toppling over because they shouldn't be standing on their own yet?!?  And yesterday afternoon he traveled over 4 feet in fits and starts of crawling, too.  In fact, he's been so active lately that at an impromptu doctor appointment today they logged him as actually having lost 1/4 of a pound, taking him back down to 16 3/4 lbs and a hair shy of 27 inches.  Of course, that weight loss may better be blamed on the trouble he has been having with his reflux, which was the reason for today's pediatrician appointment.  But we will go into that further when we post tomorrow about our success or lack thereof with Calvin's first try with solid foods.  Yup, you read right.  Much to our chagrin we will, based on the doctor's orders, be starting solids prior to our six month goal.  Look out kitchen, here we come.  More on this tomorrow.

New developments

It would seem that Calvin has a few new tricks up his sleeve.  It's possible that he is starting to teethe.  Either that or he's been watching the dogs too closely, which is a distinct possibility.  Either way, over the past week he has been uncharacteristically fussy, and has become absolutely obsessed with chewing everything.  It's true that he has always gummed everything in his path, but lately it's gone from gumming to gnawing.  And when he doesn't have an object to gnaw on he simply sucks his own lips up and works on those, giving him a very different and not altogether humorless new look.  He does it so often that we're not sure we know what he looks like anymore - either his lips are in his mouth or something else is!  There are no signs of teeth at all yet, but we wonder if it's just a matter of time. 

The other new thing that he is doing is a little more exciting.  This morning for the first time he started trying to crawl.  He didn't get anywhere, mind you, but he was clearly trying all the same.  It kind of took us by surprise because there was no sign of this prior to this morning's tummy time, but suddenly today that is all he will do while on his tummy.  He's not efficient because he hasn't figured out how to lift his head and crawl with his legs at the same time, so while the legs are going like crazy his face is anchored to the floor.  Poor kid.  Although it could still be months before he crawls for real (he is only 5 months), suddenly we are feeling less confident about the Christmas tree.

Oops...a day late, and other issues

We are a day late with the 5 month old stats.  Oops.  And the other problem to which we allude is size related.  We've been keeping track of Calvin's growth by taking monthly pictures in the swing and in the carseat.  We've found this to be a lot of fun, but we really didn't think ahead enough.  Currently Calvin refuses to sit back in his swing - he much prefers to lean forward while it is swinging and talk to the dogs.  So that picture comparison is out.  Then with the carseat we have another problem because he is now too big for the carseat insert that has been in all the other pictures, and without the insert he sits very differently in the seat, so that comparison is out. 

And so we bring you pink dog.  See Calvin now compared to Calvin newborn.  See Calvin newborn compared to pink dog.  See pink dog compared to Calvin now.  We see an "if then" problem in there somewhere. 

 

To Calvin, who is five months old today

Wow!  Five months old!  To us it seems as though you only arrived just yesterday, and yet it is amazing how very different you are now than you were back in June.  Thankfully your physical growth has slowed way down.  You were growing so fast before it was amazing you had any energy left to do other things!  In the past month you have gained slightly more than a pound and slightly more than a half inch, which makes you 17.25 lbs and 26.75 inches.  What a big boy!  And while your growth curve has slowed, your learning curve has picked up the pace.  A month ago you had started to sit froggy style (leaning forward on your arms for balance) for short periods of time, but as of today you sit up straight like a big boy and can stay that way indefinitely (or at least until your next nap).  And next to sitting your new favorite way to play is standing!  Yes, you love to stand, using a table for support, to play with your toys.  That is why your new favorite toys are your doorway jumper and your exersaucer.  You have started turning the pages when we read to you, although never at the appropriate time!  You are vocalizing more and more, through cooing, laughing, gurgling, and lots and lots of raspberries, spit included.  And, most wonderfully, you have become a "settled" baby, showing confidence and comfort in your world.  This month marked your first real season change, and the cold weather brought your first colored leaves and your first snow, a little early this year!  Halloween was fun, mostly for you parents.  We took you to the pumpkin patch, where you loved the pumpkins, and to the old fashioned cider mill, where you loved the gourds, and for Halloween you were the cutest giraffe there ever was!  Calvin, you are our greatest joy!

A Jumper by any other name...

We had this doorway jumper for Calvin which, after hearing how other kids his age were enjoying theirs, we finally put up.  We sort of figured that it would be an extensive installation, but in all actuality it was very simple.  In fact, the hardest part about the assembly and installation was having to use a screwdriver to open the battery case.  Battery case you might ask?  For what?  Well, they don't make jumpers like they used to.  The one we had came with an activity tray and removeable electronic toy console (better known as a whatchamawhoozit) that made Calvin cry every time the music played when he spun the shiny wheel in the middle.  This was an extremely unfortunate circumstance because Calvin's new love in life is spinning things (and someone in the commercial baby world knew that was coming because every toy we have has a spinny majiger on it).  And aside from the fact that the toy made him cry, the jumper was basically useless.  The tray set the whole seat off balance, the result of which was Calvin's obstinate refusal to do anything but lean back.  And spin the spinny do-da. And cry.  This was a major disappointment to both of us, Jon specifically, since he loved his own doorway jumper at that age (and remembers it so well, really). 

The moral of this story?  Sometimes less is more.  After three days with this failure of a jumpy seat, we decided to exchange it for Johnny, the good ol' boy.  You know, Johnny Jumpup?  He may be wearing a new suit, a sage green one with bugs all over it, but he's still the most reliable old pal on the block.  And it may look boring by comparison, but man is it fun!  And it sure gets Calvin moving.  We see a video in the future, possibly set to "I feel like dancing."