I realized the other day I haven’t talked much about this sweet thing. I’ve noted his *monthly* birthdays (mostly) and talked alot about what others think about him, but I haven’t actually given his personality much note here.
Let’s remedy that, shall we?
According to the blog alone, you might think he was just a side note, an extra in the Parker drama, merely the cutest accessory I own. But that’s not the case. In real life he’s the star. The one that steals the show. And our hearts.
He’s fit into our circus just like he’s always had a place waiting in the ring. He’s so smiley. But so fragile. You can cuddle, kiss, and coo at him all you want. You can carry on about all your normal 4 kid yelling, playing, cuttin’ up as usual. But you can’t play “peek-a-boo” or “pee-pie” or “where’s the baby?” - it’s too scary for him. He makes this pitiful little face, gets really still, breathes heavy, and then starts this high pitched scream that says “you’ve scared me silly, big meanie.” You can’t come at him too fast – it’s too much. He’s all about some too-many-kid cuddles, but you better approach him like a you would a wild bunny. Slowly, gently, and with much love in your eyes. He just won’t tolerate your loud, crazy, in his face shenanigans.
His first little toofie has made it’s appearance this week. Well, kind of appearance. While sitting at the dinner table the other night allowing him to “teeth” on my knuckle (his favorite teething toy, by the way) I realized that there was a little pokey tooth. I announced this news with glee and immediately had little hands wanting to feel. I told them they all had to wash first and they ran like crazy to scrub up just to be the first to feel. He still gets to bite my chin, for the time being. And he loves that game. He’ll bite hard, shake his head back and forth and giggle.
He loves to take naps in this swing:
As with babies 3 and 4 in this house, he sleeps better in the middle of the daily chaos than off in a quiet room alone.
He loves his paci-blankie.
BigMan used it as well as TheMiddlest, but TheFinalist has definitely taken to it with much more zeal. I love it in town because it’s really easy to tuck most of the blanket into the Moby with him and not drop his paci, plus I don’t have to worry about a hard paci clip rubbing against his soft little body. He doesn’t sleep with it at night, I’m too worried about him to allow that, which may be one reason he doesn’t sleep well alone. But who cares? Who would want to put such a fleeting sweetie down somewhere for that long?
He’s pudgy. What? You couldn’t tell? At his last doctor’s visit (around his 5th month birthday) he was just over 16 pounds. Between 90th and 95th percentile for everything. He’s still in 6-9 month outfits, but barely. He’s definitely ready for me to dig those 9-12 month outfits out of the closet. And he graduated to size 3 diapers (the same as his, now potty-trained brother)!
He’s not rolling over. But this time around I’m not so worried. I don’t have a pack-n-play (mental note: get a playpen), but I do have a whirlwind of runners in the house. So I don’t lay him down on the floor as much as I would like. It’s unnerving with my roaring tornadoes, I tell ya. And when I do lay him on a little blanket, I don’t like laying him on his tummy, because until just the other day, we haven’t had a rug to put him on. And who wants to put a sweet squishy baby face down on a hard floor? So, he gets back time. He’ll figure it out. In his own time.
When he is laying on a blankie playing and someone comes to kiss or hold hands or talk he gets so excited that he kicks his little hands and feet in such excitement that you can’t help but smile.
He loves the exersaucer thing. As did numbers 1, 2, and 3. How did I live without one of these things for BigMan?
Does not like the Bumbo. At.All. He throws his head back, does a backbend trying to get out of it and fusses until you FIX IT!
He now rides in the stroller some, but still would just as soon be wrapped up next to Mama with that comfy Moby.
And though, we’ve used the Ergo a few times, he just still seems so much comfier in the Moby.
He likes Mama best (sorry, Daddy, you know your day is coming, though), but will enjoy his cuddle and playtime with Daddy until he’s had enough of it and wants Mama again.
He’s so verbal. Coos and talks and hums all the time.
When we hold him now the only position is up. He wants to be held upright under his arms so that he can “stand” the whole time.
When you do force him to lay or sit in your lap he spends his time pulling his head up trying to get to a sitting position.
At mealtimes I usually hold him while I eat. This is because he sits somewhere while I prepare the meal, so by the time it’s ready he’s beyond ready to be held. (Read: crying to beat the band) He’s begun smacking and reaching for our food. We’ve begun talking about the need for a highchair and baby cereal soon. It’s on the horizon and as with every other first, all the other kids are SO excited to get started with it!
He loves kisses. And good thing too.
