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Todd at 5 months + 1 week old (23 weeks) – January 30, 2015

SIXTH MONTH
(JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 21)

I’ve been thinking this every month– but it seems like each month there’s more going on than the last!  Baby development fascinates and entertains me!  Let’s dive in…

WEEK 23

There’s lots new to mention this week about sleep and food!  (Two of my favorite things, you too?)

Todd grabbing at his loose bedding – January 22, 2015

Sleep–

1. Todd started out his 6th month with 2 more record-length night time sleeps (10.75 hours on January 21-22 and 11 hours on January 23-24).  In general, 10+ hour night time sleeps are now a regular occurrence and not just outliers.
2. Now– when I put Todd in his crib for the night, he’s generally wide awake and no longer practically asleep.  He shows that he’s tired by arching back and waving his head from side to side during his before-bed feeding.  In bed, he makes little moaning/squeaking noises and then usually falls asleep without crying.
3. Check this out!  Todd took some day time naps in his crib instead of the swing.  I tested it out on January 23rd, not out of necessity, but because I’ve been feeling increasingly nervous knowing that Todd will soon grow too big for the swing.  I didn’t know how he’d react to the crib for naps…

That morning, I dressed Todd in his usual (warm) nap clothing, I put on a lullaby music CD, I turned on his Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother, and I gave him a blanket friend to play with.  He didn’t cry.  He chatted and played for a few minutes, then went to sleep!!  Unfortunately, I had to wake him up after 1.5 hours because we had to leave the house for my doctor appointment.

In the afternoon of that same day, he took a 45 minute crib nap.  On January 24th, he crib-napped 30 minutes.  On January 25th, he crib-napped 45 minutes.  On January 26th, he crib-napped 30 minutes, but it was broken up by some crying.  But…

On January 27th, he protested his crib nap…so I put him in the swing.  And the little turkey fell asleep almost instantly and slept for 2.75 hrs…which is a very typical swing nap length.

After that, I decided that I wanted my “über-napper” back, so from that day onward it was back to swing naps.  So…we’ll face the day Todd gets too big for the swing when that day comes.  For now we won’t fix what isn’t broken!

1st Crib Nap – January 23, 2015

Food–

I know, I know– Todd isn’t 6 months old yet!  But this week we started experimenting with solid food.  I started reading a book about Baby Led Weaning (BLW).

On January 25th, Eric made some guacamole (we use just avocado and lime, nothing else).  I was going to just put a dot on Todd’s lips for him to taste.  Well, Eric got a little excited and grabbed Todd’s spoon to feed him a bite…and another…and another.  Todd seemed excited to eat it up.  After several bites, though, something triggered his gag reflex, and out it all came.  I was taking pics so I caught him mid-gag, haha!  The Great Guacamole Feed was over!

Right before the guacamole came up! – January 25, 2015

On January 26th, I went shopping at Babies R Us.  We needed some new nipples for our Philips Avent Natural Bottles.  Avent’s been our preferred bottle ever since I tried the one I got for free from Target for starting up a baby registry.

If you can believe it, Todd was still using the #1 Newborn Flow nipples well into his 4th month and he only started using the #2 Slow Flow nipples (recommended for ages 1 mo +) well into his 5th month.  (We didn’t start the #2s sooner because the formula would run out of his mouth too fast.)

After the shopping trip, we retired the #2s and started using the new #3 Medium Flow nipples (recommended for ages 3 mo +).  I bought some Fast Flow (#4) nipples (recommended for ages 6 mo +) for future use.

Todd was ready.  After that, he started guzzling 8 ounces in a feeding, without excessive leakage.  He purposefully grabbed at his bottle with both hands, pulled it to his mouth, and, for the most part, held it on his own when reclined.

Also on January 26th, we started offering Todd finger foods.  At this point, the goal is “food play.”  He was definitely interested in all the new textures, smells and tastes.  He liked rubbing the firm fruits/veggies against his toothless gums, and he can “bite” off small pieces.  His gag reflex worked well when small pieces found their way to the back of his tongue.  Yes, I’m being very careful about choking prevention!

Sucking on an apple slice – January 26, 2015

Highlights:

• 1st 10.75 hour & 11 hour night time sleeps (1/21 to 1/22 and 1/23 to 1/24)
• 1st crib nap (1/23)
• 1st rollerblade using the 3-wheel stroller (Centennial Trail, 1/25)
• 1st trial spoon-feeding solid food (guacamole, 1/25)

• grabbing his loose bedding and pulling it over him (1/22)
• funny tongue protruding (see video)
• falling asleep at night without crying despite being wide awake
• started using medium flow nipples
• holding own bottle if reclined
• kicking at mattress in his crib (can hear him through the wall)

• new finger foods this week:  apple, avocado, steamed broccoli, romaine leaves, spinach leaves, raw red pepper, raw celery.

Walk at Langus Riverfront Park & Spencer Island Regional Park – January 24, 2015

Rollerblading on the Centennial Trail – January 25, 2015

WEEK 24

On February 3rd, I heard some new scratching sounds coming from the baby monitor in the morning.  My suspicion was correct:  Todd had rolled himself onto his belly and was scratching at his sheets.  When I walked in, he was also fingering the monitor (sitting in the corner).  Time to move the monitor!

1st time on his belly in the crib – February 3, 2015

Highlights:

• 1st time rolling back-to-belly in his crib (2/3)
• I nicknamed him “thumper” because of his mattress kicking.
• Visit from Eric’s parents and our friend, Ellen (2/4)

• new finger foods this week:  rotini pasta noodle, pancake, banana, pizza crust, yam
• spoon-fed pureed food:  yam, banana, green smoothie

Munchin’ on a pancake – January 31, 2015

WEEK 25

We had a sad start to this week because our ~15 year old cat, Millie, died on Friday, February 6th.  You can read about her in the previous post, Missing Millie.

Millie and Todd – February 6, 2015

Todd was getting noticeably way more active!  He’s a high-energy guy, especially in the evenings.  Here’s some new things in the “motor function” department this week:

• On his back, he started doing a “hip-wiggle-wiggle” marching thing, and one time he spun himself around in almost a complete circle while on his back.  Imagine a clock hand going around!
• From his back, he very quickly rolls to his belly.  From there, he can now spin ~90 degrees on his belly to reach for toys.  He started doing a “pseudo-crawl” to propel forward.
• At the end of the week, he did more rolling from belly-to-back than he’s done in previous weeks.  Now it’s more smooth and coordinated.

Food–

On February 5th, I gave Todd a sip of my green smoothie, and he wanted more, so I gave him a couple tablespoons from his own “cup” (a mini silicone pinch bowl).  That started a regular habit of giving him green smoothie most mornings.  He slurps while I pinch the sides.  He loves it, and he tries to pull the bowl into his mouth with his hands.  Our green smoothies contain kale or collard greens, banana, orange, avocado, celery, berries, tropical fruits (pineapple, mango) and pea protein powder.

Todd watches me closely from his ExerSaucer when I’m in the kitchen.  He knows when I’m preparing his “formula milk” and gets visibly excited when he’s ready for some (he bounces up and down).

Slurping up green smoothie – February 7, 2015

Sleep–  AKA…Transition to Tummy Sleeping!

• February 9…I put Todd to bed at 7:30 PM and he was wide awake.  He quickly rolled to his tummy in his crib.  “Oh, no,” I thought!  When he fell asleep that way I was shocked!  Two hours later, I heard him crying and I knew why.  I turned him back over and he slept on his back for the rest of the night.
• February 10th…I put Todd to bed at 8 PM and he immediately rolled to his tummy.  I put him on his back again, then he fell asleep.  He woke up at 2:45 AM and he was on his tummy again.  I fed him and he returned to sleep on his back.
• February 11th…I put Todd to bed at 7:30 PM and he was actually asleep for a change.  He woke up crying at 2:30 AM.  This time, he was on his tummy with his head in the corner.  There were some red abrasions on his head from the crib rails.  After I fed him, I put him on his back.  Within just a couple minutes, he turned onto his tummy AND got himself facing the opposite direction!  He was picking at the loose edge of his sheet where his feet normally would be.  I put him on the floor so I could fix his sheets.  Within minutes on the floor he rolled from back-to-belly and then belly-to-back.  It took until 4 AM to get us both back in our beds.
• February 12th…I padded Todd’s crib so that he wouldn’t create more abrasions on his head.  (Previously, the rails were lined with just a thin mesh crib liner).  I did a pretty good DYI job, using some old folded bath towels.

Todd’s Padded Room – February 12, 2015

That evening, we went to our condo in Wenatchee and I lowered the “mattress” in the Pack ‘N Play travel bed.  Todd went right to sleep at 10:30 PM, but he woke up crying an hour later.  Sure enough, he’d wiggled himself into the corner.  I fed him and he fell asleep on his tummy.  At 3:45 AM, he wasn’t crying but it sounded like he was struggling.  Head in the corner again!  I moved him to the center and he fell asleep.

Highlights:

• 1st tummy sleeping (2/9)
• Visit at Eric’s parents house (2/10)

• gets more distracted by his feet/socks (or other items) while sitting on the toilet
• new mouth/tongue sucking thing he kept doing
• “hip wiggle wiggle” on back (see video below)
• pseudo crawling to propel forward
• more rolling belly-to-back, more smoothly and coordinated
• tries to do a sit-up when on his back

• new finger foods this week:  pancake (made with wheat flour, cornmeal, pumpkin), Baby Mum Mum cracker
• new spoon-fed pureed food this week:  taste of lentil/tomato soup broth, baked beans

WEEK 26 (AND PART OF 27)

It IS still ski season, although there isn’t much snow…

Todd & Eric at Mission Ridge – February 13, 2015

This week Todd settled into his tummy sleeping routine.  Now, I don’t have to “rescue” him, for the most part.  He’s often seen sleeping with knees drawn up underneath him…so cute!

Sleeping in the Pack ‘n Play travel bed – February 15, 2015

Sitting in his FIsher Price chair – February 15, 2015

At our condo, the papasan chair is a favorite!  He loves being assisted to stand up against the side “wall,” then tries to let go, and falls backward.  It’s been a great chair to have because he can also sit and play in it while we fix meals and such.

More “firsts” in motor function this week:

• Todd got up on hands-and-knees from his belly for the first time.
• From sitting, Todd can now reach way out in front for things, and he did his first transition (in control) from sitting-to-belly when reaching for a toy.
• Todd stood for a full 4 seconds completely balanced and without any support.  He likes to practice standing using the “rails” of his play mat.  He needs help to get “placed” but then we let go.  Then, he lets go with one hand and then the other.
• From hands-and-knees, Todd pulled his left knee and foot way under him for the first time (February 20th).
• Briefly presses up into a “plank,” from belly.

Hands & Knees – February 19, 2015

On February 18th, Todd had his 6 month pediatrician check-up, including receiving his 6 month vaccines.  Todd was 15 pounds, 6.5 ounces (14th percentile), 26″ long (25th percentile), and head circumference 42.5 cm (27th percentile).  Growth in all areas picked up since the last visit!

The doctor said to start feeding solids twice a day and that no food is off limits (from an allergy standpoint), if properly prepared.  (Honey is the exception but we don’t eat honey!)

Closing out the 6th month in style–> Todd has been on a roll with pooping in the toilet.  There were ZERO poopy diapers for the entire month!  As I complete this post (on February 23rd), it’s been 39 days in a row and we’re still counting.  The last poopy diaper was January 15th!  The little bit of solid food that Todd’s been eating hasn’t changed the consistency, although the color (of the digested green smoothie) is noticeably darker.

Highlights:

• 1st time getting up on hands and knees (2/15)
• 1st time going from sitting-to-belly (2/16)
• 1st “crawl” from one end of the couch to the other (2/16)
• 1st standing without any support and completely balanced (for 4-seconds, 2/16)
• Record sleep, 11.25 hrs (2/18 to 2/19)
• got startled when he tooted on the toilet…haha! (2/20)
• pooping in the toilet for the whole month

• examines fingertips of both hands and touches them together, etc
• making sounds:  “bom,” ba” and “ma ma”
• lots of smiles and giggles
• wearing 6 and 9 month clothes
• very driven/motivated to challenge himself; likes to show off
• now prefers to be on his tummy rather than his back, because he’s more mobile that way

• new finger foods this week:  pancake (made with wheat and oat flours, applesauce, almond butter), vegan burger patty (from Costco)
• new spoon-fed pureed food this week:  sweet potato, peas
• 1st time using the Fisher Price Healthy Care™ Booster Seat (2/13)

6 Months Old – February 21, 2015