Dear Matthew:
Your fifth month of life can probably best be summarized with the word first! So many firsts in this past month, and it’s no wonder you’re busy and active… even in your sleep!
First first: You got your first fever and cold, a few days before you, Mama and Baba left for Christmas. You felt warm in the morning, and then a few hours later when Baba checked your temperature, you had an official fever, so we took you to the doctor’s to get checked out. Unfortunately there wasn’t a miracle cure we could give you, other than to watch your symptoms, and take good care of you. You also unfortunately flew with a cold, and spent the first half of Christmas at Great-Grandma Powell’s house sick and sounding like you had a bad cigarette habit (”Oh Matthew, you sound better - only down to 2 packs a day!”), but throughout it all, you remained upbeat and cheerful!
Second first: Your first Christmas and your first trip to California! We ran you ragged, little boy. You got to see Great Grandma again, and your Auntie Jera, and your Grandma and Grandpa, and your Great Aunt and Uncle Charla & Stan, your Aunties Clio & Lara, and the list could go on. You were “spoiled” by your family - you loved opening Christmas presents - and eating the wrapping paper! You drooled copiously. Threw up a few times, mostly on Mama and Baba and once I think on Grandpa (I think, though, he’s forgiven you). We could tell you were feeling better because your voice was much less raspy sounding, which was very nice, indeed.
Third first: You sat in a high chair for the first time! Mama and Baba took you to visit a friend, Ani, and at lunch you sat perched up on the high chair, chewing on your favorite teething toy, a ring of brightly colored rings. You spent much of the time smiling at all of the ladies at the dim sum restaurant, passers-by who would catch your eye, and really pretty much anyone. You are a very charming fellow and you love people.
Fourth first: Once we got home, you got your first two teeth, within a week of each other! Prior to your teeth finally sprouting, you were a baby juice machine. Mama and Baba gave up on wearing dry clothes after hanging out with you, and Baba was forever changing your bib, because between drinking milk messily and the drool you leaked, you were just not about to stay dry at all. But it was not all for naught - shortly after the new year, your first tooth made its appearance, and then a week later the second one next to it pushed through. We think you’re done teething for the moment, as today we noticed that your bib was remarkably dry and you only went through one today.
Fifth first: You rolled over! You have been working very hard at rolling over while you’re on tummy time, and sometimes we think if you were wearing disposable, thinner diapers, you might very well have tipped yourself over, but your butt (which we lovingly call cottage cheese), is wrapped in cloth, which is thick, and which may one day provide you adequate protection when you start walking and falling on your behind, now keeps you pretty much firmly on the bed when we flip you onto your tummy. A few times, you had your butt in the air and were JUSTTHISCLOSE to turning over, but it didn’t happen, alas, despite our cheering you on. But, you finally did it - pretty quickly too, just last Saturday, but haven’t replicated it. That’s quite alright, though, because you have the rest of your life to flip over. Read the rest of this entry »
