It's fascinating, really

how much my baby is developing and how. The other day I was speaking to him in a happy tone BUT he was *not* looking at me. He could not see my face but he smiled and got excited. I realized he was processing what I was saying and his brain was recognizing it as a positive tone with out him even needing to see my face! I find that pretty amazing.

I never realized before how their brain processing is also developing auditorily. You would think that by child #4, nothing would be 'new' or exciting any more right? but NO! I'm seeing even more fine details that I never noticed before. We are such fascinating creatures. The way we learn, develop and take in the world around us. each aspect more fascinating than the previous.

Baby K is practically sitting up now. He can for a few seconds before slightly leaning over and then falling over. O! We visited a friend the other day who's youngest is 1 year old and also loves to scream. So guess who has picked up this *adorable* ear piercing habit? yikes! Another fascinating part of development--imitation? I guess he's a fast learner. :-)

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, oh Mother,

come shake out your cloth,

empty the dustpan,

poison the moth,

hang out the washing

and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house

is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery,

blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little

Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done

and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing

will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up,

as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.

Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep'

~Ruth Hulburt Hamilton~

Growing, growing, growing...

like a WEED! haha!

He finally had his 2 mos check-up--yes he's 5.5 mos old. He was *lost* in the system & once he was found it was another month before he could get in to see the doc.

He weighs 15 lbs 4 oz! He's doing well rolling over & pushing up when he is on his belly.

Last week he cut in a beautiful new pearly white! No more chewing on my knuckles..those baby teeth are sharp!

He received 3 shots today & is *not* a happy camper! He is the most fussy he has ever been. The baby tylenol helped. I was glad he @ least, got out of 1 shot, because he was too old. I am not %100 comfortable w/ vaccinations but I am not %100 not giving them either. My compromise is for them to receive them later than recommended. I figure their immune systems are more developed and all that breastmilk has provided good natural antibodies & protection.

He went on his first camping trip last week. it wasn't so bad. I think he enjoyed the hike we took. He was in the wrap & didn't fuss a bit. He fell asleep after awhile. Everyone commented on how *good* he was--never hear him cry. He didn't sleep so well the first night, but who would on that hard ground? He did better the second night...too bad I didn't.

The EC is continuing & worked great while camping. Even more so since he was mostly 'in arms' the majority of the time.

he will be starting solid foods soon....the doctor said no eggs but I recently read egg yolk is good for babies--a good 'fat'. Doctor also said after 6 mos he can basically eat *anything*...really? hhhmmm...interesting.

Speaking of food--have you walked down the baby food aisle lately? Gerber has this expanded line of baby/toddler & preschool foods--totally disgusting! It's a meal in a box! Basically a tv dinner for a baby. Naturally they call it healthy! yuck! It says NO preservatives...ok well then HOW do you *box* vegetables? O! you put it in a 'pouch'? barf!

And I know inexperienced moms are going to see those & probably feel *good* giving it to baby. :(