Dear Norah, Month Five

Dear Norah,

Oh, how I love the sweet smiley stage you are in right now. Your gummy smiles light up the room and bring joy to so many, even to complete strangers that you smile at when we are out in public. The single dimple on your right cheek makes your smiles even more adorable and we are so fortunate that you spend most of your days smiling.

Your head and neck control really started to develop this month, which opened the door for new opportunities for you to play, including your bumbo chair and your jumperoo. While you haven’t quite figured out that you can “jump” in your jumperoo, you like being in it and are entertained by the array of activities it provides. That is, when you’re not being entertained by your brother, who pretty much makes it his mission to make you smile and laugh. Your current favorite activity that produces the most giggles is when Graham dances to his Rock N Roll Elmo. The more outrageous his moves, the deeper your laughs.

 

 

You started rice cereal this month and ate it without any troubles. While some babies make faces or reject the food with their tongues, you were quite the opposite and actually seemed to enjoy each mealtime. With this development, your daytime feedings started to stretch out a bit, as you now would go three hours between feedings, an extra hour for which I am very thankful. 

We made a trip over to Titusville during your fifth month, where you got to meet your great-grandma and great-uncle and aunts. You did pretty well during the 2-hour car ride over, only fussing the last little bit. You were delightfully entertaining for family and even for all those at church on Sunday. After church we went to visit mommy’s friend Melody, who happened to be in town visiting her parents as well. When we got there, you decided it was the perfect time for a messy diaper. Only it wasn’t a little messy diaper. It was seriously the biggest mess I have ever seen. Ever. Your diaper leaked all over your dress and bloomers, all over me, and all over their (thankfully tile) floor. I actually changed you on the front porch in fear of creating any more mess inside their house. You were oblivious to the chaos, smiling throughout the mess.

We also ventured out to your first baseball game this month. While we also took your brother to a baseball game as an infant, this time we were a bit more adventurous and went to a mid-day outdoor spring training game where we had grass seats. You did great for the first half of the time that we were there as you slept in the stroller. Then the second half of the time you decided it was a bit too warm for you and you weren't fond of the heat. I hate to break it to you, but we live in Florida and the weather the day of the game was actually delightful.

Oh, how I wish I could say your sleep improved this month, but it hasn’t. At all. I know I will look back on this newborn stage in life and mourn its brevity, but operating as a mommy zombie makes the days (and nights) so long. I’m trying to take in the sweetness of the nighttime cuddles and absorb the feeling of being so needed. Again, it’s a good thing you reward me with so many smiles during the day.

Love,

Mommy