The Bee's Knees

It all started last Wednesday. Until then, I was a big fan of swaddling. Who wouldn’t like it? It helps you stay snug, warm, and comfy. Plus, I had these flailing things that would hit me in the face all the time. Mom calls them arms. Whatever they are, every time Mom tried to put me to sleep un-swaddled, these “arm-things” would flail around and whack me in the face and wake me up. I hate to admit it, being a guy and all, but it really made me cry! So, I liked my swaddling. About a month or so ago, Mom convinced me to sleep with one of those arm-things out of the swaddling blanket - but it still flailed around a bit and I didn’t always get a lot of sleep.

Then, on Wednesday, I decided that this swaddling thing was for babies. I’m five months old now and I’m no baby, so I said “I’m done with that” and refused to go to sleep swaddled. I fussed and fussed but Mom just didn’t get it (sometimes she’s kind of slow on the up-take). Eventually, she figured out, unwrapped both arms, and I was free to sleep like a big boy. It was great and I slept pretty well.

Mom and Dad were so proud of me that I decided I’d give the other “big thing” a shot. Mom reads a lot of books – she’s a bit of a nerd, really - and those books have been telling her that I would start rolling over anytime from about 3 to 4 months old, though there’s a wide range on this skill.

For months now, she and Dad (mostly Dad, he’s impatient about these things) have been asking me when I thought I might want to rollover. They’ve been showing me how to do it – rolling me from front to back and back to front; over and over again.

It doesn’t seem that hard. I’m pretty strong and they don’t have to help me much. I can lift my butt of the floor really high and I can roll onto my sides easily enough. I could rollover if I wanted to, but really, what’s the point? I like being on my back. Or my front. I don’t really care. And, just about the time I get bored with where I am Mom comes along and whisks me away.

Then, about a week ago, shortly after my 5 month birthday - when those books all said I should be rolling over - Mom took things into her own hands. She got down on the floor and showed me how it’s done. She rolled one way and then the other. Back and forth across the living room floor she went showing me, in detail, the mechanics of rolling. It was pretty funny and we both laughed a lot. But, I still didn’t see any point in trying it myself.

Then came the Wednesday night when I slept like a big boy and I saw how proud Mom and Dad were of me. It got me thinking….

So, on Saturday, I gave it a try…


And another…


And a few more tries that I won’t bore you with. By then I was beat! So, I cuddled with Mom, had a nice big meal, slept for an hour, had a bit more to eat, and gave it another shot.

And Finally…..



Mom and Dad were VERY excited. They gave me hugs and kisses and told me how very clever I am. It was great! So, I decided then and there that’d I’d really surprise them and work on sitting up all on my own.

It was a great surprise and Mom and Dad think I’m just “the bee's knees”, whatever that is. Mom says, “There are probably lots of 5 month old babies that can roll over and some of those might even be working on sitting up. But, how many of those babies rollover and start sitting-up for the first time all on the same day?”

The Power of Speech

Our verbal little Nicholas has discovered the power of speech; he's learned to squeal. And, luckily for me, he's decided it wields the most power when he's angry. He spent the entire day practicing "the squeal" the day he discovered it - honing his volume and timing for the best effect.

He's peeved at me in this clip because I put him in his crib to watch his mobile for a few minutes while I put away some clothes. He did NOT want to be in the crib. Can you tell??