Seven (and half) Months

I just read on the Brandt blog that per Team Parsons sleep improves at 8 months... yet another wonderful thing to look forward to.

Leo has what we like to call a sleep cycle. A week of wonderful sleep followed by a week of waking up every 2.5 hours. He generally goes to bed about 8:30. We have a really nice bedtime routine and he is off to dreamland pretty easily most nights. On a good week I won't hear a peep until 2:00am, then a feeding and it's sleep time until 6:30 or 7:00am.

Currently we are in the "Wake cycle." When this happens he goes down at 8:30 wakes at 10:30 or 11:00, back to sleep then wakes at 1:30, "nighty-nighty's" off to sleep and wakes at 3:00 happy and social ready to tell me about his dreams.... so after some serious "sleep time looks" and rocking from Mom he dozes off to dreamland until 6:00 or 7:00am. Whoa, you can count the sleep hours there my friends and understand that we are some tired peeps!

Leo also has a pretty stuffy nose, and does not like when I use the aspirator to give him relief. At first he didn't mind, then he thought it was a funny game (literally giggling) of keep my nose from Mommy. But now, I think he'd rather struggle through the snot :)

I'm not sure if he's getting another tooth, having a growth spurt, dealing with acid reflux (which was a popular theory because when he wakes you can distinctly tell he is uncomfortable - back arching, leg flopping, whimpering), or if it's a cold. But we are lovingly working through it! Kevin and I usually tag-team these nights so that not just one of us takes the brunt of it alone.

AND I hope that B. Parson's 8 month prediction holds true for us too!

Now fun kid-bits:

Leo has a great laugh. He laughs at Pixie, laughs at Mom, laughs at Dad, laughs at himself. He is a happy boy.

Leo loves to shove his left hand so far into his mouth that he gags - repeatedly... never gets a clue.

Leo gives g-r-e-a-t hugs. Serious lean into you hugs! And if your lucky he'll open his mouth on your cheek, chin, or jawbone to share a "kiss." If you're unlucky he'll open his mouth on your chin, cheek or jawbone and bites down with his two teeth. Ouch!

Some of Leo's favorite toys are Pixie's toys, and vice-versa. Seriously sometimes I can't tell the difference with the way they makes things.

Leo is in awe of Honda bear... if she comes and stands next to him he coo's and stares at her.

Baby Einstein music makes Leo freeze like a statue. He can be laughing, jabbering and bouncing in his seat and when Kevin turns on the music - freezes like a statue!

With the exception of zucchini, Leo does not like green vegetables (so far).

Soon our little Leo will be crawling... he has the pseudo-scoot down, and the roll-along. It's only a matter of time.

Even sleep deprived I love being Leo's Mom. When I wake in the morning, for the last time, and see his smiling face, listen to his enthusiastic jabbers and squeals, and feel one of his hugs -it is all worth it. I'm also happy to be Kevin's wife. On nights when he sleeps through his "shifts" he is always so thoughtful to help make the waking hours easier for me - making coffee, doing laundry, cleaning the house. And on the nights where we share duties, I get to sleep more :)

Cheers!