I Can Sit Up, Daddy!

As Liam hit 37 weeks old this past Friday, he definitely hit the major signs of the "Wonder Week" that accompanies it as well. I learned during the 4-month sleep regression that developmental leaps also follow a fairly predictable pattern for babies, much like growth spurts. Here is a general link to the book about this. Ironically, I have yet to read it because it is harder to find since it was out of print for awhile, but I have found a lot of it online.

The book: http://www.thewonderweeks.com/files/ww_content.html

A blog with detailed information from this chapter in the book at the stage Liam is in: http://blogginaboutbabies.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/wonder-week-37/

I shall go through the signs and tell you if Liam has exhibited them:

• cling to your cloths and hold on tight to you (Yes)
  
• shy (A little sometimes, this was unusual for him)
• demand more attention (Yes, with screams now sometimes)
• have nightmares (Yes...at least it seems like it)
• act unusually sweet (He's generally sweet, so I haven't noticed anything unusual)
• refuse to have diaper changed (Yes, this wasn't a big deal before)
• seem more babyish (Not sure about this one either)
• lose appetite (Yes, has shown no interest at all in solids recently, even ones he used to like)
• cries more often/ cranky (Yes)
• sleeps poorly (YES! And he was sleeping so well :-( )
• babbles less (No, he's still a talker)
• less lively (No)
• sometimes sits quietly, looks like he is daydreaming (Not sure about this one)
• sucks thumb or does so more often than before (Not seen to much of this, but has wanted to nurse much longer than before)
• reaches for a cuddly toy (Not sure about this one)

Thursday, Friday, Saturday last week were the worst. The first two nights he was up every two hours again, and Saturday he still had frequent wakings and refused to sleep at all from 12:30-1:30). These days were rough. Things have since improved a little, but there have still been more challenges than usual: like he's not letting me lay him in the crib drowsy but awake that often, screams bloody murder if you even put a pacifier near his mouth when he wakes up (I guess this is a good thing in someways, but it used to be something he'd briefly use right as he was falling asleep and that was it). The one good thing is I was expecting it this time, and I know that it is nothing to worry about it. It is normal, and exciting and it will pass. In the meantime, we just work together and do whatever it takes to get everyone the maximum amount of sleep.

Just over the past couple days, he started exhibiting new skills. The most noticeable is he can sit himself up completely unassisted. When I was trying to get him wound down for sleep, the two times he woke back up and started fussing in the crib I came up to find him just sitting in there. He's also been doing the coordinated crawl much more, but he still likes to do his "swimming style" crawl as well.

Michael is also particularly happy that his little son has started calling him Daddy recently too! He has been saying "Dada" here and there, and today we both heard him say what sounded more like daddy when he was looking right at him. It was so adorable and sweet!

Liam checking out one of Daddy's civil engineering books, this one was about construction planning and management.

Playing with a new toy our friend Maureen dropped off.

When Liam attacks!

And finally, here is a cute video Michael got of Liam on a "Tiger Hunt."


Liam is about to go on another new adventure, and will be going on his first mini-vacation. We're going to be Michigan-bound this weekend for a big steam train festival, with Michael's parents, brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. Overall I'm excited and think it will be fun. I always loved road trips. I will admit though, I am a little nervous about how well Liam will sleep during and after this trip with all we have been through lately. But, we'll do the best we can and hope and pray for the best. Right now we're just busy, busy, busy getting ready.