Reeder Party of Five: 5 Weeks.

Oh hi, Mr. Joseph.

I wish I could say our 5th week together was a little easier. As I start to type this, we're in the middle of our nightly screaming session. Sadly, I think Joe might be borderline colicky. The colic definition is a rule of 3's: 3 hours of screaming, 3 days a week, for 3 weeks in a row. We certainly come close to 3ish hours of mostly inconsolable crying every night, starting after dinner. He has a very sensitive tummy that seems to be the culprit behind a lot of the tears (real tears...that's how hard he cries.) After reading a bit about colic, I think that what I've always passed off as just fussy evenings thanks to belly aches might actually qualify as colic :(

I am the only person that seems to have any luck calming him down, and even I struggle sometimes. This is becoming increasingly wearing on me, as I feel like I just can't get anything done. I typically push projects and chores back until the end of the day when Brooke's in bed b/c that's when I've had the free time - well, not anymore. So those of you coming to Joe's baptism on Saturday may be stepping on puzzle pieces & mardi gras beads in the family room and old macaroni in the kitchen b/c I just haven't found the time to start cleaning/preparing for this party.

Outside of the evening (and sometimes afternoon) sadness, Joe is still a pretty happy boy! He has been smiling a lot more lately, though I'm pretty sure I'm the only lucky girl that has had the pleasure of experiencing one! So darn cute! He is staying awake more often throughout the day now. He has started to enjoy being in his swing; he just stares at the little bug that dangles down from it. He also likes getting his diaper changed. Even at night, when nothing else can make him happy, he often calms down and happily stretches out on the floor for a diaper change. I think this has less to do with getting a clean diaper and more to do with the chance to just stretch and kick. He has also become a hair puller lately. He grabs on to my hair and won't let go; this boy has one heck of a grip! Now I remember why I got my hair chopped the first time I had it done after Brooke was born...

I just love going into his room to get him when he wakes up in the morning. He seems genuinely grateful to be in my arms. It's so sweet to be able to start and end my day cuddling with a teeny baby again :)

And now for the real reason you come to the blog...

Practicing the holding-up-his-head thing...