Weight and Height: just a rough estimate at home but maybe between 15 and 16 pounds and around 25 inches.
Appearance: I think he's a mix of James and Jude still, but looks like Joah. He has his own look now. I think he may have Jude's hair and James' eyes (still looking blue to me!). This is the opposite of what I predicted.
Eating: Nursing on demand all the time (even more so during a little growth spurt he seems to have just gone through.) He eats usually just once during the night as well.
Sleeping: still sleeping 5-7 hours before waking to eat at night (and maybe even regressed a little or could just be the growth spurt he went through). Luckily I don't waste energy freaking out about it since we've done this with two little boys before him and I know it all works itself out. He still generally sleeps many times throughout the day with the longest nap probably in the afternoon when Jude (and a lot of days James) naps. He sleeps swaddled in the rock n play at night. He also loves to nap in the ergo when we are out (he's finally big enough for the ergo without the infant insert. Hallelujah! Anyone that's used one knows what I mean.)
Interactions/Development: he is smiling all the time with big open mouthed smiles (he is most smiley for Mama for now), cooing, giggling, watching everything above him (ceiling fans) and around him (big brothers playing) or passing him by (trees when we walk or are driving in the van), he has found his hands and sticks his whole fist in his mouth, kicking his legs and swatting and grasping at things with his arms (just a lot more active and squirmy this month), holding his head up well when laying on his tummy, and overall just seeming a lot stronger.
Outings: he went out of Birmingham and out of state two times this month. The first time we made a really last minute decision (two days before Stephen left for camp with the youth) to go visit my sister in Fort Walton Beach, Florida which is right at four hours from here. She is now the closest of my relatives to me and it was really nice to just have some special time with her which is something we've never really had as adults since I've always lived out of town. And, of course, we went down to the beach a couple of times although it wasn't easy with three little boys (and my sister and I hauling them and all the stuff) but they really enjoyed it. And then a few weeks after Stephen got back from camp, our pastor let us use his cabin in Chattanooga, Tennessee which is two hours from here for a couple of comp days he had earned from being gone so much this summer. It was beautiful and refreshing after a long, busy summer. (Maybe I'll post on those trips soon if I get a minute!)
Things he seems to like: being held, being worn in the ergo carrier, bath time, being outside, his mam pacifiers, watching his big brothers, his play mat, and if he has to be laid down he prefers the pack n play in the window where he can look out.
Things he dislikes: being laid down for a long period of time or being in the car seat especially later at night or when it's dark
Health: colic and stomach bug are behind us! He did get a weird rash/blister this month while out of town that alarmed me but they called in a prescription and it cleared up quickly. He is really just a happy, healthy baby and I give God the praise for the gift of his health.
Temperament: He's pretty laid back these days especially now that the colic is behind us. His temperament right now is more similar to Jude's as a newborn (I stress newborn because Jude is currently two and very challenging at times these days! Ha!)
Confession time. Let's just put it out there...I have this thing about tacking on an "y" sound at the end of my boys' names. James-y happened very early on in his sweet, little life and I still call him that about 50% of the time five and a half years later. And then when Jude came along and I called him Jude-y for the first time, Stephen informed me that not only is that feminine sounding but actually a real, woman's name this time. But in my head, I was just calling him Jude...y. Not Judy. Surely a mother understands this affinity for the "y" at the end. Right?!? The "y" is like that extra little dollop of love on a name that's already music to a mama's ears. And then wouldn't you know, Stephen now calls him Jude-y more than even me?! Jude-y not Judy, of course...it's all about how you spell it in your head or on your blog...never mind that they sound exactly the same. And then when Joah came along, we said there was no way to even put a "y" on his name. And for the first few months I didn't. Because I couldn't. It just didn't come naturally like the other two. We called him Jo, Jo Jo, or even Joah Boah Baby Boy (also not at the top of the masculinity chart). And then the last few weeks, out of nowhere Josie has been slipping out of my lips. It's seriously like a "y" at the end of the name condition that I have. Josie...another real woman's name...I don't even know how to spell it in my head or on my blog in a way to justify calling my masculine little bundle of love by it this time. And yet I do it. And I'll probably continue to do it indefinitely yet try not to around other humans that don't live in this house until it inevitably slips out one day when I'm chasing after him months from now. Stephen will have to muzzle me when we go to his first sporting event because surely I can't call my son Josie (Jos-y?? Maybe?) there. And, of course, now I've confessed it on the blog... So, whew...with all of that said:
Joah, Jo Jo, Little Jo, Joah Boah Baby Boy, Jos, Josie even...whatever name we call you, please know that it's just such a joy to call you. It's a joy to have another sweet name to tack an "y" on to in this house. Another life. YOU are the extra little dollop of love on top of this crazy, imperfect family that doesn't always get it right but that, at the end of the day, loves each other. Please excuse your silly, slap happy, smitten mama. I'm just so crazy about you. I celebrate you in all of your masculinity and boyish ways. I wouldn't change a thing about you. And one day when you hear me calling and "Josie" rings out loudly through the house please just know that it's my extra little dollop of love.
Love, Mama
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