the Big 5

It's amazing to think that a mere 5 months ago our little bub had just made his way into the world. He has grown so much and is so alert, busy, wiggly and noisy now. This week he has started passing things (particularly the dummy) from one hand to the other. He can also grab hold of things far better. He is turning his head to see you when he knows you are near, even if it means hard-left or -right. These are all developmental stages that very normal. Although he's still chewing everything - including your hand if he can get it into his mouth - he isn't drooling quite as much as he was a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if this means better oral control or less drool manufacture, but it's a small thing.


We had solids on Thursday night for the first time - baby rice. The recommended technique is to feed milk as normal, then stop half way through, try a bit of the baby rice mixture, and then return to the milk for a complete feed. Zee is none too happy with having to stop in the middle of his meal. But after 2 nights seems to be understanding that the stuff on the spoon isn't yuck, it's OK and it doesn't hurt either.

He has grown out of most of the clothes he was given as a newborn and I've got 2 bags chocka-block full of babygro's, 2-pieces, et al. He's now wearing 6 - 12 month clothes depending on the make. With the weather changing and moving away from the incredible heat, I'm trying to make a last ditch attempt at wearing the more 'wintery' styled clothes he was given. Hmmm... it's great having a babe in the summertime, just that the winter clothes don't get worn. He'll have to hand them down to someone.

On Wednesday Zack and I joined Trish and Caitlin for the Bill Viola exhibition on Tooley street, near Tower Bridge. Trish is a photographic artist, so this was of interest to her as it's also visual media. We really enjoyed it, while the babes found it noisy and cavernous in the dark - all the better to make loud squeals in!


Reading matter
I'm still reading my book - Life after Birth. Last night's topic was the working mother and the author sought to argue against the current trend of mothers feeling guilty because they 'go back to' work. She argues that women have always worked before and after childbirth, it's just that since the 1800's society's structure has changed and total care for the child has been placed on the mother with the advent of the nuclear family. Hence a constructed guilt associated with not being "motherly enough" (defined by governments, child-rearing authorities, and the media) and the label of 'going back to work'. It's good food for thought - I need to keep reading and then put down my thoughts.

I hope to get back to the gym tomorrow for the first time since November! Fingers crossed.