Dear Gav,

Your personality is shining more everyday.  You are recognizing and remembering people that you meet.  You're pretty comfortable with most people, too.  Just about anyone I hand you over to, you'll happily sit in their arms for a time, barring no gas upsets, or just generally not wanting to be held sitting up.  It's gotten easier to figure you out, but sometimes you can still throw me for a loop.  Typically, when all else fails, and all you are is fussy in my arms, the trick has become to just stand up.  Simply standing up really works out for you for an odd reason or another.  You also like to be "stood up" on my legs.  You love rolling over, too.  I have woken up a couple mornings in a row to a very pissed off baby on his belly in his crib.  Don't ask me how you got there, all I know is you're screaming to be off your belly.  Lately, you've been a challenge to change on the changing table, seeing as your new found fun thing is turning over.  You also like to pull your knees to your belly when I'm changing you just to make things extra fun.  Things are just becoming more and more physical each day.

You're still one hundred percent breastfed.  You're in the 95th percentile for boys your age in both length and weight.  People constantly confuse you for a six month old.  And your father is very interested in wanting to feed you foods.  Not quite yet though.  We'll be starting you on foods/solids at six months.  I think your father and other people are looking forward to seeing how you will handle things.  I'm debating in my head what your first food will be.  So far, it's a toss up between sweet potatoes or bananas.  I got an excellent "Cooking For Baby" cookbook.  I'm going to try my hand at making baby food for you; here's hoping it turns out good!

You went to your first baseball game last weekend!  The local hometeam, the Jacksonville Suns, played against the Birmingham Biscuits.  We lost, but we had excellent seats, and had a wonderful time anyway.  My parents, grandmother, aunt and uncle were there as well, but we didn't wind up sitting together.  This generous couple offered us two of their four season passes to behind and level with the Suns' dugout on the third baseline!  We took them, and aside from when we got up to get out of the rain in the second inning, we sat with them and cheered on our team.  Your grandma got you a Suns bib and you wore with your baseball outfit and white shoes.  You crashed at the bottom of the seventh and decided to snooze through until the end of the game.  But we made it through, and it was a fun time for us as a family.  I hope to share a lot more baseball games with you.  Maybe one day you'll be playing t-ball and pop warner. 

You're just developing so fast.  You smile and laugh so much.... I live for those giggles you throw out there.  I can tell you, you're pretty serious.  You think a lot about what you're going to smile at.  But when you do, it's so genuine, it just lights up the room.  You smile at your dad instantly!  You love watching him talk, and lately, sing.  In particular, Dr Worm by They Might Be Giants.  You love a rigid schedule and predictability.  The more predictable it is, the happier you are.  But you're usually content to just be you.  You're not a very demanding baby.  So long as you are dry, fed, and somewhat entertained, you're content.

We've lately re-introduced you to a swing.  You really seem to enjoy it!  The little swing you originally had could no longer swing you and the car seat.  You just simply outgrew it.  So we got you a full sized swing.  You fall asleep in it if your sleepy, but if you're awake, you're completely entertained.

Well, you've got an hour before you wake up, and I've got dinner to prep and get in the crockpot...... snooze away darlin.  I'll be here when you wake up.

Love,
Mama