Let's Go Swimming!

This past week, Jim and I had a little stay-cation, which was pretty exciting as we've never done one before! Jim also hasn't had anytime off of work since Sully was born, so I was pretty excited to have him home with us everyday. We had nothing big planned other than a few things I wanted to do as a family. One of these things being swimming. Sometimes I feel guilty that Sully and I get to do fun things together during the day while Jim misses out. Taking Sully swimming was one thing I wanted to do together for the first time.

So yesterday afternoon, after Sully had a little nap (in his crib - praise the lord!) we packed up and headed out to the rec centre. I knew there was a reason I wanted Jim along for this particular outing - it's so much work getting ready to get in the pool and it's equally as much work getting ready to go home! Granted, the pool change rooms have these amazing little seats in the wall to strap your baby into, but still, the second set of hands was sure nice.

Sully's reaction to being in the pool was not what we expected. He didn't hate it, but I wouldn't say he loved it either. He was just so serious during the whole ordeal. There were no tears, but we also couldn't get him to crack a smile or laugh. We poured water on his head and he got splashed several times by other kids playing nearby and he didn't even react. Sully spent the hour we were in the pool looking around, taking in all the action. He was a little sweetheart and he had the young girls in the pool swooning over him.

We can't wait to take Sully swimming again! And next month, weather permitting, we plan to dip his toes in the ocean when we are vacationing in Nova Scotia! 

Currently...

Reading: Baby-led Weaning by Gill Rapley.  The whole approach to baby led weaning makes so much sense to me. Before reading the book, I thought I was going to start Sully on rice cereal this month as he has been showing quite a bit of interest in food, but now that I'm almost through Baby-led Weaning, I've decided to hold off until Sully is 6 months (just a few short weeks away!) and do BLW from the get-go. It's not that I'm opposed to purees or spoon-feeding, but the principle of letting your baby learn to chew before swallowing, and to explore food of all tastes and textures just makes more sense. 

On another note, it'll be a miracle if I can get through half of the books on my summer reading list. Now that Sully doesn't take as long to nurse and rarely wakes in the night, I don't find myself with a lot of time left to read during the day. 

On Repeat: So Jim and I haven't been to a concert in a looooong time, and if you know us, we used to be huge concert junkies (and have vowed to never actually calculate how much we've spent on concert tickets in the past). But then I got pregnant (and there was no way I could stay up late enough to go to a concert), and then we had said baby (who takes away all of your evenings) and we pretty much accepted that our concert going days were in our past. Which, for the most part, we were ok with because we've honestly seen pretty much every band we could ever want to see. Except for one band: Godsmack. And that's because they've never came to Canada as far as we knew. So when we heard Godsmack is FINALLY coming to not just Canada, but Edmonton (!!!), we bought tickets faster than Sully wakes up from a nap in his crib (10 seconds if you must know). Which brings me to what I've been listening to this past week: Godsmack (well in between The Thong Song and anything by Pitbull when Sully is in his jolly jumper). This is my all time favourite song by them: Heavier than my normal fair around these parts, so I warn you in advance (it's not always puppy dogs and rainbows over here). 

Watching: Not a lot. Jim and I are on the last season of Lost but the momentum with which we were watching the earlier seasons has died down. We're anxious to finish the series though so we can start on something new! Sons of Anarchy? True Blood? Mad Men? How do we choose?! We're also watching How I Met Your Mother, which we are LOVING. The show and the characters definitely grow on you, and often I fight to watch an episode or two of it over Lost. I'm also 3 episodes in to Orange is the New Black, but I cannot get in to it! Not giving up yet…

Obsessed with: Eating up the freezer and pantry. I know, weird right? But every several months I challenge myself to buy as little groceries as possible and instead use up food that's been sitting in the freezer and pantry for way too long. Plus, we have one of those side by side fridge/freezer dealios and I don't know about you, but I find it impossible to keep tabs on what is hiding in the freezer. And I hate getting to the point where you have to throw out freezer burned food. So yes, this is what I'm obsessed with now. 

Eating: See above! 

Looking forward to: Our upcoming trip to Nova Scotia in less than a month! It will be our first time flying with Sully and we forwent our usual choice of flying red eye for a daytime flight because who wants to be that person on a red eye with a crying baby? Not us. 

Your turn! Tell me 2 things you're currently up to in the comments below! 
Or feel free to do your own Currently post and leave me the link so I can check it out!

Sullivan: 5 Months

Dear Sullivan,

How are you already 5 months old? It's true what they say - the days are long, but the years short. I'd have to say this has been one of my favourite months so far. Your little personality is really developing and I have moments where I can envision the little toddler that you are going to grow up to be. You are so much fun now, constantly demanding my attention to be entertained, ever curious about what I'm doing, touching, and saying. So much so that you rarely want to nap during the day!

While napping is your least favourite activity, you are sleeping well at night in bed with me, with the occasional nighttime feeding. I really can't complain as we both seem to be getting a good amount of sleep at night. I'm still enjoying these early days where you will sleep-in with me in the mornings. This is one of my favourite times of the day, taking in your sweet smells, your deep sighs and when you do awake, your huge grins when you see my face. We usually lounge in bed for awhile before facing the day.

 

You had your second set of immunizations this month and once again, you took them like a champ! And mommy didn't cry this time either! We popped back into the health clinic when you turned 5 months to check your weight and height and you're weighing in at a solid 15 pounds and 9.5 ounces and are 25 and 3/4 inches long. Your weight and size finally seem to be catching up with you, but you are not a big baby by any means. You're mostly in 3-6 month clothing now, except for some bottoms as you're still pretty tiny throughout the waist. You still nurse on demand, about every 3 hours during the day, but the feedings are short and sweet. Some times you just need a quick snack and you are back to your happy self within minutes. You'll still periodically take a bottle of expressed milk when needed, but you cry for your mommy if I'm not there to put you to bed (your poor Daddy).

 

This past month you've really found your voice! You babble non stop, especially when you are playing on a blanket on the floor or in your crib. And when you're in the jolly jumper, look out! Sometimes you shriek and happy-scream the entire time you are in it. Speaking of the jolly jumper, you are a natural little jumper, Sully. You knew what to do in it from the very first time we put you in it. We like to play music for you while you are jumping, and the louder and more up-beat, the better! So far your favourite songs to jump to are The Thong Song and anything by Pitbull. And when you're ready to come out, it's one of the funniest things ever. You immediately start crying, complete with crocodile tears, but you won't stop bouncing.

 

We also started Mommy and Baby Salsa dance lessons this month. I wear you on me and we dance away for an hour. You never make a peep during the class, and while I thought you might fall asleep in your wrap like most of the other babies in the class, you prefer to stare at the colourful disco lights on the wall. The last few minutes of the class are spent on a yoga mat with mommy doing exercises overtop of you. You think this is the most hilarious thing ever and are sure to let the rest of the class know this by shrieking as loud as you can! 

You're still not rolling over much yet, although you have a few times, but mostly you just get onto your side and stop because those silly arms of yours get in the way. I blame lack of tummy time for this. But your neck is super strong and you're able to hold it in line with your torso when I pull you up into a sitting position by your arms. Also, you much prefer to "stand" than sit with support. I've put you in your bumbo chair a few times, but you haven't been that impressed with it.

 

 

I think you've started teething, although I can't see that any teeth are starting to poke through. But you drool a lot and you suck on your fingers constantly. Your dad and I have bought you countless things to suck and teethe on, but you still prefer your fingers. Sometimes even when we're nursing a finger of yours will sneak in.

Sully, despite the whole not napping thing, you truly are a happy baby. And when you aren't happy, it doesn't take much to make you smile again. Usually a change of scenery is all you need. Unless of course it's around bedtime, then it's just me you need. And while I wish you would let your daddy put you to sleep on occasion, I really don't mind being needed so much by you. I know one day you won't "need" me so much, and until then, I will savour every snuggle, every cuddle, every moment you let me hold you.

Love you to the moon and back,
Your Mommy xoxo