Like a hibernating bear...

We're five weeks into our adventures with JJ and I'm kind of amused by some of our behaviour...

Whenever we put JJ down to sleep we tiptoe away so we don't startle him or wake him up.  Its as if we've just lulled a large, dangerous, and hungry bear to go back into hibernation.  There is usually some sort of hand signal directed at the other person, a thumbs up, a not so sure he'll probably wake up as soon as I get in bed gesture or maybe just a relieved sigh and rub of bleary eyes.  We're usually holding our breath too.  In the evening, lights are turned down low or off, the TV is barely audible.  I try and make as little sound as possible getting ready for work in the morning.

The silly thing is he can sleep through the excavation of two lots behind our house (including dumping of rock into a truck) and doze off while we navigate potholed Kingston roads.  Mind you, he can tell when we are at a stop light or going slowly (or he already has road rage...).

Of course, when he goes down first time and sleeps deeply for 4 hours you feel like the champion baby-whisperer, able to sooth and calm him in any situation.  Then there are the times when he just cries and cries.  Then cries a little more.  Then he goes quiet, then he cries more.  I'm sure he once just passed out from crying and fell right to sleep in my arms.  Or I inadvertently found a puts-baby-to-sleep pressure point...

We are making good progress.  Things are generally "better".  We are both finding him more and more entertaining and interesting (and yes, even more lovable).  JJ is getting used to me feeding him at night with a bottle (his early attempts resembled a person with bronchitis entering a milk chugging contest) and I'm enjoying that time much more.  He is more alert, can see further and hold his attention on random objects.  And is he ever getting big and strong!  We've already filled a good size box of really cute clothes that he has outgrown.

I'm sure he is starting to smile at us not just when he is pleased with his latest attempt to pass wind.  We've even had a couple of quiet bath times.  My new favourite thing to do is give him a mohawk while drying his hair, it stays in for hours.  It will be time for a haircut soon though, he's straying into redneck mullet territory.  Perhaps we can find him a baby-sized trucker cap and convert his crib into a trailer...

Looking forward to JJ meeting more of his family this week and having a proud uncle and aunt-equivalent to share caring duties with!