Got His Mom's Appetite, Apparently

Our baby books say infants can start on solids any time between 4 and 6 months, but that the American Association of Pediatrics recommends waiting til 6 months, and if you start at 4, it's really not going to add anything to baby's diet because he/she will just spit it all out and not have the control necessary to swallow, yadda yadda yadda.

Then we went to the pediatrician who said, among other things, that if Calvin seemed interested in the food we were eating, he's probably ready to start solids.

Whenever he watches us eat a meal, it's like he's staring into our souls, he watches so intently. So we figured it was time.

Here he is getting ready to eat his first rice cereal meal:


And here he is after:


Anyway, we have since moved on to bananas and sweet potatoes, and he has loved both, to the extent that he cried angrily when there were no sweet potatoes left. Tomorrow: zucchini!

Many more photos available at Snapfish, documenting other firsts, including meeting the senior Murphys and taking a trip to Hyde Park.

Big Day!

We have attained rolling! The baby has successfully rolled from his tummy to his back THREE TIMES. And then promptly looked at us, each time, in confusion as he seemingly tried to figure out what we were so excited about.

Good job, Calvin!

Pediatrician Report

The little sir is healthy, hale, and hearty, and seems to be sleeping, eating, and leveraging tummy time like a 4-month-old should. He once again handled vaccinations (two shots this time) with aplomb. Also, the doctor commented on both his eyelashes and calm demeanor. But who wouldn't be impressed by such things?

Length: 25.5 inches (75th percentile)
Weight: 15 pounds 3 ounces (just above 50th percentile)
Head Circumference: 42 centimeters (50th percentile)

Almost 4 Months

There's so much to say, and yet so little. Every day is a challenge, an adventure, and yet objectively, it all seems so banal - things that have been occurring since the beginning of time. But they haven't been occurring to Calvin since the beginning of time.

Of late, his favorite thing is the monkey that came with his activity gym. We have named him Gallopin, and we like to make him speak to Calvin in a French accent (all monkeys are French, you didn't know that?). His eyes light up when he sees it, and he will reach up to pull it down from its perch, and hang onto it for several minutes, turning it over and over, feeling it with his tiny little hands. It still amazes me every day.

4-month pediatrician appointment on Thursday, will report back then! In the meantime, fun with photos... these and more at Snapfish.

One Photo!

I just really like this one...

New Photos!

Not much time to share anything else - but new photos are at Snapfish....

Progress!

Floyd has been, thus far, not entirely pleased with having this tiny interloper in his house. Not that I can blame him - he's pretty much been the crown prince around here for five years.

Thankfully, of course, he is a gentle soul, and his displeasure has not been expressed with hostility towards Calvin - rather, he's pretty much chosen to refuse to acknowledge his existence, actively removing himself from situations in which Calvin interrupts whatever activity he's partaking in (sleeping, for the most part). He lets us know that he's upset by demanding playtime or cuddle time at irritatingly inopportune moments (generally when we're feeding Calvin or trying to coax him to sleep).

However! Progress! Marc and Calvin were hanging out in the living room a day or two ago when Floyd, all on his own, decided to grace them with his presence. Woo-hoo! Some photos below... as always, these and more are at Snapfish.