RIP Toucan

Remember this guy from the play mat?

It is time to say goodbye.

Toucan, you will be missed.

5 months

Jonah is 5 months old today! Here are a few things about him:

• He can push most of his stomach off the floor during tummy time and can pull his knees underneath him, but not at the same time.
• He is sitting up on his own for small amounts of time, working on keeping his balance.
• His two bottom center teeth have made an appearance - the second one poked through two days after the first.
• He coughs to get our attention and laughs when we look over at him. He also will only nurse if I'm paying 100% attention to him - no more reading for me! But, it's okay for him to get distracted - and he often does - by his own hands (they are pretty cool appendages, you know!)
• He loves to sing, raspberry, and talk to me. His newest sound is "ha" although I'm really trying to get him to say "mama"
• He loves taking sips of water from a cup
• He fights naps.
• He fits in 3-6 month clothing perfectly and has a few 6 month outfits we've started wearing for the length.
• He has the cutest laugh.
• There are a few long brown strands of hair on top and lots of peach fuzz coming in, but you can still see right through to his scalp.
• He has been mistaken for a girl more than once with his big brown eyes :)
• He reaches for everything, but is very picky about what goes in his mouth. He only just started to put his teething ring in to lick and forget about any other "teething" toys. But his hand to mouth coordination is definitely improving and he put his pacifier in his mouth by himself yesterday.
• He can roll from tummy to back and from his back to either side, but he has really resisted rolling from back to his tummy. I think he knows how, he just hasn't had a need to yet.

You can see what a big month July was for him. Can't wait to see what's in store for August!

World Breastfeeding Week

I don't usually use the blog as a platform to voice my personal beliefs (other than the fact that my baby is cute), but in becoming a mama I've found my mama-bear voice. Every mother wants to do what is best for her baby, and for me that included breastfeeding Jonah. As part of World Breastfeeding Week, I wanted to share my story for my pregnant readers (RC and JR), soon to be pregnant reader (KK), and one day in the future readers (no need to rush CG, SF, RG, LS) and also to extend my support to you if you do choose to breastfeed. The support I was fortunate to have made all the difference for me, especially in the first few days. It is amazing to know that my body has sustained Jonah's life for all 14 months of his existence.



While I always imagined that I would breastfeed, it wasn't until I became pregnant and really started reading about other's experiences that I realized that it wasn't always something that came easily for mothers. I went into labor hoping that my body would do what it was designed to do, but aware that it may be difficult. I am so thankful to have had support and encouragement - definitely in the first few days from Mama and Justin. Because of them Jonah and I were able to establish a good routine and breastfeeding has been a wonderful experience for us. In fact, I've found I've become an amatuer "lactavist" hoping to share my positive experience with others so they too can be successful!



The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life (which is why you haven't seen a post about food yet!) and then continued breastfeeding until at least the age of one. That goal doesn't seem so lofty as we cross over into the 5th month, but we'll take it day by day keeping Jonah's best interest as the basis of our decision.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

8/3/10 Edit: I found this article that pretty much says what I wanted to say (and then some) but way more eloquently.