The Greshams: Palmer {at 5 months}

One thing that is a great mystery is how the measurement of time will be different in Heaven. I know that this is something that I will not understand until I am in the presence of Jesus in Heaven. But, I do think that the last 6 months have given me a teeny tiny glimpse into how the passing of time can feel different. I know I am rambling, but I just can't possibly believe that Palmer will be 6 months old tomorrow. And I definitely can't believe that I haven't talked to my dad in almost 6 months. It is like I am living in some type of strange time warp. I mean it literally feels like just yesterday that my dad was here at my house and we found out the Palmer was a boy.

Ok, so back to Palmer! 5 months! Wow!

Baby Palmer still has blue eyes and blonde/red hair. It usually looks blonde, but in the sunlight there is definitely a lot of red in it. His hair is getting longer and is longest on top.

I don't have a weight/height check, but we go to the doctor Friday. Palmer is wearing 6 months clothes and they aren't any too big, they fit just right.

One big update for the month is that Palmer now sleeps in his crib full time. Although every night is slightly different, we have a basic routine. Beau goes to sleep around 7 and then we start Palmer's nighttime routine...bath, pjs, last feeding and bed. So I would say Palmer is usually in bed by 8ish. He normally sleeps until about 6:15 or 6:30. In fact, some mornings Raleigh will get him out of his crib and bring him to me as he is leaving for work. After his morning feeding, Palmer will sometimes take a short little nap until about 7:30, but sometimes he is just awake.

As far as naps, Palmer is taking 2-3 naps a day. He naps in his crib, unless we aren't home. On mornings when we have errands, or go to speech therapy or are just not home, he does a pretty good job of taking his morning nap on the go.

Palmer is no longer swaddled, but he does sleep in a Aden and Anais sleep sack. I don't know that it is totally necessary, but it has become part of his sleeping routine, so I'm sure he will use it for a while.

Palmer is still nursing about every 2 hours, but this week he had his first taste of avocado! And tonight he ate peas! He seemed to like them both. Well, maybe "like" is too strong of a word, but he didn't spit them out. He has had 2 bottles of formula mixed with bm. The first time I was just so nervous that he was hungry (but he had just eaten, so I had nothing left to offer) and so I made him a bottle. He took the bottle just fine and drained every last drop. I have no idea if he really was hungry that night or if it was just a fussy time. Also, one time I didn't plan well and have a full bottle pumped for speech so I took the little bottle of bm and mixed it with formula. I try to always take a bottle with me to Beau's speech class just in case he gets hungry or fussy.

Speaking of bottles, Palmer can hold his own bottle. It is so beautifully strange and miraculous because I never taught him how to hold his bottle. But one time the boys and I were going out to dinner with my mom. So I pumped a bottle and took it along. My mom just handed it to Palmer, not really thinking about it, and sure enough he held it and drank it himself! Crazy! The way that God has designed brains and bodies is miraculous. In so many ways God reveals himself through the everyday task of mothering.

Palmer is now a rolling machine and uses it as his mode of transportation. He rolls with purpose and if you turn around for just a minute, he can be across the floor trying to get something. I am so happy he is strong and rolling, but I do have to be a bit more careful. This morning he rolled on top of one of Beaus' s matchbox cars and scratched his face. oops!

Palmer can sit for a few seconds at a time, but then he tips over. Beau thinks it is absolutely hilarious when Palmer falls over.

Also, every single thing that Palmer can grab goes straight to his mouth.

He still loves to coo and smile and laugh. The thing that makes him laugh the most is when Raleigh is clapping and yelling during Alabama football games. Palmer thinks it is hilarious.

Palmer loves Beau so much and the feeling is mutual. They both smile when they see each other in the morning and the first thing Beau does is kiss Palmer's cheek or forehead.