Another week in the life of Gabriel

I noticed that Gabe and I don't really have any pictures together. So I tried to get a few the other day... He looks kind of freaked out.



Gabe has discovered his arms and hands. I'm not sure that he realizes these appendages that happen to be around him all the time are attached to him, but I'm pretty sure he gets that he controls them. As he practices this control, sometimes he looks like he's dancing in a very slow, synchronized-swimmingesque way.




This was Homecoming week for the Eagles, and being the huge football people we are, we went to the alumni tailgate party (Brian's in the Student Alumni group, so he gets to go/work at it and as his family, we get to go hang out for free). The tailgate party was fun. We didn't stay for the game. We can follow the game well enough by the crowd noise and cannon shooting. (We literally live 100 yards from the football stadium).

Gabe really, really, really wants to sit up by himself. Every time we put him down in a semi seated position, he tries to sit up. Even in his car seat. 

Favorite pictures from the week, EFG (Especially For Grandparents

Why choose a blanket when you can have all of them?



Brian preparing Gabriel for India by reading him an Indian folk story.


Gabe loves the toy on his swing now that he can grab it. He does get frustrated sometimes that it can't make it all the way to his mouth. The weather's starting to cool off here so we hung out on the porch one morning.


Gabe constantly smiles when he and Brian are playing. This one's from one of their play sessions.

-e

Exploration of Sound Part II

Sleep Training

After a few weeks of deteriorating sleep habits for Gabriel, we decided it was time to gently teach him a few self soothing techniques through what most people term "sleep training". Gabriel was only sleeping about 10 hours a day, which is evidently 4 or 5 hours less than he should be sleeping at his age. (what do I know? this is all from books I've read...). We decided not to do the "cry it out" method because - well - frankly I don't think Brian or I could stick it out. So our plan of action was to set up a pretty rigid schedule and do something called "pick up/put down" for all naps and bedtime. Basically we get Gabe all ready for his nap, set him down and when he starts crying, pick him up again until
a) he stops crying OR
b) it's been four minutes OR
c) he's fighting (arching back, kicking legs)

In the case of b and c, we pick him back up right away. Then you put him back down, and repeat until eventually he goes to sleep.

I think I have much stronger back and arms after five days of this.

Some unexpected, wonderful changes:
1. Gabe has gone from 30-45 minute naps to 2+ hour naps. Sometimes I even have to wake him up from his naps to keep him on schedule. Here he is one day AFTER me trying to wake him up. (He didn't even wake up from the flash of the picture)


I finally got him up and fed him. Here's him after he ate.


I guess sleep training works.

2. sleeping from around 8 PM to 7 AM without waking up (which was actually not a goal, but a nice development nonetheless)
3. going down for naps now takes less than five minutes (with about 10 minutes of wind down time before that). 

One unexpected challenge: It takes quite a long time to convince Gabriel that going to sleep for the night is a good idea. This has always been the case, but I was hopeful that sleep training would help.

Exploration of sound

Busy week for Gabriel

Gabriel's been a busy kid this week. On Tuesday he went raspberry picking with Erica.



On Thursday he rolled over for the first time. The first video is him prepping, and the second is of the actual roll. Mind you this is not the first rollover, but the second.





On Sunday he went to his second wedding. He even got his own spot at the table and a name tent. Big kid.







And he likes eating toys.