5 Months old!

Everyone here is doing very well. Mom and Dad are still dancing, though not as often since the season is winding down and all their dancing friends are going back up north for the summer. Matthew came home last night from his Toledo-Guadalajara trip, much to the delight of everyone here. I am still working twice a week, and thinking about our first big trip with Thomas: where, when and HOW?? Let me tell you, I was carefully studying all of the families and their mountains of luggage at the gate today, evaluating, judging, condemning! I just hope that I can live up to my own standards of how carry-on luggage should look when we're carting Thomas around!

Thomas is getting very coordinated these days, reaching out and grabbing things. As he's nursing, he'll look at me earnestly, then reach up slowly and unsteadily grasp my glasses, or nose, or mouth, and stare at what he's captured. He's also grasping toys . . . . and letting them drop. These days he will hold a toy between five seconds and five minutes before leaning over with his arm stretched out full length, looking down, and dropping the toy to the floor. He's learning how his different toys sound as they hit the ground, and just how often Mommy will pick up his toys and give them back!

He's also developing his verbal skills: this week it's the raspberry. There's no cuter sight than seeing him purse his lips with wide eyes and make "bbbbb" noises. I'd say he can do a full-blown raspberry about half the time.

His eye color is definitely changing, too. They are still predominantly blue, but in bright light there's some greeny-yellow in there, too. I'm a little sad that I won't be able to look into those gorgeous blue eyes any more, but I'm sure whatever color they will be next, they will be just as gorgeous!

And to continue with the 'firsts', this week was his first time being babysat by a non-family member. I wanted to go to the Creating Happiness Event, but Mom and Dad were going to a good-bye dinner with their dancing friends and so were not able to babysit. But my friend Sandy from work graciously offered to babysit. When I took him on his "meet and greet," they got on like a house on fire! Thomas was all smiles and giggles, and so was Sandy! Her little girl, who is 20 months old, was a little shy at first but warmed up rapidly. She is such a darling and can even say the alphabet! But apparently the next day was a different story. I drove off with a light heart, but apparently after the door closed behind me, Thomas started crying! And then her little girl became upset and started crying too! Poor Sandy! Two crying children on her hands! How heartbreaking that was to hear about later! Boy, do I owe her big time! Good thing I had just gone to a Creating Happiness Event and not a Creating Guilt event or I would have vowed never to leave him again!

That's all at this time!