Learning: He is constantly working on a new task. After spending days figuring out how to hit the rings on his bouncy seat he went right to trying to grab them. Tummy Time Torture has also paid off because he can roll from his tummy to his back. Of course, he won't roll back to his tummy so you have to roll him for him to finish tummy time. I swear he COULD roll from his back to his tummy, but he won't. He rolls from his back up to his side and all he would have to do is flop over, but he won't. I believe it is because he does not care to be on his tummy, thank you very much.
When he is trying to learn something new he concentrates really hard and can focus on it for a very long time. He gets frustrated and will grunt and fuss while he's trying to master his new thing. But he does not want you to help him. That will really make him mad. I am already seeing an independence in him. I can't imagine where he would get that (HA!) and I'm not sure how to feel about it!
Playing: Aaron is so fun to play with now. He can interact with you and his awake time is a blast. He loves to sit up on me when I'm laying on the floor. He can hold his head up now and he just loves to look around. He will also play by himself for periods of time as long as someone is in the room with him. I don't know how he knows as soon as I've left the room, but he does and it does not please him.
Aaron loves, loves, loves to be outside. He also loves to go new places. He just takes in all the new sights and sounds. He is very easy to take out and that is nice. He doesn't like to go clothes shopping, though. I would tell you that story, but it's still too painful.
Changing: Aaron is doing a lot better with having his diaper changed and being dressed. He's still not a fan of being naked, but he'll tolerate it without screaming if you hurry. Obviously, he still pees occasionally when we are changing him. I am not sure why since most of my friends didn't have this issue to anywhere near the extent that we do. It's pretty funny, though. Especially when it happens to Jory because he runs out of the room hollering things like, "It's everywhere! It's everywhere!" Or, "He peed on the wall! He peed on the wall!"
As far as looks, he's getting a lot more hair in the back and he's lost most of the fuzz in the front. He is growing very quickly. He is SO long! People comment constantly on the size of his hands and feet. If he were a dog I'd be sure he was going to grow into a very large dog! He had a lot of dry skin - especially on his head - and that is mostly gone now.
He "talks" to himself a lot now and he can be awake in his crib and content himself with conversation until he falls asleep. That's a nice improvement on his nap times. The talking can be a little disconcerting when it wakes you in the night, though. It took me a while to realize that he wasn't awake, he was just babbling in his dreams!
I know he looks petrified in this picture, but this is just his Big Eye look. When he gets focused on something, his eyes get really wide and he will just stare at it.
This is Peyton Elizabeth Hartley. She is six years old and a Mommy in the making. She was SO excited when she heard that she was going to have a baby cousin. And she waited so patiently all those months for the cousin to arrive. She wasn't even deterred by the fact that is was a boy cousin. Then she waited patiently for a whole month for her Daddy to take her across the country to see her baby cousin. Oh and the horrible 4 1/2 hour wait in the airport - she was even patient during that. But when she woke up the morning after they arrived and found out that Aaron was still sleeping for another hour, her patience ran out. It was time for her to see that baby!
She was SO sweet with him! You just wouldn't believe how gentle she was! And so helpful! She bathed Aaron, fed him, did tummy time with him (bless her heart), held him, watched him while I was able to get stuff done and just generally occupied him. It was wonderful for us and so fun to watch. I am just thrilled that she got to come.
Now, clearly, Aaron wasn't always sweet for her and I hated that, but it didn't slow Peyton down. And even when he cried, she soothed him so sweetly. She's a natural.
I love this! Doesn't he look so thrilled to be in Daddy's arms? He loves his Daddy. In fact, the sleeper he's wearing in this picture says 'I love Daddy'! I think it's SO cute! (Plus it's Ole Miss colors!!!)
Kathy is one of my favorite people in the whole world. I would have expected Aaron to share my delight regarding her visit. He did not. After a night that was not horrible, but not good, Aaron proceeded to be cranky most of the day. I do believe Kathy heard him scream more than she saw him smile. Did she even see him smile? I don't know. I swear he can be such a delightful child, just not on 
He found it yesterday and has been having a hey day with it today!
Here's a better look at the outfit he was wearing yesterday. 'Chicks Dig Me'! HA! 
I needed a date for a luncheon today where Ruth Graham was speaking and he was more than happy to oblige!
