At six months of age our days flow with Emerson's rhythm - play, comfort, feed, sleep, play, comfort, feed, sleep. 'Feed' often merges into 'sleep', as 'self settling' has become more of a foreign concept this month. I would have dwelt more on this sort of behavior with Cohen, concerned that I shouldn't be feeding to sleep as the health nurses suggested, worried that he would never be able to put himself to sleep, wondering what I should do to change his behavior. This time around I have found that I am less anxious about what I "should" be doing, more relaxed doing what feels right. I feel comfortable letting the phases come and go and following Emerson's lead.
This past month Emerson has gained a small, sweet bald patch in the midst of her growing hair. Her hand control has increased, as has her fascination with food, and she has begun eating solids introduced by way of baby lead weaning. A simple concept and a much more relaxed and natural approach. She is interested in food and eats from our plates when we eat, sitting in her highchair at the table with us. She is asserting her independence too, determined to sit on her own whenever possible, pushing herself into an upright position. Her confidence outweighs her ability. She topples over as if in slow motion, then cries out in surprised protest until righted again. Emerson wakes only once a night for a feed now. Though lately she has decided she would prefer to spend the rest of the night in bed with us. As a first time Mum I would have resisted this phase too. But as I have come to realise, advice is one thing, while reality is whatever works for us.
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One, two, three, four and five months old.
