MAXIMO

The week in review:
This week has been an eventful one. It's amazing how much Maximo changes in the span of a few days. Sleep has been something we've been tackling for a couple of weeks. After hitting a breaking point about two weeks ago, we decided we needed to make a whole night's sleep a major priority. I, for one, have been stressed at work, tired all the time and feeling like I'm doing everything mediocre, at best. There were many things we needed to work on with his sleeping - making it through the night, but probably most importantly, soothing himself to sleep without being held. So, after a few nights of semi- crying it out (we'd go in every ten minutes or so to tell him that he was alright and that it was time to go to bed), he is now going to sleep on his own - well, with a pacifer and a fuzzy little monkey. The first night was definitely the worst with about fourty five minutes of screaming (that felt like five hours). Soon after, he was sleeping better and more deeply at night. After one night of giving Max his pacifer when he woke up for a feeding, he gave up that feeding all together. So for about a week, he was sleeping ten hours straight, which was beautiful. I didn't post anything here, because he always makes me eat my words when I post progress - especially when it's about sleeping. Of course, our nocturnal bliss was short lived because we think he's teething again, but it's still much better than it was three weeks ago.
Physically, Max is continuing to improve. He's still having therapy sessions three times a week. The picture posted above is a new suggestion by the therapist. His wrists are still very hyper-reflexive (that word again), so she wants him to run his hands in beans - he likes doing it, though I'm petrified he's going to try to eat them if I turn my head for a minute (or blink, really). Also, last weekend, when Kate came over to play, we had to prop him up with the Boppy to play sitting up with her. Yesterday and today, he's been sitting up unassisted and has only toppled a few times.
He's still eating like a champ. Last weekend, we gave him Cheerios, which he loves! The only problem with starting this addiction is that the only place to buy Cheerios in Peru is at the commissary at the U.S. Embassy. We are not the only family with little ones who likes Cheerios either, so usually after a week or so after the monthly shipment, they are all gone. Right now, he's only eating about 10 or so at breakfast (broken in half), so we're not going through them to quickly.
Other things he's digging right now are: playing "This little piggy" on his toes (we love it too - his giggle is contagious), going on long walks bundled up close to Mommy, playing on his mat and trying to catch Dad's eye with a coy smile.
So, all in all, life is good right now - though we're on a high due to our four day holiday - good night sleeps, fun family time and even a nap thrown in every once and a while.