My parents are having a ball taking care of Atticus these days while I work & go to school. While I commute tirelessly (NOT) from the OC to LA, they hang out at home with him, take him for walks around the neighborhood, & feed him rice cereal, which he loves. They get him all to themselves, & they only wish that his Gramps, Grammy, Omi, & Opa had all this time to spend with them. I think they know how fortunate they are that Robby & I are living in Los Angeles.

What has Atticus been up to lately?

Well, when Robby returns from Oxford, he will see a more mature little baby! Well, maybe not mature, but his motor skills have definitely improved. For awhile now, he has been gripping my fingers above his body while I put him to sleep. He touches things purposefully now. When I read to him, he is less interested in the pictures & more interested in grabbing the corner of the board book. He deliberately grabs the animals that hang from the play mat.

He is much more comfortable at lying on his tummy, though he still has difficulty rolling to his back. My dad is trying to teach him to sleep on his stomach because babies usually sleep better that way. I know, doctors warn against sleeping on the belly due to higher rates of SIDS, but he rarely sleeps on his belly & only for naps during the day. He can pick up his head now, so I don't think SIDS would be a problem.

He is also very good at sitting up now. He still needs assistance, but he doesn't wobble around as much. Most of his day is spent lying on his back, so sitting up is a real treat for him.

He absolutely loves singing. When he hears my mom or my singing, he freezes & listens intently.

Also, he has gotten into the habit of resting his head on my shoulder when I carry him upright. I love that. He no longer jerks his head up & looks over his left shoulder as much. Sometimes, he nestles his head in my collarbone.

I can't wait for him to see his faraway grandparents!