My little guy is growing up

Okay, this is my last Hawaii post. Then I'll have to think of something new to blog about!

All things considered, I think we made the right choice in taking Dorian with us on the trip. There were times when it was inconvenient (mostly at 2 a.m. when he wasn't sleeping), but I think he needed to be with us this time. Next time....we'll see.

He did seem to grow up a lot on the trip. Here are some things Dorian learned while in Hawaii:

• he can sleep without being swaddled! yay! i am hoping that he will continue to get better at this. the time change, a different crib, an inconsistent nap schedule, and having to sleep in the same room with mom and dad all contributed to him getting about 10-12 total hours of daily sleep (including naps), rather than the 14-16 he was used to at home. so hopefully he'll be able to fall back into his old schedule, but without being swaddled.
• he has also learned to sleep better in random places, if i am holding him--we'll see if that translates into sleeping at church....
• he eats now! all the time. i feel like all i do is feed him. and he really prefers to eat whatever i'm eating. sometimes i can trick him into eating baby food if i feed it to him on real silverware. plastic baby spoons are for babies.
• he is learning to use his teeth. he can take bites of bananas, bread, french fries, sandwiches, crackers...
• he learned to like the sand, and got comfortable crawling around and digging in it. but the ocean still freaks him out a little (okay, this video is a little bit long...if you are pressed for time, skip to the halfway point because that's where it gets really good).
• he likes to play peekaboo with strangers, and thinks that every new person he sees is his new playmate...as long as he has a good hold on his mom.
• he learned to go up and down the one step in our condo. i haven't tested him out on a longer flight of stairs yet.
• he got to know (great) grandma and grandpa well enough that he was okay hanging out with them sometimes while mom and dad went to play.
• he learned to drink from a straw.
• he is especially interested in doors and other things that open and close. he is figuring out how everything works.
• he has become way more opinionated and impatient than he used to be. he knows what he wants, and he makes it known when he doesn't get it.
• he likes to dance whenever he hears music or a beat.
• he knows when i put my fingers on the corners of his mouth and squeeze a little, he is supposed to stick out his tongue to show me what he is (or isn't) chewing on.

Here are some things that haven't changed:

• he still loves Coldplay.
• he is still curious about everything and constantly getting into stuff.
• he still eats everything he finds on the floor, and bites mom when he is tired.
• he still likes to eat paper more than anything else.
• he still wants to play with dad's computer more than any other toy.
• he is still ticklish and thinks his dad is hilarious.
• he is still the sweetest little guy, a happy, adaptable baby who is sooo good all the time.

Since we got home, he has been exploring and rediscovering the house. Hey, I like to pull all the tupperware out of this drawer! And pull the pots out of this cupboard! Look, mom's jewelry! And the garbage can! Dad's shelf of CDs! It's really fun to watch, although I am having to update my babyproofing because some of my old tricks aren't fooling him anymore.