My Little Man

About a week before Parley was born, I heard the song "Her Little Man" by Jami Grooms. You may recall how tired and emotional being that pregnant made me. I cried quite a bit listening to that song. 

It's a song that was made for the groom's dance with his mom at a wedding. It starts with a mom, a week before her baby is born, and she dances with him, holding her belly. Then he's growing up, and they dance at his senior prom. And the last verse is dancing together at his wedding. It's a tender song. The second time I heard it, I cried again. I would play it a lot while I was pumping in the hospital. It's a cheesy song, but I love it so much because it brings out how special it is to have a little boy and that he grows up so fast. 

My little man is growing like crazy! It feels like most of his life, he is either asleep or eating. Well, now he also has time just awake, not hungry. He has the biggest gray/blue eyes that look all around. I feel like he wants to do things so bad but doesn't know how. We've been trying to help him. 

I read him stories, and he's been taking slightly more interest. He used to always fall asleep during walks, but now he stays wide awake and seems to enjoy them. He is getting so good at tummy time. His neck is STRONG. He can lift himself up and turn his head to the other side, though it's a lot of work. He flipped himself halfway over the other day. Our favorite snuggle spot used to be him lying on my chest, but now it only works if he is very tired. Otherwise, he refuses to lay his head on me and instead practices his strong neck muscles, bobbing his head around. 

When he's so awake, he does not appreciate being alone. I do a lot of carying him around and taking him on little trips to visit his dad or examine the growing pile of clean laundry we've accumulated. Nikki always takes him to look at the construction outside. Parley still hasn't shown any interest in toys, but he often grabs my breast pad tight and keeps holding it when he's done eating. He also tries to suck on his fists and has used a passifier better than ever before. (Though, he still spits it out after a few minutes. He's like me with gum.)

Today, he was a bit fussy, so I was holding him to me. He was in a position like he was standing, pressed against me. He had his head back and was looking around with his little hands holding on to me so, so tight. We decided to have a dancing party. I played "Her Little Man" and swayed and twirled around with him. It was special for both of us. 

Parley is such a special kid. I'm so proud of him growing up and so grateful that he is my little man!