Five Weeks Home...

...and Joel is still doing great! He has been...

-sleeping through the night on a regular basis, from about 9 PM to 8 AM. He's still taking two naps a day (except for the days he likes to fall asleep in my arms and be wide awake as soon as I put him in his crib).

-trying lots of new foods, including plums, green beans, peas, pasta, yogurt, blueberries, and ice cream (thanks grandma!)

-babbling all the time and making sounds like baba, dada, nnga, tata, and mum. He's also discovered how to scream--not a crying scream, just a "wow, look at the sound I can make" scream. He especially likes to scream while he's in his high chair, which I'm sure people in restaurants love.

-becoming more attached to mommy. We were in the elevator at the doctor's office to drop something off, and a lady reached out to play with his feet. Joel immediately looked up at me, turned away from the lady, and grabbed my arm just a little tighter. It was great reassurance that the attachment process is going well. When my mom and I were out to eat with Joel, I left the table to get more food, and Joel started fussing because I left. I took pleasure in this because it means that he knows who I am and that I'm someone important. However, we still know that the attachment process is ongoing; it's not something that has already been achieved.

-enjoying his books. I have never seen a baby so interested in books! I love to read and always have. It's so great for me that Joel will sit through a reading of The Hat by Jan Brett and look at each page. He also loves his animal books and his singing nursery rhyme book.

-learning how to pull himself up to stand. The first time he did this, he had just woken up from his nap. I went into his room, put a few clothes in his dresser, and turned around to see him standing up! He has since pulled himself up on the couch. We're so proud of our big boy. :)

-charming all of his family members, especially his cousins! They love playing with him and making him laugh.

-visiting the library, taking walks, shopping, going to church, and playing with mommy and daddy.

-continuing to be the brightest, funniest, cutest, sweetest, most irresistable, most lovable baby in the world! We love him so much and thank God for him many times a day. Enjoy some pictures of his cuteness: