It’s hard to believe but our baby, Jackson (Jack), hit 6 months a couple weeks ago. He changes nearly by the day. Here’s an update on him and his geriatric father.

At 6 months we started in with foods: potatoes, vegetables and various fruits. Jack particularly loves the papayas from our garden. I gave Janet one of those mini cordless blenders for Christmas, assuming she’d use it for smoothies. Instead it has become a great tool for pureeing Jack’s latest meal. He loves eating, playing with his utensils (the miracle of modern silicone). and dropping his sippy cup when he’s done drinking.

He’s become good at sitting, the hand eye coordination with toys has taken a giant leap forward, he crawls a little (and gets very frustrated when he can’t), and loves to bounce and stand, with mommy or daddy’s help.

He is an incredibly happy baby and smiles often – unless he wants food , sleep, tummy play or to be picked up. His first lower tooth has popped through him gums, meaning teething is here.

This Friday we go back to his doctor for the latest round of vaccines. The shear numbers of vaccinations and their cost is overwhelming. Now you can get most vaccines free at local government clinics but we’ve decided with some reluctance that we will pay for the Western vaccines, rather than the free Chinese or Indian ones. I don’t know if it really makes a difference but that’s what we felt comfortable with – except for the bank account.

Janet has been incredible throughout all of this. Despite losing sleep and all the other issues surrounding taking care of a baby, she has no complaints. Granted we have a Yaya who helps a great deal but still it’s an incredible amount of work.

As for the geriatric father, I too wake up when Jack cries at night, but chances are good that as soon as Janet starts to feed him and he settles down I am back asleep in record time. And of course when we do miss too much sleep we have the luxury of taking an afternoon nap when we want to. No pesky meetings or cubicles to worry about.

This said, last night Jack was fussing and decided he wanted to cuddle up against me and to my surprise went back to sleep. I felt like I couldn’t move for fear of waking him but was so happy he could sleep against me, even though I am not the milk provider.

He sleeps in his crib about half the night and while it is currently by our bed, soon it will move to his own room.

My other sleep depriving activity is that Jack likes to wake up completely somewhere between 4:30-5:00AM. He wants to talk and that has become a morning routine with daddy. Janet sleeps and Jack and I talk for a half hour and I swear we understand each other. After that we go downstairs and he plays with toys or takes a walk with Auntie.

Now despite the fact that I do less work than I did with my previous children I am often sleepy, fatigued and just plain cranky. I need to determine whether I need sleep and a nap beckons, or whether I am fatigued, in which case activity helps. I rarely get it right and remain cranky. I am currently fatigued and thought that this writing might help, though I am not counting on it.

Jack has become a seasoned traveler. We have flown with him to Cebu, he has both his US and Philippines passports, and next month we are all leaving the Philippines on vacation for the first time in over three years. In fact, Jack’s brother, Julian, will be meeting us and we are all so excited. Anyone who knows me well knows that I will not possibly be able to hold back the emotions!

Jack also goes with his mom to Southern Cebu a couple times a month now to hang out with her family. He seems to enjoy it and more importantly, they love it. Once Janet has been back for a week, her mother invariably says, “I miss Jack,” and another trip is planned.

And this confirms what I hoped would happen. I don’t want to get into a big diatribe but I have noticed that in the US, and probably other Western countries, the attitudes toward babies has changed. In short they are no longer revered like they were when I was young.

But in the Philippines, where all social constructs are at least 50 years behind, everyone is baby crazy. It’s not just the family. We’re in the bank the other day and the Assistant Manager, who can be a bit prickly sometimes, was so excited about the baby and when are we gonna bring the baby into the bank. I find this true in general. Strangers who don’t know us and neighbors who barely know us want to know everything about Jack. Sometimes they want to hold him and usually we let them.

So, dear readers, that’s the latest. If you run into me in town chances are I will be tired and cranky – so be careful – but behind it all I am very happy!