I am such a Happy Baby in the morning. I fly like an eagle. I romp like a horse. I squeal like a girl. On weekends I lounge in bed with mom and dad while we drink our coffee and milk. We plan our day. I’m very chatty and they’re good listeners. I say “Ah goo, Coo, and Arrrr.” I stretch and they massage my growing limbs. It’s marvelous. Sheer joy. Daylight delight!
But 5pm is the witching hour. I begin my inconsolable crying. Mommy finally got to experience this on Sunday (Daddy’s seen it many times but she’d only heard about it).
I’m not sure why this happens to me. Maybe my body is working out the kinks. I think I’m adjusting to all the stimuli of the world. Or maybe I’m having digestive troubles. Either I have gas and that makes me cry, or I cry and swallow air and that gives me gas. Sometimes I just realize I’m no longer in the womb and that pisses me off. And it’s because everyone else can move and I can’t even roll over yet.
Mommy tried everything. She put me in my vibrating chair, hoping the shimmying and noise would soothe me. She turned on the radio for white noise. She turned off all the lights and held me in a silent, dark room, and walked and rocked me. She put on loud music. She sang “You are my sunshine” 15 times.
The best way to please me is to take me for a walk in the stroller or Baby Bjorn (facing out). I’m always content outside. And so mommy walks 6 miles a day, and is starting to worry that her calf musles are getting too big.
Rudolph Vedder 
Good afternoon Little Rudy,
I know it’s so hard to be a baby and have to depend on us, sometimes silly, adults, but that is part of the learning process. You will learn that you will want to follow in some people’s examples and in other people you will quickly know you want nothing to do with them because they just don’t have too much to offer you. Stay away from the weird ones. Either way, you will become a unique, special and a one of a kind adult human. It is the hardest job in the entire world to grow up and become the person you are meant to be.
Now…for those rough times during dinner time. Just hang in there, buddy, you will get through this time as well. You might be starting to get those little pearlie whites that see your Mommy and Daddy have when they smile at you with those loving eyes of theirs. Boy I have to tell you, Rudy, if that’s what is happening, it really hurts, just ask any of your friends what they went through. You could try sucking on a popsicle or tell Mommy and Daddy to try some ice wrapped in a very clean cloth. Hmmm..I think you can buy teething toys that you can put in the freezer. That icey cold stuff feels really good on your gums. You can also buy some Gripe Water at the drugstore. It was made just for little ones like you. It helps your tummy and mouth feel better. You can either have a little teaspoon of it for your tummy gas or rub it on your gums. It can really help your gas pains feel a little better and your sore gums.
The other thing that might be the problem is that you might be going through a huge growth splurge. If you are still a naturally feb baby, that could be what’s happening to you. When Uncle Devin and Uncle Ryan went through it, their Mommy just about lost all her friends, not to mention her sanity, because of all their crying and them thinking they were starving to death. Uncle Ryan was, of course, the worse. So don’t worry, just tell Mommy and Daddy you just have to eat lots right now. You will go through this without a hitch and will be back on track in no time. They will be so glad once you play the catch up game and you’re back to normal because they love you and worry about you. It’s so hard to be a baby and be perfect all the time, but, sometimes it’s even harder to be the parents. They just love you so much and when you hurt they hurt even more. You are the most special and amazing thing they have ever produced and they would do absolutely anything to keep you safe and happy.
They are pretty proud of themselves for producing such a perfect human being like yourself. Just tell them to be patient and you will return to the most incredible little boy that they made in no time.
I hope this helps to reassure you that this is pretty normal. Take care of your Daddy and Mommy when all of you come back to see your Grandma. Don’t forget they have a Mommy just like you.
If you ever need anything and if you think I can help, just ask, and I will try to help you figure things out if I can.
Big Hugs until net time.
Heather
Aw, B had witching hour too… It drove us kinda crazy not knowing why all of a sudden in the early evening he just wasn’t happy anymore. Eventually he did fall asleep, usually after a feeding. And lucky for us, grew out of this behavior. I agree with Heather, it probably did have to do with a growth spurt too. B loves being outdoors too, even to this day we can calm him down by taking him outside just to look around. I’m not looking forward to the teething stage, but who knows, maybe it won’t be that bad. 😉