Add ability to start a numbered list at a specific starting value

I've found that when you are creating numbered lists using the # markup, if you have large lists that get broken up by other markup, that the list numbering resets back to 1. It would be great if:

a) You could use a particular syntax for starting a numbered list at a specific starting value. Example:

#6 This is a numbered item that will start with 6.

b) You could mark a block of markup with start and stop blocks. Maybe

would work. So, something like:

Stuff

would render as:

1. Item 1
2.# Item 2

3. Item 3
blah blah blah

4. Item 4