5 Months Old and SO Adorable!

We can hardly believe that our baby boy is already 5 months old! He has truly progressed to "baby" and is well out of the newborn phase. He is such a joy to be around. He loves people, smiling and flirting often. We love his little giggles, how he kicks he legs up and down in excitement, and all the "talking" he likes to do. Everyday his movements become slightly more refined as he learns to better grab at and grasp his toys. He is so interested in everything around him. He watches intently as we cook dinner or eat and loves to look all around in new places. He thinks he is a big boy and does not enjoy being held like a baby cradle-style unless he is on the verge of sleep because it inhibits his ability to see everything going on around him. Won't it be interesting to see how this further develops in his personality? I continue to see a strong-willed child in our future....

At 5 months there is no regularly scheduled check-up so I cannot say with accuracy his updated weight, length, and head circumference. The next check up is at 6 months. However, Allen got onto our home scale with him and, according to that, he current weight is about 17.8 pounds.

Here we go with the 5 month updates:

• Weight approx 17.8 lbs
• Graduated to size 2-3 diapers
• Wears size 6 mo and 6-9 mo clothes
• Laughs and giggles often, kicks legs up and down
• Grabs at his feet/toes
• Bats at and actually grabs hold of the toys hanging from his play gym
• Puts EVERYTHING in his mouth
• Continues to drool copiously
• Still hiccups often, but not every day; that ceased at about 4 months
• Has taken very much to his blankie and does not go to sleep easily without it
• Goes down with a paci and needs to be "plugged in" if he wakes up and it has fallen out, but does not take it much during the day
• Still not sleeping through the night (darn it), wakes up twice to eat. The only reason I continue to get up with him vs letting him cry through it at this age is because he does not eat that well during the day despite all attempts to get him on a regular feeding/napping schedule. We have what the books call an "irregular" baby. This is much to the frustration of a mommy who so desires and thrives on a schedule and routine. But I have tried, my mom has tried, and this little guy just likes to do something a little different every day! Maybe #2 will give us an easier time of it. Luke is happy and healthy and that's all we can ask for, I guess!
• Makes new little noises and "talks" constantly. It's like he's engaging in full conversations with us. He goes on and on and his tone and inflection change. When he does fuss I tell him to use his words to tell me what's wrong. No whining. :)
• We stopped the rice cereal and solids for a while. His little system was really having a tough time with it and we went a full week without a dirty diaper until a little, um, intervention. I will be switching to oatmeal rather than rice cereal when we start up with it again, which is a little less binding. Of course, I had bought the organic, whole grain, brown rice cereal as I was intent on starting him out right. Now that his little tum was having so much trouble with it and we had to switch to oatmeal, I am also moving to single grain and could not find an organic brand. Well, I guess I will just have to be flexible and do what is best for him, right?
• Still wants what he wants when he wants it. Will arch his back when he doesn't want to be held a certain way or doesn't want to eat or wants a new position. We have to be especially careful when he decides he has had enough of the Bumbo seat. He will arch his back and almost fall out the back he is so strong! It is very easy to see we have an opinionated and strong-willed child. I keep telling my mom that because I was (and still am!) such a strong-willed individual that I will be all over this and totally prepared for his "episodes". Or at least I can tell myself that, can't I?

Enjoy these super cute updated pics: