5 Months Old

Dear Miles,
You are 5 months old now - actually, you're about halfway to 6 months old since I'm writing this late! This past month was a whirlwind. We did a lot of traveling, and we got to spend a lot of time with family. You did great in the car. Mommy wasn't sure how you would do with all the traveling, but you are learning that car rides are not the worst thing in the whole world. Mommy has to ride in the back with you and your brother a lot during our long trips, but I don't mind. You guys are pretty fun :) You smile, laugh, and coo a lot right now - you love one-on-one attention! You are starting to have a happy wake up disposition as well which I love! One of my favorite things about being your mommy at this age is peeking over the side of the crib and seeing you light up with a smile from ear to ear when you see me! Another thing I love about you is that when you are really sleepy, mommy and daddy can rub your little forehead and you go right to sleep a lot of the time. It's so sweet! You cling to me when I hold you a lot more so than your brother did. I feel like I get little hugs all day long from you, and I love it!

Here's your 5 Month Picture:


Here you are with your dog:

Here you are with Carter. He's 26 months old, and he loves you so much. He is learning to include you and share with you. Other times he throws things at you and pulls things away from you :)

Here are some of the things we did this month: 

• We have been TRAVELING this month! 
• We were in Auburn 3/4 weekends this month so that mommy and daddy could go to football games (even though our team stinks this year), and so that we could see your Aunts/Uncles/Cousins. You and Carter got to stay with Nana and Papa J during all the games!
• You met Abby & Sam, and Aunt Jill & Uncle Kevin (not pictured)

• We stayed with Grandmama and Granddaddy for a week while mommy shopped and worked the consignment sale. Now you and Carter have all of your winter clothes and Christmas presents! 
• You got your first sink bath! 

• You and your brother had to go to the doctor this month. You had a double ear infection and he had a bad cold!  You both have antibiotics, and are getting better - slowly but surely. 
• It's pretty much been all traveling / visiting with family this month! When we are at home, we try to get you back on your nap schedule so that you continue to be a happy baby and let brother play in the yard with Fischer until his little heart is content. Stay at home / pajama days are necessary when you spend as much time in the car as we do! Here we are on a pajama day...

Here are some things you are doing now: 

• You weigh 16lbs. 5oz. and you're about 26 inches long.
• You nurse about 6 times a day and you now eat baby food 3 times a day! You've had cereal, sweet potatoes, green beans, squash, applesauce, pears, and bananas. Bananas and sweet potatoes are your favorite. 

First taste of food - rice cereal! 

Your first taste of baby food - sweet potatoes! You did really well eating food for the first time! 

• You sleep a total of 8-10 hours at night! Your ear infections / all our traveling made you not sleep through the night anymore. We are working on getting back on schedule. 
• You take 2-3 good naps a day (1-4 hours) - when we are home. In the car you will not sleep for more than 20 min. at a time!
• You have great head control. You want to watch EVERYTHING that happens around you! This makes nursing very hard to do when Carter is running around :)
• You like your play gym. You talk and grab the animals hanging inside or your brother who joins you on a regular basis!

• You reach for things, and your eye-hand coordination is getting better. You can pretty much grab anything you set your mind to - although you may not get it on the first try. 
• You roll over all the time from front to back! You like to sleep on your tummy and you HATE when you accidently flip on your back. Mommy has to flip you back over all the time for you to get your sleep! 
• When you are  on your back you roll from side to side. 
• You love your hands. You look at them / play with them / put them in your mouth all the time. 
• You are starting to like your paci more! We are thankful that with all the traveling we've had to do it calms you.
• You smile and laugh a lot more now. You are such a happy baby!
• You are still very ticklish. One of your favorite things is to feel daddy's face when it's scratchy because he hasn't shaved. You thing that's hilarious!
• You can sit and stand with support. 
• You like to be rocked and sung to. Grandmama is a pro at this! You sing along with her as she sings you to sleep.

Here is your typical schedule...

5:30am - You still like to nurse at this time on a regular basis. You started this last month (I think when you were getting sick), and we're trying to drop this feeding. However, when you are hungry at this time, you eat and then go right back to sleep.
7:30am - Mealtime (Nurse & Cereal/Oatmeal/or Fruit) then Play
8:30am - Naptime 
10:00am - Mealtime (Nurse) then Chores / Bible Study / Grocery Shopping
11:00am - Naptime (this is longer if we are home - many days we are not home at this time)
12:30pm - Mealtime (Nurse & Veggie) then Play
1:30pm - Naptime (best nap of the day!)
4:00pm - Mealtime (Nurse) then Waketime (if your second morning nap was short you will sometimes take another nap...if it was longer, you will probably stay up at this time)
6:00pm - Mealtime (Nurse & Fruit or Veggie) then Waketime
7:30pm - Mealtime / Bathtime (on bath nights) / Bed
REPEAT...

I can hear you waking up from your nap now. Off I go to go kiss your sweet face and soak up that toothless smile!

Love,
Mommy

PS. This is what your brother did when he was 5 months old.