Five Months Old

Stats? 
12 lbs 8 oz (?%), ? in long (?%), and ? in head circumference (we'll have more complete and accurate stats next month when she goes to the doctor). She's in size 1 diapers and her 3 month (or 0-3 month) clothes but we're planning on moving up to size 2 diapers very soon and some of the 3 month clothes are starting to get a bit small, so we'll be moving up to the 3-6 month clothes soon.

How is she sleeping?
So far so good (until recently). We no longer pull her into bed with us at all as we don't want to start any bad habits (except for this one time when we just had to sleep). Most of the time she'll sleep in 4-6 hour stretches at night and we've occasionally gotten a 7 or 8 hour stretch. We've stuck with the same bedtime routine and the sleep training is going well.  There's generally one feed in the middle of the night and one first thing in the morning.  We are gradually doing much better with naps.  Recently we've started having some trouble with our night sleeping schedule.  We think teething is to blame, but not sure.  Guess we'll see.  Hopefully it will resolve soon.  Our next thing to tackle is weening her off swaddling. 

How is she eating?
We started solids this month.  We were hoping to wait until after 5 months, but she seemed ready and she was starting to have more night time feedings rather than less.  So, she eats rice cereal once a day at dinnertime.  We'll increase to twice a day this next week and then add in other types of cereal and eventually some more fun pureed fruits and veggies.  She's doing okay with it.  Mostly I think she gets frustrated with how slow it goes.  Otherwise, still nursing like a champ. 

Doctor Visit?
Not this month - we go again next month at the 6 month mark.


What new tricks does she do?
It seems like she's learning new tricks all the time. Still lots of smiles and giggles. She has become super grabby and most everything goes in her mouth. She tries to help us feed her and give her medicine which is funny. When we sit at my computer together, she tries to press buttons on the keyboard, mostly the spacebar thankfully. She also recently discovered her feet. She stares at them and grabs at them. Still holding her head up well, sitting with support and rolling from front to back. She has started to roll from back to front, but gets about halfway over and stops (I think she gets stuck on her arm). She doesn't get frustrated like she does when she sometimes has trouble rolling onto her back, so I've concluded that she just figures out that she doesn't really want to be on her tummy so she's just fine that way. I'm guessing once she figures out that she can get around by rolling, she'll finish the circle. Funny thing though, I've come into her room sometimes and found her facing a completely different direction in her crib from time to time (horizontal instead of vertical or feet and head switched). Not sure how she manages to do that maneuvering in the swaddler, but she does. She's definitely getting more wiggly and mobile. Overall, just enjoying the increased interaction and grabby hands.


General Observations?
She's really a good baby.  She generally only cries when she's hungry or over tired.  She now makes other noises for bored or feeling ignored.  When I found out I was having a girl, I really hoped that she wouldn't be squeely like a lot of little girls.  No such luck - she squeels a lot and sometimes in tones that only dogs can hear.  I just keep reminding myself that it's developmental and she's learning to communicate.  At any pitch, it's nice to have some variety and it's helping us to better understand her and meet her needs.  We think she may be teething (due to drool, increased night waking, and occassional fussiness with painful sounding wimpers), but we'll see.  :)  She loves to smile at new people and strangers often say she's the smiliest, happiest little baby.  She's the cutest little thing and we're so blessed. 

Still shocked at our quickly time is flying by.  I love each new stage of development, but I am starting to miss previous phases as well.  We're just doing our best to enjoy everything as it comes. 

Until next month... a few extra pics for the road.

Sitting Up Tall

My Rattle!



Mmmm...yummy fingers and flashing Hook 'Em Horns on both hands.



Bye Bye Ya'll!