Better Together: Five Months

Height: 26 in.

Weight: 14 lbs. 5 oz.

I probably should delete this picture above but it makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Some of Peter's current favorite things:

*Squealing in a VERY high-pitched tone

*When I pretend to eat his toes, sound effects included

*Being tossed in the air above your head

*Jumping in his Exersaucer

He has just started trying really hard to get his toes to his mouth, but he can't quite get them there. I thought maybe his fluffy cloth diapers were the problem, but I think he's just not quite flexible or strong enough yet.

His sleep schedule remains consistent. He's a good sleeper, day and night. He sleeps from about 8:00 p.m. until he wakes up once between 2:00-4:00 a.m. Thankfully he goes back to sleep very easily after I feed him and then wakes up once more about 7:00 to eat. He will usually go back to sleep again until he gets up for the day around 9:00. He takes 3 naps per day that last 1.5-2.5 hours.

Early in his fifth month, he mastered rolling back to front. I was so hopeful that he would roll himself back over in the middle of the night (rather than scream until I turned him over), but that hasn't been happening, despite my varied efforts.

Just two days ago, I put Peter down in his crib to take a nap (he sleeps on his stomach) and as I grabbed his blanket, I noticed he was on his tip toes and hands. I put the blanket over his back and he went to his hands and knees. I was quite shocked as this was the first time this had happened but I didn't think much of it. Every time he's on his tummy since then, he goes up to his hands and knees and he even started rocking back and forth yesterday. I think it's safe to say he'll be crawling by the time I do his next monthly update.

In the following series of pictures, you can tell what Peter thought of my 5 month sticker. I'm afraid these monthly photos just got much more difficult for me.

He still has no teeth, much to the chagrin of almost every old lady who sees him drooling and chewing on things. The only things he doesn't want to chew on are the actual teething rings that we have for him. Every other object is fair game.

I have a lot of favorite times with Peter, but my top 3 (in no official order) are: when I go to get him out of his crib and he's laying on his back and grinning and talking to himself; when I finish nursing him at night and he will lay his head down on my shoulder and wrap his arms around my neck; and when he gets out of the bath tub smelling so wonderful with his incredibly soft skin and he wants to cuddle in my arms while we look in the bathroom mirror.

Peter started slipping down in the chair but I continued taking pictures since he was so happy and cooperative. I don't remember what happened to cause him to make the face in this second picture, but it is SO unlike all the other pictures I have of him that it must be included in this post.

I haven't started giving Peter solids yet. The main reason is that I just don't feel ready. It seems too soon for us. He's doing great with nursing and I've been in no hurry to move along to other foods. I think we'll probably skip the rice cereal and oatmeal and start with some pureed foods at six months.