5 Months Old

Our sweet girl turned 5 months old on 5/12/12 and I am always amazed at how fast she is growing up!  This month has been a big one for Belle because I feel like she is really a baby now instead of a newborn.  She doesn't like to be cradled in my arms anymore, always wants to sit up and look around, and likes to be entertained constantly.  We started reading books to her, and she loves to sit and turn the pages.  Sean even played his guitar for last night, and she squealed with delight every time he would play a higher note.  Remember how in the last post I mentioned the pediatrician recommended that she not start eating rice cereal until she was 6 months old?  Well, at about 4 1/2 months old I noticed that she was drinking a bottle, and then 2 hours later she would be hungry again.  She was especially hungry in the evening time, so I decided to try the rice cereal to see if it would help.  The first time we fed it to her she made a sour face and I thought I had made a mistake.  However, after only a week she began to get used to eating from a spoon, and now she opens her mouth wide and smiles when she is being fed!  The cereal is also helping her sleep better at night by keeping her full longer.  I have a feeling that when she turns 6 months old and can have regular baby food, that this girl is going to love eating.  Here's a recap of what's been going on with her lately:

-Belle, I'm not sure how much you weigh since we don't have a doctor's appointment this month, but I'm estimating you weigh 13 pounds and a few ounces.  You have definitely grown because lots of your 3-6 months clothes no longer fit!

-You are wearing 3-6 month and 6-9 month size clothes now.  You have moved up to size 2 diapers

-This month you learned how to roll over from your stomach to your back.  We can't wait for you to roll from your back to your stomach soon.  Tummy time is no longer a chore for you, and you enjoy holding yourself up and looking around!

-You sleep great in your crib, and usually only wake up once at night.  We have started putting you to bed earlier at about 9 p.m. and usually you only wake up for a bottle at about 1 or 2 a.m.  We are trying to cut out the nighttime bottle, but it is still hard for me to let you "cry it out." 

-We no longer swaddle you and you only use the sleep sack at night.  Your favorite place to take your daytime naps is in your swing.

-We are loving that we can entertain you now.  We read books to you, play music, watch T.V., and you even enjoy holding baby rattles and stuffed animals now.

-Belle, we realized that you LOVE being outside!  Whenever you are fussy we just take your outdoors and you are instantly happy.  It is so funny seeing you feel the breeze in your face :-)

-Bathtime is a whole new experience now.  You love it and even make a mess with your kicking and splashing of the water.  I have a feeling we are going to have to move you from the baby bathtub to the real bathtub sometime soon.

-You drink the regular Enfamil infant formula and take usually 7-8  6oz bottles a day.  You take about 2 tablespoons of rice cereal mixed with 5 tablespoons of formula twice a day.  We feed it to you once around lunchtime and once in the evening before bed.  You love to eat and always want more!  The only medicine you take now is gas drops and we are grateful.

Belle, these past 5 months have been the most joyful times in our lives.  I got to celebrate my first Mother's Day yesterday with you, and I can honestly say nothing is better!

5 months old, you look so big now!

Our little family

My little brother, Eric, going to his senior prom!  I can't believe he is graduating from high school.  He is going to the University of Arkansas in the Fall on a full academic scholarship, and we are so proud of him.

My first Mother's Day!  I feel so blessed to get to celebrate it now.