Five months old...

Dear Benjamin,

I know I say this every month, but I CAN'T believe how fast time is flying by!  You are 5 months old and as sweet as can be!

It's been a busy month keeping up with your brothers' baseball schedules, Luke's birthday, a visit from the cousins, and a trip to the lake.  But you just go with the flow.  Nothing seems to ruffle your feathers.  You just smile, smile, smile...and I can't get enough of it!

This month you perfected your rolling, and you are all over the place.  You spend a good amount of time rolling around on your blanket, and chewing on  your toys.   Sophie the giraffe is by far your favorite toy{mine too.}

Speaking of being on the move, you completely shocked me by getting up on your elbows and knees.  And just a few days ago you started getting on your hands and knees and rocking back and forth.  YES people, I said HANDS and KNEES...as in a pre cursor to crawling.  Now, you might think that I'm bragging here, but don't be deceived...this is NOT my first rodeo.  When baby #1 does things early you get all excited.  When baby #4 does things early you start panicking.  I am not ready to have a baby on the move, so let's work on something else, okay Benjamin?  I'm thinking that we should work on sitting up, long before we think about crawling.

You continue to be an excellent nurser, and the rolls on your tummy, arms, thighs, back, etc show that you aren't missing any meals!  You still refuse to take a bottle, but we're working on that and making some progress.  You've had reflux since you were itty bitty, and even with your medicine you still insist on spitting up all over, when I least expect it.  Just tonight when I was burping you, you managed to spit-up over the top burp rag, and it landed right on me.  How'd you do that???

Let's talk about sleep.  Never mind, let's not.  I'll just say that you are getting to be a good napper and are settling into a better routine and taking longer naps.  As far as nights go, you have a great first stretch.  You usually go to bed around 7pm and sleep a 6 hours stretch.  After that you'd like to have my company every 3 hours...on-the-dot.  So, in the end, I'm the one that needs to toughen up.  Watch out buddy, there may be a few unpleasant nights in your future.

One of my favorite things that you do right now is that you are full-body, arms flapping, legs kicking, body wiggling, huge grin, happy to see me, just about every time I walk in the room.  And it's not just me...you react that way to Daddy, and your brothers and sister.  It's absolutely precious and it's easy to see what a happy guy you are.

You continue to bless me everyday and I am so very grateful.

I love you!
mommy




Here's a few more pictures for your entertainment.

Okay, here's the proof of the whole hands and knees things.  And yes, I know the picture is blurry.  It's really hard to get a clear picture when I'm trembling in fear.

We have a strict baby yoga program in our house.  Not a great picture of him...but WHAT is he doing???

I think he's saying he's all done with the photo shoot!

And, I'll leave you with this picture...which you've seen before...but I love enough to show again!