Grace: five months

My darling Grace,

You are such a joy, little girl.  We've really started to see your personality emerge this month, and I could just eat you up!

Here are your five-month stats:

Five Months at a Glance

Weight:  16 pounds, 3 ounces (we just happened to be at the doctor's office on the right day!)

Length:  ?

Eating:  4-6 ounces five times a day

Sleeping:  10 hours at night, 3 naps (anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours)

Diapers:  size 3 (we just) switched

Clothes:  6 months, 6-9 months

Things You Love:  Daddy, bath time, lotion time, This Little Piggy, touching faces, your jumperoo, "Pop Goes the Weasel," the bumbo, having your hair played with, snuggles with Mommy, your bunny, sleeping on your side, going naked, story time, talking to yourself (loudly!), bouncing up and down

What You Can Do This Month: sit in a tripod position (supported by your arms), roll from your back to your tummy, find your paci on your paci clip and put it in your mouth (sometimes), jump in your jumperoo (without books under your feet!)

Oh, love.  We're so enamored with you.  We'll do just about anything to make you laugh.  (Although Daddy doesn't have to try very hard!  While Mommy was taking your five-month pictures, you wouldn't crack a smile.  But then Daddy walked into the room...)

Every stinking time... :)  You got another tummy bug this month.  And the resulting diaper rash was awful.  But I think we're finally back to normal.

You started wearing your DOC Band this month to try and fix that little flat head, and you're doing pretty great with it!  It doesn't seem to bother you, except that you are waking up more easily at night, and I'm not sure if it's the band or some sort of sleep regression.  We've got our fingers crossed that you won't have to wear it too long.

Eating:  We switched you to a four-hour schedule this month, and you're doing great!  You're still only eating 4-6 months at a time, but you are definitely growing, baby girl, so we're just going to let you work up to more when you're ready.  

Sleeping:  Before your tummy bug, you were sleeping through the night like a CHAMP.  You'd go 10-11 hours (including the dream feed) with no problems.  But then you started waking up with dirty diapers, and we obviously had to disrupt your beauty sleep to get you cleaned up!  We're probably going to have to do a little more crying it out to get you back on track again, but I feel sure you'll get back to "normal" soon. :)

You usually wake up around 6, but we can sometimes put you in bed with us on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and you'll sleep until 7:00 or 7:30.

Naps are still inconsistent.  You won't really do more than three 45-minute naps at daycare (sometimes up to an hour at a time), but they say they don't mind since you're such a happy girl. :)  At home, you'll go longer, and you love that early evening nap.  Momma usually has to wake you up for dinner!

(sweetest face!)

Other Stuff:  You HATE dirty diapers, and that's about the only time you cry like you mean it.

We've got our bed time routine down, and I think you look forward to it every night.  We start with a bath, then do lotion, put on PJs, read a book, and then Momma sings some sort of hymn (usually "How Great Thou Art"), and you go out like I've tranquilized you.  (I'm trying not to take it personally that you don't like to stay awake when I sing - ha!)

You love being around your cousins.  You just smile at them like they're the coolest thing you've ever seen.  Soon enough you'll be big enough to keep up with them. :)

See how you've already grown so much?

We love you more than anything, sweet girl.

Love,
Mommy