5-months-old!

 Blake turned five-months-old on Tuesday! Look at those thighs (he weighed a whopping 20.6 lbs. today at the pediatrician's office since we were there for big bro's 3-year-check-up)...and, boy oh boy, these monthly growth pictures are getting interesting :-)

Big Brother likes to sit in with Blake for these pictures, and baby brother happily obliges. I just melt...

This past month flew by at warp speed...maybe because it seems that the little guy is not-so-little (who are we kidding, he's not been very little this whole time!) anymore. But this is such a FUN age! He's starting to show more of his personality, and he seems to be so enthralled with his surroundings. He has found his FEET and often likes to put them in his mouth :-)

Speaking of putting things in his mouth...

Poor little fella is dealing with teething and his first ear infections. He's a trooper! 

The activity mat, swing, and bouncer will be baby things of the past soon around here. He's a-scooting on his back (by drawing up his legs and pushing back), and he's arching A LOT these days. He still hasn't rolled over completely, but I know when he does, things will be a lot different. I am taking in as many "stationary baby" days as I can :-)

He has really started interacting with and turning around to the toys on his Jumperoo, and he goes to town on the jumping now! I need to remember to video him soon!!

Blake seems to be in a good routine these days, but it is somewhat lax (totally opposite of how I was with Jameston). Gotta be with a second child!! He usually goes to bed between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. (later on church nights), sleeps for 6-8 hours, nurses, and then is up for another feeding between 6 and 7 a.m. before falling back asleep again for another hour or so. I have been feeding him before I go into work, or else I bet he would drop that feeding...so, he's getting about 12-13 hours of sleep at night. He usually has a short mid-to-late morning nap, a longer mid-afternoon nap, and sometimes a cat-nap later in the afternoon (especially on days we are out and about around dinner time).

He's continuing to nurse or take a bottle every 3 hours or so during the day. Due to me not being able to keep up with the 6-7 ounce bottle quota he is having at daycare (and since I can hear his tummy growling when I feed him that one time at night), we are going to start him on rice cereal SOON! I bought it two weeks ago, just haven't made the move...we'll see if it helps! 

This little guy is sitting up well, with assistance, on the floor and in our laps, thanks to the Boppy and his new bath seat (the recliner was taking up too much space since I normally bathe both of the boys at the same time, and it had to go thanks to his new-found fondness for arching back):
 

Other things I want to remember about him at this age:

• He has started grabbing at my face or reaching for my hand when I feed him. So sweet! He is definitely grabbing at everything within his reach!
• He is a pro at taking his paci out of his mouth. Now if he can just perfect getting it back in...which he tries to do :-)
• Blake is starting to want his lovie around his face when he's sleeping...something we're not used to since Jameston wasn't ever interested in anything like that. And more and more he is liking sleeping on his side
• He recognizes himself in the mirror, and he seems to be noticing when we say his name...maybe?
• He pumps his right arm when he laughs or gets going
• He rests his arm on the side of the swing, kinda like he's leaning on the side of a car door looking out the car window :-)
• He LOVES touch-and-feel and the "crinkly" books at the moment, and he's even sitting in on some story time before big brother's nap (and grabbing ever-so intently at the pages...which is teaching Jameston some patience!)

This boy is SO giggly! Love his belly laugh!! And who gets him to laugh the most you ask? Big brother! Just take a look at this video:

Blake likes to help Mommy do chores some afternoons when he is up from his nap and big brother isn't quite yet...I really relish that one-on-one time so much! He's my lil' helper!!

And due to his recent ear infection and teething, he's "needed" a little more holding time...I don't mind it at all, but my back/neck can sure tell it!

We love our "Baby Blake!" Can't believe he's coming up on 1/2-a-year-old...we think he's a keeper :-)