Brooks at 5 months

 This boy has completely stolen my heart.  Every time I look at him I just want to smother him in kisses and eat his cheeks. He's just so easy to please and constantly smiling. I would have never believed you that he'd turn out this great 3 months ago.  Now I'm just going to need to bottle him up and keep him like this forever. 

Stats| We were just at his 4 month appt a couple weeks ago so I'm assuming he hasn't gained much.  Maybe closer to 15lbs now and probably still 25 in.  Mostly wearing 3-6 month clothes but the 6-9 month ones are washed and I made a few 9 month purchases today. Gulp. Size 2 diaper seems to still be fitting.  If you want to buy diapers in bulk, go with #2's.  I think babies are in this size the longest.   

Eating| Milk only for this guy.  Rice, oatmeal (even banana flavored), sweet potatotes and squash are disgusting according to him.  Bite goes in, horrible face, spits it out.  Repeat.  And if you keep trying to shove it down his throat, he WILL puke.  He nurses roughly 7 times during the day/night and drinks 4oz when he has a bottle.

Sleeping| The sleeping needed to change and the 4 month sleep regression is our "this baby has to learn to put himself to sleep."  We did it with Collins too.  We waited till after our travels for Christmas and dove in the week after.  There wasn't much training to do though, he has done so great with being swaddled, sang twinkle twinkle little star and then into the crib he goes.  He'll rub his head back and forth for a bit (forever gonna have a bald spot) and then off to dreamland.  Occassionally we have to go in and give him his binky or re swaddled throughout the night.  The breaking of the swaddle is where we are having issues now.  We are down to 1 arm in and 1 arm out but he hates being swaddled and usually gets the other arm out.  But he can't sleep with both arms free so it's a vicious cycle we are trying to break.  He sleeps 7:30pm-7am usually waking around 1:30am and 5:30am.  I probably go in and give him his pacifier 1-2/night as well.  Ideal sleeping? No.  But so much better then the past. 2, 1-1.5 hour naps and a 30 min. evening nap.

 Play| He rolls stomach to back and is sssooo close to rolling back to stomach.  He'll kick his legs into the air and roll to the side and really arch his back in attempt to roll over.  I love when he puts his tiny little feet in the air and grabs them.  I am a-ok with him not rolling over.  Makes things a lot easier on me when I know he isn't going anywhere.  He can sit for a couple seconds on his own and is a jumping machine.  He's starting to figure out how to jump in his jumper and he cracks up when Collins jumps around trying to get him to jump.  He grabs everything within reach (including sisters hair and although she doesn't like it, she doesn't get upset with him), and puts everything in his mouth. Omg the drool! We need a new Amber teething necklace for his ankle stat.  I am a total believer that it helped Collins.  She never drooled. 

Health| Most sensitive skin ever.  Absolutely no smells for him or he will break out with eczema.  

Likes| Finally a silent passenger in the car!!! Pushing himself up to the top of his crib.  I can have his feet touching the bumper and within 2 minutes he'll have his head to the top of the crib.  Just by kicking and pushing with his feet.  Loves bath time, his mommy, daddy and sister.

Dislikes| Sudden noises, solids, he's had a couple instances where he's pouted his bottom lip and cried with my mom and Amber.  I think we're treading the stranger danger phase even though he's around other people almost every day. 

Brooks, you melt me into a puddle every day.  Your smile is contagious and I adore when you get bashful and hide your face in my neck.  You're such a good sport about your sister always being in your face. You don't mind when we get bored and try headbands on you (ssshhh, don't tell daddy but you make a cute girl).  You have mommy's blue eyes even though you look just like daddy.  Maybe one day your hair will come in but I'll keep kissing that bald head until it does.  You really are the best, bubba.  Hugs and Kisses!

Day he came home vs. 5 months