5 Months Old

Chubby Checkers is 5 months old!

one week old:

one month old:

two months old:

three months old:

four months old:

five months old:

EAT:
Syd nurses 5-6 times a day.  The 4 hour EASY plan is working well; below is a picture of her approximate daily routine.  This plan only shows 5 feedings, but sometimes I end up feeding her at 3am because I don't know what else to do...this past month she has been waking up A LOT at night.  She's still really distracted while feeding, so it is possible that she is actually hungry in the middle of the night.

A few days ago, we started feeding her baby oatmeal; only about half a tablespoon to start out with, and she doesn't even eat all of it.  She definitely does not love it yet, and after only a few bites, she turns her head to tell me she's done.  That's okay though, as long as she's learning the process.  Dr. Averitt says starting her on cereal isn't for calories, it's to learn how to eat off a spoon.

SLEEP:
Syd has two main blocks for naps - one morning, one afternoon - then she catnaps around dinnertime.  The morning nap block isn't very consistent, and sometimes she takes one 45 minute nap, gets up for awhile, then goes down for another 45 minute nap before lunchtime.  If we go to the Little Gym or the park, she takes one of those 45 minute naps in the Ergo carrier, which she still loves.  The afternoon nap is much more consistent, and once she's down in the pack-n-play, she usually sleeps for 2 hours.  Thankfully, this long nap usually coincides with Millie's naptime, so I get a free period to workout or sit at the computer for awhile.

At night, she sleeps in her crib.  I put her down on her back, and she immediately rolls onto her side.  And just last night, JKK & I both witnessed her (via video monitor) rolling all the way from back to tummy...several times.  I don't know if this was the first time or if she's been rolling both ways for awhile and we just hadn't seen it yet.  Anyhoo, I no longer have to worry about whether she wants to sleep on her tummy or back because she finally has the skills to do what she likes.

She's still using a pacifier to sleep, and I can't decide if that's good or bad.  Good because it signals her that it is time to go to sleep.  Bad because I think it wakes her up sometimes when it falls out.  Bad because she has to have it to go back to sleep in the middle of the night.

PLAY:
The jumperoo is her favorite thing, at the moment.  She smiles when I'm putting her in it and starts trying to jump before her feet have hit the floor.  It wears her out and she'll start having huge yawns but won't even cry to be taken out of it.  She still likes the swing, crib mobile, and activity mat.  She likes any sort of rattle or toy that she can hang on to and put in her mouth.  She loves standing with my help.  She enjoys hanging out in the bumbo during meal times and watching Millie eat.  She loves to laugh out loud at Millie...Millie loves to make her laugh.  She's very ticklish, and this month she's found her feet!

She weighs 16 lbs.  Still in size 2 diapers, except at night when I put a size 3 on her.  Clothes are size 3-6 months.

Dear Sydney,

My sweet, blonde, blue-eyed baby...such a surprise.  Your hair is still so light and getting much longer!  I actually had to brush it after bathtime yesterday.   And those blue eyes...I never thought I'd get a blue-eyed baby.  I think it's all Barbie's fault, but I always wanted blonde hair and blue eyes...you're a lucky gal.  This has been another amazing month with you; I don't know if there has ever been a happier baby.  I've done a pretty good job documenting your awesomeness with the thousands of pictures I take each month, but as a mother, there is so much other stuff I want to remember...the stuff that I can't capture with a camera.  I always want to remember your scrunchy face that you make when you stretch after waking up.  And the way that your legs seem to fill up with milk when you're nursing...they go from tucked up underneath you to sticking straight out by the end of your feeding session.  And the way that you mischievously grin up at me when you are nursing and hear a noise that distracts you.  And the sound of you alternating between blowing raspberries and screeching like a pterodactyl while jumping in the jumperoo or hanging out in the infant seat.  You're great at entertaining yourself and so content to just be near us and feel like part of the gang.  And you are such an important part of the gang...can't imagine life without you, sweet Syd.  Not for one minute.  Baby of mine, you are loved more than you'll ever know.