Ben at 5 Months

Ben is 5 (and a half) months old now. He's so much fun to be around and very happy most of the time. He's been a little sensitive the last few days from a combination of teething, frustration from not being able to crawl, and that realization that Mommy and Daddy are separate people and can leave the room.

I love this age. The first three months took forever, but now we are on the other side and loving every minute. We can get out and do things again. Ben can stay awake (and happy) for any where from two to three hours at a time. He does best if he's being held or is in the Bjorn or stroller, but don't even think about leaving him in that car seat!

We started Ben on rice cereal at four months old. He's now had oatmeal, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, prunes, and mangoes.

We are still mixing the fruits and veggies with oatmeal or rice cereal because this is the face he makes when we try to give it to him without mixing it.

Followed by this face and gagging.

Mmmmm ... rice cereal ... much better!

Random facts about Ben ...

• He sleeps from 8:30pm to 8:00am
• We dropped the "dream feed" at four months
• He isn't interested in rocking to sleep. It's bath, bottle, and straight to bed with no complaints
• He doesn't take a pacifier any more
• He sleeps on his stomach
• He sucks his thumb when he's going to sleep
• He inches himself into the corner of the crib to sleep
• Most mornings his arm is hanging out of the crib
• He's taking three naps a day
• He's waking up happy sometimes and doesn't immediately cry for someone to come get him.
• He's wearing 3-6m clothes
• He's in the transitional 2-3 size of diapers (love Pampers Swaddlers)
• He doesn't like the bottle any more. He prefers to eat solids.
• He can sit on his own for about 15 seconds before he falls over
• He can stand propped against something for about 15 seconds before he falls over
• He saves the biggest smiles for Sam and Cleo
• He still mostly squeals, but he has made da-da-da and woo-woo-woo sounds
• He loves the bath
• He doesn't have any teeth yet
• He has fingernails like razor blades and a strong grip which makes for a bad combination
• He can roll from front to back and from back to front
• We are starting sign language - eat/food, milk, more, and all done. He's not signing back yet, but he seems to understand.

This is Vulli the Giraffe. She is Ben's favorite teether. Bonus feature = squeaker.

Ben and Daddy

Hey Daddy, what's that?

Hi Sam

Brothers

Out for a walk. Ben loves the stroller! Oh, and that hair is really starting to come in.

Here's Ben doing what he does best.