5 Months Old

Here's what Jared is up to these days...besides posing with hunting trophies.

• According to our scale, he weighs 15.5 pounds.
• He's sleeping much, much better! After getting up 11 times one night to put his pacifier back in, we decided enough is enough! We "Ferberized" him. The first couple of nights weren't too fun, but he never cried for more than an hour at a time. It was a rough transition for him because we stopped swaddling him and took away his paci at night all at once...poor little guy. But after just a few days he was sleeping from 7pm to 4am, and recently he's slept for a 12 hour stretch for several days. I cannot tell you how excited I am about this!!
• This is a picture the morning after the first night he slept 12 hours. :-)
• Noelle loves to wake him up in the morning. (Notice the pool of spit up/drool.)
• He eats 4 or 5 times a day, and probably eats 32-40 ounces. (Granted, he probably spits up 8 oz. a day.) :-) When he takes a bottle, they are 8 oz. His schedule right now is so much easier...he eats about every 4 hours or so. This is such a welcomed change from a couple of months ago!
• He takes 2 long naps a day: one in the morning, one in the early afternoon, and then a shorter catnap around dinnertime.
• Jared started rolling from his back to his tummy during this time, too. He seems to prefer his tummy now, both for playing and sleeping. He hasn't really mastered turning from tummy to back, though. Occasionally, he'll do it, but it seems like it's just on accident.
• He's started sucking his fingers since we don't let him sleep with a paci anymore.
• He enjoyed his first swim yesterday.
• Because of his fondness of rolling over, he's pretty much outgrown the bouncer. So, now we rely on his exersaucer, bumbo, play mat, and high chair.
• Speaking of high chair....we plan on starting solids in the next couple of weeks. He hasn't had any formula, so we aren't sure if he has the same allergies Noelle does. It'll probably still be a few months until we'll know. Pictures will be forthcoming!
• Jared had his first big car trip to visit grandparents. He did well in the car with only minor fussing.
• He continues to be very easy and adaptable. He does best on days when we are at home and naps and meals are normal. However, there are many days we are on the go, and he takes it all in stride and stays pretty happy.