5 months

Henry Boy turned 5 months old yesterday. He has changed a lot in the last month, and even in the last week.

Stats: Henry probably weighs a little over 15 pounds. He is very long, and for that reason no longer fits in most 3-6 month clothes. He's in all 9 month things now.

Schedule: We're on the same schedule as last month. Bedtime is at 7:30, Henry wakes for one feeding during the night (on good nights), and usually wakes up around 6:15 in the morning. Sometimes he wakes earlier around 5:30 and I can feed him and get him back to sleep until 7:00. Those mornings are much better because he really needs more sleep. He naps at 8:30 or 9:00, 1:00, and inconsistently takes a third nap around 5:00. I did get started with sleep training this month. Since he wasn't a terrible sleeper in the first place, I haven't had to do a lot with the training. It's definitely needed for naps and on nights when he wakes multiple times, wanting to nurse to go back to sleep. So far I'm keeping one night feeding, around 3 am. I've tried getting Henry to go back to sleep without nursing at that time, but he just doesn't want to. I think he might still need that feeding so I'll keep it for now. I'll try dropping it again when he starts solids.

I plan to wait until 6 months to start solid foods. I think we waited until about 6 1/2 months with Celia. We'll probably start a little sooner than that with Henry because he's already so fascinated by food and I think he will really like eating. Henry still nurses well, and has gotten so efficient that he finishes his feedings in no time. We're now having trouble getting him to accept a bottle, so next we'll have to work on that. He's only had a handful of bottles in his life, if that. Although it's much easier for me to just feed him, I think we should work on getting him to accept a bottle and then give him one on a regular basis so he's used to it.

Noticing his shadow for the first time.

Cognitive and Communication: Henry is still very alert and aware of everything around him. This week he even noticed his shadow one day and was fascinated by it. He loves things that are "surprises", like when Celia hides and jumps out to play peekaboo. He also loves highly animated play like dancing, or just watching us sing and dance. He demonstrates the beginnings of understanding cause and effect. Henry has started using eye gaze as clear communication. For example, he will look at something he wants until I get it for him, and when a musical toy stops playing he looks up at me when he wants more. He also looks back and forth at us to smile and share his excitement when he likes something. Henry still isn't making many sounds. He's quiet most of the time, maybe because he's busy watching all the commotion his sister creates.

Looking at Daddy.

Looking at his sister, who is the most interesting person in the world.

Motor Development: Henry has found his feet and rolls around holding onto them. He holds his head and chest up off the floor when on his belly. He still doesn't like to be on his belly and doesn't last long there before complaining, but he can roll over to his back sometimes. He rolls to sleep on his side a lot in his crib. Henry has started getting frustrated when on his stomach because he wants to move. His arms and legs move around, but he can't get anywhere. He has also started sitting independently. I stay by him or put the Boppy around him in case he loses his balance, but he's getting better and better at it. He's working on sitting and holding or playing with toys. Along with sitting, Henry has also started using his hands with a bit more control. He also reaches for toys and will try to get something he's dropped. His favorite toy is a rainforest toy with moving parts and buttons, and he knows how to move the little joystick on it to make a monkey move around. He has also started holding things and bringing them to his mouth. He really likes being in the jumperoo now, and will stay there for quite a while playing, looking around, and interacting with us. I keep the jumperoo in the kitchen so he can be nearby when I'm cooking or when we're eating.

Henry continues to be a very happy and easy going baby. He is the perfect compliment to Celia, who is by comparison a whirlwind of activity. In other ways, he's very much like his sister. They look so alike, and they have some of the same facial expressions. When Henry sleeps he purses his lips and pushes them out just like Celia used to when she was a baby. He has the same bright eyes, is very social, and is hitting developmental milestones at the same times Celia did. I wondered, as all parents do, how on earth I'd be able to love another baby as much as I love Celia. I still don't know how it's possible, but it happened. Henry Boy just fits in perfectly, and I love everything about him. On one hand, I don't want him to grow and change so fast. I will miss having a sweet little baby to hold. But I also can't wait to see all the changes coming. In the next month Henry will be sitting and manipulating toys more, starting solid foods, and more!