Month 5

Dear Reid,

Hey buddy, I love you. =) This past month has been a bit wild. We started things off with that crazy growth spurt. It reminded me of when you were just a few weeks old. It wasn't pleasant Reid but this time it was a little different. We knew it would pass. We knew you were ok. What made it even better is that we could actually see you developing. You have learned and mastered so many new things this month. It's been so cool to watch and we've had a blast with you. It's been worth that week or two of awful. You've really started to develop your own personality. I think you might be a weeeee bit ornery and mischievous but you're oh-so-sweet and friendly. You win over hearts everywhere you go and it's rare that you smile at someone and don't make them smile back. You're a little lover and occasionally still like to cuddle up but for the most part, your too busy and wiggly. That's ok. You still hold my hand when I feed you. Thanks for that. 

Right now, you're enjoying chewing, playing with things that make noise, music, walks in the stroller, rolling, being tickled, jumping, and kisses. Ok - maybe you're not too into the kisses but I pretend you dig them. =) 

You're the coolest Reid! I'm so glad God picked us to be your parents. 

Mom

• You started that 4-month sleep regression otherwise known as Wonder Week 19. Lord have mercy that took us back to the time between 5-6 weeks. That's not a pleasant time to think back on. Maybe it's still too soon, ha! The cool part about the developmental leap is that you literally were learning something new every day for a while.

• You started putting your pacifier in your mouth and taking it out.

• One night, out of the blue, you started taking the bottle in and out of your mouth and smiled as I fed you.

• Everything started going right to your mouth.

• You learned that you need to bed/tuck your knees to really roll well. You went to sleep on your back and we found you on your belly the next morning. Over the next couple days/nights you were constantly working to master rolling. The rolling part you pretty well had down it was the getting comfy on your belly part that was rough.

• You found your feet!! =) We were all hanging out before church one Sunday and I look over to see you playing with them. Out of nowhere.

• You pretty well mastered the rolling thing and do it all the time. 

• You started sleeping on your belly regularly.

• In addition to the constant drooling and chewing you've been doing for a few weeks, I started noticing a little spot on your bottom gum that looked like a tooth might be on its way soon. You almost always had your pointer finger in your mouth rubbing your bottom gums.

• You became all about your hands and feet - and our hands too - constantly moving, grasping, feeling, and studying. 

• You still mostly wear 6-month or 6-9 month clothes.

• You started wearing size 3 diapers but still wear cloth more often than not.

• You still drank breast milk exclusively.

• You became more aware of the people around you and liked to know where your Dad and I were.

• You recognized voices.

• You became much more content playing on your floor mat, rolling around on a blanket, and sitting in your high chair while we fixed dinner and did dishes. 

• You loved to chat and started kind of "scream-chatting". Ya little loud mouth! =) 

• For the most part, you stopped using a pacifier at night.

• You started fussing when we'd put you in the carseat. I think you went from feeling safe and cozy in it to feeling confined in it. You liked to be free and able to move around. This also made changing you a much more wild process! 

• You started using the pacifier more again - you were working hard on a tooth and liked to have something to chew on.

• You loved to reach out and grab hair, noses, and glasses.

• You got up on your knees a few times and rocked back and forth. You wanted to go but just couldn't so you'd get a bit frustrated.