Baby Mim - 5 Months

Dear Mim,

Five months!  Wow.  I cannot believe you're nearly half a year old.  It is absolutely not fair that time is going by this quickly.  I felt like Mac was a baby forever (years and years), but here you are becoming a big kid in the blink of an eye.  Maybe it's because you're the second or maybe it's because you're a much easier baby than he was, but time is moving in warp speed these days.  I constantly have to remind myself to slow down and take a few minutes each day to marvel at all your wonderful babyness - your chubby cheeks, your squishy thigh rolls, your big gummy grin and those adorable girly coos and squeals.  You are baby perfection.

You are the most delightful little thing that's ever happened to us.  I think your dad and I must say that you're "delightful" all the time, because even Mac has started to say, "Mim's lightful!"  You are such a sweet happy baby and your smile could melt the polar ice caps.  It lights up our whole lives.  You make the most amazing happy expressions and the camera seriously loves you.  Your giggle is absolutely to die for and comes out most frequently when your brother does something goofy or when you're about to get in the bathtub.  I've never seen a baby get so excited for bath time - you go nuts!

This update is a couple weeks late, which I'm going to partially blame on the holidays and partially on you for being such a little stinker these days and not sleeping at night (or all that well during the day either).  I'm not sure if this is the dreaded 4 month sleep regression coming a bit late, or because you're teething or because you no long want to be swaddled at night.  I don't think your dad or I have gotten more than 2 hours of continuous sleep in weeks.  You're an early riser too, which is different than your brother.  Your poor daddy take the majority of mornings (while I take nights) and has had multiple conversations with you about a proper wake-up time (4:00 a.m. is not acceptable, young lady).  Your saving grace is that you're so sweet and smiley in the morning (even at 4:00 a.m.) - it makes it impossible not to smile and laugh at you at such an ungodly hour.  

Your naps have been somewhat hit or miss these days too.  You do fine in your crib for your morning nap and overnight, but your afternoon nap MUST be in someone's arms, or you're not sleeping.  We've all tried to get you to nap in your crib, but you insist on snuggling.  Most of the time this isn't a problem (we love snuggling with you), but this can't go on forever.  And you also seem to think naps are optional when I'm home (on weekends or over the holidays).  If mama's around, you're not sleeping.  So you've basically gone from a really great sleeper, to a mediocre sleeper.  Fine.  You're still leaps and bounds ahead of where your brother was at this point, so I'm in no way complaining. Ok, so I'm kinda complaining, but only a little bit. Sleep training begins at 6 months, baby. Get ready.

You're still a little chunky monkey.  I adore those chubby cheeks and the thigh rolls that go on for days.  You're still on 100% breast milk, but always out of a bottle.  I could never get you to go back to nursing after your strike at 9 weeks.  I tried a few more times, but you weren't having it and I was done with pushing you.  I'm over it...for the most part.  I'm still pumping (3-5 times a day) and hate it with the intensity of a thousand burning suns, but there's an end in sight!  I've decided to turn the milk factory off at the end of January (when you're 6 months old) and feel pretty good about the decision.  Hallelujah!  I'm ready to have my body back to myself and possibly take a sledgehammer to the pump.  I'm proud that we made it this far on breast milk, but I'm pretty over it.  Also, I miss vodka.  

Speaking of eating, we're planning on introducing some solids to you in the next month or two.  I'm simultaneously excited about this and also pretty sad because it means you're really growing up (say it ain't so!).  Mac had a few solids at 5 months, but I don't think you're ready yet (although you do watch me and my food intently while I eat and smack your lips, which is adorable) (ok, so maybe I'm not ready yet).  We're going to do Baby Led Weaning again, so I'd like you to be able to sit up on your own and show interest in food by reaching for it.  Until then, bottles it is.  

I'm not even sure what else to say - you're a sweet and happy baby!  You love your brother, your parents and your nanny. You smile all the time. You are quiet and observant whenever Mac is around, but you talk/babble/squeal non-stop as soon as he's out of the room and all the attention's on you.  You're still very bald, but I think you're finally starting to get some hair (and I think it's blonde!).  My friends have said that you look like me, but I think you look a lot like your dad right now.  I'll have to post a photo of Ryan at this age so I can prove it.  You guys could be twins.  

So there it is!  Happy 5 months (a bit late, as usual), baby Mim!  We love you so much, sweetheart.

XOXO,

Your mama

Likes:

- baths

- music

- watching Mac

- watching TV

- chewing on your hands

- getting your picture taken

- the exersaucer

- your playmat

- clean diapers

- gripe water

- blowing raspberries

- rolling onto your tummy (then screaming to be rolled back over)

- squealing

- daddy playing the guitar

- holding my hand

- snuggling

For comparison:

Mac's 5 Month Post