Carter - 5 months

Carter James, you are five months old! We can't believe how much you have grown in just a month! You are so much more aware of your surroundings and you are ready to interact with everything you see. You are becoming more expressive and we love watching you smile at us and the things you like and your laugh just makes our days! You are excited to reach for things that you want to hold and put in your mouth and you love to bang on tables, arms, hands, and anything else within your reach. You have started to enjoy tummy time as long as there are toys or Mama and Daddy around to entertain you while you're on your stomach. You also love to watch Gromit and track him across the room anytime he walks by. When you have had enough tummy time you fuss and then pout by putting your head down on your hands on the floor. It's funny to watch and we can't help but laugh a little when you do it.

You seem to be enjoying going to Carrie's house (daycare) and all of the little boys there love to help take care of you. I love the big smile on your face when I come to pick you up - it's like you know that I am Mama and I'm there to come and snuggle you up and take you home. I love it! We know you are in loving hands there and are so glad you are so well taken care of while we work.

You continue to amaze us with your growth and development and we just love that God made you a part of our family. We love you, Bug!



Weight: 18.3 pounds

Length: 27 inches



Clothes size: You are wearing size 6 month or 6-9 month clothes, both which are already getting tight on you and seem like they just barely fit you. You grew out of a whole size in just a month! Mama is not ready for such a big boy!

Diaper size: Size 3



Sleep: At night you go to bed between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. You usually sleep until 11:30-12:00 and then wake up every 2-4 hours in no consistent pattern. You most often wake up during the night because you are unsettled and start rolling around in your bed. I try to settle you back down before nursing and sometimes that works, while other times nursing is the only thing that will comfort you back to sleep. Often times you end up in bed with us so we can "side nurse" which lets both of us get more sleep and seems to keep you settled for longer periods of time.

Eating: You are such an efficient eater and eat for 8-15 minutes on each side and often like to stop eating to talk me or pop up to check out what is going on around you. If Daddy is making noise somewhere nearby then you have to check out what is going on. You usually have 3 3oz - 100mL bottles of expressed milk at Carrie's house and we still breastfeed every 2-4 hours any time Mama is not working. We are still not having any issues with going back and forth between the breast and bottle. Hallelujah!



Likes: Playing with your toys, sucking on your binky, being held, taking baths and splashing, playing on the floor, looking at lights and ceiling fans, going to public places and taking in all of your surroundings, and playing in your Baby Einstein Activity Jumper (which you LOVE!). Favorite songs right now are Going to the Zoo, Wheels on the Bus, Jesus Loves Me, You are My Sunshine and the special song Grammy made up for you.

Dislikes: Being hungry, being bored, waking up on your tummy, and being overly hot.



Milestones this month: Rolling from your back to your tummy, scooching around on the floor by yourself moving mostly in circles, sitting up with less help, reaching for things you want or drop, reaching for us when you want to be picked up, recognizing who we are, ever-improving motor skills, and “talking” more and more.

Memorable moments: Meeting Grandma and Grandpa, meeting extended family members, going to your first birthday party, getting your first cold, and going to the farmer's market.