Baby Milestone - Five Months

In the past month, little Oliver has made some great big steps. It took little time for him to skip the night time feedings. When he does cry, a little back rub usually puts him right back to sleep. He consistently sleeps 10 hour at night, followed by a feeding, a quick read of Dr. Seuss, then back to sleep for another hour and a half. The day time naps are still irregular, but a lot more manageable than a few weeks ago. I've gotten into the routine of closing the curtains, turn on some soft music, then hold him close and walk around the room and whisper to him "it's time for nap." He often yawns shortly after that, like I gave him the signal to get ready for sleep.

During the beginning of month 4, Oliver started to sit on his own without support. He can balance for a few minutes at a time. And catches himself falling by putting his arms in front, or try to use them for balance. Now he can sit for 20-30 minutes at a time. The rolling over to his tummy is no longer an issue, and he seems to have lost interest in how effortless it is for him. And now he is showing interest in crawling. He just hasn't quite figured it out yet.

Oliver has also been more vocal about his needs. He often talks while being changed, and I sometimes hear similar sounds and rhythm when he is playing. I then check to see if he needs a diaper change, which he often does. Other types of sounds are making more sense too. If he is whiny in the crib, no need to rush in to pick him up. If he is crying, most of the time it's because he is hungry, or got himself trapped in a corner of the crib and needs to be repositioned. His face is also very expressive, always ready to show you what he needs. The rubbing of the eyes with a sleepy look is one I look for before nap time. And his smiles are of course my favorite! He also has a great open mouth laugh, sometimes without the actual sound of laughing. His favorite number is "2", favorite word is "Scooby-Doo", and favorite phrase is "Tip me over and pour me out!"

Oliver has been going to his play group and showing more interest in participating in everything. This past week he was even being chatty with the other babies. He did the same at another baby's 1st birthday party. He is not shy around babies or grown ups. He also showed great interest in finger painting. He was the only baby who tried it the first time and didn't cry. I was very proud, and can't wait to paint more with him.

Bath time is also getting more interesting because he likes to try to grab the water. Once in a while he'll even slap the water to make a splash. He was happy getting his gum rubbed for just a few days, but now he just keeps his mouth shut tight. I think maybe it has to do with the baby toothbrush I tried to use on him.

I hope the next entry will have news about a tooth or crawling!