Jude's 1st Halloween

I can hold my own bottle now!

6 Month Stats

Height: 26"

Weight: 16 lbs.

Head Size: 44.1 cm

Favorite 5 Month Pictures

1/2 Year Old

A half a year old.  Amazing!  Jude’s personality is coming out more and more each day.  He is a ball of smiles, not just the little grins but the big, wide-mouthed kind that take up your entire face.  He smiles upon seeing a familiar face or hearing a familiar voice without fail. Don’t let this confuse you with the idea that he is laid back.  He is a very good baby but will not hesitate to let you know that he does not want to be buckled into a car seat or be left alone for one minute.  He’s perfectly happy and content as long as he is being held, and if being held means that he is dangling in a headlock-like position while I cook dinner or pour a sippy cup of milk, that will do.

One of the big milestones we’ve observed this month is mimicking sounds.  He concentrates so hard to form little noises while watching our mouths form the sounds.  He is also practicing sitting up.  He is still wobbly but he can hold himself up in a tripod for a few seconds.  He plays with toys, grabbing for them and trying to move toward one’s that are just out of his reach.  He gets where he wants to go by rolling, often getting stuck against the legs of a table or a shelf then screaming for help.  He spends a lot of time in his swing or bouncer.  I keep him trapped and safe (safer) from Owen there.

He sleeps most nights all night.  I like that he is finally getting into a predictable routine.  I lay him down for two naps a day.  His morning naps are often very short.  Sometimes I wonder if he even sleeps at all during them.  Its no wonder...this house is never quiet and the sound is always amplified after I get him down.  His bedtime is around 7 and he sleeps until 7:30.  When he wakes up it is usually around 4 and after I feed him he’ll usually sleep in until 9.  He is easy to get to sleep and always has been.  Really, he is very low maintenance in many ways.

He is eating three meals a day with us.  He has learned how to open his mouth for a bite and is getting better and better at swallowing without spitting half of the bite out.  He has tried apples, squash, carrots, pumpkins and pears and likes them all.  We are also supplementing him with one 6 oz. bottle of formula each day.  He doesn’t always seem to be satisfied after nursing.  Although I do not like paying $25 dollars for a container of formula, I do like having a hand at feeding and there are plenty of eager helpers here.

Favorite Pictures from Jude's 4th Month

5 Months

This guy continues to be one peaceful, sweet, cuddly baby.  He is so tolerant and go-with-the-flow.  I was reminded of how lucky I am last week when he was sick.  He didn't want to be put down and wouldn't sleep….so out of character for him.  

There have been lots of firsts this month for Jude.  He began trying oatmeal cereal.  He's not much of a fan but he doesn't mind us trying to shovel it into his mouth.  He seems more hungry, less satisfied with his feedings.  We've started supplementing one bottle a day (which the other kids find to be quite fun, arguing over who gets to give him his bottle).  

Jude also got to try out his bouncer this month and he enjoys it for short periods.  He also is sitting for short periods in his Bumbo chair.  

We started reading more books this month and he attends to them well.  He likes to see the bright colors.  He also loves Baby Einstein DVDs.  They function as a babysitter on occasion.  He is showing interest in slugglies.  They calm him when he is falling asleep and we use them to console him when he is in his carseat or stroller (which are two places that aren't his favorite).

The one thing I would say describes Jude the most this month is the discovery of his feet.  He is obsessed with them.  He chews and sucks on his toes constantly.  His socks or foot jammies are always ringing wet with his saliva.  

Jude's sleeping patterns are pretty consistent.  He goes to bed around 9:00 at night.  He wakes up once a night (although lately more often), usually around three.  In the morning he is ready to start the day at 8:30.  He naps twice a day when we are home.  Morning naps usually take place around 10:30 and afternoon naps around 2:00.  Somedays he sleeps four hours, other days I can't keep him asleep for forty minutes.  I'm not sure if that is his fault though.  Keeping things quiet at nap time is an ongoing battle.

Its impossible not to love him to death.  His smile melts our hearts and his personality is precious.  I mean, just check him out.