Mara-5 Months

Weight: I just weighed you this morning and I think you are probably around 17 lbs.  Our bathroom scale has been off before so I'm not betting on this number.  Everyone keeps saying how big you're getting.  Daddy and I said last night that we don't really notice it but we see your sweet face everyday.

Loves chewing on glasses

Health: And the cold is back...I think you may have picked something up from the kids at the ski resort day care.  You have been a little stuffed up ever since although its definitely not as bad as last months cold.  At the first sign of congestion we broke out the nosefrida, humidifier with oil and the rub.  Just last night I noticed that you don't sound like you're struggling anymore.

The teething is still going.  We see a ton of drool everyday along with chewing on everything.  We are still putting pumpkin butt oil on your gums and you love it.  I swear you'd drink the bottle if we let you.

Your skin is giving us the most worries as of late.  It still seems dry although we slather it up multiple times a day.  This dryness leads you to scratch which opens it up.  Last night as I was putting you to bed you did a number on your face.  So much so I had to bring you out to your Daddy for help in getting you taken care of. We've been trying honest company cream, this one with honey in it, coconut oil, aveeno baby, etc.  We also put hydrocortisone cream on you as well to help with the itch.

Mara's been to more breweries than most her age

Social: You are super social all the time.  You give everyone smiles and love to hang out with whomever wants to hold you at the moment.  You really love kids your age and reach for them.  I really need to get you in a playgroup where you can check out other kids.

playing with those feet

Diet: You are still breastfed but we have been experimenting with food.  On our trip you loved sucking on bananas and pickles.  Weird but whatever works.  You have also had the naked brand juice mango and blueberry flavors and LOVED them.  You even at them from a spoon!  I think you may be ready for real food soon.  We're going to try to hold off another month or so but I'm thinking its time to start filling the freezer with some homemade baby food!

More feet

Clothes: You are mainly in 6 month clothes although your 3-6 month things are still in your drawer.  They barely fit you but I'm still trying to get that one last wear out of them.  You seemed to have stalled a bit in the growing out of clothes but I'm sure now that I've said that we'll be in 9 month things tomorrow.  We've had some issues with your cloth diapers leaking since you've been sleeping on your side but I think that's just user error rather than an issue with fit.

She loves pickles!

Mama's Favorites: I'm just loving this stage.  You are so much fun little girl.  You laugh easily and playing with Mommy and Daddy are your favorite things.  You still love to be worn and will only nap if you're in the carrier.

I'm also getting really excited to hit up the local consignment sale next week to shop for all we will need for the next six months.  Its crazy to me to think of you and what you'll need at 1 year of age?!

Crying: You're nights have continued to be a bit fussy.  I have a suspicion that you are wanting an earlier bedtime but we keep putting it off because I want to give you and Daddy sometime in the evenings together.

Love this smile

Sleep: You are still sleeping in your crib with no issues.  We had a few nights that were rough on our trip but even pulling you into our bed one night didn't really affect you.  We are no longer swaddling you to sleep and you aren't flailing to wake yourself up.  This is a huge relief because we were running out of swaddlers to fit you.

You are now sleeping on your side and seem to do best when we lay you down like this.  You sometimes roll to your back but then you seem to sleep lighter.  Right now we're working on sleeping longer stretches of time at night.  You were waking up every two hours wanting to nurse.  I KNOW you're not hungry so we're working on getting back to those longer stretches before every two hours becomes a habit.

Lately you have been taking a pacifier to soothe yourself back to sleep at about 1am and will sleep another hour or so until you really want to eat.  Last night after a little while of holding the paci in your mouth you went down again until 4 am!

You're still a catnapper and I don't know if we're going to be able to change this.  You did sleep long stretches on our trip if we were in the car but this is the only time you will do so.

We've moved the jumper into the bathroom so mama can get her shower in the morning

This Week: We went on our first big vacation as a family of three.  You did amazing!  You were so flexible and willing to sleep on us or in the car.  We just got back home and you've adjusted so easily.  Its like we weren't even gone.  I love how adaptable you are girl and appreciate that we can cart you just about everywhere.

This grin

Baby Likes: You still love glasses and chewing on the rims.  You still love your jumper although it is on its last leg.  We can't make it any taller for you!  You are obsessed with toys.  You grab them and shove them in your mouth.

You love giving kisses.  You squeal and then grab our cheeks to lay a wet one on us.  You usually can't stop with one and do it a couple more times.  This melts my heart.

You love your Daddy and sometimes he's the only one who can make you smile when you're fussy.

You also love getting your diaper changed although you're making it much harder with all the rolling around now.  Buddy is also your new obsession, to his dismay.  You stare and laugh at him.  When you're close enough you grab fistfulls of his hair in your attempt to "pet" him.

She loves playing on her mat with all her toys

Milestones: So many things!  I feel like you've changed overnight.  You are rolling from back to belly now with ease.  You just did it one day like it was nothing.  You didn't get your hand stuck or anything.

You found your feet!  You love grabbing them and pulling them up although you can't quite get them to your mouth yet.

This shot just captures her personality

You are also no longer distracted when we take something away from you.  You used to not even notice but now you do!  You get mad if we take that napkin away that's coming apart in your mouth or something you shouldn't be sucking on.

You love tasting new things and loved eating mango and blueberries.  I'm guessing you're going to be such a good eater.

You're still super vocal and are babbling most of the day.  You have recently found your squeal and give these ear piercing screams just to hear yourself.  You think its funny while mom and dad cover our ears.

You are getting closer to sitting up on your own.  You can pretty much do it if you lean forward.  I think you'll have it mastered in the next month or so.  You already show signs of frustration when you have to lay down to play with your toys now.  You're ready to sit.

In her stroller like a big girl

Best of Times:  Our family trip!  I can't say how good you were little girl.  I hope you're going to be a great traveler!

Five months already?

Worst of Times:  Your fussy times at night.  Although they are super minor in the grand scheme of things its rough.  You're so happy the rest of the day that its so weird that you get so upset then.  Again I think you're just overtired but we'll work though it!