5 Months!

My first attempt at a 5 month picture involved a little too much drool on the dress.

Much better! 

Well back to work has meant belated posting!  It is so hard to come home and only have a couple hours with Kiera, wash all of the pump and bottle parts from the day, make and eat dinner which also may include a trip to the store, clean up, and find a few minutes to relax before going to bed!  I wouldn't trade it for the world (well, ok I would be willing to stay home, but I wouldn't trade motherhood!), but it keeps us BUSY!  


Kiera has been growing and changing so much, it is truly amazing how much a little being can grow and learn in 5 short months.  I truly remember the doctor handing her to me (ok, well I guess I actually handed her to myself since he asked me to basically pull her out!) like it was yesterday.  
Here is what she was up to at 5 months:

- We don't have a doctor's appointment till next month so no stats yet, but I assure you she is still a growing girl!  Although I feel like she is starting to thin out a bit (just a bit!) and isn't growing quite as fast as she was.  


- Everything goes in her mouth!

- She is still wearing mostly 3-6 month clothing, along with a few 6-9 month and 6-12 month items.  

- She is wearing size 2-3 diapers.   


- She is sitting up extremely well and loves to sit up on the bed (where she topples over occasionally) or on the floor with her Boppy pillow around her in case she tips.  

- She still to stand up and therefore loves hanging out in her exersaucer.  One of her absolute favorite things to do is hang out in her exersaucer and chew on Mr. Crabby or throw her balls on the floor!  

- She has been sleeping through the night since about 4 1/2 months.  YAY!  At first this still involved an occasional waking where she couldn't settle herself and required an assist from the pacifier around 5:40am, but she is generally able to settle herself if she wakes.  She is such a good sleeper and sleeps from about 7:30 or 8:00pm until 7:00am or so.  She is also a good napper and naps in her crib 2 to 3 times a day.  The first two naps are 1.5-2 hours and the third is usually only about 30-40 minutes.  


 - She is eating 5 times a day and every 4 hours: 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm, 10:30pm.  When I am at work she gets 2 6 oz. bottles of pumped milk.  We gave her the first taste of rice cereal on her 5 month birthday (Dr. said it was ok anywhere from 4 to 6 months) and she did pretty well!  A little unsure at first, but ultimately liked it and swallowed more than she spit out.  

- She is very vocal and makes all sorts of noises- squeals, dolphin and horse noises, and grunting are some of her favorites.  She loves it when you imitate her sounds and will hold a conversation.  : )  

- She still loves her baths, but we are starting to consider a way to put her in the big tub because she loves to kick her legs and splash the water all over the kitchen!
- She is so happy and fun to be around.  She loves to be outside and look at the trees, although the occasional loud downtown siren sometimes scares her.  

- She has rolled over from her tummy to her back a total of six times now.  She started to lay her head down when she is tired of tummy time instead of working to turn over.  


- She started to laugh and we are having fun finding ways to make her laugh.  She don't give us the laugh very easily, but tickling the thighs and neck/shoulders will generally do it.  


We have been blessed with such a wonderful, healthy, happy baby girl!  : )