4 months...5 months?

Gosh, life sure does get busy, doesn't it? I do not even know when the last time I did a Lauren update...but I need to just do one. Lauren is exactly one week past FIVE months! Where is the time going? Seriously...it is just flying.

Lauren...

• You eat 7oz at every feeding. You usually eat every 4 hours and then every 2 leading up to bedtime.
• You are getting really good at standing with assistance.
• You have complete head control now. You pop your little head up so high any time you hear mommy or daddy's voice.
• When we come to get you up from a nap or over night sleep, we always talk to you first, or we startle you. Even if you are awake. As soon as you hear our voice, you pop your head up so high and just SMILE! I really need to get it on video.
• You have been in a Size 3 diaper for a while now. They were big, but now, they look just right.
• You barely fit in any of your 3 month clothing. You mostly wear 3-6, 6 and even some 9 month clothing. Everything I buy for you now is in 9 month.
• You have not had a bath in over 2 months. You take showers these days with mommy or daddy and you LOVE it. You love the water on your back. You love to play with the stream of water. You love to catch the water on your tongue.
• Your sleep schedule is still not down to a science, but for the most part, it is predictable. I think you think that the world is on a 23 hour day. You go to bed at midnight one night, then 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm and repeat with midnight. You follow a schedule after that though, depending on the previous night's bedtime. You sleep 10 hours at night, wake, eat, play for about 2 hours and go back down for an hour or 2...repeat over and over again.
• For all of your naps, you go to bed in your crib. You cry/fuss a bit, but you pretty much know the routine. On the nights you go to bed after 10pm, I hold you/rock you/bounce you til you fall asleep because I cannot put you in your crib and wake daddy up. This will stop when we move and you have your own bedroom next month.
• You have not been swaddled for months. We switched you over to tummy sleeping around 4 months and have been doing that ever since.
• You love to "talk" and recently found your internal volume, because you are SO loud sometimes. I think you are mad, but nope, just talking...loud!
• You have outgrown your swing and activity mat for the most part. You play in your Einstein Jumperoo a lot and also sit in your Little Lamb Papasan chair though.
• You are full swing with your temper. You get really mad if we do not maintain eye contact with you. You do not like it when we put you in bed. You do not cry...you get MAD.
• We joke that you have rumbles with the sunshine on your jumperoo. It pivots and twirls and is on a spring. You try to eat it, but is is always wiggling. You get so frustrated and mad. Daddy removed it, but you cried when you could not find it, so he put it back.
• We also joke that you have domestic disputes with the sea horse (glow-worm for this generation) in your bed. When you are really mad about having to go to sleep, you pull it, roll with it, and smack it. Sometimes you try to eat it too.
• You roll over...in your crib, when you are mad, when you want to. That is it.
• You are a mommy's girl. We definitely have a bond that no one else has. I love it.
• Tummy time is not something you enjoy. I think it reminds you of bedtime. If I am right there on the floor in your face, you tolerate it. Other that that. Instant tears.
• Your popeye is all better. No goopies, no nothing. It does seem a tad smaller than your other eye.
• You are still a dry, crusty little baby. Diet correction did not help. Dr. Shalauta said that it was eczema and to rub crisco on you! We use olive oil butter instead and it works really well.
• You still fall asleep in the car almost every time, especially on longer trips. You do not cry instantly at stop lights though. We took the baby pads out of your seat and you can look around better now.
• When mommy reads to you, your favorite books are 10 Little Ladybugs, Duck and Goose Its Time for Christmas, Heads and Tails.
• You still like TV, but would rather play these days. You do watch football on occasion.
• When you refuse to take a nap, and when mommy does not have the fight in her, she lets you sleep with her in her bed. This only happens during the day, never at night. You always fall asleep. I think you like the warmth of the down comforter and having Mommy so close.
• You still suck on your hands. No thumb...just fingers. You stuck your foot in your mouth the other day too. You are always soggy. Always!
• You love being held and are getting really good at holding on, so it is getting easier to carry you one handed.
• You are still trying to figure out who that baby in the mirror is.
• Your hair has filled back in and is starting to turn brown. Your eyelashes are getting darker too. Your little hairs are just shy of half an inch.
• You can sit up, not great, and not for very long, but you can do it.
• You lift your legs and arms off the ground and "swim". I am guessing this is you getting ready to crawl.
• When we hold a toy up for you, you reach for it, slowly bringing your hands together to grasp it. You can pass your toys from one hand to the other.
• You stare us down when we are eating. We are going to wait until we move to start foods though. Hopefully, your high chair will arrive soon.
• You love your Lamaze toys and your books.
• You love to "help" us feed you your bottle.
• You still make 2-5 poopie diapers a day. You almost always grunt when you do it...followed by a giant sigh. So cute...
• You like to look at the garlands over the fireplace (first Christmas, now Valentines Day)
• You are really starting to be a little person these days. You are no longer an infant, and ya know what, neither daddy nor I misses it one bit. We love that you are getting bigger and are more curious and interactive.