Matthew at 5 months

It seems like I was just posting about still being pregnant and wondering when the little one was going to come out. Now Matthew is over 5 months old and so busy. He tries to scoot around the floor but gets frustrated when he can't get anywhere or he can't get there fast enough. He has started to eat some foods and I am trying a little bit different feeding approach this time. After having some rice cereal a couple times and trying mushed bananas on vacation he has had his own banana chunk, cucumber, pickle, and apple. He attempted a green bean and cantaloupe but both were too slippery and kept falling out of his hand. He is clearly interested in everything you are eating and will grab whatever you have. I keep thinking it that may be one of the reasons he doesn't sleep but whatever the reason Matthew is not learning from his sisters. He got off any schedule he was on this month when it was so hot in the house (without any AC) and going on vacation. He was being nursed to sleep and when he would wake up be nursed again to go back to sleep and slept with us some on vacation because he wouldn't sleep in his pack and play. I worked hard when we got back (with new AC) to get him back on schedule of his naps, getting himself to sleep, and sleeping in his crib. It was a rough couple days but I thought we turned the corner by the middle of last week but since Saturday his longest nap has been only 37 minutes. All of his naps have between 27-33 minutes and he wakes up tired and crying. I have been keeping a diligent record of all his naps and it's not pretty. I don't know what else I can do than be consistent but he's not giving in. So not sleeping during the day or night is starting to take it's toll on me. He is also becoming somewhat of a momma's boy and if anyone else is holding him he starts whining for me. He did great on vacation and LOVED all the attention but since we've been back it's been just me. Besides trying to crawl he is trying to sit by himself and does a pretty decent job. He will still topple over and loves to sit forward and try to gt his toes but he is close to sitting unsupported. He will also stand by himself and hold onto the sides of his crib or Emily's crib until he lets go with one hand and then his legs give out. He is still such a happy baby who is growing so fast. I know these sleepless nights won't last forever and he'll be off to school like the girls before I know it. I will remind myself of that when I am up in a few hours feeding him.

The State Fair

We all had a wonderful time at the state fair this year. Yes, it was very hot and Jeff and I left hungry again but the kids had fun eating and seeing the animals. It was too hot to eat a lot though. Matthew did have a bit of a cream (puff) and then Stephanie ate pretty much the rest with giving my mom a few bites. She also ate most of my dad's corn on the cob. Emily had her first ice cream cone. She waited for the ice cream to melt in the cone instead of eating the cone itself. With it being about 90 out it wasn't long before the ice cream melted. The girls enjoyed eating my elephant ear but let me ear my baked potatoes. I was able to wear Matthew in the wrap most of the time and he took a couple naps but he was warm. Thank goodness for the air conditioned buildings. Too bad we had to come home to a hot house as well. Next year Jeff and I are making sure we eat our share of food too and not leave hungry.

A big week

first bite of cereal


tummy time for all 3 kids


Getting an early start playing soccer


Practicing his goalie skills like mommy and Uncle Jon


3 days ago on tummy


Birthday girl Sarah with Matthew


6 days ago on tummy


Happy Matthew and Emily


3 kids playing on the floor


12 days ago on tummy

Matthew had has a big week since I last wrote. He seemed to have really grown and changed a lot. He loves tummy time now and is constantly rolling over onto his tummy. He'll get his arm stuck every once in a while but he's getting better at getting it out by himself. Anytime he is laid down he'll immediately roll over. It makes diaper changes already more difficult. I feel like he isn't old enough to be doing this already. He can spend a good 20 minutes on his tummy playing and watching the girls now. Sometimes he'll roll back over but usually he stays on his tummy. He is loving it so much that he took his first nap on his tummy today. He fell asleep on his own and I went to check on his and he was laying on his tummy all sprawled out. He took a great nap and almost slept 2 hours.

Matthew also was finally given cereal this week. I finally gave some to him last night. I was planning on waiting til 6 months with him but he has seem so interested for awhile now. He was grabbing my fork and plate. He licks his lips and will stare at your food. He follows the fork from the plate to your mouth. So he had some last night and he opened his mouth right away and was so excited. He wasn't happy with how watery it was but he ate it up. He had some again tonight after we ate dinner and I didn't put as much breast milk in there as last night and he was grabbing the spoon to help me along with the bowl. I will continue to give it to him if he interested. I plan on making my own baby food again as I did with Emily, who was not interested at all, but I'll wait a little longer on that. I think one of the reasons I was waiting on giving him cereal because it is another thing that makes him a little older and that means he's growing up. I want him to stay little and not to grow up so fast. He is such a sweet baby and I want him to stay little as long as possible.

I also forgot to mention in his 4 month post that he found his feet a couple weeks ago and loves to play with them. That is one of the things that will keep him playing on his back. He also learned to clap a week before he turned 4 months. At his 4 month picture he kept clapping and some of the images were getting blurry because he was so excited. It is so cute to see.

I'm such a lucky mommy to have such a wonderful son!