Simply Amazing

Allen is going to be 6 months old in just 10 days! Where has the time gone?

After 6 kids I just experienced a first... I tried to breast feed all of my kids. It seemed with each of them something occured that had me having to go to formula before they were 5 months old (and as early as 5 weeks old).

When Allen was born, I was hoping to breastfeed for 6 weeks at least but also commited to it as long as I could. 10 days away from 6months old, getting teeth, and YAY YAY YAY we are still breast feeding! I am so excited! Allen is growing and developing right on target and I am a happy Mommy!

Your 5-month-old: Week 4

Your baby now sees and hears the world almost as well as you do. Her communication skills are expanding rapidly, too, as evidenced by her squeals, bubbling sounds, and operatic octave changes. Her sounds can demonstrate her attitude or response to objects — such as happiness, eagerness, or even satisfaction with a problem well solved.

At this age, about half of babies babble, repeating one syllable — such as ba, ma, ga, or other consonant-vowel combinations — over and over. A few will even add another syllable or two, making their sounds more complex.

You can encourage your baby by babbling right back at her and by making a game of it ("The sheep says, 'baaa,'" or "The goat says, 'maaa'"). Or, when you hear a syllable you can't identify, just respond enthusiastically with something like, "Yes, that is a car! See how shiny the red paint is?" Your baby will appreciate your keeping the conversation going.

Growing Up Baby

Along with having learned to crawl, reaching for things on purpose, and all the other things Allen has been learning to do this last month~



Today we had another "first". I was sitting here eating a Ritz Cracker and Allen kept reaching for it. Although I was a little concerned that it could choke him, I figured he was on my lap and I could run quick interference if needed, I handed him his own cracker. He gnawed away on the thing, cooing and chattering at it.



Then he dropped it. He squealed, very frustrated. I picked it up and handed it back to him. Again he gnawed away on it. When it was finally gone, he was once more squealing, seeming to want another.

I didn't give him another since this was his first cracker and I don't want him to get sick. But it was so cute to see him love this first. Not only was this a FIRST for eating a cracker it was also a FIRST for feeding himself! YAY!

Exciting Developments! Allen today did something he hadn't done before~

He was laying on the floor, a toy just out of his reach along with his pacifier. I was busy helping Elizabeth get her lunch and not paying much attention to the boy. When I looked over at him, he had crawled to his pacifier, got his pacifier, rolled over on his back, and had got his pacifier into his mouth!

Then tonight, we were sitting on the sofa. I had Allen laying next to me with a light blankie over him. He reached up to the edge of the blanket and pulled it up over his face. I laughed at him and said Peek-a-boo as I pulled the blanket down. He grabbed the blanket again and pulled it up over his face again. This time he was giggling as soon as he got the blanket up to his face. He knew and expected the peek-a-boo game :)

I am a little sad that he is learning so fast, because I know the baby days are going to slip away ever faster as he learns all this stuff. Then it is also very exciting to see him interacting with his environment...

My amazing baby! He is growing up fast. Six months old in just 2 weeks...

crawling

I do not think I have ever seen a baby crawl on their back before. Yet today I watched Allen do it. He was laying on the floor, his little zebra that he loves just out of reach behind his head, and there he went scooting ON HIS BACK to reach the toy. His little legs went into action and could see that he was moving with purpose. I was laughing right out loud at the little guy. It looked so funny to see but he got where he wanted to get.

Just when you think you know it all... along comes something new.

I am having so much fun with Allen as he is rapidly learning so many new things. Crawling, rolling, reaching, touching... he takes in so much aound him and is trying something new it seems almost everyday. Thinking about the next few years with him is SO exciting! It won't be long and he will be an honest to goodness toddler...

Right now, I am going to go snuggle with him and enjoy exactly where he is at this moment and savor him still being a babe in arms...

June 14th Update

Allen crawled! He moved across the floor about 3 feet yesterday! I am so EXCITED! I went about the house on my hands and knees to see what he can get into. I have A LOT of stuff to get protected both FOR him and FROM him in the next few days. I know it won't be long and my little guy is going to be into everything :)

He has also been cranky (for him) the last couple of days. This is because he has two little teeth getting ready to pop out. So many milestones coming at us! He is growing up fast!

Update from June 3rd

Allen his doctors appointment on June 3rd. It went really well. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for his swollen lymphnodes. His weight his doing good and he is growing. He had a little drop in his growth curve at his last appointment so this was wonderful news that he was back on target.

On top of that his developmental milestones are all right on track or ahead of age expected. He is such a happy little guy and it is wonderful to see , despite all the chaos this year, he is doing so well.