5 Months

Here's what Joseph's been up to lately. He is a very happy baby and smiles at anyone he looks in the eyes. He especially loves little children and I've seen him in fits of giggles when a little kid is playing with him.

He is so happy in the mornings. He's always excited to see my face peek over his crib when I come to pick him up in the mornings. He hardly ever cries and if he does it's because I'm a little slow getting his bottle to him in time. But even if he's crying for his milk and I hold him in my arms while I make his bottle so he can see what's coming, then he stops crying and patiently waits for it.

He is mastering his hand work and really enjoys grabbing for things. He can move things from one hand to the other.

He loves playing on his back and only has a little patience for staying on his tummy. He rolled over the first time back in mid-March, but he hadn't done it again until last week. And since then he's been rolling a few more times. He's even gone once from his back to his tummy.

He really loves to play with his daddy. John can get him into peals of laughter quite easily when he comes home from work.

He loves going for walks in the stroller, or strapped in the Snugli and usually falls asleep during them. We've been going for walks more often with one of my friends who has a little girl a month and a half younger than Joseph.

He is enjoying his baths more. I usually get in the tub with him, and it's been a while since he's cried. Occasionally he'll even smile while he's in there. I think it would be fun to try out swimming with him sometime soon.

He has tried "solids" twice so far, once in a bottle and once with a spoon, but he only took a little bit. When I fed him with the spoon I don't even know if he got anything down because he doesn't know he's supposed to swallow what goes in there on the spoon. But he swished it around in his mouth for a little new taste and didn't seem to mind it.

He is getting really close to sitting up on his own. He can do it for a little while if he's propped up against something, but if he tries it just by himself he folds over in half and starts grunting/crying uncomfortably.

He went through a mini phase of sucking on his pointer finger and is now on a little kick of sucking in his bottom lip, sticking out his tongue and blowing bubbles over and over again.

He loves to lay in his bed and if he is fussing while we're holding him because he's tired, all we do is lay him down in his bed and he stops fussing, smiles and settles down to go to sleep. He will fall asleep on his own, usually within just five minutes after laying him down. He takes two naps a day, and they can range all over the place, from one hour to three.

He enjoys watching the picture slideshow on our computer and usually smiles at pictures of himself, John or I. We are sure having a lot of fun with him and feel so blessed that he is a part of our little family!