5 Months Old

I'm writing about my sweet baby because I want to remember every detail I can about this little person. I'm also wondering if I can help others when they reach this milestone.

Roxanne is 5 months old now! Woo hoo! These are some of the fun things about Roxy right now:

• She loves playing with my necklaces and scarves that I'm wearing when I'm feeding her.
• She loves trying to make me smile while she's eating by pulling away and smiling up at me.
• While I'm burping her after a feeding, she likes to scratch at the pillows behind me that are on the couch.
• She can roll from her back to her belly. We're still working on belly to back, but she seems like she's close!
• She LOVES staring at her daddy. She'll stop eating and pull away just to watch him, even if she's super hungry.
• She's learning to love going on walks with her stroller. She still seems unsure of the whole prospect (we've been cooped up all winter)
• She loves making TONS of noise, specifically high-pitched squeals that can make Momma's ears ache.
• She doesn't like to be alone for very long. She'll start squeal/yelling in frustration.
• She loves meeting new people and her parents don't mind passing her off to others so she can keep learning to be sociable.
• She's getting MUCH bigger cheeks that I can't stand but not kiss right now.
• She loves observing things. She'll just watch a person, or grab a toy and just look at it. My favorite is when she's mesmerized  by her hands and then shoves them in her mouth :)
• She's been eating rice cereal for about a month and we are currently feeding her new veggies. She liked the squash and now it's time for peas! (Our pediatrician gave us the advice to start with veggies and then go to fruit since fruit has a sweeter taste and babies will like them better. This way, she can try the veggies without knowing any better and like them before the fruit)
• She is really sweet and really doesn't cry unless there's a problem.
• She's really loving bath time! She likes to splash in the water and loves the occasional shower as well.
• She loves being outside. She grins so big when we're all outside together!

She's going through a weird sleep phase right now. We can't tell if she's just not tired when we put her down, or if she's too tired to fall asleep...it's all a guessing game. She does pretty good at nights though. She wakes up, however, at 3 - 4 am just wide awake. We keep her in her crib and let her cry/whimper while checking on her every once in a while. Last night worked pretty well, except it was about an hour until she fell back to sleep. At least she's learning that we only pick her up at night when it's time for her to eat and to hopefully get herself back to sleep when she does wake. It's an exhausting process :)

It's kinda hard for me when I read the things that "Roxy should be doing" or the "milestones that she should be reaching". Not saying that she's not reaching them, but I see some of my friend's babies....I've just decided that I need to stop comparing. Roxy is an individual and, with our urging and support, she'll reach the various milestones when she's ready.

She really is the joy of our lives. There is nothing more rewarding or wonderful than being a parent. I so look forward to the things that we get to experience in the future!