Little Pig, Little Pig

Reese has become such a little piggy these days! He really likes his rice cereal and is getting to be such a big boy sitting up in his seat (we're still working on the sitting up part). He gets so excited when he sees me mixing up his cereal and as soon as I put some on the spoon and head toward his mouth he opens really wide and leans forward. It's so cute. He usually ends up really messy as evident by the picture! He also knows when he's getting a bottle too. In the mornings I get him up and he's so happy to see Mommy and he lays on his changing table just talking up a storm and kicking his legs. As soon as I go in the den and sit down on the sofa he knows he's about to get fed and he immediately starts whining because I just can't get his bottle in his mouth fast enough. The other day I was giving him his bedtime bottle and grabbed it as I was walking by, Reese on my hip. He saw it, reached for it, and then opened his mouth and leaned torward it! Smart cookie! He's still a little on the small side, I think, but he's definitley filled out more (don't let those chunky cheeks fool ya...he's a squirt!). I'm excited about our well baby check up in a couple of weeks to see how much he's grown. After that, we'll start baby food... I can't wait!

Speaking of little piggies...I have definitely learned my lesson as far as pigging out when pregnant! I will not do it next time. The other day I was checking this little boy in hygiene and as soon as I sat down, his mother looked at me and said "when are you due?". I just kinda looked up at her and laughed and said "oh, I already had him...he's 5 months old. That baby weight is hard to lose!" In her defense, she was mortified. I have made that mistake before and it is really embarrasing. And if that weren't bad enough, this Sunday, I was at my parents' house and my mom asked me if my shirt was new. I told it was and she said she really liked it...she needed to get one...to cover up how fat she had gotten. Really? Thanks, Mom! Motivation, you have kicked me in the butt once again! Let's see if it actually manifests into action...I'm not holding my breath!

Mama's Little Man!

I feel like Reese's little personality has really blossomed in the past few days. I mean, he's always had a personality, but he is just so into everything these days. He's very interactive with his toys and is just sooo curious about things. I borrowed a jumperoo from my friend Ashlee and Reese loves it. He's a little too short for it, and he hasn't quite figured out how to jump yet, but he loves sitting in it and watching the lights. He also has really gotten more used to being in his excersaucer, especially since I put batteries in all the parts so it plays a lot of music and lights now. He is still just content laying on his back on his activity mat and talking up a storm to his "friends". He's really gotten into yelling lately, too. But not bad yelling...just really excited squealing. It's really cute now, but I'm sure it will get old.

He also is really into his Mommy (and his Daddy, but he's still a Mama's boy). It makes my day start off right when I go in first thing to get him up for his morning bottle and he sees me and starts kicking and smiling because he's so excited to see me. Monday when I got home from work, Reese and Cameron were in the nursery playing and I walked in and did not say a word and Reese just started bouncing up and down and smiling so big...he was so happy to see his Mommy! It's times like those that make the less than perfect times just a little more perfect.

Five Months!

Dear Reese,

Another month has come and gone, and my how you have grown! You have done so many new things this month, it makes Mommy a little sad that you are growing up so quickly. This month you have discovered your feet. You try to get them in your mouth all the time and have succeeded a few times. You are such a happy baby and love to smile and kick your legs when you are excited. Especially when you see Mommy and Daddy! You are rolling more now, but still get mad when you are on your tummy. Reese, you are starting to try to sit up! You need a little help, but you can sit sometimes for a few seconds before toppling over. You absolutely prefer sitting up to being cradled, because you like to look around at everything. You love looking at lights. As soon as we get you in the car, you immediately look up at the overhead light. It never gets old. You are really starting to like bathtime more and haven't fussed during your bath in a very long time. You are starting to like your excersaucer more, but you still love your activity mat, bouncy seat, and swing. You even like playing in your crib, sometimes. You are very good about entertaining yourself, but sometimes, if you've had a bad day, you prefer for Mommy or Daddy to entertain you. Reese, you still like everyone and haven't really developed any separation anxiety, yet. You have spent some time with all your grandparents and great-grandparents and had a great time with everyone. You are making all kinds of new noises and starting to laugh more often. You are not nursing anymore at all, now, which makes Mommy sad, but I know you are getting the calories you need now to gain some weight. You stopped getting breastmilk completely about 1 week before you turned 5 months. After a rough couple of weeks on a regular formula, you are tolerating a lactose free milk based formula now. The other made your tummy hurt. You have started eating rice cereal, which you seem to like. Naps are still not great, but you are sleeping well at night. We have quit swaddling you completely now and you are sleeping fine without it. Mommy was afraid it would be a hard transition, but you make it through fine. We put you in a sleep sack for naps and bed, but your arms are free. Sometimes you knock your paci out of your mouth and want it back, and of course we oblige because you have us wrapped around your sweet little finger. We're working on the naps, though. Hopefully in the next month or so you'll be a great napper. You're still all round a very happy, well adjusted baby and Mommy and Daddy could not love you more!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Rice Cereal

Well, over the past few days we have been trying rice cereal at the Garvin house. And Reese, being the little piggy that he is, is doing great with it! The first day he was a little skeptical, but now he seems to really like it. He is starting to look at the spoon, krinkle his nose, and open his mouth really wide for it. Sometimes, I mix a little pear juice in, just to give it a little flavor. But he likes it fine without it. We're doing it once a day now, but soon, I think we will move to a couple of times a day. I'm very tempted to try other types of food, but kinda want to wait a little while longer. We have also started putting rice cereal in his bottle for his dreamfeed and today I'm putting a little bit in the rest of his bottles to see if it helps with the spitting up. So far so good. He's growing up so fast, I can't stand it! Here are a couple of cute pictures of the aftermath of the rice cereal!

The first time--Mommy I'm not so sure about this!! BTW, I could just die over his cheeks!

Getting a little more into it! It's hard to tell, but he has cereal on his forehead!