5 Months Old!

Yesterday our precious boy turned 5 months old. I know I say it everytime, but it is hard to believe how fast time flies. Yesterday also marked the 1 year anniversary of the day that changed our lives forever...last year on Feb 26, we found out we were pregnant. Our sweet boy is such a happy baby. We are so blessed by his sweet and cheerful disposition and beautiful smiles. He is cooing and talking up a storm. He likes to participate in our conversations and often adds some really wise advice. We are still working on sleeping through the night...but getting closer. He's started napping in his crib now, which is helping him take longer naps. You can see evidence of said naps in the photos below. We have started rice cereal, although we are not terribly consistent with it. We tried oatmeal, but Elisha's not a big fan...so we are sticking with the rice for now.

Elisha's Stats (unofficial, since there is no dr appt this month)...
Height: 25 inches (25%)
Weight: 15 lbs (25%)
Head: 44.4 cm (75%)

5 Months old!

Look at those baby blues.

I am so funny!

Do you want to just nibble on those cheeks or what?

Such a good nap.

Oh what a sweet sleepy face

This is how mom and dad found me after my nap today...one sock on, one sock off, completely sideways in the crib with the blanket over my face. (yes, I know, all the stuffed animals and blanket SIDS nightmare...they have since been removed since he is now so mobile in his sleep)

Getting Stronger & Sleeping Longer (hopefully)

Things are well at the Blevins' household. We are learning all sorts of new things. After being somewhat scolded by the doctor because Eli couldn't push up on his arms at his 4 month appt, Ben and I have been trying to do more tummy time with the big guy. As you can see from below, he is doing much better. But seriously, the little guy has a melon it is hard to hold that thing up all the time. Ben is trying to teach him how to rollover...so when I take him back for his 6 month appt I don't feel like such a delinquent mother. Can we just all agree that babies develop at different paces and those dumb forms they give you to circle when you go into the doctor are a little stressful for new moms!! I mean seriously, can't we just talk about their development, instead of having some impersonal form that when I circle three "nos" I stop. I feel like such a failure when I get to that third no! Okay enough of that.

On another note we are working on sleeping through the night. It has been a little difficult the past few nights. Eli was doing very well, sleeping 6-7 hours at a time...but about a month ago he started reverting back to waking every 4 hours and then this week he has been waking every three hours. Of course, it doesn't help that every time he wakes, I rush into feed him. So last night we starting sleep training boot camp...AKA Hell for moms! To help him relearn his sleep cycles we are letting him cry himself back to sleep. This is the hardest thing I have had to do as a mom (except for the whole giving birth thing, having a kid in NICU for a week, allowing someone to poke him with needles). Let's just say it was a long night! He woke every three hours, cried for a while and then fell back asleep. Finally at 5:10am, after he had been crying for about 1.5 hours on and off, I decided enough was enough. Everything I have read says it takes 3 days to establish new routines...so we are in this for the long haul. Please pray with us that each night gets a little easier!!

I think I can...I think I can...hold this big noggin up!

Hey guys...what's up

I am so big (and I am not just talking about my head)...look at me sitting in my bumbo.

This is my tough face.

My top lip is so fun to suck on...

Seriously dad...another picture.

Flying is Fun

Gigi came for a fantastic visit this weekend. Eli had tons of fun with her. They smiled at each other, talked baby talk, cuddled, and loved! A good time was had by all. On Sunday, Gigi brought Eli to church with her. Typically, I have to get the little man up at the butt crack of dawn...like 5:45...in order for us to get to church by 6:45ish. Since Gigi was here, she was able to keep him while I went to setup for church. When Eli got to church we played a bit. We had such a great time as you can see below. And yes, that is Scott, our pastor, preaching in the background...so yes that means I was playing during church...but no, that doesn't mean I wasn't paying attention.

Enjoy!


This was a fun game until my arms felt like they were going to fall off...I really must get back in shape!!

Yummy Cereal

Tonight was Elisha's first attempt at eating cereal from a spoon. We have been putting rice cereal in his bottle for a couple of weeks now (don't tell the pediatrician), in hopes that it would help him sleep through the night. Unfortunately, it hasn't really produced anything except more poopy diapers. So tonight, we decided we would see what the little guy would do if we gave him cereal from a spoon. Let's just say it was a pretty entertaining experience. It took him a little while to warm up to the whole idea, but by the end I think he was quite enjoying his runny rice cereal/milk blend.

First bite...uhmmm, mom what is this thing you are putting in my mouth??

Yeah, not sure I really like that.

Cereal also makes great lip gloss...very moisturizing. After I got a little fussy, mom decided to hold me and feed me...that was a brilliant idea let me tell you.

So you swallow this stuff...is that the plan??

Okay, maybe it's not so bad.