Declan - 5 months

(Only a week late this time....bad mom)

Weight:  17lbs (home scale)

Height: 25in (guessing on this one!)

4 month photo vs. 5 month.  I'd say we did a bit of growing :)  Look at those man boobs....i mean really!!! You decided to up the eating this past month. I'm not sure if this had anything to do with teething, but it all happened around the same time.  You went from eating every 2.5-3 hours to about every hour and a half.  You're tearing through momma's frozen milk supply pretty dang quick!  We're actually giving you some formula here and there...you don't seem to care what you eat, as look as you get to eat!

Speaking of eating, you've tried some sweet potato's that momma made you.  First try, you really didn't care for them! Second and third attempt you started to come around!!  I can tell you're going to love to eat just like you mom and dad!

You are wearing size 2 diapers.... and I'm afraid you won't be in those long at the rate that you are growing!  I am refraining from stocking up, because I know the second i do, you'll switch sizes on me! You are wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes, some 6 month mixed in there as well!  I can still get 3 month pants/shorts on you as well.  But I'm really trying to get you in all the 3-6 since you're growing so fast, don't want to waste any cute clothes :)

You are doing so well with your sitting up.... it won't be long until you can do it unassisted!! We're working on the rolling over from your back to your tummy.  You've done it before, but you just don't care to do it near as much as you like to roll from your tummy to your back!

You've also starting standing (with help obviously!).  You used to HATE when we'd try to make you stand.  You would automatically buckle your knees and smile at me...you're a turd.

You've almost outgrown your travel pack n' play.  I really don't want to have to lug around the big one,  but we'll make it work!  Maybe you could just stop growing and then we wouldn't have these kinds of problems. 

(staring contest with the toy.  you won)

You're doing SO much better at traveling!! And you have done A LOT of that!  Our latest trip was to KC so momma could go to a work training!! Your Gramme came along, and you guys shopped till you dropped while i was busy!! You love to shop.  You love to look at all the colors, and the cute baby in all the mirrors!

You're adjusting well to your hearing aids.  I think they bother us more then they bother you.  I think it's silly that you even have to wear them, when we know they aren't helping...but we gotta do what the insurance company says!  You've made a lot of new friends lately that are helping you with your ears.... We see Wanda at home once a week, Dena in Wichita once a month and Dr. Kryzer every few months up there as well.  We've also met a lot of other families that have little kiddo's with hearing conditions too!! We're part of a parent group in Wichita and I can't wait to see you running around with all the other kids getting into trouble :)

You're still staying with Gramme every day while mom and dad go to work.  You're pretty smitten with her...which just makes my heart happy!! You guys go on morning walks, hang outside on a blanket under the tree, and swing in your new swing that we hung for you!  I think in September you may start going to our friend Lynde's twice a week.  We think you'll benefit from some interaction with other kids, and I'm sure Gramme (although she won't admit it) could use a break!  You're buddy James goes to Lynde, so I'm sure we'll be getting phone calls in the future telling us all about the trouble you two cause!!

You have TWO teeth!!!!! Your front bottom teeth are both in, and you spend most of your time messing with them!! You love to have your hand in your mouth...and when that's not in there, you're running your tongue along them! You haven't been that fussy through this whole process and for that I am very thankful!  You have a little bump up top, so i think you're working on that one now!! I can't believe you have teeth...you're growing up way to dang fast!

This past month you got to see a lot of family!!! We visited Bridget and Gage while we were in KC.  We sure do wish they lived closer, I think you two boys are going to be best buds! We also had the Doll family reunion this month, and your Aunt Breezy came back for it!! She soaked up all the time she could with you!!  Aunt Sadie was home at the beginning of the month as well....so you've been a little spoiled this past month!!  We can't wait for our family trip to Brek in two weeks.... you'll get to spend TONS of time with both of them! (and uncle ben too!!)

You're such a little talker.  You tell stories all the time, and can get pretty animated!  You have a REALLY high pitched scream you'll do when you're really getting into it.  It's pretty cute!  You're Poppa Steve can get you going pretty good too.... You just laugh and laugh at his funny faces!

Still sleeping all night!!! (Woot woot!!)  Every now and then you'll cry in the middle of the night, but I think that's just been because of your teeth.  You don't actually wake up, you just cry or whimper in your sleep....nothing a pacifier can't fix!  You're still going down around 9 or 930 and getting up around 7.  You'll just lay in your crib and jabber...telling stories and doing your dolphin kicks! (you're still swaddled so you look like a a dolphin when you kick!)  You are the happiest little guy in the morning, and I love that we get to spend some time together every morning before I drop you off at Gramme's! Dad gets a little jealous sometimes!

There isn't really any words to express just how happy you make me and your dad.  You are our biggest accomplishment, and we couldn't possibly love you any more!!!   To the moon and back buddy....to the moon and back :)