Ben at 5 months

Ben is now eating his rice cereal like a champ. Generally this means eagerly taking a bite and then shoving a fist, finger, or thumb in afterwards. However, occasionally he swallows or makes chewing motions and then swallows it. So, we know he's on his way to eating more food. I think it's only a matter of days before we introduce the cereal at lunchtime, too!

Doug took Ben to the dr last week (another ear infection - probably brought on by a cold on top of his residual RSV). He weighed 18 lbs and 14 oz! He certainly doesn't need the cereal to grow, but he is proportionate, so I'm not worried about him being SO big.

Ben can also now sit unsupported for minutes at a time. He has been sitting with support for seemingly hours on end for a long time. He can also stay in his exersaucer for a long time, turning in circles and playing with his toys. There's a little phone that's attached with a string. The string is barely long enough to let Ben reach the phone to his mouth. But he loves this toy - as did Lincoln. In fact, if he find it and then it falls over the side of the exersaucer so all he can see is the string, then he fusses and cries until you distract him with another toy or pick it up for him. :o)

Ben also grabs his feet as he looks around just grinning. It's super cute. Sterieotypical baby move that makes me smile every time.

Lastly, for now, Ben can move. You put him down in one place and he could be a few feet away facing a different direction within a few minutes. He also is now sleeping with his bottom in the air, like Lincoln did, and pushing up to his elbows as he's trying to fall asleep. It takes a lot of work to be a baby but I think it's his body's way of getting ready for crawling.