Hank: 5 Months

Things seem to be looking up again this month.  Hank has been working really hard on his sleeping and napping, and he's doing much better at getting himself settled back into sleep and is sleeping for longer stretches in the night before we have to go in and help him (closer to 3:30-4:30am).  When we do go in, it's usually just to pop his pacifier back in his mouth and leave the room.  Hank has figured out how to roll over from his tummy (the position he's been sleeping in) onto his back and he is NOT a fan!  For some strange reason once he rolls over onto his back it's like he forgets how to roll back to his tummy again.  It's presented some setbacks, but nothing to crazy.  His naps are also up and down, but he manages to get enough sleep in the day so he's never too cranky. :)

Hank had his first haircut this month, his first nasty diaper rash (turned yeast infection - yuck!), started rolling over belly to back (so now he rolls over BOTH ways!), and his first visit longer-distance to Fresno to visit his Uncle Aaron, Aunt Kristen, along with Max, Sadie, Charlie, and Baby Beau, as well as Grammy, Pa, and Aunt Emma.  It was a busy month!

Hank is eating like a champ, and routinely is drinking over 40 ounces in a day.  His pediatrician has suggested we start giving him rice cereal only this month, as he probably shouldn't be drinking THAT much formula and would benefit from something heartier both for his tummy as well as his reflux.  Speaking of reflux, it's still there, and we actually think he's spitting up MORE these days because of his increased ability to push up, get his tush up in the air, and roll over.  We're just continuing to weather the waves of never-ending spit-up, because we know it WILL stop in the next few months - we hope!

Hank is rolling over from back to belly all the time, and is scooting around quite a bit on his back.  He figured out how to roll over from belly to back in his crib first, and he was NOT a happy camper when he started doing it.  He seems to be getting the hang of doing it outside his crib, so that helps, along with being able to fuss around until he figured out that he already knew how to roll himself over to his comfy tummy position.  He's getting better every day at getting things in his mouth, and we hope that someday soon he'll be a pro at getting his pacifier back into his mouth when he's napping/sleeping!  He's as vocal as ever, and Lyla and I can frequently be heard "sshing" him.

Hank continues to be a happy guy for the most part.  He's slowly learning that he doesn't need to FREAK OUT when we come in to help him with his sleep.  That makes me feel better as a mom that his parents are actually starting to provide some level of comfort for him.  He does seem to be noticing when I'm missing more, and that doesn't make him too happy.  Lyla is providing Hank with a lot of joy, and he always perks up when she's around to play with him.  Lyla was able to draw out some pretty hearty chuckles from him this month as well.

We are eager to see what new developments come about this month, as well as for him to experience his first plane ride and first trip out to Ohio!