5 months old today!

Our photo shoot started off with the "birthday boy" grabbing and eating the sign right off the bat.
So I distracted him by holding up his Ten Little Ladybugs book.
"Huh? Ten Little Ladybugs? I know that book!"
"Ok, mom, I'll look at the camera, but I'm not going to smile!"
I've been inspired by Kelsey's blog to write a "Dear Colin" letter. I always love reading hers about her little guy Drew. Here goes:

Dear Colin,

Here we are, five months later. You've been going to daycare for about a month now, and you're doing very well there. Mommy has been adjusting well to the change, and I really look forward to picking you up in the afternoons after a long day at work.

You had your second trip to the emergency room this week. The first trip was when you were only 17 weeks old in Mommy's belly when she was in that car accident. Your ear infection and bronchitis are clearing up now, and sometimes you even seem to enjoy that yucky Amoxicillin we have to give you to keep your sick bugs away.

You weigh about 17 pounds. Your blondie hairs on the top of your head are really starting to grow in. They are about a half-inch long now. Mommy is so excited that you're going to be blond, because she had a dream about you when you were in her belly, and you had blond hair. Your eyes are still blue, which makes Daddy happy because his eyes are blue too. Most everyone says you look like Mommy, so Daddy takes your features as they come.

You really like to play with your horse rattle, Lion and Lamb (your car seat toys), swing on the swings at the park, pet Rocket (you've pulled his hair a couple of times, which he doesn't like, but he's still nice to you), and you giggle when someone says "Boo!" to you. When you're in your Exersaucer, you like to take apart the alligator. Maybe you'll like puzzles as much as your Mommy, Grandma J, and Great-Grandma J do. Or maybe you'll just like to destroy things. Sometimes when you take a bath you scootch down the sponge so your ears are in the water. We're glad you don't mind this, because we want you to like to swim!

You have discovered your toes, which you like to grab on to and roll from your back to your side. You can also roll from your tummy to your back AND from your back to your tummy now!

You have been eating rice cereal for about a month now. Not every night, because sometimes you don't want to eat it. We try it a few times a week, though. You are very good at opening your mouth and taking a bite. Tomorrow we're going to try oatmeal for breakfast. You, however, have other ideas and would rather try a sip of a McDonald's milkshake or some green beans. All in good time, kiddo.

You make a lot of noise, from coos to screams (just for fun) to giggles, which are the best.

When the camera comes out, your smile goes away. Mommy will put a dollar in your piggy bank if you smile for your 6 month pictures with Johanna in a few weeks, Babycakes.

You still don't sleep very much. On a good night, you sleep a 4 hour stretch. Maybe 2 of them. But most of the time, you wake up every 2-3 hours, with some fussing in between. Mommy loves to see you during the night, but thinks we can work out a compromise. How about just 1 or 2 Mommy wakings, Little Man? She misses you during the night and loves to touch your soft hands and feel your snuggles, but she sure does miss her sleep too!

Love you forever,
Mommy