5 Wonderful Months Old

I'm not sure how it's possible, but our Charlie gets cuter and sweeter every single day! Today he turned a whopping 5 months old and I'm not even sure how it happened! Here's a look back at the past months:I just can't believe how old he is looking! And he's learning things at lightning speed!

Some stats about Charlie at 5 months old:

• Uses both hands together, coordinating grabbing at things like toys, his bottle, or our faces (so sweet when he does that!)
• Likes to "feel" with his fingers - he massages the carpet, the grass, his sheets, and anything else that feels fun. This has also translated into feeling the different furs and textures of some of his touch and feel books. He LOVES them!
• Also likes to whack and hit things with his hand. I didn't teach him this... are boys born with this instinct? Haha!
• Still sleeping through the night! From about 8:30pm to 8am! And just over the past couple of days, he has been wanting to be put down while awake, and he happily puts himself to sleep. I guess the days of swaddling and rocking him to sleep are nearly over! How sad :'(
• Eats about 5.5 ounces, 5 times a day, for a total of about 27 ounces or so each day. We have started trying spoon feeding some thin rice cereal, but I don't think he's too interested in that yet. I'll just keep it up!
• We've also upgraded his bottle nipple to the medium flow (instead of slow)... and now it takes him 6-7 mins to finish a bottle instead of 15! Yay!
• Size 3 diapers
• Mostly size 6 month clothes! Can still wear a couple of the smaller 3-6 month sizes (like in Baby Gap), but mostly 6 month! He got so much bigger so quickly!
• Is now excellent at rolling over (but only to his right)
• Can sometimes pull his legs up underneath him
• Over the last couple days, while on his tummy, he can push himself up much higher on his hands, to where his arms are completely straight!
• Not a very good sitter. He still can't sit in the tripod position for more than half a second... in fact, I can hardly get him in the tripod position - I think his belly is a little too fat ;)
• Loves his jumperoo and is probably going to be an excellent jumping baby!
• Has learned how to giggle! Finally! If we tickle him and make fun noises, sometimes we'll get little giggles... but we are still waiting for the full-out laugh to finally bust free!
• Sometimes makes funny spitting faces and noises... it really is hilarious.
• He is liking more and more to be held, but he still isn't the cuddliest baby ever (neither was I, according to my mom)
• Likes to sleep on his tummy. He always turns over... so I just let him sleep that way.
• Getting much better with his pacifier. He can keep it in pretty well and now actually NEEDS it to help him calm himself down. I'm not complaining. It's pretty nice ;)
• Can shake a rattle... and when he does, he shakes his whole body at the same time - hilarious!
• Drools. A lot. I'm sure this is just an early sign of future teeth!
• As of the last few days, he has discovered the upper register of his voice and it's pretty darn funny how much he's been squealing... he sounds like a girl! ;)
• Falls asleep by himself at nap time, mostly in his crib, but sometimes still in his swing if I want him to sleep really well for an extra long time. I'm amazed at how well he does. I rarely have to help him out at all... and he doesn't usually fuss much. Such a good, good baby!
• And, my very favorite, pictured right below, he can hold his own bottle! He's been able to do this for about a month, but now he can do it through practically the whole feeding. Superstar!

Ok I lied, he CAN sit, with the assistance of the sofa... and it doesn't last long ;)
Loves to play, and be shirtless! Here he is being a "man's man":
And I just can't get enough of this cute little bum! In those cute jeans! Ahh!
Here he is playing outside with me one day last week:

This video is of him doing his spitting thing... so funny!:

And this one is Charlie shaking his rattle like a pro: