news from chicago: 5 Months

So my dear darling Cillian - you turned 5 months old on Christmas Day! A lot of people don't realize that you were born on the day that's considered to be "Christmas in July!" I have to say that a lot has happened since last month. A lot of people wouldn't consider it a lot but your Daddy and I do and I think James noticed too. Cillian, you are getting calmer my little buddy. Your crying spells are slowly but surely leaving which is so wonderful. One day last week you actually didn't cry at all. AT ALL! It was unbelievable. I was actually worried because you weren't crying.

Right now we average one crying time a day and that ain't bad kiddo - it ain't bad. The other day, Cillian woke up in the morning, I came in and he SMILED at me. It melted my heart. Right there on the spot. Cillian is starting to wake up now without crying and he just talks to himself...just like his big brother did. James never cried. Always just chirped and chatted. Cillian is starting to do the same thing.

Bumpo time has increased and Cillian is doing so so so much better. He no longer wobbles and he is starting to sit up straighter and doesn't slump to one side so much anymore. I am so proud of him.

Tummy time is still something we need to work on. When he lies flat on his play mat, he just hugs the ground. He'll superman (on his tummy and extend arms and legs) but we've got no pushing up on his arms. He also is trying to roll over from him back to his stomach. I'll roll him half way and let him do the rest - either back to back or over to tummy. He always looks so stunned when he rolls back to his back. Like WHOA what in the world just happened. His arms go out like he's trying to steady himself. It's pretty cute. If we use the boppy, he does great for a while. But then he pushes forward with his legs and then pushes himself and pushes himself and then face plants over the boppy onto the ground. So ... we've got some work to do.

The bouncer is BACK! Watch out! Cillian went in it and so far so good. He still can't reach the ground but Doug put "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" under him so to quote Doug, "the book will be finally be useful." Thanks Doug :) He's just not heavy enough or long enough to reach the ground just yet.

I did weigh him the other day - he now weighs 13.5 lbs. Now this may not be a big deal to a lot of you but if you remember he weighed 11 11 at his 4 month check up. This means he's gained 2lbs in a MONTH! This is amazing!!!!! Hopefully Cillian keeps these great gains coming! Way to go Cillian!!!!

We've been reading more and more books and you got some great books for Christmas so your library is finally beginning!!! James is even letting us 'borrow' some of his books from when he was little that he doesn't read so much anymore. What a great big brother.

Cillian finally took a bath in the big boy bathtub with Daddy and James. I have photos of this and they are not making an appearance on the blog. Please trust me though, the photos are priceless. All three of them are just too cute - it was almost a preciousness overload.

Cillian still is just so taken with James. Anytime James is in the room, that's all Cillian wants to see and hear and be by. Except when I am giving James attention. Then Cillian actually shrieks. Just a quick high pitched little shriek. Quick and to the point. I go back over to him and then you should see the grin on this child's face. Playing the game already. James asked me the other night if I loved one of them more than the other. Oh Lawd. How early it begins. But seriously, after I rock Cillian or if I have to attend to him for a while, I always make sure to talk to James just for a second and say, "I know I had to do this that or the other with Cillian and I know it took a long time. I just wanted to say thank you for being so patient/quiet/good listener and that I love you and I'm ready to play trains etc just me and you."

Cillian is still in size 1 diapers. Not that he couldn't be in size 2 because he could be. Easily he could be. Doug and I just bought too many size 1 so while he has .5lbs left to gain, we'll be using these diapers. Despite this, Cillian is now in size 6 month pants but still size 3 month tops. He's almost out of the 3 month tops - he's just in the transition period right now. He has some pretty cute little outfits. I love the socks that he has. Both boys have great socks. I figure girls have so many outlets for personal touches so for the boys, at this point, they've got pretty solid sock collections.

So every day for the last month, Cillian has had oatmeal. He is doing such a good job eating and loves loves loves his oatmeal. In addition to the oatmeal, he is taking about 24-27 ounces a day. This weekend, I'll be pulling out the baby cook and getting food ready for him. I picked up some sweet potatoes, butternut squash and carrots. It's what we started with for James and so it will be for Cillian. Over the course of the month, I've managed to get some cute photos of him eating. Enjoy.

The personality of Cillian is starting to emerge. A cute and smiley little man who loves to be kissed and hugged and held. Oh my gosh I just remembered something - I say "kisses kisses" and put my cheek to his mouth and he gives me kisses. Then I say "oh thank you thank you thank you" and he smiles so big. He also sometimes will grab my face with both his hands and just cuddle in. He loves to kiss Doug on his nose. I think he would love to kiss James but at this point James is afraid Cillian is going to spit up on him. He actually asked me to burp Cillian on my other shoulder because the left one is the one he likes to snuggle on when he hugs me.

I am looking forward to seeing what the next month will hold for us. I hope that it will bring us more wonderful gains and growth spurts; lots of smiles, hugs, laughs and cuddles. And maybe just maybe good night sleeps for all of us. Tonight when we were giving the boys their bath, Doug yawned and then I yawned. James asked, "Why did you yawn Mommy after Daddy yawned?" Both of us said at the same time, "Cause Mommy and Daddy are tired." Then we laughed. I think us both sleeping through the night would be a great belated Christmas gift. Don't you? :) Hopefully Cillian agrees.

Here are some of our favorite photos from the last month!

It's freezing out ... no big deal ... Chicago Baby