My darling little boy is five months old today.  FIVE whole months.  

In the last five months, I have become remarkably more gray; put on weight instead of lost it; have darker circles under my eyes; become more used to waking up at 5:30 a.m.; and even though you still sleep through the night well, I can’t seem to shake brain-fog.  You, on the other hand, just keep getting cuter and cuter; have added more baby chub just like you’re supposed to; and are more often than not, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!

There are some other things to note as of late, dear boy:

• Your Mommy finally put up the pack n’play in her room that you slept in for the first two months of your life.  For sentimental reasons, I never took it down, but now it’ll go upstairs and await the day you can use it as a play-pen.
• You have mastered rolling over from your tummy to your back; you are most happy that you discovered a way to get out of tummy time.  You’re getting closer to rolling from your back to your tummy, but you’re taking your time making your mind up about that maneuver.  You certainly will avoid being on your tummy at all cost.
• You are a squirmy wormy, wanting to practice your jumping, pulling up, standing, and walking.  It makes for an interesting meal when, on a rare occasion, we’re dining out.  Your Mommy has started praying a lot to adapt gracefully to an energetic baby boy.
• You also love to grab everything.  My grocery list this week was all torn up and soggy from slobber, and I am now a momma who pushes away plates and utensils on the table so you don’t push them off the table or hurt yourself.
• You love watching other babies and kids.  While in Barnes & Nobles today, you stalked the bigger kids, watching their every move.
• You are still quite inquisitive, taking in all of your surroundings very intensely.  I can just see the wheels turning in your brain as you study your environment.
• Your eyes are fixated on Molly whenever she’s in the room, and you are quick to reach for her.  I am already having to teach you how to be gentle with her as you love to firmly grip our puppy’s fur, ears, and jowls.  Bless your heart, Molly! 
• Splashing in the tub is your new favorite game during bath time.
• You can go a few seconds of sitting up on your own before Mommy gets a kick at watching you tumble over to the side in slow motion.
• Babble, babble, babble.  I love your babble!
• You are a serious fan of your Daddy!  He can get you to laugh, squeal and smile like no one else.  Sometimes I’m a wee jealous.
• You still sleep well during the night; naps are a give and take though.  Since you’re up at 5:30 a.m. (which we’re trying so hard to get you to wait until at least 6 a.m.), you tucker out fairly early in the morning.  So you’re taking 3 naps still.  Some are good.  Some are bad and make Mommy so sad.  You go down well, but you wake up out of the blue crying.  Sometimes I let you cry to fall back asleep on your own.  Sometimes you end up in my arms.  We both love the times you end up in my arms.
• Are you teething??  Sometimes I wonder, but I’m not sure.  I wish I could be sure.  I wish I could be sure on so many things!
• I think you’re getting quite familiar with your name by how you respond and turn your head when I say it.
• You’re trying all sorts of things with your voice this days:  squeals and squeaks, raspberry noises, and you’ve started doing this funny cough-like, deep guttural sound.  I’d give anything to know what you’re trying to say!  Oh, and there is lots of tongue playing!
• You’re getting used to sitting in your high chair, in which you’ll have your first cereal in 2 weeks, 2 weeks before your 6 month check up.
• You’re super close at nailing down your thumb to suck on instead of your whole fist. 
• I’d like to also mark (for sentimental reasons) that I’ve finished off the lovely bottle of lotion Meems gave me in the hospital, and we’re just about finished with the first big jar of “Butt Paste”.  You love your hiney rubbed!

I love you, Brennan.  You are the biggest miracle of my life God has allowed me the privilege of being a part of.