Charlie at 5 Months

At 5 months, Charlie is a darling, sweet baby who is still adored by his big brothers. Even though he's been challenging us with frequent night wakings this last month, we're soaking up his happy, easy-going personality during the day. This month, Charlie:

• Rolls over from his front to back and back to front.
• Weighs about 12 pounds and is in just the 2 percentile for weight. He nurses about every three hours and seems satisfied, so our pediatrician isn't concerned.
• Plays independently, often squealing happily at his toys....
• ...but still loves to be held more than anything.
• Puts everything in his mouth and drools and drools. 
• Seems fascinated by Ted the Hero, following him with his gaze whenever he's in the room.
• Laughs uncontrollably at Miles' "funny guy" routine, which involves Miles falling on the floor over and over. 

Charlie's past monthly photos.
Monthly photos of Miles.

Lego Building Machine

In the last six months, both Grant and Miles have discovered a love for Legos. While Grant loves to build from his imagination, Miles patiently follows the step-by-step instructions from his Lego sets. He can sit for hours with intense focus, often refusing to get dressed or eat. And then when he's finally done building, he'll often take the creation apart and start again.

Grant recently saved his allowance money for months, finally deciding to buy a giant Star Wars Lego set. When he got home from Target, he handed the box to Miles: "Here Miles, build this." Miles set to work, and within an hour handed Grant the Naboo Starfighter. "Thanks!" Grant said, and went off to play with it. Many weeks later, he allowed Miles to play with it too.

Miles also sleeps with his Lego creations and their instruction books. At least once he's called for me in the middle of the night, and when I went to his room, he wanted help finding a tiny Lego piece that had gotten lost in his sheets. (I refused.) 

The beauty of this new obsession is that he can occupy himself for hours, which is helpful at a time when our hands are more than full. 

Love Those Baby Blues

Cousins

Charlie met his new cousin, James, a couple of weeks ago. These two are about seven weeks apart and already look like they'll be getting into mischief together. James is the NINTH boy in the family.

Here are the other boys with their same-age cousins.