The Evolution of a Mother

Anyone who has more than one child knows, that the way you parent your second child, isn't always the same as it was with your first child.  I found this journal entry on Riley when he was 5 months and it is very interesting to me how different things are now.   I was most surprised by how large Riley was 19.5 pounds by the end of his 5th month…what a chunk-a-monk!  I gave rice cereal to Riley at 2 months and waited with Tate until around 4 1/2 months.  Can you tell which one is which?  

Here is Riley's Schedule from when he was 5 months olds

Riley is now 5 months old!  This last month was crazy: It was Riley's first Christmas, he met Uncle Jesse and Aunt Jen for the first time, he started solids, he gained 3 pounds and a whole bunch more!    Riley also started  formula......not as happy of a baby.  Ryan and I are offically true believers that breast milk makes a happy baby!  We started solids 1 month before formula and as soon as he stopped getting breast milk he was fussier, harder to put to sleep, spit up more, didn't sleep as well, constipated...the list goes on.  I guess now we know for baby # 2 to nurse longer (it's just rough on mom)  Hopefully he just needs time to adjust. I make Riley homemade baby food, I just bake or steam, puree and freeze in ice cube trays.  When it's time to eat, I get 2 cubes and zap in the microwave for 1 minute!  (Making his food also makes me feel less guilty about giving him formula) Here is a list of this past months accomplishments!

• Sits without support
• Grabs feet - sucks on toes
• Splashes in tub- protests when you take him out
• Pets dog and cat- laughs at bear
• Laughs when tickled
• Rolls over both ways
• Turns when he hears mom and now dad’s voice! ( he will crank his neck to see dad)
• Teething-can hold teethers now
• Too big for car seat and bouncy chair
• Pull up to stand from sitting
• Stand holding on to someone
• 9 month/12 month clothes
• Size 3 & 4 diapers
• Eats breast milk (1/1/2009 started formula) and homemade solids
  -sweet potatoes, pears, bananas, peaches, acorn squash, green beans, apples, & avocado
• Eats from the high chair
• Holds his own bottle for short periods
• 19.5 pounds as of 1/14/2009

Schedule

7 am Breakfast (8 oz bottle & 2.5 oz fruit)

8-10am Nap

-play-

11am Lunch (8 oz bottle & 2.5 oz vegi)

12-2pm Nap

2:30 Snack (8oz bottle)

-play-

4-5:30pm Nap

6pm Supper (8 oz bottle & 2.5 oz vegi)

-bath, read a book, anything relaxing-

8 pm Bedtime