5 Months

Baby E decided Sunday she is a thumb sucker. It took a little time to get used to it - at first she was more of a thumb gnawer, but now she is definitely sucking on that little thumb. She seems to have no preference for left or right as yet.

Sunday was a big day for Baby E - she rolled over from back to front for the first (and so far, only) time. This event was met with much applause from her adoring parents, which delighted her. If only she could figure out why they cheered. Ha ha We haven't hit recognition of cause and effect.

Monday we fed her rice cereal for the first time. She ate with alacrity, then became fussy and puked it all up. Poor baby. My mother and my instinct coincide on this issue - my mom said to put the cereal away and "nurse the heck out of her." We'll try solids again around 6 months.

Baby E continues to be a ridiculously happy baby. However, I found out yesterday by accident she has begun her stranger anxiety phase. I went in to the office with her, where she would go into anyone's arms, look around in shock for a few seconds, then start crying pitifully. It was all too cute to resist. And as the one she was crying for, gratifying. All those nighttime feedings - paying off!

She is sleeping very well. On a hunch, I moved her bedtime up substantially a few days ago - she goes to bed around 6/6:30 now, but still sleeps until 4/4:30 am, then straight back to bed until 6:30/7:30 am. If only her mother would get her butt in gear and go to bed before 11:30 pm...

Baby E also found her toes this week and is this close to getting them to her mouth. For now, she enjoys grabbing them and shrieking loudly.