Five months!

Levi Blaze,

You are five months old today! WOW! Several friends have commented over the last few days that you have grown up so much, and I couldn't agree more. You are still my adorable baby, but you look more and more like a little man every day.

This month has been exciting! You started this month, along with your daddy, me and 60+ others, by taking shelter during a crazy night of tornados. You and your friend, Jude, slept through it all as we hunkered down in some friends' safe room.

As Grammy described you, you are in "discovery mode." Yessss, sir! You reach for anything your daddy and I are holding and are interested in grabbing anything nearby. Curiosity and intrigue are written on your face, and I can see the wheels turning as you experience a new texture or sight. You take brief breaks from eating now to survey your surroundings, scratching the chair's fabric or just looking around to see what's new. When sitting or standing in mine or daddy's lap, you love to touch our faces, and you study us with your eyes. It's like you are mentally filing away what mommy and daddy look and feel like.

Your face lights up when you hear the sound your hands make when banging on the table, and during bath time, you have started splashing around. You really seem to enjoy being in water. We've been taking you swimming, and you love it! You splash around while watching the other kids around you, taking it all in. You look so adorable in your swim trunks and sun hat!

We set up your Baby Einstein exersaucer this month, and you have so much fun in it! We say that you are working away in your home office because of the focus and concentration you have, exploring one "station" after another. It's been exciting for us to watch you figure out how things work. You are a smart kiddo!

In the last two weeks, you have accomplished something huge - you have begun sleeping 7-8 hours each night. This was no easy feat for you in the beginning, but we are so proud of you! You have an established bed time routine now: you eat, take a bath, read a book and then go to sleep. I typically bathe you, and your daddy is usually the one who gets to cuddle with you while reading a book. I love to see the two of you snuggled up in the chair. Daddy is an excellent reader, and you are an attentive audience, snuggled in the crook of his arm, dressed for bed in your sleeper, paci in place.

For Father's Day, we made an imprint of your hand in plaster. That process in and of itself was hilarious, and we love that we captured that perfect little hand that we can show you as you grow.

You also helped me celebrate turning 29 this month by giving me a card with your foot outlined on it in place of a signature. Precious!

As always, we can't wait to see what each new day with you brings. You are such a joy!
We love you!
Love,
Mom

Working away:

Hanging with the boys:

Checking out our new couch:

Cheering daddy on during softball:

Close up! Hanging with daddy: