Sitting Pretty

Ben loves his bigger room at school. There is a lot more to see and do and more friends to play with. He gets cereal at school now around lunchtime. We will keep him on just cereal until we see the doctor at 6 months probably. Then we will add vegetables and fruits! Ben enjoys eating more and more. He comes at his spoon with a big fish face ready to take a bite. He has also started helping Mom feed him by holding the bowl or assisting with the spoon. We have noticed that he really pays close attention to us when we eat now.

Ben's sitting up is going really well. Over the weekend he was able to sit unassisted for several minutes in each stretch. When he got wobbly, we would help him regain his balance and he would go right back to sitting and playing with his toys. He does really well until he sees something to either side that he wants and just leans towards it and topples over. He is not stable enough that I move far from him while he sits, but he is definitely getting stronger and stronger. He has no fear and will lean forward as far as he can when he is in our laps or sitting in the floor to reach for a toy. He is understanding that when something drops it is down on the floor somewhere and he tries to go after it. Mom and Dad are hopeful that he will soon pick up this skill with his pacifier at night! Ben is still working at learning to roll from his back to his tummy. He gets to his side pretty well and either can't make it the rest of the way or isn't interested, so we continue to encourage that.

Ben continues to amuse himself with his shrieking. He loves to start getting louder and louder when a room gets quiet and practice all of his sounds. He will squeal loud several times and then laugh in delight at the noises he has just made. Another of his favorite laughing games is when Dad helps Ben fly up high like an airplane. His face is always expressive and his teachers say that when he takes buggy rides at school he smiles so big they don't think his mouth could open any more.

Ben will be enjoying some NCAA tournament basketball over the next couple of weeks and probably be helping Mommy fill out a bracket. In two weeks the McCulloughs are coming to visit for the weekend, and on the 28th Ben will have his 6 month check up at the doctor's office. I will be sure to update with his new weight and length around that time.