How has another month come and gone so quickly.  Is there anyway to make time slow down just a little.  Every month and with every child I ask this question and I have yet to find a way!

Height: Approx 25.5 inches
Weight: Approx 13.8lbs

Likes: his wubanub, nursing, cuddles, watching his siblings
dislikes: being hungry, having any bubbles in his tummy



Sleep:



Benjamin has actually gotten into somewhat of a sleep pattern now in the evenings.  I have started putting him to bed between 7:45-8:00 and he usually will sleep until about 2:00-2:30, he will then nurse and go back to sleep until about 5:30 and then he is up for the day whenever all the other kids start getting up.  Earlier this month I had been waiting to put him to bed until I had all the other kids tucked in, but I just recently started swaddling him up and nursing him while I'm reading stories to Will and James and he falls asleep then.  When I finishes with the stories I put Benjamin in the dockatot to sleep.   He continues to sleep in the dockatot in our bed and it is working well for us right now.  I'm not sure what I will transition him to when he is able to roll over back to belly.



As far as napping goes I haven't found a schedule for him yet.  I really struggle with setting a nap schedule for this age for some reason and have with all of my kids.  I think its because they still tend to just fall asleep so much at this age that I don't have set times that I take them to a separate room to nap.  Right now Benjamin just tends to nap when and where he wants/needs to.




Eat

Benjamin continues to be exclusively breastfed.



Development/Firsts

11/28 Celebrated his first Thanksgiving
12/2-12/3 Slept 9:00pm-4:45am
Has started sucking on his hands
12/8 Rolled from belly to back
Tried to hold his wubanub and move it towards his mouth
12/10 Started wearing 6 month jammies
12/13 Moved to size 2 diapers (after blowing out his size 1s, three times in a row)
12/15 Using his hands to grab blankets
12/15 Went to Church for the first time
12/18 Started playing with dangling toys
12/21 Noticed the baby in the mirror
12/25 Celebrated his first Christmas

I feel like this month has been eventful for Benjamin he celebrated two major holidays for the first time, has found his hands, rolled over from belly to back, started playing with dangling toys and noticed himself in the mirror (which is too cute for words). He enjoys his wubanub and has tried to move his Paci to his mouth.  It is evident that he knows that his wubanub is attached to his Paci and it is something that he wants.  



Benjamin Joseph,

My sweet boy, what a blessing you are to this family.  Sometimes I think you look around at the craziness around you and think "What is going on here?"  But truly you seem completely unfazed by your loud and crazy siblings and I know as soon as you're big enough you will be joining in with them!  I feel like I continue to use the same words to describe you each month so far, but laid back, easy going and happy just describe you my sweet boy!   You are a happy baby and you love your momma right now.  Every morning when you wake up and see me you give me the biggest smiles, what a way to start my day!  As long as you are fed and have a clean diaper you are content.  You are using your voice more and more each day and will hold small conversations with me.  I love listening to you find your voice.  I can't wait to see what this next month has in store for you!

I am beyond blessed to be your mommy!

I love you