Letters to Liam, 5 months

My Little Liam,

Last night, I was flipping through your baby book and I burst into tears—where has the time gone? 5 months old, ALREADY? One day you were a tiny baby, the next you had grown into a beautiful little boy.

We took some big steps this month! You have been such a little guy and Dr. Farr was a bit concerned at our 4 month appointment, so we’ve been going back every two weeks to have you weighed. You just weren’t gaining quite enough, so we decided to start supplementing with formula, in addition to pumping milk for you. Now you are getting bottles of half breastmilk (which is so good for you!) and half formula (which gets your tummy full!). It was a really difficult decision for me-- I felt guilty that I wasn’t able to provide you with everything you needed. But, formula has really taken a lot of stress out of feeding time—I don’t have to constantly worry about whether or not you have enough milk. You seem really happy that you are getting more to eat and Dr. Farr is proud of you for gaining weight!

In addition to adding formula, we also started feeding you solids. You love to eat! We started with rice cereal and you gobbled it up. Now, if I hand you a spoon, you try to feed yourself. You’ve had bananas, sweet peas, apples & sweet potatoes so far—we’re giving you each new food twice a day for three consecutive days, just to make sure you don’t have any allergies. I love watching your reactions to each new taste, smell & texture.

With all of this new food, you are growing! At our appointment last week you weighed 13 lbs & 14 oz—a huge jump from where you were a month ago at 11 lbs 4 oz! You’ve also gotten longer and are now 25 ¾ inches long. You’re starting to outgrow some of your 0-3 month clothes in the length & you’re finally moving into a few 3-6 month outfits. (You also finally moved up to a Size 1 diaper—no more Newborns for you, big boy!)

You’re on the move now—we can’t lay you down without you immediately flipping over & we often find you facing the completely opposite direction than how we laid you down! You love playing in your piano exersaucer and you’re sitting up for extended periods of time in your Bumbo. Your little feet are constantly kicking & you love splashing in the bath.

You’re laughing at everything—a big, gasping giggle that leaves you breathless and we can’t get enough of it. Daddy, Marmi, Poppy and I will do anything to hear that sweet sound—we often make fools of ourselves, but it’s well worth it to see you so happy.

I made you a special shirt to celebrate your first Valentine’s Day—it was an applique of a black puppy carrying a red heart in his mouth. You won’t remember our little puppy Tate, but he would have loved you so much! While you were in my belly, he loved to rest his head on my tummy. We miss him everyday, but you’re so lucky to have your puppy Chloe, who simply adores you.

Every stage you grow into, I swear is my favorite— just when I think it couldn’t get any better, it does. I’m head over heels in love with you, and it just keeps getting better.

I love you, sweet pea.
Mommy