5 months

Eli turned 5 months old today!

I've been meaning to post something lately but I kept putting it off. I told myself I had to post on his 5-month date anyway, so that was my deadline. So here I am for a big old update.

First of all, what I meant to come and tell you all was that on Thursday, July 31, Eli woke up a different baby. Goodbye, colic! For two weeks he was a completely different kid... happy, smiling, laughing, showing interest in toys, using his hands, and just so much more content. I was certain it was over and I was so happy to know I had survived 4.5 months of colic. But the last week he's been pretty miserable again... I am really hoping it's just teething or something and not a reversion.

In spite of his preemie status, he's been hitting his milestones a-ok. He's rolling both back to front and front to back and he's so close to sitting up unaided. I've been using sign language for "milk" with him since he was about 2 months old and he definitely recognizes it now. I can't wait for the first time he actually "tells" me what he wants! He's scooting himself backward and around in circles, so I'm waiting for a crawl. No teeth yet but they just have to be coming, as fussy and slobbery as he is.

We've had a bit of company lately! Eli got to meet lots of family, take his first trip to the zoo, and go swimming for the first time. I think he liked all of these things.

He and I both had nasty colds for over a week. Mine has morphed into allergies since my nemesis ragweed has finally come to town. My cold is gone but Eli's nose is still a snot machine, so I wonder if he might have my allergies. I didn't think they developed that young but I guess I'll have to read up on it.

And in the latest news, Josh is leaving us on Monday for two months to go to Texas for work. He'll come home to visit now and then, but it's probably going to be a long and difficult time for us. I'm a little afraid, since Eli is not the easiest baby to care for all hours of the day and night without any help. And I hate that Daddy is going to miss milestones. These are important months!