I swear Claire’s gained two pounds in the past two weeks. She’s been eating every 1.5 to 2 hours, except at night. Lately Claire’s been sleeping from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., eating hugely, then sleeping again until 6 a.m. Or she’ll sleep from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m., eat, and sleep again until 6:30. I think the fact she’s probably doubled her birth weight (finally!) contributes to night sleep duration. She packs it all in during the day.

There’s lots of things we notice about her at five months of age.

Claire…

• has developed a cough — a theatrical stage cough that she uses to get attention.
• is teething; sucks on icy cold washcloths more than any other teething device.
• spends much more time on her tummy and increasingly enjoys it.
• is beginning to creep; all that tummy time is working!
• has much stronger arms; she has clocked us hard occasionally.
• makes high-pitched noises and babbles.
• beams whenever she hears a familiar song or rhyme (especially from the Music Together class).
• rolls from tummy to back, and almost rolls back to tummy.
• loves music; sometimes participates by vocalizing the “resting note.”
• enjoys being read to, and her current favorites are Barnyard Banter, Moo Baa La La La, and Jamberry.
• laughs heartily and often.
• loves hearing the Zzzz or Bzzz sound; it makes her usually at least grin, and often she giggles.
• enjoys peek-a-boo.
• wrinkles her nose when she smiles.
• now allows herself to be held inward, facing over the shoulder.
• likes to sit, and practices sitting up every day; she almost can sit alone.
• exhibits much more control over her hands and feet, making finer movements.
• sucks her toes.
• when hungry, doesn’t scream and cry anymore, but rather grunts and then smiles when we get the bottle out; she’s able to anticipate and understand more.
• puts weight on her legs and likes to practice standing.
• sleeps on her side in the crib.
• smiles hugely when we start the “This Little Piggy” ditty in clear anticipation of our saying “Wheee! Wheee! Wheee! All the way home!” (at which point she giggles).
• loves being worn in the Moby wrap and especially when I dance with her.
• clearly attempts to express her desires by saying “Eehn! Eehn!” when she wants another toy, or to be picked up, or for a rhyme or song to be repeated.
• raises her arms to be picked up.
• will turn to look at something I point at if it’s nearby.
• wakes quietly from naps in my arms and plays with my fingers; she also strokes my hand (that holds the bottle) while she drinks.
• loves to be “tossed” up in the air and “pretend” to fall; the sudden movements make her laugh.
• rides the bucket swing at the playground and loves it.
• sits in the stroller like a big girl (not in her infant seat snapped into it).
• is more consistently sleeping 8-9 hours at a stretch overnight!

Happy five months, my little Eclaire!