5 Months

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one.  ~Leo J. Burke 

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My poor boy is sick for the first time on his 5 month birthday! He's a champ though and is being extra cuddly, which this mama is enjoying.  I just wish there was a good way to help his stuffy little nose so he could sleep better.

This boy's fifth month has been a very busy one.  Ephraim appears to grow every day, especially in personality.

This little boy loves to be naked and protests at getting dressed.

He is very strong and loves seeing new things and meeting new people.

Ephraim is extremely social, and laughs at mom and dad all the time.

He has big eyes that seem to absorb everything.  He is learning new sounds and has been heard saying "oh yeah" on several occasions by both Stephen and I.

He has finally mastered rolling from his back to front and is quite a mover.  He pushes himself up on his legs, and rolls all around.  He can sit up for short amounts of time.  His favorite thing is to stand anywhere he can be propped up.

Ephraim is very good with his hands and loves anything that he can grab and put in his mouth.

Ephraim is enjoying his adventures into the world of solid food.  He does not like plain oatmeal, but he LOVES bananas and bananas mixed with oatmeal.  He has also licked cantaloupe and mango and enjoyed both of those.

Thanksgiving brought many travels and new experiences.  Ephraim proved his flexibility throughout his adventures.

He went to Disney for the first time.  He enjoyed all the sights and sounds and especially all the smiley people.

Ephraim loved seeing the water and beaches of Florida, but did not love the wind.

Ephraim also enjoyed meeting more of his cousins and seeing all the Christmas sights.

Stephen and I are so lucky to have such a fun little boy!

More 5 month pictures here

More Christmas pictures here

Food

Sleep 'til you're hungry, eat 'til you're sleepy.  ~Author Unknown

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Today was a momentous occasion in the Beckman household.  Ephraim ate his first "solid" food.  We chose oatmeal as Ephraim's first venture....and, well, I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Not so sure about what's about to come.

Here comes the first bite.

The initial reaction.

So... it was a new experience, that's for sure! :)  But despite all the strange faces, he did actually eat some., and we will try again tomorrow. :)

4 months

  It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't. ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

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I say this every month but I CANNOT get over how big my little guy is getting.  He is such an angel, and Stephen and I are very blessed parents.

Speaking of big boys, Ephraim continues to sit happy in the 95th percentile.  At his 4 month checkup he weighed 18 lbs 6 oz and was 27 inches long.

Ephraim's 4th month has been so much fun!  He has so much personality.  He's full of squeals, laughs, and gurgles.  He's getting ticklish on his sides and especially under his armpits.

Ephraim loves to talk with people, especially his mama.  His own voice is still very quiet right now.  It's mostly quiet coos and gurgles.  He "purrs" when he is happy.  However, when he is whining or laughing he can be quite loud.

He loves chewing on blankets and his fingers and anything else he can fit easily into his mouth.  Just in the past few days he has discovered thumb-sucking.  He is very hands-on and wants to see and get into everything (this mama is in trouble once he figures out how to move).

With that there is always a lot of drool all over everything.

Ephraim always wants to play.  He'll play with toys, and play with mama.  He loves to look at books and still enjoys his bath time.  He thinks it's fun to get changed.

Ephraim does not like to fall asleep, or sit in his stroller.  When he gets mad he spits and squeals.

He is getting very strong.  He does little baby crunches when lying on his back, and is trying his hardest to sit up.  He can stand up for a minute if he's propped up somewhere to help his balance.  His hands are getting steadier, and so is his head.

Ephraim had his first big trip, to a family reunion in Fort Scott this month.  He was a little sad on the first day and didn't sleep well, but overall, he was quite a trooper.  

He met a lot of family, including his Babcock cousins, Aunts Holly, Lindsey, and Julie, and Uncle David.

On the 15+ hour trip home he was an angel.

Ephraim has moved into his big crib and is doing wonderful.  He has trouble falling asleep, but once he's out he will sleep until 5:30 am, eat, and then go back to sleep until 8 or so.

Ephraim is having his first Halloween today.  He is the cutest Peter Pan I have ever seen.

I'm in love with his face and smiles, his chubby thighs and little tummy.  Everything about him is pretty much completely adorable.

More Pictures Here

3 Months

A good time to laugh is any time you can.  ~Linda Ellerbee

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Wow! Three months! I keep saying it, but I can't believe it.

Ephraim is such a strong, bright, and happy boy.  He can't stand to sleep if there is anything to be seen, and he loves to know what is going on.

He's become very social, and will smile at anyone, and recently has started laughing at mommy and daddy when he thinks they are being funny.

He's an expert at tummy time, and has decided he likes it much more than laying on his back, although is favorite thing is definitely to "stand" on mommy and daddy.  He still occasionally rolls from his tummy to his back, but doesn't go the other way.

He's discovered his hands and loves to stare at them and grab anything that finds its way into his grasp. He also loves to chew on anything that is in his mouth, especially mommy and daddy's fingers and his own fists.

He still loves bath time, and still hates getting out of the bath.  He enjoys looking at picture books and listening to mommy read.  He doesn't seem very interested in music and singing at all.

Ephraim met his Uncle CJ this month.  It was a lot of fun.

He's a big boy. Our best measurment says he's over 18 lbs, but exactly how big will have to remain a mystery until 4 months.

We love having this boy in our life!  This is such a fun age.

More Pictures Here

2 months

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.  ~Andy Rooney

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I love my boy! I can't believe he's two months old already.  He's growing up way too fast.

Ephraim smiles when he's happy.  We can't "make" him smile yet, but if he is full and clean and happy he will smile away just to himself. I love it because I know it means he's really happy. We've caught a few on camera, but it's tricky.

Ephraim is getting so strong.  He can hold up his head without any trouble, and loves to "stand" and "climb" on mommy and daddy.  He doesn't like tummy time anymore, but likes his swing and looking at my mom's bibs.  His very favorite thing is bath time.  His least favorite thing is getting out of the bath.

Ephraim loves cuddles and doesn't love being alone for very long.  

He's getting better at going down to sleep at night, but he still wakes up every 2 to 3 hours to eat.  This boy loves to eat and is getting big. He weighs 16 pounds 4.5 ounces and is 24.5 inches long.  He's off the charts for his weight and in the 95th percentile for height.  I'm pretty proud of my big boy.

Ephraim also met his Grandmother Beckman this month.

My boy is growing too fast, but I'm having too much fun.  He makes me smile everyday. 

More Pictures Here