Wow! Max is five months old! Lately I've been calling him my little angel boy. Not because he's perfectly behaved (though he is usually a very well behaved boy!) but he has just been such a blessing in our lives. John and I often marvel at what a miracle he is. We're so happy to have him in our family!

We would really like him to show more interest and ability in crawling and turning over. He's still very strong at standing, he just needs to work on some abdominal strength and balancing ability. He likes sitting up more than leaning back on something. He did roll over once- but it was because he was on his tummy on the floor and Daddy was standing next to him. He was straining to look up and him and next thing he knew he had rolled to his back! He seemed pleasantly surprised.

We gave him his first taste of rice cereal, and have even given him small peices from the inside of bread. (You should see the "icky" look on his face when we give him one of those!)

He seems to be eating slightly less each day than before. I'm sure he'll hit another growth spurt again and that will boost his appetite again. We still try to offer him five 7-oz bottles a day (one of those feedings includes rice cereal), but since he's going longer between feedings it often ends up being bedtime and we can only squeeze in a couple more ounces.

Another very fun development has been his laughing. We went on a tour of Pixar with John's brother Mark and John was giving him a ride on his shoulders. All of the sudden he just started uncontrollably giggling. We've had a few giggle spurts after that. Usually once every few days. Although he'll do some other laughing each day, sometimes just as he's lying by himself.

He's seemed to be looking at his hands again a little like when he was discovering his hand, but we think this time he is discovering his fingers.

He really recognizes both mommy and daddy and really beams when he sees either of us. Warms my heart. :)

He graduated to size 3 diapers. I think he could do size 2's a little longer, but we ran out and have a big stock of size 3's. I think we'll be in these ones for quite a while. They go up to like 28 lbs!

I recently found an awesome rolltop desk for sale on Craigs list. I really wanted it. But alas, no house equals no desk. :( John said that once we get settled he's sure we can find a similar one.

Well, I found a different desk on Craig's list that I want. (Please not that this is in addition to the rolltop- a girl can never have too many desks!) I thought  I would post it here so John will have something to reference once said settling occurs. Which will hopefully be by the end of the year! This would be so great for me to stash all my couponing/craft stuff in. Wouldn't it be great to have it all in one place? Room to spread it out, then easy to tuck it away. *sigh* I love it!

Beautiful computer desk armoire, 4 doors
that open to canceal a complete computer
work station. Great for an attractive
living room to be concealed and leave
open for daily use. $125 or best offer

Man. The pictures won't show up. Oh well. Hopefully the description will be enough.

PostingID: 1464447870

What is Max up to these days?

Drooling. This guy is a slobber monster. We try to keep a spit rag handy at all times! Okay, so maybe not quite a monster... he's no Cooper.

Sleeping in his new crib! And getting changed on his new dresser (Mommy's back really appreciates that!).

Talking. He is a yakker!

Using his hands. He loves to grab things (rattles, clothes, Mommy's hair, bottles, etc). We were at Walgreens one day when I give him the weekly ad to play with. He loved crinkling and crumpling it up! I had to take it away from him when he started "scratching" up his face rubbing the crumpled paper on it.

Being a happy guy. He has his moments (like when he gets over-tired and has to have his binky held in and his head rubbed and be rocked and patted  all at the same time in order to calm down and go to sleep) but overall he just seems to enjoy looking at things and interacting with people and objects. Everything he grabs he brings to his mouth, but not everything makes it into his mouth. He also always seems to smile at the right times when we say something silly. ;) It's particularly fun to go see him in the morning or when he wakes up from a nap. He usually wakes up talking. When I go into his room to get him up his face lights up when he sees me and he smiles and squirms. It warms my heart.

Holding his head up and steady. He prefers sitting up or standing to laying on his back.

Laughing. He still doesn't laugh regularly, but when a giggle does slip out it's adorable. :)

Shopping. He enjoys looking at all the different things on the store shelves, the lights in the ceiling, and/or taking a nap in his stroller!

Jumping and bouncing. He particularly likes his jumper. His legs are long enough (barely!) to touch the floor so he actually gets it bouncing!

Using Skype to talk to people back in Utah. The last time we talked with Grandma Rigby he actually watched her face on the screen! Hi, Grandma!

Max weighs about 15 lbs and eats five 7 oz bottles a day.

He dressed as a mouse for Halloween.

Grandma Broadhead and Aunt Lindsey came to visit! Grandma introduced a now favorite game, Pony Boy. She bounced him on her knee and sang, "Pony boy, pony boy, won't you be my pony boy? Don't say no! Off we'll go, high across the ridge. Marry me, carry me, far across the prairie. Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup, woah! My pony boy!"

So I just found an awesome new blog called Frugal Coupon Living. It's great! She's also giving away an awesome Britax carseat next week! Check it out here: http://www.frugalcouponliving.com/2009/11/02/britax-review-and-giveaway/

Happy shopping!

Christy