4 and 5 months development

 He 4 and 5 months old!

Layton is now 5 months as life just speeding past. I can't believe how big he is now weighing 15lb. He as chucky and happy boy, who takes after his uncle Jordan. 

Life has been alittle crazy now since Christmas, me and ariyah have been ill unfortunately so have not got round to writing this post.  Ariyah is now 2 and also started nursery so read all about that over on her blog: https://transdadtoourrainbow.blogspot.com/?m=1&zx=c3677385ae5b82f

So Layton just seems to have suddenly grown up he gone from this tiny baby in 4lb premmy clothes all tucked up in our arms, to now sitting, rolling, eating, playing, talking, laughing and standing! It's crazy just how fast this time goes. I felt ariyah stayed little for longer then he has maybe because we had lots of time just cuddling and nothing having anything to do where as now we have her, bigger house, more choose, shopping and just general life stuff going on. It all seems to have just gone by and I don't feel we have been able to fully Cheri's his newborn stage. We all been ill at some point then was Christmas so been busy but we had some very memorable times. Moreso now ariyah at nursery and things aren't as busy we have more time to spend 1:1 with Layton. 

Il break down his development in milestones. 

Sleep: He is generally a good sleeper, better then Ariyah was in the night as she was still feeding more often. He sleeps mostly 4hr has bottle (dreamfeed) then straight back down til around 4/5am sometime even going back for another hour or two. Although sometimes he up at 5 am, then will have early nap at 7/8. Depend too as sometime ariyah wakes at 5/5:30 and wake him up. 

In the day he not much of a sleeper, he cat naps like half and hour to 45 mins around 3 times a day. Sometimes if he sleeps in til 7/8. He have two naps and one will be abit longer sometimes 2hours. But it's different everyday. However I feel as he awake more in the day he sleeps better at night. 

However with teething having colds and his on going tummy he sometime wakes in the night or day screaming in pain. His tummy was bad before getting the right milk and now it's been 4 weeks on it he is settling much more. 

Feeding:

He never been huge milk drinker, he went through a stage at 4 months were he was drink more when he first went onto new milk and had a growth spurt. But at the moment he is teething badly and had a cough/cold so not drinking much, like 2/3 Oz in the day but will drink 6 or 8 Oz sometimes at night feed before bed. 

In the day if he has milk when he doesn't need to nap he drinks less too, as he gets very distracted, where we actually now take him upstairs in the dark to feed him when we are at home, however if we out don't have much hope. He just wants to sit up now and see what's going on. He definitely has feat of missing out. Ariyah was opposite and loved her milk would be on 7 Oz every 3 hours by this age having 36+ Oz's a day but was also very sick baby. He never really sick and only has 24 - 27oz max a day. 

Since starting soilds too he prefers breakfast in the morning then his milk so he have milk in his porridge so he still getting some then will have abit of water in the day after meals too. He loves food and now starting to grab at our food and eat everything in sight haha. He loves banana's, apple and pear and brocoli. Started having carrot bite melts to as rusk's were just boring. 

Sitting: He is now sitting longer and so stable on his own, he will stabilise himself if he leans to side. Oviously we don't leave him and put pillow round him in case as he still doesn't sit for long and will often fall forward. 

He now will sit himself forward himself as well if we put him in his swing, high chair, pram or the sofa. When he sat in our laps he sit himself right up too. Although he also finds it funny to throw himself backwards upsidedown in our arms, as he laughs. 

Moving: He now can roll into his stomach, but gets struck as forgets to pick his head up and will arch twisted shouting at us. He rolls easily from his tummy back to his back. He also twists himself around or push himself backwards when he laid on his back. He been rolling onto his side and really trying to sit himself up now too. 

When on his tummy he really wiggling, he can turn himself and now starting to slightly push himself backwards and even forward a few times. Although he at the stage where he puts his arms and legs in the air wiggling and shouting to move. The airplane stage I call it. He will push his legs off our hands or toys to move but forgets his arms. But I don't think he is far off crawling. 

Like Ariyah he also just wants to stand and be on the move. He loves jumping and will forever stand and jump on our laps, he enjoys being in his jumperoo and door bouncer. He is just so strong and got good head control. He can turn himself around and jumps in them really well. Even at his pediatrician appointment they mentioned how strong he was. 

He stands very strong now, with our support for balance but hardly need to hold his weight now however we still do so he doesn't stand on his legs too much and cause damage. He even trying to step when he stood up in our arms. He stand against his play table or sofa for few moments now too. Definitely going to be a early walker like his big sister.maybe even before her.

Communication:

He very chatty and bubble to us, but seems to shy around others, he hardly babbles when we out but is very loud at home, which is interesting to see this as ariyah overalls social always has been, she does not have stranger awareness or boundaries but he seems to be starting to learn that and will go shy and cuddle into us. 

He does say hi/hello and yeah. He tries to vocalise and say Aaaa... At Ariyah. Like he is trying to say her name. He also has a very loud cry and shout now when he wants attention, like if we are busy or leave toe room for a moment so think the separation anxiety milestone is approaching. He very smile and happy otherwise. 

He can also sign milk and I am now teaching him more and yes. As I believe BSL/makaton helps their communication so much and eases frustration. We will be doing this more with both of them again as ariyah needs it too and we haven't done as much as I liked to. 

Things he likes/dislikes:  

He loves people, like he eyes light up and he jumps around when we at baby groups or out because he just wants to be off and join in with all the others children running and playing. He is besotted by ariyah the love he was for her is precious. 

He also starting to notice and stroke the cats and gets excited watching them which is cute. He loves dogs as well, was so cute with our friend puppy 

He loves food especially now he got the hang of it, he just wants to hold food or the spoon and feed himself, anytime anyone has food or drink he grabbing it from us. He seem to have a sweet tooth like me, liking apples and strawberries and sweet potato. Also likes banana like daddy Ben. 

He still loves his fluffy blankets and has to have them touching his face to sleep. While you stroke his hand or face. He got into teddies now too and enjoys cuddling them.

Still loves the foil blankets and light up toys, anything that lights up in fact he is memorized. He likes all the sensory play He likes the numbers turning on the microwave 🤣. He gets so excited flapping and trying jump out our arms to get to it if you turn the dial and make the numbers change. He likes to have hold of something to. 

He also loves his feet and will hold and play with them. He uses them to hold his toys. He will pull his socks off to get to his toes and laughs at them. He also claps his feet instead of his hands lol. 

He enjoys to be upright standing (with support) and loves jumping. He likes his jumperoo and recently put him in the door bouncer which he spins and jumps around laughing. He starting to just want to be stood up and stepping just like his sister and hates being laid down now as he sit himself up. 

He loves tingles and cuddles and kisses and is very affectionate. Which is so cute as ariyah was not a cuddle baby really. 

Overall his doing so well and watching him grow and develope this personality is amazing. To see the similarities and differences between him and ariyah is special too. To watch them build this bond is beautiful 😍. I can't watch for more milestones and moments to Cherish.