Dear Spencer... You're 5 Months Old!

Our love, Spencie...
FIVE whole months old. We keep loving you more with every day. Your scrumptious smell, your belly laugh, that gummy smile that makes us melt, and your darling stares. It feels like I have known you my whole life, there is something so special about you.
This was a big month. We celebrated your first Thanksgiving and we traveled to Carmel with all of our family to be together. We went to the ocean and stayed in a beautiful home with views of the ocean. You snuggled with everyone and we enjoyed getting to see you interact with all of the family.
You are still not a great sleeper. Sometimes you will give me a 4 hour stretch, but sometimes you're also up for an hour or two at a time. You have also been sick this month with a stuffy nose and chest so that hasn't helped with the sleeping.
You went to the doctor for your 4 month check up and she said you're growing beautifully. You are 16 pounds 1 ounce and 25 inches long. You are a fantastic eater and I feel really fortunate to be able to breastfeed you still. You typically eat every 3 hours around the clock. Last night, I fed you your first few bites of rice cereal. You spit most of it out because you aren't quite sure how to eat off of a spoon.  To get you used to a different taste, I put a little bit in a bottle and you drank it right up! I am hoping to introduce you to some new foods as the month progresses.
You are wearing size 3 diapers and mostly size 6 month clothes. Your Gramz has you covered with the festive holiday clothes and you have been in something Christmasy every day.
In November, you went for your very first family tree hunt. It is a special tradition in our family and you completed that family this year. It was so fun to see you in the cousin photo (all 8 of you). We picked out a great tree and happily hung all of our new "Spencer" ornaments on the tree.
You love to be outside and interacting with your siblings. They love to hold you and are always asking to. You also love your activity mat and little chair - you grab, hold, and swat toys very well. You are still having a rough time in the car, but you do give us a ride here and there where you don't scream. Napping is hard because we don't have a schedule, but lately you have given us a few days where you will nap for a 2-3 hour stretch and you wake up so happy! You have a few nicknames - Spence, Spencie, Spencie-bear, Spanky, baby, and whatever else your sister comes up with when she is talking to you. You still love to be held and worn in the carrier - keeping your marsupial status! :) We love to wear you and occasionally you will ride in the stroller as well.
I love staring at you and seeing you stare right back. You make great eye contact. You smile so easily - you love when we talk to you and make silly faces. You belly laugh all the time and it is one of the sweetest sounds. You are also talking a lot and your little sounds are truly adorable. I can't get enough of you, Spence. You fill my heart up and make me feel so complete. I hope you always know just how much you are loved, baby!
Love you to the moon and back forever, Spence.
Mama