Doesn’t he know mom & dad use Hammer?

Looking all hip and stuff in his homemade hat. (Thanks for the cute new vest from Grandma and Grandpa Hein)

He is eating realish foods these days:

• Oatmeal
• Bananas
• Blueberries
• Sweet Potatoes
• Carrots
• Green Beans
• Zucchini

Still on some Breast Milk but mostly Formula. I’m holding on for dear life, don’t want to deal with weening off, just doesn’t sound comfortable for me.

Hanging out at the Back on My Feet Super Bowl Party- 27th Floor of the Regions Bank Tower, watch out world here he comes.

Nicknames & who calls him what:

• Marshman– Everyone, no seriously… everyone. Even people who have never met him. This is by far the most popular
• Marsh– Glenn & I and lot’s of others
• Fire Marshall– Glenn & I (and probably Uncle Joey)
• The Terminator– Glenn 
• The Marshinator– Glenn & I
• Marshmellow– Mostly me- but that started when he had the white brace for his hip, it’s pretty much over
• Bub– Glenn & I- it’s embarrassing really, but we started doing it as a joke and now we can’t stop. I always have to remind Glenn to not say it out loud in front of people. 
• Bubinski– Glenn
• Buddy– Glenn, Giovann & I 
• Marshy Moo- Giovanna & I
• Major– Grandpa Greg (Old Pap)

Other things he’s up to:

• Crawling faster than any baby I’ve ever known. (I’ve actually only really known a few though)

• Pulls himself up on absolutely everything. Baths can be hard. And Dangerous.

• He does the one handed hold on now and takes little steps.

• Still loves a good stroller ride- although doesn’t get them too much in this weather. We got out and put some miles in though when it warmed up a few days. Cadence came along too… she’s gotten lazy in her older years… 9 miles just about did her in… I was literally dragging her the last 2 miles, while pushing the stroller into a mad headwind. Teamwork. 

• Watching praise baby DVDs- we only have one, so he just watches the same one usually about once a day. It’s just a lot of worship songs with pictures of animals, babies,weird faces and stuff. 

• Hanging in the exersaucer while I treadmill it. My goal is usually to knock out at least a decent warm up before he falls apart for nap time. The other day though, he lasted 10 miles. He was so tired he just fell asleep sitting up after 20 minutes, so I turned on Kathie Lee & Hoda, watched them, read my kindle (just put it on the 2nd to largest font… it works!) and stared at my adorable sleeping child for 8 more miles. It was awesome.

Intense praise baby watching. The creepy old guy chewing like a goat is probably on the screen.

• Favorite new place: Crawling under the dining room table. Our dining room set has been passed down in my family for years- it was my Great Grandmas. A lot of little crawlers have spent time under this table. My mom said she remembers playing under it. That’s kind of special.

Just exploring

• Favorite new thing to get into: Cabinets, trashcans – and if you open the fridge, he bee lines for it. 

• Favorite things to play with: Tupperware and paper grocery bags

• Favorite Song: Itsy Bitsy Spider

• Favorite Book: Trucks 

• Sleep: Bedtime- 7:00pm, and we are slowly cutting out the third nap… he’s kind of been a monster about getting him in his crib for naps these days. A lot of naps have been happening in mom, dad and babysitter arms. It’s peaceful, but makes it hard to be productive.

With his Best Friend Cadence. He is all over her. She doesn’t really mind and means well, but she’s a dog. We aren’t stupid, we are careful.

Everyone says he looks like his mama.

Look at those arches in his feet. Those are my feet. Sorry buddy.

I had a few breakdowns to my sister and more than a few breakdowns to Glenn. I had myself so worked up about not being able to sleep that it became my constant obsession. For hours I would just lay there, so tired my mind was crazy and my body so completely physically exhausted. But there I would lay worrying about him and worrying that the second my mind shut off, I would get woken up and the cycle would continue.

I hated it when doctors would tell me to sleep when my baby sleeps. Hey lady, trust me, I’m trying but my brain won’t shut off. I am tired. I want to sleep when he does, but I won’t let myself. 

Anyway it was hard, but here we are, we made it to 5 months. We are almost 100% sleeping through the night. I’m scared to say we are completely there, the minute I say that, I’ll be up for an hour listening to him cry cry cry at 3am.

Thanksgiving in Crown Point with Glenn’s family

.Hey mom- my pants are too small, put me in some 6 months instead of 3, thanks. Love, Marshall

So, the video below is the best way to see what the little man is up to most of his waking hours. 

We’ll call the video: Marshall wants to CRAWL.

What he’s doing at 5 months- Trying to crawl, talking gibberish up a storm, was introduced to formula, we are now probably around 80% BM, 20% formula. He doesn’t seem to notice or mind the difference. As usual, he is always on the move, if he is awake, he is moving. If for some reason he feels like snuggling I stop anything I am doing and embrace the snuggle, because it doesn’t happen often.

He still likes hanging in the stroller for a good run with mom or dad. It’s pretty official he’s out of 3 month clothes- 6-9 here we come. The jeans he has on in the picture are the only jeans he had so that’s why I had him rocking high waters. I’m pretty sure both of our families think we underdress him… but seriously people, this kid likes to wear minimal clothing. I did make a trip to Once Upon a Child yesterday though and picked up some stuff. Wait till you see his cutie new snow suit. Hope he’ll actually need it.

Hey Blue Eyes.

And lastly, it’s embarrassing to even show this picture- but below is a picture of me when I was, oh I don’t know 5. I had cut my own hair and had a great sense of fashion. Rocking the half top at a young age. Regardless of all that good stuff- I really look like Marshall in this picture. Just call me the neighbor boy. Also, do you see the pink and purple pants laying on the bed, those are totally back in style.

Three weeks till Christmas and I feel obligated to send out a cute little Christmas Card starring Marshall, we’ll see what happens.