5 months and counting!

So, it would appear that I am having trouble of sticking to my new year's resolution of updating the blog more frequently. For this lapse in posting I blame the Olympics and my birthday :) My birthday was on the 14th and my family came into town, which gave Jon and I the opportunity to celebrate my birthday and Valentine's Day with dinner out! Jack slept the whole time we were gone :) I had a wonderful birthday with Jon, Jack and my family here, but now it is back to reality... Although I did like having some extra hands around for few days to help with the housework! Thanks to the fam for that!

Jack turned 5 months old on the 17th- where does the time go? Here is a few happenings in his life lately:

• We have recently (yesterday) given up the pacifier. It seems to be causing more frustration that what it is worth. He needs to get on board with the self-soothing and the pacifier does not seem to be doing its job since it frequently falls out while he is crying leading to more distress (he can't put it back in yet). He can find his fingers/thumb pretty well, so we will try that route for a while.
• Rice cereal! He is now getting the hang of eating solid food- rice cereal only for now. He always has a big smile on the first bite! Right now, Jack eats about 4-6 bites and truly swallows, any after that usually winds up on his face or bib.
• Teething is going at full blast. His gums are red and a little swollen :( Baby Orajel is our new best friend. Fortunately, he is not waking at night with pain too often or to eat, which I hear often happens with teething.
• Jack still only rolls one way (front to back), but he is working real hard on the other way and still gets stuck on his side.
• Sitting up- he can "tripod" himself without us holding him for 10 seconds or so. He looks so big when he does this!
• Jon's new favorite game to make me tear up is to hold Jack standing up by his hands with Jack's feet on the floor. His walking reflex kicks in and he looks like he is walking towards me and Jon pretends he is Jack, saying things like "Mommy I need a snack" or something "big boyish". Jon also holds him by the chest and has Jack "run away" from me at bath time. Ahh...glimpses of the future :)
• Exersaucer! We got an exersaucer and Jack likes it for all of two minutes and then he wants me to play with him. I guess we need to work on the self-entertaining. I also think he will enjoy it a little more when he figures out how to bounce and spin in it.

That about covers everything for now. I will be posting pics of the last few weeks! It is easier/faster to do with picasa in groups of four than within the blog. Oh- and eye update- still gray! Quick Austin update- we have found a church! We have met a lot of really nice new parents like us. We have enjoyed being around other adults again (besides each other) too!