Evening Routine

We've been working on a bedtime routine.  Right now, Daddy lets me put you to bed every night.  I look forward to it all day long.

First, if it's bath night, you take your bath.

Then, we get your dressed in your pajamas, put on your eczema lotion, and your socks.  We have to put socks on your hands so you don't scratch your face...you've figured out how to pull off the scratch mittens.

Next, we choose a book to read.  I pick the book for now.  Soon, you will be able to choose the book you want to hear.

After we read our story, we talk about our favorite part of the day.  I tell you my favorite part and you tell me yours (well, I deduce your favorite part of the day).

Finally, I give you a kiss, sing you this song, tell you I love you, and put you in your bed.


Best. Part. of. My. Day.

Love you, Little Man

Beach Baby

Last week was delightful.  We took the Wombat on his first spring vacation to the beach.  Basically, we turned his schedule upside down and threw in a good dose of overstimulation.  It was a fabulous week!  

We went to the aquarium...

Ooo...fishies, Mama!

We went to the botanical gardens...

And we had a lot of fun with Grandmother and Granddad.

All in all...I think everyone had a good time.

Things I've Learned...

Things I've learned this week while sleeping in the same room as my son:

1. You must have some trippy dreams. Case in point, Daddy just went in to check on you and you had your arms above your head whilst wiggling your butt. Last night, I looked over and I saw your feet peeking out from the top of the pack and play. Evidently, you're starring on Soul Train and didn't tell us.
2. You wiggle as much as Mommy. I now know what Daddy means when he says it's like sleeping beside an egg beater.
3. Whoever decided the mattress pad of a pack and play should be made from noisy, swishy pant material made a horrible decision. Easy clean up, yes. CONSTANT NOISE, also yes.
4. Daddy says we do the exact same moves in our sleep. Seeing as he has no photographical evidence, I am skeptical.
5.  God bless the pack and play sheet, swishy noise no more!
6.  I find myself just watching you sleep...then I realize I couldn't sleep with someone staring at me so I stop being a creeper and go to bed.
7. You're a side sleeper...just like Daddy.
8.  You drool in your sleep...just like Mommy, well, nevermind.

Feet propped up on the side of your pack and play.

Five minutes later...complete 180.

Month 4

Age: 4 Months

Red Chair Picture, Month 4

Weight:  16 pounds, 6 ounces

Height:  26.5 inches

Favorite activity:   Eating your feet.  Oh goodness, child.  On March 15th, you discovered your feet and they are the greatest thing ever.  Every chance you get, you've either got them in your mouth or your oogling them.  Last night, I had already put your sock back on about 4 different times in the last hour.  As you were swinging in your swing I looked over and you had a foot in your mouth.  You saw me looking, chomped down on that sock, and pulled it off your foot.  You gave me the biggest grin as that sock dangled from your mouth.  I can already tell you are going to be stinker.

It took me forever to get this picture.  Every time you saw the camera, you'd pull your foot out of your mouth.  I think you know you shouldn't be eating your feet so you don't want it documented.

We also picked up a jumperoo for you at a consignment sale this month.  You love it!

Mom!  This is so cool!

Honorable mentions:  Practicing turning over.  You're working so hard at it, buddy.  I was hoping you'd get it before it was time to write this post, but it just doesn't seem like it was meant to be.

You're pretty good at going from your tummy to your back, but back to tummy is tough!  That stinkin' shoulder is the only hurdle you have left.  Any day, Little Man.  Any day.

You are fascinated by everything.  All of a sudden, you've discovered that there is a world all around you.  You love to look around.  We took you on a walk this month and it was like you'd never been on a walk before.  What are those?  Trees!  Ooo, look that bush is moving.  Ohhh, look at the neighbor's flag.  It's up high and it moves.  I like it!   

One of the few times you'll let me cuddle you anymore...you're too busy looking at everything around you.

Least favorite activity:  Napping is your new nemesis.  I think you're reluctant to sleep and miss anything that is happening while you are asleep.  Just like your Daddy when he was young, you're afraid we're going to pop popcorn without you.

I will never sleep!

Milestones:  Rolling from your tummy to your back was kind of a big deal.  You also hit your 4 month sleep regression two weeks early.  Mommy's little overachiever.    Please locate Mommy's good sleeper and bring him back!

Words:  You don't have words, but you are very expressive.  You chatter along with us in the car and when we're talking.  It's like you can't stand to be left out of the conversation.  You're cooing and picking up new sounds every time we turn around.  

Sleep:  You are smack dab in the middle of the 4 month sleep regression period.  You take two or three 15 - 30 minute "power naps" every day.  That's it!  You're running Daddy ragged.  Luckily, you seem to be sleeping well at night, so it's a trade off.  Most nights you sleep in your crib, but it takes multiple trips to get you settled and sleeping.  Your daddy doesn't give up though.  I don't know what I'd do without him.  He's such a good daddy.  You're a lucky boy.

Every morning, we find you at the bottom of your crib.

Best Moment:  Listening you and Daddy giggle the other night while he changed your diaper.  You laughed so hard you guffawed.  It was hilarious.  Luckily, I caught a little of it on video.

Worst Moment:  The nights when you get overtired are the worst.  You're inconsolable and it breaks my heart.  Once again, Daddy is a trooper.  He rocks and shushes you until you eventually stop fighting and fall asleep.  Me?  Generally, I'm sobbing in the next room because you sound so heart broken.  Crying I can handle, sobbing/screaming/pitiful whimpering I cannot.  Mommy is going to work on getting tougher.  Good luck with that.

Eating:  Your eating is all over the board.  For a week or so you were drinking 7 ounces per feeding.  Hungry boy!  Then you went to four or five ounces a feeding.  Now you're handing out around 6 ounces.  We plan on 6 ounces and sometimes you finish the whole bottle and other times you don't.  I figure you'll stop eating when you're full and so far that seems to be working out for us.  

Your doctor mentioned talking about starting solids at your 4 month appointment but I'm not sure we're going to start you right at 4 months.  I think we may hold off to the APA's recommended 6 month mark.  We'll talk to your doctor and see what she says.  I want you to get all the nutrients you need so we'll base our decision on what is right for you.

That being said, you now realize when we are eating.  You are definitely interested.  You watch every bite like you're trying to figure out how to do that, too.  You may be ready sooner than we think.

Teeth:  We think you may be getting a tooth, but we're not sure.  You have a lot of the signs of teething...but no actual teeth yet.  Goodness you're drooling.  Yipes!  

Month 3

Age: 3 Months

Weight:  14 pounds, 10 ounces

Height: No idea, you're too squirmy to measure right now.  You're getting taller because the legs of your jammies aren't as long as they used to be.

Favorite activity:   Chewing on your hands!  Good grief, get those things out of your mouth.

See!  Get them out of there.

Honorable mentions:   Giggling and smiling.  (Those are Mommy's favorite)

Least favorite activity:   I can't tell you how much you hate it when it is time to burp.  The screaming...oh my.  The only way Daddy and I can get you to stop is to sing the ABCs.  I will admit that there has been a time or two I have forgotten what letter comes next/gotten a letter wrong because I've been singing the song for the last 15 minutes and my brain has officially turned to mush.  I expect you to learn to read by age 2 since we're practicing your letters this much.

Milestones:  You're sleeping in your crib!  Almost all the time.  (See sleep below...)

You're doing a fantastic job during tummy time.  You hold your head up, look around, and seem happy to be doing it.  You get closer and closer to turning over every day.  We're very excited!

Overnight you decided you loved tummy time.  I can already see you thinking about crawling.  Please stop that.

Finally, you learned to giggle this month!  It was so wonderful to hear you giggle.  Mama loves to make you giggle.  I giggle, which makes you giggle, which makes me giggle, which makes you giggle.  It's quite the riot.

You aren't as content to lay on your back anymore.  You want to know what is happening and see what is going on around you.  You enjoy sitting on my lap whenever possible and looking at anything that is around you.  We're slowly introducing you to the baby carrier in the hopes that we'll be able to use it at the beach this summer.  You did a wonderful job the other day!

Words:  You may not know any words, but you sure can convey your thoughts to us.  You babbly and coo constantly.  Mimicking our inflection is also happening a lot.  It's cute now, buddy.  But when you're 14 and mocking what I say it will NOT be cute.

Also, the word "moose" is evidently hilarious to you.  As soon as we say moose, you grin and start to giggle.

Sleep:  Mama made Daddy a little crazy worrying about you having a hard time transitioning to your crib.  You live to make Mama a liar.  You did a fantastic job sleeping in your crib once we elevated one side.  That being said, the transition has been interesting.  Daddy said he was worried the crib elevation was a little too steep (and Mama agrees).  Then he said he was afraid you'd roll right down into the wall if we put you in there.  Of course, Mama scoffed at him and told him how he was wrong.

...

About that.  The first night we came in to get you when you were hungry and three guesses where we found you.  Alllll the way at the bottom of your crib.  Sigh.  So Daddy was right, this once.  It's going to go to his head, I just know it.

Best Moment:  Your first giggle was just about the best day, ever.  I swear I see fireworks every time you giggle.  I will never tire of hearing that laugh.

Worst Moment:  Your itchy eczema outbreak is heartbreaking.  You're itchy and I know it.  I hate to itch so I can only imagine how your feel, baby.

Eating:  This month you have been all over the board.  Sometimes you guzzle 6 ounces like you haven't eaten in weeks.  Other times, you leisurely sip 4 ounces and could care less about those remaining two ounces.  We let you decide how much you want to eat and you will never be forced to eat food you don't want.  If you're not hungry, you don't have to eat.  Bottom line.

You also love to eat your hands.  I keep trying to redirect you with your bink, but you'll spit it out at me thirty seconds after I put it in and shove a fist back in your mouth.  I'm not shocked, you've been fascinated with your hands since birth.

Hang on...I need to eat this fingers again.

Today, you grabbed my hand and pulled it close to your mouth.  You gnawed on it a little before releasing me and sticking your own hand back in your mouth.  Evidently, Mommy's flavor is nothing compared to yours.

Teeth:  No visible teeth yet, but you're drooling up a storm.

Loving and Loathing

My worst fears have come true...you're a morning person.   Most days, you sleep until around 8.  However, sometimes you get up early and you're awake when I leave.  I love those days and I loathe those days.  I loathe them because it is so much easier to leave you in the morning when you're asleep.  I sneak around the house when I'm getting ready so that I don't wake you or Daddy up.  The mornings you're up early are tough.  I come back three or four times to kiss you "one more time."  I love those days because you're smiley and snuggly and giggly in the mornings.  You're so happy it's impossible to be upset about the sleep we're missing.

Yesterday morning, you woke up before I had to leave for school.   Daddy got up, did a couple things before you were really awake (a.k.a. crying), and I came in to pick you up.  You were taking your time waking up and when you saw me standing over you, your face lit up and the biggest smile spread across your face.  And my heart melted.  I wanted to freeze time.  Those are the moments I try to catch on camera...but never do.  I either miss it because I can't find the camera (or have to run and get it) or by some miracle, I do have the camera and as soon as you see it you stop.  You're such a stinker.

I hope we never forget these special times together as a family.

For now, I write them here so someday I'll have them to reread in the future.  I can't wait to see what you do next, Little One.

It was!

Houston, we have a giggler!