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!

A Giggle?

Good morning, Wombat!

Last night, you slept like a champ.  I hesitate to even talk about it because it might jinx it.  You were in such a good mood, we called Grandma and Grandpa so you could Skype.  You skyped for a little bit  before you got fussy.  Don't worry, you had time to play patty cake with Grandma.  You yelled at us for a bit and then you conked out.  Typically, you get almost hysterical when you're overtired or overstimulated and then you crash.  Out like a light.

We put you to bed figuring you'd be up like usual around 10 or 11 for your final meal before going to sleep.  When Daddy got up at 5 this morning to go to work, you were still sleeping.  At 6, when Daddy left to go to work, you were still sleeping.  Finally, at 7, I started hearing gurgling.  You didn't cry.  You didn't wail.  I got up and made your bottle.  Then we changed your diaper (note to Mama: overnight diapers start at 7PM from now on...sleeping in a regular diaper for 10.5 hours not what Mama wants for your bum).  Once your tushie was happy, I gave you your bottle.  You didn't devour it like you usually do.  No, you played with it for a while and then leisurely drank it with frequent stops to curl the paint with your burps.  Still no yelling.  Cue the Mama panic.

You seem to be just fine.  I've checked your temperature.  You're not in pain.  I'm confused, Little One.

Then, as we were playing with Mickey and Cookie I felt your cold little hands.  Brrr!  For once, my hands were warm so I wrapped mine around yours in an effort to warm them up.  We danced with our hands for a few minutes and then I heard it.  I think it was a giggle, but I can't be sure.  You did it twice. But when I called Daddy to get his opinion you wouldn't do it again.  Binker Stinker.

For the rest of the day we're going to try to get another giggle out of you, Wombat.  What's worse is I'm going to try to get it on video.  Yes, I am going to have that annoying camera in your face again.  Someday you'll thank me.

It's amazing the joy that your laughter can bring to others.  Laughter and a sense of humor makes everything better, Little One.  Never forget that as you grow older.

"A day without laughter is a day wasted."  ~ Charlie Chaplin

Love,
Mama

2 Months

Dear Wombat,

It is hard to believe another month has passed.  You are now two months old.  This month brought lots of changes.  I went back to work and Daddy took over your care during the day.  While it is hard for me to leave each morning, knowing your daddy is taking care of you all day makes it easier.  There is no one I trust more than your daddy (and not just because he's willing to try to do things my way).  This month also brought your first walks.  Daddy would bundle you up and bring you over to work to see me some days and we've even done family walks when the weather was warm.  

Let's roll, Dad!

You like your stroller, but you reach a point where you have had enough.  I'm hoping as you get older you'll continue to enjoy your stroller rides.  Now for the run down:

Age: 2 Months 

Oh!  Hello!  Are you here to play with me?

Weight:  12 pounds, 12 ounces

Height: 23.5 inches

Favorite activity:  You love playing with your Cookie Monster stuffed animal and your Mickey cuddle blanket.  You realized during our trip to South Carolina that you could grab and hold things in your hands.  You've been grabbing and shaking everything you can since then.

Hey, are you new around here?

Honorable mentions:  You really seem to enjoy your bouncer lately.  Just last month, you hated that thing.  Now, you enjoy sitting there and watching what is going on around you.  We put it in the middle of the kitchen counter, strap you in, turn on music, and have a good time.  It's a great way for me to actually get something to eat without you crying.  Plus, you love music.

Least favorite activity:   Riding in the car/your car seat.  Generally, you don't mind your car seat, but there is a point where you have had enough.  When we reach that point, holy mother of pearl do you let your displeasure be known.  You also get very angry when we take the food away so you can burp.  Wow, do you yell. 

Me? Yell? Never!

Milestones:  You slept!  8 hours!  In a row!  You're also smiling real smiles now.  You grab and hold your Mickey cuddle blanket and put his nose in your mouth.  I have no idea where you got that from (I did the same thing when I was little).  You're also trying to giggle, but we haven't gotten an actual giggle yet.

Yum!

Words: It's not a word, but hearing your "iiiiii" battle cry is adorable.  It's fun when we say, "Hi!" to you and you respond,  "iiiiiiiiii."  It sounds a whole lot like hi. 


 

Sleep: You're getting so much better!  There was the 8 hour night (a night that will live in infamy), but generally, you're sleeping from 10 until 2 or 3.  Daddy changes your diaper and gives you a bottle (hey, I make the bottle!) and you go back to sleep until 8-ish.  Daddy says you don't sleep much or long during the day, but sleeping at night makes that ok in my book.  Have I mentioned that you snore?  It's so cute!

Falling asleep holding Mickey...my heart melted when I saw this.

Best Moment:  Everyday I come home from work and attempt to make up for all the kisses I've missed giving you throughout the day.  I'll kiss you 10 times in a row on your cheek over and over again.  You grin the biggest grin I've ever seen and it makes being away from you all day a little bit easier.  Getting to come home to you and Daddy is the highlight of my day.

Worst Moment: The screaming meltdown on the way home from South Carolina was pretty bad.  I've never heard you scream like that before.  You were a millisecond away from making yourself sick.  Boy, you were mad.  After 5 minutes of screaming, BAM!, you fell fast asleep.  But not before you and Mommy were both a sobbing mess.  Thank goodness Daddy was calm and drove us the rest of the way home.

Prior to meltdown

Eating:   You're still eating about 4 ounces at each feeding, but you're able to go longer between feedings.  I keep trying to convince Daddy to give you 5 ounces at night before you go to bed so that you'll sleep longer.  In the next few weeks, I think we'll slowly switch you over to the bigger bottle.

Teeth:  None yet, but you are quite the drool monster these days!

Red chair picture at 2 months

We're so thankful to be your parents, Little Man!  We love you to the moon and back.  

Love,
Mama

8 hours!?

Dear Wombat,

You're growing and changing so quickly!  It seems like you are learning something new every day.  You love your Cookie Monster stuffed animal and your Mickey cuddle blanket.

Last night, you did something amazing.  You slept!  8 hours!  In a row!  I was startled awake at 4AM by the realization that I hadn't heard you cry since I fell asleep.  I immediately woke up your daddy and asked him if he had gotten up with you without telling me.  No, he hadn't.

"IS HE BREATHING!?" I almost shouted.

Daddy, being the great daddy that he is, got up and tiptoed around the bed to check on you.  Halfway there, the floor creaked and your arms started flailing,  We took that to mean you were just fine.  Daddy crawled back into bed and we fell back asleep (well, Daddy did...I like to worry so I watched you sleep a while).

At 6 o'clock I couldn't stand it anymore so I picked you up, changed your diaper, and gave you a bottle.  You were the happiest, silliest baby.

You're such a ham, little Cheeseball.  We love you!

Love,
Mama