4 months young

Oh my Baby!!

Curious-Determined-Over Achiever-Excited-Laid Back-Wonderful- Sweet

TouLouLou and I took you to your 4 month appointment this month. Dr. Tardy liked the way you were growing and was really impressed by you.
You are a very tall or long baby. Out of 10 babies your age you are taller than 9 of them. I have no idea where you got that from! You are as tall as a 9 mo old and your weight is like that of a 7 mo old. And your head is just the perfect size for you frame.
Your stats:
head--16 3/4
height-25 1/2
weight-15 lb. 3 oz.

PLAY
You like to grasp your toys, especially balls. We have a green sensory ball that you really like. You use your hands very well. You sit supported, but it is not your thing to sit yet.

You have become so curious. You like to touch things and then put things into your mouth. This includes your fingers and sometimes your hand. You enjoy chewing and sucking on them.They are usually wet and cold because of this. And occasionally you gag yourself with a couple of those times resulting in floor clean up.

You have spotted our iPhones, the iPad and the remote. Oh no!!

We have to hide them from you or else you will want to grab them, hold them and figure them out. As much as I love technology I hope you don't get too involved in it yet. I might buy you one of those kid remotes though. I let you look at the phone and ipad by showing you pictures or videos of yourself or the occasionally learning video or we will play some music for you.

You like to visit new places and see new people.
You like to smile, but sometimes you make us work for it.

Or sometimes you will just keep cheesing at everything!

Here is a pic of you smiling at yourself.

You have many different "looks" you give us and some of them remind me of my own "looks". I believed I was the master of the puffy lip, however when you do it you have me beat for sure!

Oh and you laugh!
~ Oh your laugh ~
..it is the cutest sweetest, most awesome sound.

I just LOVE your laugh!

So far you've laughed in your swing with me goofing off around you. And you've laughed while staring and talking to yourself in the mirror. And you've laughed while I've changed your diaper and you've laughed when I tickle your neck or give you too many kisses. You have laughed quite a bit and I hope you will always laugh because we yearn to see you being that silly and happy and awesome, as much as possible!

These days you are definitely more aware of everything. You are very good at telling us if you like something or if you don't. Whether you are happy or dissatisfied.

When you are sleepy during the day, it really upsets you. You know you need to take a nap, but you would rather play. Everything is stimulating so I have to get rid of the distractions and quiet you down. Besides putting you in your swing,  putting you in The Ergo is still the go to Calmer. You love to be held and close to mama. This is usually how we mange to go places or eat out. And its simple and easy. I love our Ergo and I have no idea how I would do without it!

Morning nap in the Ergo

On a hike at the SA Botanical Gardens. You passed out of course!

Also when you are sleepy you like to talk it out. You will go on and on talking and talking. Of course we have no idea what you are talking about so we make it up for now. Some of your sounds are starting to sound like words, but I'm sure you are not aware of that. We swear you can say Hi and also Da.
We recently bought you a walker,and a bouncy standing swing that goes in a doorway. This is thrilling to you! You are very excited to play in these new things, especially because they allow you to stand. The other day you actually took steps in your walker! It was pretty unbelievable. You just need about a half inch more and you will be walking in no time!
You like your play mats and your monkey bouncer too. You enjoy tummy time and can go for long periods on your tummy if you are in the mood.
Lately you have been pushing up higher with your arms, doing mini push ups. It is safe to say you get your daily work out and tummy time really wears you out! So when you are tired of being in that position you will just roll over and find something new to play with or look at or cry for mama to save you.

You LOVE your orange ball and this other thingamajig and your book- The Squishy Turtle. It is your favorite. We have also noticed you get excited when your daddy reads you the Cat and the Hat books.

SLEEP
You usually tell us when you are ready for bed by either rubbing your eyes or by being fussy.
I start by running your bath and getting your jammies ready. As soon as I lay you down on the bathroom floor you get excited. You definitely know your routine and really love LOVE bath time.
You kick and splash and move around a lot in the bath, all while smiling.

After bath time we get you all dried off. This, you DO NOT like. I have daddy talk to you and make silly noises while I rub lotion on you and give you a little baby massage. Then there is getting dressed.
You DO NOT like this part either.
After this we take you into your room and get you in your sleep sack for the night. I stopped swaddling you at 3 months, However the other night I put you back into your WOOMBIE and you went back to sleeping 8 hours straight versus the 3-4 hour stretches you've been doing recently. Perhaps you still enjoy the swaddle and your hands being enclosed. I will continue to do so until you outgrow them. Mama really enjoys the longer stretches.
I do not mind at all night nursing you. Usually it's only twice and we both go back to sleep very quickly. You still love your crib and I find you all turned around so I know you do a lot of moving in your sleep.

EATING
You are still a strictly breastfed baby. I will continue to keep it this way until you are 6 months old or as close to 6 months as I can get. Then I will start introducing you to cereal and fruit and vegetables. I am very excited about this next eating stage and to see you experience all the different new tastes and textures. But for now I know you are doing just fine on only breast milk and that is really all you need at this stage.
Once a day I sit you in your high chair. It sits in the breakfast room and looks outside to the backyard. You will sit there for a good 15 minutes playing or staring or pooping. I let you hold spoons and I will eat next to you. You are very aware and curious when we eat or drink something so we will have to see how long you will last!

You nurse at least 8 times a day. Sometime for a long time and sometimes you just need a drink or snack in between playing. Your longer nurse sessions during the day set you up for your naps.
You have 2 morning naps and 2 afternoon naps. With your noonish nap and your 3ish nap being the longer ones. Usually mommy rests while you rest or I catch up on the dishes, laundry or facebooking or my TV shows.

We are very excited to see what this next month and stage has in store for us. I believe you are growing up way too fast, but I am so thankful I get to spend all my time with you. Being a stay at home mom is such a blessing and I feel it is perfect for us!