Four Months Old!!

BABY STATS:

Sleep: Oh how you have regressed in this department.  You now require a lot more effort to put to sleep.  When you finally do get to sleep you  usually sleep for only 4 hour chunks of time.  A "typical" night for you is: bedtime at 7:00, takes an hour to get you completely conked out, wake again at 1:30 to eat, then wake again around 4:30, and again around 6:30.  We usually bring you into our bed to sleep more on the weekends after your 6:30 wake up.  You don't take long naps unless you are being held and coerced into sleeping more.  On your own you will only sleep 30-45 minutes at a time.  The pediatrician assured us this is normal for your age, and that you should nap longer at around 6 months.  You seem to really fight sleep these days.  If we are out and about with you, you sometimes go into an overtired, overstimulated screaming fit, but resist going to sleep.

Daily Routine:  You now have a routine on the weekdays, since mom is back to work.  Every morning around 6:30 or 7:00 daddy gets you dressed.  You sit in your seat downstairs and watch daddy get ready for the day while mom gets ready upstairs.  At 7:30 or so, you and mom head to Grammy and Grumps' house (or Octavia's house if it is a Wednesday).  It sounds like you take a nap at their house around 10:00, then another nap later in the afternoon.  Mom comes to pick you up at 4:00.  We go home and play for a while until dad gets home at 5:30.  Then dad and mom eat dinner while you sit in your high chair seat.  We play with you and then you eat  at 6:30 right before we put you to bed around 7:00 or 7:30.  Every other day you get a bath before bed time.  

Feedings:  I am still exclusively pumping.  You are now eating 5-6 oz of breastmilk per feeding, and are eating about every 3-4 hours.  We are trying to space out your night feeding so that you will eventually sleep for an 8 hour stretch!  We tried a little bit of rice cereal yesterday.  You didn't seem to think much of it.  I don't even know if you swallowed any!  We will try again in a couple weeks.

 

Weight:  

At birth: 7 lbs 3 oz

1 Month: 10 lbs!

2 Months: 12.5 lbs (50th percentile)

3 Months: 13 lbs, 13 oz (I only know this because we had to go to the doctor because I thought you were sick)

4 Months: 14.18 lbs (50th %ile)

Length:

At birth: 19.75 inches

1 Month: 21 inches

2 Months: 23 inches (50th percentile)

3 Months: ????

4 Months: 24 inches (25th %ile)

Head Circumference:

At birth: 34 cm

1 Month: 38 cm

2 Months: 39 cm

3 Months: ???

4 Months: 42 cm

Diaper Size:  You are a size 2, and we are STILL working toward getting you into cloth diapers.  

Clothes Size:  You are wearing 3-6 month clothes!  You are definitely outgrowing several of your onesies!  You are even wearing some 6 month clothes!

Hair Color:

At birth: dark brown/black with a small blond streak in the front

1 Month:  same, maybe slightly lighter

2 Months: medium brown

3 Months: medium brown

4 Months: medium-dark brown -- you have quite the mullet mohawk!

Eye color:

At birth: dark blue/gray 

1 Month:  dark blue outer ring, with a lighter blue on the inside

2 Months: dark blue outer ring, with a light blue inside 

3 Months: dark blue

4 Months: medium blue

Funniest Moment:  When you laughed at mom saying "do, be do, be do biddy do be do, be do be do, be do, be do biddy do be do" while pretending to drop you on the "be do biddy do be do" part.  You haven't laughed since the initial instance, but you always open your mouth into a huge gummy grin while playing this game.

Milestones:  You have definitely learned how to make raspberries!  You love to blow spit bubbles and make that raspberry sound with your lips.  You like to experiment with sticking your tongue out -- sometimes you grab your tongue with your hands.  You have started really exploring by reaching out for things.  You like to reach out and grab/touch/pinch your parents' faces.  You reach for toys and objects.  You love to grab objects and put them in your mouth.  You have also discovered your feet, and will grab a hold of them when you are lying down or in a sitting position.  This month you rolled over from back to front.  So, now you can roll both directions.  You are getting pretty good at holding your body up in a sitting position.  You tried rice cereal for the first time this month.  You are becoming very aware of your surroundings -- you look for people who are out of sight when you hear their voice.  You get really excited when you hear mom or dad's voice on the phone.  You have used your voice to "yell" at us a couple times.

Your favorite toys:  You love your soft bunny rattle.  You like your crib mobile pretty well.  You like the jumper over at Grammy and Grumps' house.  More than anything you like people's faces and voices.  You like being thrown in the air.  You like lap games, like "Poor Old Horse" and "This is the Way the Ladies Ride".

Firsts:  You rolled over from back to front, and now prefer to flip yourself onto your stomach to sleep!  You had your first, and many subsequent, day over at Grammy and Grumps' house and Octavia's house while I go to work.  You laughed/giggled, though we are still waiting on some good belly laughs.  You laugh when you feel like you are falling.  You had/have your first cold -- it's a miserable cold, your voice is so hoarse and you snort like a pig because you are so congested.  You had your first trial of rice cereal. 

3 Months!! Where has the time gone?!

Buddy!  You are already a quarter of a year old!  Can you tell your mom is a glass half empty kind of girl? We have had so much fun this last month!

BABY STATS:

Sleep: You are starting to sleep for longer periods of a time pretty consistently!!  One night we got 7 hours straight out of you!  Usually, though, it is more like 5-6 hour stretches of sleep.  You will usually sleep from about 8:30 until 2:30, then again until around 5:30, and then again until maybe 7:30 or 8:00 am.  A couple nights ago, for two nights in a row, you kept waking up every two hours.  I am pretty sure you just had your 3 month growth spurt, and that caused you to wake often to eat.

Daily Routine:  The only routine that we have established this month is a bedtime routine.  We start the process around 7:45 or 8:00 to have you in bed around 8:30.  Some nights (every other night) we give you a bath, then we dress you, diaper you, and feed you.  I have been reading you a bedtime story most nights.  Right now I am slowly reading you chapters from The Chronicles of Narnia.  Don't worry, we also read "baby" books.  There isn't much of a routine during the day, but we make sure that you get tummy time, play mat time where you get to bat at hanging toys, book time, and lots of music time (meaning mommy sings very silly, mostly made-up, songs to you).

Feedings:  Baby, baby, baby.  What am I to do with you?  You have completely rejected the breast at this point.  You will ONLY take the bottle.  I have tried very hard to coax you back, but you are so stubborn!  You scream if I even place you into the nursing position.  I went to a La Leche League meeting to get advice from a lactation consultant.  We still haven't fixed the issue, despite her advice.  It would just make things so much easier on both of us if I didn't have to pump you a bottle, and then feed you that pumped bottle.  Fortunately, we live in modern times and I have an excellent pump, which makes it possible for you to be exclusively eating breast milk, even if you are refusing to nurse.  You eat 4-5 ounces each feeding, and eat every 2-3 hours!

 

Weight:  

At birth: 7 lbs 3 oz

1 Month: 10 lbs!

2 Months: 12.5 lbs (50th percentile)

3 Months: 13 lbs, 13 oz (I only know this because we had to go to the doctor because I thought you were sick)

Length:

At birth: 19.75 inches

1 Month: 21 inches

2 Months: 23 inches (50th percentile)

3 Months: ????

Head Circumference:

At birth: 34 cm

1 Month: 38 cm

2 Months: 39 cm

3 Months: ???

Diaper Size:  You are a size 2, and we are STILL working toward getting you into cloth diapers.  We have had you in your cloth diapers for a couple 48 hour stretches, but always have to revert back to the disposables because of rashes.  :(

Clothes Size:  You are wearing 3-6 month clothes!  You are definitely outgrowing several of your onesies!

Hair Color:

At birth: dark brown/black with a small blond streak in the front

1 Month:  same, maybe slightly lighter

2 Months: medium brown

3 Months: medium brown

Eye color:

At birth: dark blue/gray 

1 Month:  dark blue outer ring, with a lighter blue on the inside

2 Months: dark blue outer ring, with a light blue inside 

3 Months: dark blue

Funniest Moment:  

Milestones:  You continue to talk quite a bit!  You love to say "a-goo", "a-boo", and "oooo".  You talk to your toys, you talk to your mom and dad, to your grandparents, to other children, you talk to your eye-spy quilt . . . talk talk talk!  I love it!  You are on the verge of making raspberries, I think!  Just today you rolled over for the first time without assistance!  Before we had to place your arms under you a certain way, but not today!  You did it!  You are much less resistant to tummy time these days, and may even enjoy it a bit!  You are now able to do "Super Baby" where we hold you above our heads and you keep your whole body straight like Superman.  I think you like this too!  We still have yet to hear your first laugh, or your first squeal!  I am so excited to hear them.  I think you have done a couple silent laughs, and are close to a squeal.  Anytime now buddy, I know we aren't that funny, but, come on!  When I read to you, you like to grab the pages of the books/magazines and help me hold them up!  I love it!  My little reader.  You will sit through an entire children's story, particularly, The Belly Button Book by Sandra Boyton. You are obsessed with your hands and fingers right now, and are constantly putting your fingers (usually more than one at a time) in your mouth.  This can be quite unpleasant, as you often gag yourself!  Poor guy.

Your favorite toys:  You continue to love your pacifier, your swaddler, your mobile from Aunt J'aime, and now you also love your crib mobile from your grandparents!  You love the octopus that your grandparents gave you -- you stare into its crazy big eyes.  You are enjoying batting at objects hanging from your play mat.

Firsts:  You rolled over for the first time!  You slept through the night for the first time.  Mommy and daddy had their first date night while grandma and grandpa watched you!  You also had your first daycare-like experience.  Daddy and I rejoined the YMCA, and I have been dropping you off at the child watch area while I go to Zumba class.  I don't think you have been awake for the child watch people yet!  

Well, Elliott, you and I have just one more week left together before I go back to work.  It is pretty sad, but it hasn't quite hit me yet.  I am sad to be away from you, missing your prime time during the day, and all of the milestones you might meet while I'm away.  The good news is, you are going to have a GREAT time with Grammy and Grumps!  Also, you will be spending one day a week with Octavia!  You will have a lot of fun, and I expect a full report from you each day when I pick you up.  I am sure it will go something like, "a-boo, a-boo, a-goooo, ooooo, a-booo".  

2nd Month

BABY STATS:

Sleep: You are still sleeping for about 2-3 hour stretches.  There have been a couple rare 4-5 hour stretches, though!  You sleep in your crib usually, but often we bring you into the co-sleeper after your 5 am feeding, because that's when you start the grunting.  You have gotten pretty good at putting yourself to sleep.  You will lie in your bed and look around at things until you fall asleep!  

Daily Routine:  We still haven't established much of a routine.  I think this is something that will happen when your mom goes back to work!  Right now mom's schedule is your schedule, for the most part.

Feedings:  You are still breastfed exclusively.  We had a couple hiccups in this area this month.  I think we were giving you too many bottles, and at one point you decided you didn't want to have to work for your supper and would cry anytime I tried to feed you from the source!  This got especially bad on our vacation when we relied heavily on bottles.  You are finally back on track, though.  When your were taking bottles you were eating about 4-5 ounces per feeding.

 

Weight:  

At birth: 7 lbs 3 oz

1 Month: 10 lbs!

2 Months: 12.5 lbs (50th percentile)

Length:

At birth: 19.75 inches

1 Month: 21 inches

2 Months: 23 inches (50th percentile)

Head Circumference:

At birth: 34 cm

1 Month: 38 cm

2 Months: 39 cm

Diaper Size:  You are a size 1-2, but we are still working toward getting you into cloth diapers.  Your diaper rash is finally diminishing, and I think we can start the cloth diapers this weekend!

Clothes Size:  You still mostly wear 0-3 month onesies, but you fit some of your 3-6 month onesies!

Hair Color:

At birth: dark brown/black with a small blond streak in the front

1 Month:  same, maybe slightly lighter

2 Months: medium brown

Eye color:

At birth: dark blue/gray 

1 Month:  dark blue outer ring, with a lighter blue on the inside

2 Months: dark blue outer ring, with a light blue inside 

Funniest Moment:  

Milestones:  You have really started "talking" this month!  We hear lots of "coos", especially when we are changing you and you are looking at your mobile.  You seem to respond to us when we make your noises.  You have been saying "whoo, whoo", "a-goo", and "aaaah".  You are so cute when you talk, especially the adorable little 'O' shape your mouth makes with the noises.  You are also doing a lot more, visually.  You notice a lot of your surroundings and occupy yourself with looking at people and objects (particularly lights and ceiling fans).  You follow objects with your eyes, turn to familiar voices, and even watch the dogs sometimes!

Your favorite toys:  You love the mobile that your Aunt J'aime made for you!  When we sit you in your vibrating seat, you absolutely love to stare at the animals that hang from it.  I make the animals talk for you, and you find that endlessly entertaining.  You also love your swaddler and your pacifier.  

Firsts:  This month you had a BIG first!  You went on your first plane ride to your first vacation and first wedding!  You were such an excellent traveler!  You barely cried at all on either of the flights.  You tolerated multiple car trips, restaurant outings, hotel stays, lack of air conditioning in some places, being held by tons of "strangers", and hitting up the bar!  Everyone was amazed at how easy going you were for a mere eight week old!  All of your dad's friends kept calling you a "chill" baby!  

You and Mama at your first wedding!

You and Daddy dancing at your first wedding.

You snoozing on the beach at the lake house in New Hampshire.

This month you also had your first "coo"!  I absolutely love hearing your sweet little sounds.  It sure does warm a Speech-Language Pathologist's heart!

You had your first real series of vaccinations at your 2 month check up!  An oral vaccine for the rotovirus, a nice cocktail for tetnus, diphtheria, and pertusis, as well as another shot that protects against pnuemococcal infections.  You were not happy with the nurse when she gave you the shots, as real tears streamed down your beat-red face.  :(  Poor baby.  You got some infant Tylenol and were a trooper the rest of the day.

You met your Great Uncle Jeff for the first time this month!  We met at Pei Wei for his birthday.  You slept the whole time, and then fussed a little toward the end because you were hungry.  Your Uncle Jeff will teach you how to rough house when you are a bit older, I am sure!


To be continued . . . 

Hanging Out with Grandma and Grandpa

Hey Elliott,

It was great hanging out with you yesterday. This was a first for all of us. Your mom and dad went to the show with Aunt J'aime and Uncle Matt. Your cousins Josie and August helped Grandpa and me watch you. You didn't have much to say that afternoon, so the four of us just kind of hung out together and watched you! You are an amazing guy - you kept us all occupied without doing a thing.

Love,

Grandma

Thank You, Aunt J'aime!

In addition to being super smiley, Elliott is really taking in the objects around him.  He focuses on all kinds of things, including the dogs!  Here is a video of him first noticing the beautiful mobile that his Aunt J'aime made for him!  He loves it!!  Later I will post videos of him recognizing the song playing in the background, O Pato, which has become his favorite song!

Fun Times

So far this month has brought lots of laughs (from us) and smiles (from Elliott).  He is really getting good at using that open mouthed grin to make us swoon.  He is starting to coo as well -- becoming quite human!  We love these milestones that show us that he is interacting with and taking in the world around him!

Introduction

Hello Elliott,

I am your daddy's mom, which makes me your grandmother. A bit formal I know - I think that you will decide to alter it in some way and make it fit me just right.

I've been watching you for a while now - even before you were born. This gives you a sense of just how much I anticipated your arrival into this world. The day you were born was the beginning of a great journey for you and the rest of your family.

By the way, you did very well in the family department. You have very loving parents who anticipated your arrival even more than me. They plan to guide you through this journey and help you find your life's path. Along the way your four grandparents (yes, you scored you got a full set) will do their best to add some words of wisdom, a bit of humor and a lot of love. You also come fully equipped with an Uncle David, Aunt J'aime, Uncle Matt and a couple of cousins Josie and August - who will liven things up a bit for you! Additionally, you also have three great grandparents and a bunch of great-aunts and uncles. In other words, you have a lot of people to count on for love and support. You did good!

I love looking at you and wondering what the future will bring - you certainly are a life changer for your parents and for me.

More to come

Love,

Grandma