Will officially turned four months old onTuesday, the 24th, the same day his Great-Grandpa Bob turned 97 years old. Grandpa Bob
loves being with Will, so we made sure to go over to my parents' house for Gpa's favorites: spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, and carrot cake for dessert. Grandpa gave Will lots of kisses, and Will got lots of attention (as always). I'd say it was a very successful "birthday" for both!
Development: We went to the pediatrician on Thursday (whom, by the way, I absolutely love. We actually see the PA in our office most of the time, and she is just incredible. The doctor that is technically ours was also my childhood pediatrician, but as she is super in-charge of the whole medical group, she doesn't work too many days a week and is harder to schedule) for Will's four-month Well-Child Check.
Will weighed in at 13.5 pounds, three more than his two-month check up. He's still in the 30% for weight, but that's okay, because he's been consistent in his growth all along. His height moved up to the 35% percentile as he has officially reached two-feet tall, being exactly 24 inches long. No wonder he doesn't fit as cozily anymore!
In other developmental areas, this was a big month for Will. He's learned to roll onto his side, so I bet to his tummy isn't too far away. He can see you from across the room and smile at you. He discovered his voice - the first few days of that were non-stop cooing. And, in the last week, he's started reaching for toys and is fascinated by their bright colors and fun textures. We didn't really have many toys, just a clip on elephant for his carseat, but a friend sent a package that had some fun little squishy blocks that crinkle, so we're set. His little legs are in constant motion - we have no idea where he thinks he's going, but he's apparently going to be a sprinter, cyclist, or swimmer based on his movement. And he's working really hard at taking the pacifier out of his mouth and putting it back in on his own. After a while of not quite being able to get it, he usually sticks his fingers right in, which brings me to the drooling. Yes, we've started the slobber-fest that apparently indicates pre-teething.... but no signs of any actual teeth yet. Thank. Goodness.
Personality: This little boy wants to be a happy little boy, he truly does. Sometimes, when he's starting to get unhappy about something, he'll still smile at you even in the midst of his tears, before he gives in. He is a
very smiley baby and is content much of the time. He likes to be social and visit with others, and he drinks in the world around him.
But when he's unhappy, well, he is
unhappy. As in screaming. Usually it's because he has a problem of some sort and thinks we should be able to fix it instantly, and when we can't, he tells us about it. He tells us
all about it.
Sleep: Right after our three-month update, Will moved from our room to his own room. We'd been sleeping in the basement, due to the fact that the smoke from the Waldo Canyon fire kept us from being able to open the windows and cool off our near-90 degree house, and when we moved back upstairs, it seemed silly to re-set up the pack'n'play. So to his room he went. He's really adjusted quite well, I think.
The other big change, and again, this only in the last week, is that we've stopped swaddling him. He was too big for the swaddle we had and was continuously "busting out" of a blanket swaddle and waking himself up. A friend gave us a Woombie, which we love and would still be using, except for the fact that it's been so hot in his room when he goes to bed that I didn't feel right about it. He was sweating and crying and just seemed miserable, so we decided to tough it out and let him learn to fall asleep unswaddled, as well as to put himself back to sleep if he wakes up.
It's going. There have been some rough moments, some "this is breaking my heart" moments, and a couple of "I should just go get him" moments. But overall, he's been doing really well. In the big scheme of things, he doesn't cry as long as I have heard many babies do, and he definitely is getting it.
The first night time sleep lasts anywhere from four to six hours before I feed him, and then the second one has been getting longer, also. I'm hoping we're getting to a place where he's going to be on a good schedule for the school year. Naptimes are less regular - he still is only a cat-napper, so he takes several little naps throughout the day. The pediatrician said that might be in his favor when he starts day care - many babies who are long nappers have trouble taking their regular naps in that setting and get over-tired, so he might be in like already being a cat-napper. We'll see.
Overall, I feel pretty good about where we are sleep-wise.
Eating: Still doing the pump-to-bottle thing most of the day and nursing at night, with some nursing or formula during the day, depending on the situation. We're trying to stock up on frozen breast milk for day care. He's slowly starting to spread out his eating times. By that I mean he can now wait two and a half or three hours to eat, instead of every two. None of those four of five hour periods for us. I was afraid he might be eating too much as a result, but since his weight gain was consistent and good, I'm not worried anymore. He'll eat as he needs it, I think. We're not quite ready for solid foods yet - maybe in a month or so. Husband did let Will lick a banana though; my-oh-my was his facial expression hilarious. Total disgust. His mama agrees.
Likes/Dislikes: Will likes his scrunchy-crinkly blocks. The elephant on his car-seat. His Graet-Grandma Harriett, who got him to giggle a lot while she was here last week. Doggies (his new fav!). Apparently, watching the Olympics.
Actually, there isn't much he actually doesn't like, except being hungry, being tired, and having tummy troubles. Really, who can blame him?
Milestones: His first "road-trip" up to Estes Park. Many of the aforementioned developmental things, like noticing toys, sleeping in his own room, more and more control of his head, and even pulling himself up almost towards a sitting position. Noticing his first baby, his cousin Henry. His first hike, his first trip to the pool, his first rodeo (all chronicled in
this post).
Mommy Update: I'm doing pretty well. Gearing up to go back to work, and mostly excited about it. I know leaving him is going to be hard, though, so I'm trying to prepare myself for that. Weight and health-wise, I'm not doing too much better, but I'm also not doing too much worse. Getting into meal-planning and grocery shopping to assist my eating habits and hoping to get to do some exercise a couple times a week once we establish good bedtime routines with the new school schedule.
