Andrew's 4-Month Update!

Dear Andrew,

Oh, baby boy!  You are 4 months old.. we have officially started the countdown to six months.  How is this possible?!  This month hasn’t been too crazy with adventures except the ultimate adventure of going to school!!  Mom has officially gone back to work and she’s so sad to leave you every day.  You handle it like a champ though.  You’re not even phased when I drop you off, though I know that won’t last for forever and we’ll go through phases of you not wanting to be dropped off to phases of you don’t care.

Your teachers at school are Ms. Mary and Ms. Denise and they seem to be taking good care of you.  You are still figuring out this whole nap thing at school.. some days you go a great job and some days you take these little 15 minute naps throughout the day.  It’s a transition I know, but on the days you don’t nap well at school you look so tired when we get you home.  You started getting sick a whopping 8 days into school.  So, you’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the nose Frida, saline drops, Vick’s vapor rub, and the steam of a hot shower.  When we first did the Nose Frida, you’re brother went crazy trying to protect you.  He thought we were hurting you and kept pushing daddy away.  We explained to him what was going on and now it’s OK.  I always knew he would be protective of you!  You having bronchitis wasn’t so much fun, but you handled it like a champ and managed to kick it on your own without any meds.

DD Nana and T-Pa have come to visit us again… you love both of them!  We also took you to the zoo with big brother and you got to ride the train!  You did so well at the zoo; I was so proud!  You really like jumping in your jumper and just watching everything that is going on.  You are still a really chill baby, but you like it less when we “leave” you, i.e., we walk to the kitchen while you’re in the living room.

Looks like we're going back to TCH Neuro to get your head checked  out.  It's not as flat as big brothers, but its not 100% round either.  I'm hoping we can still avoid it, but I think its best to get it looked at.  More to come on if we're going to go down the helmet route.

You have just about 100% figured out your thumb.  I think you will be a thumb sucker, but right now you aren’t partial to any particular finger.  Whatever you can get a hold of you suck on in your mouth.  You are trying to roll over from your back to your front, but haven’t made it all the way yet.  You get stuck on your side.  You definitely can roll from front to back though… we lay you down on your tummy and when we go to wake you up, you are on your back!  You like reaching for toys and bringing them to your mouth.  Becoming quite the explorer!

Baby boy, at four months you:

• Weigh just shy of 15lbs, at 14.92lbs and are 25 inches tall.  Both are in the 50 percentile.  Growing boy!
• You poop 1-2x a day and wear size 2 diapers.
• Wear 6 month clothes and seem to have big feet because I feel like the 3-12 month socks won’t fit you for very long.
• If we’re going to school, we wake you up at 6:30 and you fall asleep at 8.  You haven’t had any wake-ups to eat, but occasionally we have to go in there and rub your bottom so you fall back asleep.  This usually happens when you’ve scooted yourself to a side of the crib and can’t figure out how to keep your head from hitting the rails.  You are a great sleeper!!  I love you so much for that.
• If it’s a weekend you sleep from about 8:15 to 8 and take two really good naps during the day that are about 2 hours each and an evening cat nap around 6:45.  God bless you.
• During the week, you eat 5, 6 oz bottles.  During the weekends, you eat 4, 6 oz bottles.  You still spit up, but it’s getting a little better.  You must also be burped regularly as well.
• Like to bounce in your jumper and play under your mobile
• We sit you in the bumbo on the table during dinner and you like having us all stare at you.  Big brother makes funny faces at you to try to make you laugh.
• Do a little tripoding, but otherwise will sit up in your bumbo or if someone is behind you.  I know we’re going to come a long ways with sitting this coming month!
• Have started riding in the “big boy” stroller and you really like seeing everything happening around you!

It’s been such a joy watching you grow this month!  You are always happy and quite literally, I think, the best baby ever.  I’m looking forward to seeing you try some food this month, too!  Mommy and daddy love you baby boy, always and forever!