McKinley | Four Months

My baby is FOUR months old! I cannot believe a third of your first year is over already. This has been an especially hard month for us. Mommy going back to work has not been easy on anyone and it has messed with both your sleep and eating schedule. We also think you may have started teething this month - lots of drool, sucking on your hands, and interest in teethers. The moments when we have had our loving, happy baby around have been that much sweeter. I am so ready for these last two weeks of school to be finished so that Mommy can be back at home with her girl again! Your personality is really shining this month and I love the sweet, sassy little lady that you are becoming. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been chosen to be your Mommy. It has been the highlight of my life to get to love you.

Nicknames: MK, Chubby Bunny, Lady Baby, Little Babe

Weight: We won't know for sure until we are able to go to your four-month appointment in about a week and a half, but if I had to guess I'd say you're between 14-15 pounds, probably closer to 14. I'll update after your appointment! 15 pounds, 9 ounces at your 4-month appointment (which was about a week and a half after your actual 4-month birthday). 83rd Percentile Big Lady.

Height: I tried to measure you at home a couple days ago and I think you were between 24 & 25 inches long. This would mean you've grown about 2-3 inches since your two-month appointment. You were 25 1/4 inches long! You surprised us this month by being much taller than we expected. 79th Percentile Tall!

Looks: Your hair is really filling in on top (and still brown), but it seems to be rubbing off on the back of your head from you tossing and turning in your sleep. Go figure! Your eyes are still blue and we are so hoping they will stay that color! I have been hearing more and more this month that you are starting to look like Mommy which I love hearing!

Personality: You have developed quite the sassy personality. You recently discovered your voice and have learned to "scream" at us. Anytime you get tired of doing something, you yell at us until we figure out what you want. That's been so fun... But, mostly you're still so sweet. You love to smile and Daddy can always get you to laugh out loud. 

Eating: You've had to start taking bottles this month since Mommy had to go back to work (all the tears). You drink 3 four-ounce bottles of breastmilk during the day. Besides your bottles, Mommy nurses you in the mornings before work, in the afternoon when I get home, at bedtime, and then at least once overnight. So, I'd say you eat about 8 times a day which is right in line with a breastfed baby.

Sleeping: This has been the WORST month of sleeping since we brought you home from the hospital. You had a definite regression this month as you had been sleeping 6-7 hour stretches and waking up only once a night. Since I went back to work, you had a good two weeks of waking up about 4 times a night. Then, we finally got you to sleep normally again just in time for you to learn how to get out of the swaddle and were pulling the material over your face. We had to cold turkey stop swaddling you this past week and you really weren't ready for it. We've moved to the HALO SleepSack and gowns instead of pajamas and you're back to waking up about 2 times a night - hoping you continue to improve!

Wearing: You moved into Size 2 diapers in the last couple weeks. You also moved to 3-6 month clothing, although you can still wear several of your 0-3 month outfits/onesies. We mostly made the switch because much of your 0-3 month outfits were geared towards Winter (long sleeves/pants) and it is getting so warm now!

Favorite Things: Favorites this month are still really similar to last month's which were snuggling with Mommy, sitting up (this seat got a lot of use this month), sitting on Mommy's belly and looking down at me, being outside, and playing airplane or as Daddy calls it, being "Supergirl". Tummy time is slightly less hated this month, especially when you are propped up on the Boppy. Activity mat is still a big hit this month because you are starting to grasp toys [you still can't roll from your tummy to back, but are really close to rolling from your back to your tummy consistently]. We also got a Jumperoo in the last couple days and you are loving that! 

Least Favorite Things: Nighttime diaper changes, being cold or being hot, getting into your car seat, having hiccups, having your clothes put over your head, being sleepy.

4th Month Experiences:

• Mommy and Daddy left you for the first time (for more than 2 hours) and went to a Braves game. You stayed at our house with Gigi and Pops.
• You celebrated your first Easter and the Easter Bunny came to visit twice!
• We visited Daddy at work and went on a lunch date to Chick-Fil-A.
• Mommy went back to work :(
• Gigi was your babysitter for 2 1/2 weeks and Aunt Lexi has now been here for a week too.
• You learned to roll over to your side and have even made it to your tummy from there a few times.
• You saw your first parade at the Grayson Day Festival.
• You started learning how to hold your own bottle.
• You came to visit Mommy at school (after the kids had gone home).
• Gigi took you to visit Daddy at work on Cinco de Mayo.
• You painted your first picture and sat in your high chair for the first time.
• You started sleeping without your swaddle.