Letters to Reese- Four Months

Reese,

You turned 4 months old on Friday, November 18th, 2011! We cannot believe how fast time is FLYING by and we want a pause button, now! This month has been tons of fun.  You are such a smiley, happy, baby! Everyone compliments you on what a happy baby you are.

We've made the transition to 100% formula after Mommy's struggle with supply.  You were supposed to keep nursing in the morning and night (followed by a bottle), but as soon as we tried that my supply totally dried up. :-( Now that we're on all formula, there is a lot less stress on Mommy, and you're doing great! And you're thriving and gaining weight! You are an awesome sleeper and Daddy and I thank God every day for this.  You've gotten into quite a routine. You sleep for 9 hours consecutively each night and then go back to sleep for another 1.5-2 hours. You've established this routine yourself, and I just go with it! You seem to do 'eat, play, sleep' throughout the day, and typically sleep every 90 mins- 2 hours.  For example- if you wake for the day at 7am (which you usually do), you'll be ready for your nap by 830-9am. Your naps are typically around 45 minutes, but the past week or so you've taken a long 1.5-2.5 hour nap at that first nap of the day. I would love it if you got into a habit of taking 2 long naps per day, and I think that's the way we're headed. 

You take 5oz bottles 6 times per day (although your last bottle of the day we give you 6 oz.) so you're drinking 31oz total per day.  

In your 3 month post I mentioned that we transitioned you to your crib. Well that deserves an explanation.  You did sleep in your crib, but we put the moses part of your bassinet in the crib. But when you'd wake up at around 4ish in the morning, we'd bring that moses part of your bassinet back into our room.  It was quite the adjustment for Mommy and Daddy and I don't think we were ready for you to grow out of the newborn stage to be out of our room completely.  Then, you got sick with your first cold, and Daddy went to Washington D.C. on business, so there was no way I was going to put you in your nursery sick when we were home all alone.  So back in your bassinet in our room you went, and stayed.  For about 2 more weeks.  In that time we decided to see how you'd do without your swaddle at night, and you did great!! Not one bad night, no crying, nothing.  You were ready.  Once we got that down, we decided it was time for you to really go into your crib- no moses basket, no swaddle, etc.  You did awesome! We were SO proud of you.  Nana says you are an angel sent from heaven, and we'd have to agree.

You did develop some sort of stranger anxiety this month, and cry if anyone other than mommy, daddy, or Nana holds you for more than a few minutes.  You are very dramatic with this pouty lip and big crocodile tears.  It makes mommy very sad! :-(

This month you've had some more firsts, these include: 

- Getting baptised on October 23rd.  

- You gave Mommy your first laugh on October 24th, although you haven't done it since.  You've been close though! 

- You caught your first cold on October 27th.  

- The first snowfall of the year and your first happened on October 29th! This is the night that we stopped swaddling you, too. 

- You celebrated your first Halloween! 

- You started consistently rolling from back to belly on November 2nd.  

- You also had your first night away from Mommy and Daddy because Auntie Jamie and Uncle Frank got married on November 5th.  Nana watched you at our house and said you were perfect! You really love that Nana of yours!

Daddy and I love you more and more each day and are so lucky to be your parents!

Love, 

Mommy

Reese's Four Month Stats:

Weight: 14lbs even (60th percentile)

Height: 24.5 inches (60th percentile)

Clothing: We've just moved you to 3-6 months sleepers, although 3-6 month clothes can still be a little big depending on what it is.  All of your white onesies are still 0-3 and aren't tight at all.

Diapers: Size One. Although they only go to 14lbs and that's what you're at.  They are getting tight, but we have a large box we're trying to finish.  We'll be switching you to size 2 soon.

Favorite Toys: Sophie the giraffe, Oball, Lamaze Flutterbug, interlocking rings, and your new bouncy seat from your cousins.  Your lamb seat was awesome when you were an infant, but it was getting very boring.

Favorite Past time: Rolling over, bath time, getting your diaper changed and getting dressed (love that you love this still!), staring contests with mommy, watching mommy brush her teeth- you think it's so funny!, walking around with daddy, going for walks in your stroller, being in you're bjorn carrier, and being out and about.  You are so much fun in the Mommy and Me class at Barre N9ne. 

Communication: Smiles, and coos. You just started squealing/yelling.  You are getting SO interactive.  You'll kick your little legs when you get excited and it's the cutest thing ever.

Cries: When hungry, tired, or needs a diaper change.  You've also started to develop a bit of stranger anxiety.  You don't like "strangers" to hold you, and really are only content with mommy, daddy, nana, and nonna holding you.

Bedtime

Food: 5oz bottles every 3 hours throughout the day, although your bedtime bubba is 6oz. Dr. Dufrense gave us the go ahead for solids- she wants us to start with rice cereal, although I think we're going to hold off until at least 5 months.

*Little disclaimer here: Mommy and Daddy always look so unkept in these pictures- but it's the weekend, we've worked out, cleaned the house, etc.  We'll have to start taking these after we shower and look better, ha!