Four Month Old!

 December 23, 2012: Four months old

Dear Mae,
    Happy four months my little peanut. Another month of new adventures, new milestones met, and lots of good times, has flown by. You are growing so quickly right before Dad and my eyes, it is amazing. You have still proven to be the happiest girl that I know, gracing us with that sweet smile of yours throughout each day. And sometimes you give the silliest grins a mom could ever ask for.

It makes me heart melt every morning when I come in to get you and you give me the biggest grin when you see my face. But, I know I better greet you quickly because one thing you don't hold back on is letting mom know that you are hungry.

     Not only were you born with a left ear identical to mine with the little indent, but a full head of dark hair too. It is growing so fast I can hardly believe it. 

Grandma R. made you so many headbands it was hard to fit them in your drawer. So, this month I made you an organizer for the back of your door so I could easily grab them. While you don't seem to mind having them on, sometimes I feel a little guilty for putting some big ones on your head (Christmas photos with Santa for starters).

We have gotten nursing down to thirty minutes each time and after eating you are still all smiles for an hour while we get you dressed. Then, we try to get in some tummy time in while your a happy girl. Oh, tummy time. We never seem to get an hour in. Usually a half an hour, as you only can handle it for between five and ten minutes at a time now. Cue mommy guilt for not getting in the full hour ever. But, thank goodness for your piano kick mat, whose blinking lights accompanied by fun tunes seems to distract you at the task at hand for a while.

After some playing it is time for a late morning meal and into your swing where you listen to  lullabies and sleep for your long nap of the day- between an hour and a half to three hours. You have been switching the length up on us lately to keep us on our toes. But, Dad and I do appreciate this stretch of time to get some stuff done... or sit on the coach and watch bad reality tv sometimes. You usually take one afternoon nap as well, usually lasting around thirty minutes or so. Dad and I went from bouncing you in your bouncer to putting you back in your swing if we aren't out in about. When you grow out of your swing it is going to be a little challenge to have you sleep in your crib for naps. But, we will work on that when we get there. It seems like you get the routine down pat after a few tries no matter what we are doing.

You are meeting milestones left and right my little lady! When the milestone checklist said blowing bubbles I knew that I didn't see any of that yet. But, what do you know, days later lots of spit bubbles started coming out of your mouth. Yay to meeting milestones, but lets try to keep that spit in your mouth. Deal? When you yawn you make the cutest sound. I do love hearing you squeal with excitement too. The first time we heard you laugh a big chuckle was when I was blowing raspberries on your tummy. You're certainly easily amused!

Your getting to experience a lot of new things this month. You tried your jumperoo for the first time and loved it! We prop a blanket behind your back and put our wedding albums under your feet to help you reach the ground and you go to town! But, only for about ten minutes or so. Jumping and putting weight on your legs can be hard work! 

This month you also tried out your height chair and really liked it. Dad and I started eating more meals at the table so you could sit with us during meal times. Before we know it you will be eating with us too!

Your now purposely grabbing things and making sure anything you lay your hands on goes into your mouth. While Dad and I thought you may have been teething and experimented giving you teething toys we think you are just discovering your hands. Later this month you started noticing your feet a lot more too. I know sooner than later I will see you put one of your feet into your mouth. I just know it. Your big bow socks make it easy for your to reach down and grab your feet and try to pull off your sock. And a few times you have succeeded. Followed by you pulling off a pant leg or two. Do I have a nudist on my hands?

We tried out the Bumbo seat a few times this month and you finally seemed ready for it a few days ago. Your neck is getting much stronger and although Dad and I still try to support it when we hold you, I bet by next month it won't even be a thought. 

JJ is still constantly by your side, always making sure he is doing his big brother duties. In the morning he runs from his bed right into your room to check on you and say good morning. He loves to give you kisses too!

Talking about bringing everything to your mouth- your still good at grabbing your Sophie giraffe and giving her a little nibble!

You're still great at riding in the car, not fussing at all when we put you in your car seat. I might have been sad last month when you grew out of your first fuzzy white hat, but I just love putting you in all of your rediculously silly hats- owl and kitty have been in heavy rotation.

Bath time is still a favorite time for you. You still take your liquid vitamin d like a champ right before the bath. I think the artificial cherry flavor is a treat to you. You've discovered that you can get some water out of the wash cloth and have become a pro at using your arm and hand to get it into your mouth. No matter where mommy puts it on your tummy it will find a way to get it into your mouth. Your not too interested in other things than the wash cloth, but I have tried to entertain you. Dad brought in the i-pod player and we listen to Christmas songs or some bath tunes. Five little crabs is definitely a favorite when I do my silly hand movements. Grandma R. bought you a duck bath puppet, and while I do love to sing Rubber Ducky, I think his bulging eyes might freak you out a bit. You are following things so well with your eyes and when I drip water out of the small cups you watch it as I slowly lift up the cup higher and higher. Also, you constantly kick your legs and slide off of your seat almost every minute. I tried putting you on the other side of the bath where you sit fully up, but your neck wasn't fully ready. Plus I think you enjoy laying back, sucking on your wash cloth, watching mommy sing silly songs.

As the shirt says, your still daddy's little sweetheart. Oh, how he just adores you! Although I make you wear a lot of outfits rshowingg your love for mom, I do break out some outfits giving props to your wonderful dad from time to time. He does your laundry several times a week and makes sure you are always looking your best. 

He is a tummy time aficionado and always thinks up new ways to keep you entertained. Not only does he love on you all the time, but...

He helps mom in the kitchen to! Mr. Mom is quite amazing. Mom made some fudge to bring to a Christmas party and Dad wasn't afraid to throw on some oven mitts to help me pour it. What a guy!

He even came up with the whitty idea to put a sign on the fudge. We brought the fudge to the Ahrens' annual Christmas party and boy was it hard to leave you at home. While we knew you were in good hands with Grandma R. and Ed we had to drive over an hour and a half away. You were a little hard to put to sleep, but good old Ed had the special touch to rock you to bed. It was so very hard to be away from you, but we did end up getting the best white elephant gift at the party- a Sharper Image automatic candy dispenser. I did want to keep the Hot Booties we brought at a gift, but I think you and your friends will enjoy this candy dispenser in years to come!

Our sweet friends Randi and Chris stopped by this month to see how much you have grown. We had a great time while they gave you lots of love and played with you. Go Re-MAX!

You got to see your friend Noelle again when we met up with the Sambers in Red Bank earlier this month.

After walking around town you gals got to have your first diner experience together!

Noelle got to sit in the big girls high chair and nosh on some food while you fell asleep in your car seat and slept the whole meal!

Uncle Bobby came to visit you to partake in Dad and your Saturday morning tradition of watching Man City play soccer, or shall we say football? You got all ready in your cute soccer apparel to root on your team.

Uncle Bob's team won in the end and I know you wanted to fluff on him to let him know how you felt about it. But, you kept it ladylike and just gave him a smile.

It was such a treat that the Bagnells got to meet you for the first time too! They flew up from Atlanta, or what dad likes to say Hotlanta, and dropped by for a little bit. I wonder if you will become a physical therapist like Mel. She could teach you all the ropes!

Although Mom had way too many things going on this month she was determined to make you a magnet board before she went back to work. Grandpa M. came down for the visit and helped mom put it together. I am sure you will get many years of use out of this. Dad and I are already having fun leaving messages on the board for one another with the magnets.

JJ and Perry have been cozying up near the fireplace and tree waiting for Santa's arrival.

We know that you have been all nice this year and should expect Santa to bring you some very special gifts this year. You are such a sweet little girl and very much deserve it! We have three days of Christmas plans coming up in a few days and I bet we are going to pooped by the time we are done.

In terms of the nightly sleeping department you have been waking up quite a bit. But, we can possibly blame that on some pesky growth spurts. Your sleep deprived parents bought you Merlin's Magical Suit for $39.99, which promised hours of interrupted sleep. However it was not the case. You couldn't get your hands to your mouth and the pink, marshmallow suit has to go. Maybe we will revisit it just to take silly pictures one day and have a good laugh. It's the least we could do for the price.

After your bath around 7:00 pm I nurse and rock you to sleep with white noise by your side. You like the white noise so much Dad had to bring in an extension cord so I could carry it from your night stand to next to your crib at night. But, after you go to sleep by 9ish you have been sleeping for a solid six hours before you wake up to eat, then back to sleep for another three hours or so. While it is going to get interesting when I go back to work, I would do anything for you. But, lets hope you'll continue only waking up once a night or even cut out that night feeding. Mom needs to get some beauty rest, what do you say? It's cute though when your done feeding in the middle of the night and I put you down semi awake in your crib with your head to the side you conk out in 2 seconds. I can hardly believe it is the same girl that takes a lot of coxing to go to bed earlier in the night. 

Oh man, when we were taking your four month pictures today your brothers wanted to be in them like usual. You gave JJ your loving look and...

He came up and gave you a big smooch.

The boys do love you very much.

Your turning into such a little lady!

I am starting to loose a lot of sleep over being away from you when I return to work on January 2. Even talking about it is hard. But, Dad and I talked about a plan for possibly staying home with you next year so lets hope that works out. I love you more than words can describe!

Love, 

Mom

P.S. They say a five month milestone is recognizing your own name, but I am worried that you will think your name is momma. Little momma turned into momma and now I have Dad hooked on calling you that. Here's to trying to call you by your sweet name more this upcoming month... little momma mae!

Three Month Stats

- Weight: TBD at next week's doctor's visit January 8th

- Height: TBD at next week's doctor's visit January 8th

- Diaper Size: Just ran out of size 1 and started size 2

- Clothing Size: 3 months, with some pants getting snug

- Favorite toys/activities: Kicking your piano in your bed (you know that your feet make the noise now, Dad and I are convinced!), watching your mobile and aquarium in your bed, sitting up on Dad and my laps, being in your jumperoo, holding your green o-ring ball, eating your Carter's fabric purse or anything else for that matter, sucking on your washcloth in the bath... the list goes on and on

Three Month Milestones

- First christmas tree adventure: November 26, 2012

- First trip to a diner:  December 8, 2012 (Broadway Diner - Red Bank, NJ)
- First laugh: December 17, 2012 (Raspberries on belly in guest bedroom)