Walter at 4 months

The big guy has reached his 4 month mark and our suspicions were confirmed at his doctor's visit. He's at the top of the charts in height and weight. He's nearly too big for all of his 6 mo. clothes which means I'll have to actually buy him clothes soon. Dean didn't have any 9 mo. winter clothes.

Stats at 4 months:
Height: 26 1/2 in. (90%)
Weight: 19 lbs. 2 oz. (97%)
Head circumference: 16 3/4 (53%)

This was our best visit yet. He no longer has a belly button hernia, his urological problems are completely gone, he doesn't favor his left side nearly as much as he used to. He's right on track developmentally (though it doesn't take a whole lot to be a 4 month old), he's actually a little "ahead" since he can already transfer objects from one hand to the other and actively reaches for things. When the nurse set him on the scale she started laughing and said, "Whoa. You are a BIG boy!!" And that he is. I'm a little worried about back problems for myself and I can baaaarley carry him in the bjorn easily anymore. I had him in there for our 15 min. library run today and my back was so tired by the end.

His sleeping has kind of been all over the place. We switched him to his crib the same time we stopped swaddling him, just about a month ago. After that it took me a lot longer to rock him to drowsy, and when I set him down for naps he'd only stay asleep in his crib about 1/2 hour. This week has seemed to be a turning point for naps, though. Most of his naps in his crib have lasted 45 min-1.5 hour. His night sleeping has been a little erratic. One night this week was horrible and another night was heaven with him only waking up at 2:30 and 6. So, in other words, he's a normal baby I guess. =)

Some things I just love about him right now:
I love when he grabs his feet and rolls to his side.
He has got the best little smile and uses it often. (Though it's hard to catch it on camera by myself.)
He loves to be included in whatever we're doing.
He smiles at Dean a lot and finds him amusing. (Even when Dean's a little rough. I guess he's a real boy. =) He's been trying really hard recently to be a good big brother and likes to say hi to him and tries and make him smile.)
He is ticklish.
His beautiful blue eyes and big chubby cheeks are too cute to pass.
He cranes around to see the action, whether it be a conversation, the TV, etc.
He loves to talk and to blow bubbles and he really seems to try and converse with us through his raspberry blowing.
He's still pretty easy going.
He's getting much better at putting himself to sleep even when I put him in the crib awake.
He's very social and likes strangers cooing and taking note of him. He almost always gives them a smile back.
He does quite well in the bumbo and jumperoo now.
When he sucks on his lips he looks JUST like a little grandpa.
He chews on his (extra long) thumbs rather than sucking on them.

Some of his quirks:
He doesn't care to be rocked much anymore.
He especially dislikes being held in a cradle position or held in toward my body. The best way to rock him is sitting on my lap facing out.


As tired as I've been, and as hard as it's been for me to adjust to life as a mother of 2, I sure do love him and am sooooo happy he's here with us. I understand now why many mothers love the early months with babies.

(Can you believe this is what he looked like just 4 months ago??)