Dear Lil G,
Your mommy is writing this a little after your 4 month birthday, mainly because life got incredibly busy these past couple of days! You’ve handled it like a champ, however. I think it says a lot about your personality that you adapt so well and feel secure enough to “go with the flow”. You come with Mommy to Curves and sit quietly while Mommy works out. Mommy also carts you along to her piano lessons, and you continue to charm everyone you meet, week after week. For some reason, 90% of the time you are always on your BEST behavior for everyone but your parents! Perhaps it’s because you can sense how much everyone who meets you loves and adores you. Having face after face fawning over every sneeze, giggle or coo really does make you happy. Happy/cute/adorable baby= eager families, BEGGING me for the chance to babysit!
One of the biggest developments you’ve made in this month has been with sounds. You are SUCH a talkative baby, and make gurgles and squawks non-stop, even during the quietest parts of church 🙂 One, in particular, is this bone-chilling, high pitched SCREEECH that makes everyone around you jump out of their seat. At first, it started as a discovery of your vocal chords, as you investigated just HOW LOUD you could actually be. Once you saw how much attention you got as a result, however, you started using it whenever you want attention. I’ve babysat a lot of babies and siblings in my day, as has Daddy, and we’ve NEVER heard anything quite like it. You also love to sing. I catch you humming along to the radio in the car whenever we’re driving somewhere. You also “sing-song” yourself to sleep many nights.
Speaking of sleep, you are still quite the Sleepless Wonder. Usually, I know I can get two 1.5 hour naps out of you during the day, but when they occur? Not a clue 🙂 Your bedtime, however, has become very well-established. Mommy nurses you around 9pm, Daddy changes your diaper, we do our prayers together, and Daddy puts you straight to bed. The first couple nights, you fought Daddy for at least an hour, sometimes more. Now, however, you are fast asleep within 10 minutes, although those 10 minutes can be some of your most stubborn of the day! You will do ANYTHING to try to stay awake, including loud grunts and slapping yourself in the face! Sometimes, you work yourself into such a frantic tizzy, you’re drenched in sweat and Daddy has to completely undress you to calm you down! Once asleep, you usually stay down until between 3-4am, when Mommy nurses you and puts you right back in bed. Location-wise, you still sleep next to Mommy and Daddy in your Pack n Play with your white noise machine, but once or twice a week you start out in your crib in the other room. Mommy’s goal this next month is transition you full-time to your crib, as you move away from night feedings.
Toys are also quite the commodity these days. You have 5-6 that you can’t live without and provide endless entertainment. Mommy can usually buy at least an extra hour of sleep in the morning if she sticks you in the bouncy seat and hands you one. Textures, sounds, tastes…it’s a lot of fun watching you process it all. At first, your attempts to grab things reminded Mommy of one of those claw machines at an arcade, trying, trying, but never succeeding. Now, however, your fingers are very dextrous, and you’ve learned to see what it is you want, pick it up, and put it or throw it where you want (99% of the time, your mouth!).
Size-wise, you must have the metabolism of a hummingbird– you eat, eat and eat, but aren’t chunky! I’ve noticed one or two tiny rolls on your thighs and arms, but that’s it– no belly, no chin (s). If you saw pictures of your Mommy and Daddy at this age, it would be obvious which one you take after. I’ll give you a hint– Mommy’s nicknames were, “Kelly Belly” and “Thunder-thighs”. You are very long and lean, and continue to shock everyone with how very strong you are. You can lay on your tummy and play with toys for minutes on end. You can pull yourself out of your bouncy seat using JUST your abs. It’s incredible! Hopefully you will fit into at least SOME of your 3-6 months clothes by next month– for now, you are just barely growing out of your 0-3s (and only in length).
As far as interaction goes, even though you tolerate being held and loved on by others, you definitely know who your parents are. On the rare occasion that you get upset during a piano lesson, all the mom needs to do is carry you in to the same room where I am teaching. You hear my voice and instantly calm down (unless you’re hungry, in which case you freak out!). Mommy has endless games to make you giggle, including touching your toes to your nose (singing the “Piggy Toes” song Mommy grew up with, of course!) and tickling your neck. You love to bounce and dance with Mommy to the Blues music Daddy plays every evening. Often, you will just sit and stare at him, fascinated with his guitar skills. You also love to listen to him sing songs to you. This heightened awareness does not come without drawbacks, however– there are certain things that really scare and startle you, including rustling chips’ bags and Claire’s sudden barks. Even a sudden deep, “Booo!” from Daddy during playtime can freak you out. Your scared cry doesn’t last long, however, as you get distracted and move on to the next thing.
All in all, “Little Man”, you are still Mommy and Daddy’s greatest joy. We think you are the “Cat’s Pajamas”, so to speak, and can’t get enough of you and your antics.
Love, Mommy
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