4 Months

Dear Sam,

It is hard to believe that you are 4 months old today!

You've been very busy growing.  At your 4 month check-up, you weighed 14 pounds 3 ounces (38th percentile) and were 25 1/2 inches long (75th percentile).  I knew you were getting so long, but I was surprised at just how long you've gotten.  Your head is in the 45th percentile.  You can still wear 3 month onesies and outfits, but 3-6 months and 6 months items work better.  You wear a size 1 diaper (but I bought size 2 today) and do not wear shoes.

You still love to eat and are eating 4.5-5 ounces with cereal every 3 hours or so.  You will eat more and more often, but I'm not sure if you actually need to.  We are going to try to hold off on solids until 6 months unless you max out on formula.

Sleeping is still going pretty well.  We are inching bedtime up, with your last bottle between 7:30 and 8 p.m.  Other than 4 nights with night wakings (skipping a night in between each time) you've been sleeping through the night since 3 months.  You wake between 6-7 a.m.  We switched you to a sleep sack with swaddle, and you seem to stay in it better than the Miracle Blanket.  Your arms have come out a few times and you've put yourself back to sleep, so we may try to wean off it soon.  Nap times and lengths are still not consistent.  Usually, you take your longest nap of the day in the morning and then have several 30-45 minute naps in the afternoon and early evening.  The books say the morning nap happens first, so I'm holding out hope.  You seem to need more of an afternoon nap and sometimes I can get you back to sleep.  In the last week, getting you to sleep for naps and bed time has been a struggle.  We haven't been able to put you down drowsy, and you haven't been happy for us to hold you.  Strangely, this coincided with a refill of your Prevacid, so we're getting a new batch with an increased dose.  I'm hoping that you've hit the 4 month sleep regression early and that we'll get back on track after vacation.

Although you're fussing when we try to get you to sleep, most times that's the only fussing we hear unless it's time to eat.  You are so content to play on your mat, lay on your back and look around, or sit in your bouncer.  You are spending short amounts of time in the Bumbo too and seem to think it's fun.  Everything is going to your mouth these days, including your hands and feet!  You like any toy that you can grab, crinkly toys, and your red rattle ball.  Duckie has become a new friend and you like to hold it when you are tired.  I hope you and Duckie will be as close as Avery and Giraffi are.  Car rides of 30 minutes or so are usually great these days, and while we don't get out too much, you're usually good when we do.  You've been to story time at the library twice, and you spent much of your first 4th of July checking things out from the stroller.  Your smile is huge and comes easily to those you know.  You have to check strangers out for awhile before granting them a grin, and a few times you've cried when someone has gotten in your face.

Tummy time is still going well, and you are staying on your stomach for longer periods without rolling over.  You can now also get onto your side from laying on your back.  On your stomach, you try to get your feet under you and push.  On your back, you push your bottom up using your feet.  If cooing is a sign of all you have to say, you're going to be quite the talker.   You have a sweet little chuckle laugh that we hear every now and then, and you've also let out a few squeals.

Your sister is still a great source of entertainment...she entertains us all!  Sometimes when you're upset, she can talk to you and calm you down.  She likes to be a big help, and she likes to make me aware of your crying.  While you were in the swing the other day, she all but covered you with toys to make sure you were well entertained.  I think she's going to be quite proud of your accomplishments, as she was so happy that you were sitting in the Bumbo the other day.

Sam, we are so happy that you have blessed our family.  I think back on the ages when Avery began sitting up, eating solids, etc., and I'm so shocked that those milestones will be just around the corner.  Time is flying by, and you are growing and changing each day.  We love you to pieces and look forward to what's in store this month.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy