4 Months

You have and continue to bring us so much joy, Jer Bear. The last few months have gone by so fast but at the same time feel like forever. We love you so much!!

Personality
You are still just the happiest little guy. You get overtired really easily, though. One minute you're happy as a clam, but then in an instant you can get very fussy and overwhelmed, and the only thing that solves that is sleep. You still fight it soo hard. Your body needs it but your brain says there's too much to see and do!

Your sleep at night has become inconsistent, but that's probably a mix of daylight savings, getting sick, and your mama going back to work all in the same week. A couple of times you've gone into your Rock n Play awake and have fallen asleep quickly! You're getting better at soothing yourself. We don't really have a consistent bedtime (we always used to start the routine at 7 then it could be anywhere from then until 9 that you'd allow sleep). You must have been having a ball with your dad at home because you've been falling asleep for good in my arms at 6:30. That has its ups and downs! I miss time with you but it's allowed me to get some solo runs in and spend time with your dad!

When you wake up at night (or anytime really) and you feel rested, you are a happy little guy just chattering away. Your dad still gets you to change your diaper and you are happy with him all the way until you come back into our room. Then you start yelling - no tears - just a very loud "AHHH. AHHH." until you get fed. It's kind of a funny thing to hear!

You've gotten a lot better at naps this month. You still have to be forced or tricked into them, but it's clear if you need one because you are a g.r.u.m.p.!

You love visiting your Mama's Classroom. You just stare and stare and look at everything in the room. You've been coming once a week for lunch (a few minutes early so the kiddos can see you) and I hope we continue that because it is so good for this Mama's heart. A little over 3 weeks until track out. Then it's just 7 weeks until I'm done. We can do this, baby boy!

We did keep trying the Paci. You used it consistently in Arizona!! You would take it in the car and at night to help you sleep if you were full from eating but still awake. But refused it back at home. I'm not sure what that was about, ha. We really only try now when you're fussy and nothing else works too try to soothe you. You are trying to chew on everything though - blankets and burp cloths are your favorite, but you'll occasionally take Sophie or one of your teether toys.

Stats
You are in solid 6 month clothing, no more of the 3-6 month nonsense! We are also getting ready to move you up to Size 3 diapers. We're hoping one day you'll stick to a diaper size for more than a month so we can exchange all of our smaller diapers for your correct size (I think we have 4 or 5 Costco boxes waiting).

Weight: 16lbs and 6.5 oz!
Height: 25in
Head circumference: 16.73 in

Firsts
You flew on your first (4) plane(s). You did great going to Arizona and back! On your very first flight one of the attendents was so thoughtful, he gave you your wings and a little passport signed by the pilot.

You went to your first wedding. We learned over those 3 days of events that noise and people are not your favorite thing! You also enjoy blowing out your diaper at people's houses. It's kinda your tradition.  Mama's arms grew extra strong that week as all you wanted was to be held, and daddy was off doing his groomsman duty.

You had what we thought was your first cold, which turned out to be RSV (defined by the doctor as a more serious cold). Your coughing started the Sunday night before I went back to work, and it seemed to increase. Thankfully your dad was taking care of you while I was away, so he listened close to your breathing and checked your temperature consistently. You never ran a fever, or even seemed unhappy until Wednesday. We made a doctor's appointment just to be sure you didn't have an ear infection (your dad got a lot of those as a baby). You chatted up the nurses and the doctor so much so that they were surprised to find out you had RSV. Apparently babies tend to not be so happy with it, but you are a trooper! The cough is still lingering, but it sounds way better and overall you're back to yourself!

You had a much easier time than me when I went back to work (minus being sick). I video chat you each time I go to pump and, if you're not too busy playing or crying, you notice me and smile. At the beginning, that would get me through the hours. I still have a hard time at nights - you seem to go to bed too quickly for my heart's desire, and I feel like I hardly get any time at all with you. I am counting down the days until track out.

You FINALLY rolled over from your stomach to your back! You still don't do it consistently though. You want to move and you seem to want to try things, but I worry you're like me - if it's too physically hard, you just give up. We'll see if your persistence changes :)

Next week will be the first week your Nonnie and Grammy watch you! I know they're excited. It will be interested to see if your night routine changes with this new normal. We are so lucky!

We love you more and more each day. You're changing so much so quickly. I love all the things we're getting to look forward to, but I'm also cherishing each moment with you and how you are now, because it all goes so fast.