The holiday season is endlessly busy without a baby, but with one it ever more busy...and fun. This year I did my shopping almost entirely on the internet. Amazon.com was my best friend. But even with that savior I still had to trek out into the chaos that is store-land at Christmas time. The little guy was a trooper. He is such a good baby. He went all around from IKEA to Costco to Kohls. It wasn't easy but we made it.
The highlights of this Christmas for us aside from the usual family time and the obvious fact that we now have a kiddo to share it all with is that Xanders Aunt Mim and her kiddos came up for Christmas from Arizona! Wahoo! It is always great to see them. We even had a more brief, but just as nice visit from Uncle Kev. We also had some nice houseguests- Xander's Nonnie and Poppie, as well as their foreign exchange student Valeria. It is always so nice to have family around to share the season together. The more the merrier! It was a successful year for all - Xander got stackable rings, a bunch of clothes, a boon (squeezable spoon) for eating, a remote helicopter (to watch), books, some stuffed animals, and more.
I think time flies by faster and faster each month. I can't believe our little guy is four months-old. The good news is this month was a check up so we have some stats for ya.
14.875 lbs. (a little lighter than we thought he would be...probably because he vomits half of what he eats up...the Dr. didn't seem concerned.)
50th percentile for weight (same as 2nd month) 14.875 lbs. 75th percentile for head size (up from 50th in 2nd month) 16.92 inches
Here is the real kicker! over 97th percentile for height! (up from 50% at 2nd month) - 27.75 inches.
We have ourselves a tall skinny boy on our hands (with a larger than average cranium :-) ) The doctor remarked again how strong and alert he is and how he is "behaving like a six-month old." That is my boy....exceeding all expectations :-). She also gave us the go ahead for starting solids in a couple weeks. So rice cereal here we come!
It has been another months of firsts...of course being that he is only 4 months old that should be a given. This month he:
experienced his FIRST snow (see previous post)
is more alert than ever
still loves to squeal...especially when hanging in his bed or late at night:
always wakes up with a smile...and usually babbles to himself for a while
still likes to go to bed at 2 Am (ugh). BUT...
still sleeps through the night (wahoo!).
loves his jumper:
loves to show off (as witnessed by the Dr. when he wouldn't stop squealing at her while she was trying to listen to his heart)
loves to have "conversations" with anyone that is willing to talk to him
has started to really be fascinated by toys and is reaching out to grab things!
will put anything within reach into his mouth - preferably his own hand or a dads' hand.
is a very good shopper - which is awesome during Christmas time
WILL watch tv if given the opportunity - even if we try to not give him the opportunity
As much as I frown on the idea of exulting physical achievement I was very very proud this month when he rolled over for the first time from back to front! It was a very exciting day. Brandon was at work and I had just left the room. When I came back he was no longer on his back where I left him but on his stomach - somewhat shocked and didn't know what to do with himself. I grabbed the camera...texted Brandon...and was determined to capture his second roll-over if not his first. Unfortunately, his excitement over the camera in his face made that an impossibility. So instead I had to leave the room again for him to do it :-( Sure enough he did it again out of my view. Finally on the third time I was there...
So the fourth time was flawless...by this time he had gotten over all the hurdles of that nasty right arm and could flip over without much of a problem at all. Now it happens ALL the time...I feel it is somewhat out of his control because once he gets over he usually isn't very happy. But every time he is put down...legs are pulled up and he starts heading over. Kind of funny to watch. This process lead to his next favorite discovery - his feat! He now is FASCINATED with is feet and will pull at them and talk to them all the time:
It is absolutely amazing how quickly he develops. It seems like yesterday we were securing his head as we carried him around. Now it seems like all we can do is secure his whole body so he doesn't leap from our arms. He is so curious about the world around him - limited only by his physical abilities he can't wait to get out and see (and taste) it all.
In the early days of his fifth month he is beginning to sit without support (it is still a bit of a balancing act, but he's getting there). He notices his bottle as we are preparing it and gets excited for it and he has started to show signs of anguish when we leave out of his sight. I know it will be a whole new world in just a four weeks. I can't wait to make that report.
I wanted so bad to document his first snow but wasn't sure how to do it. I bundled him up it what seemed to be the most water proof outfit and headed outside. Now how do I take a picture of a little guy who can't sit, stand, or much of anything. So I looked to my tacky green plastic dining set :), plopped it in the snow, and propped him up. Tacky setting but cute baby :).
I then took him to the park strip and wanted to show just how much it had snowed so I decided to quickly take the plunge and dump him in the snow. I laid him right in it and quickly took some pictures before child protection services could be called and scooped him up. The pictures remind me of A Christmas Story or if someone had abandoned some poor kid on the side of the road...hahaha.
It was his first "snow day" and it was as painful as snow is supposed to be. :)
