4 month update

Dear Will,

This was a GREAT month.  Great is in all caps because I REALLY MEAN IT.  It was great.

This was the month of not just a chuckle but a full belly laugh, which we can't get enough of.  Thankfully, almost anything makes you laugh, so we get to hear that sweet sound all the time.  You smile, laugh, talk, and gurgle with the best of them.  If you were competing for world's best baby and it were up to me, I'd pin the ribbon on you right now. 

Of course not everything's perfect.  While plenty of babies are sleeping literally through the night (you hear?) by this age, you are... not.  We had gotten down to just one meal a night, which was fantastic - sometimes you waited til almost 5am.  Then maybe it was a growth spurt, maybe the infamous 4 month sleep regression?  Whatever it was, you now want to eat twice.  Would prefer three times if the buffet were open.  But mom's not having the three times thing, so twice it is... and beware, son - I'm about to make a concerted effort to whittle you back down to once.  Don't say I didn't warn you, because I realize it's probably not going to go over very well.

do not regulate my midnight snacks.

So while nights are a little.. let's just call it what it is - worse, naps are exponentially better.  I wouldn't have believed it possible, since for over 6 weeks you had a total of two naps that were longer than 45 minutes.  But it happened.  You go down wide awake, fall asleep easily, and wake up talking and laughing (usually).  Sometimes it's still 45 minutes, but other times it's two hours.  And yes, this is the biggest news item in my life right now.  At 4 months it's still hard to keep you awake more than an hour and a half, but I do see a pattern emerging, so it's nice to have predictability during the day.

You have rolled over exactly one time.  That's it.  No amount of coaching, coaxing, or cool toys just out of reach will make you do it again.  You do roll onto your side all the time, and do sit ups constantly.  I asked the doctor about the rolling thing, and he said you're probably just going to be more calm than say, your sister, who was scooting around and a rolling pin at this age.  There's a reason we call you Chill Will. 

snapped this right as you began your only roll. Good thing I documented it, since apparently that's all ya got.

At your 4 month check up you were 14.2 pounds - down to the 35th percentile, and 26 inches, 86th%.  I've been here before with Addie... slower weight gain, dropping weight percentile.  I'm thankful that this is not sending me into an nervous tailspin this time around.  The doctor also reassured me that it's just your build (guess that's how we make 'em), so it helps not to be looking for a chubby baby if that's just not gonna happen.  I'd say you're a good eater though, and already are watching me eat like a hawk, so we'll see what happens in the solid food department soon.

Overall, we are figuring each other out more and more.  You tolerate the carseat better, but it's still not your favorite.  You spit up a lot.  You will probably be swaddled til you're 13.  You're content to lie still and kick, kick, kick those legs.  The first thing I hear when you wake up is the sound of your legs slamming down on your mattress over and over.  And if you're lounging quietly, please - no startling noises.  Not a fan. You reeeally like water - bath, pool, whatever.  And that smile.  Oh my.  It lights up my life sweet boy. 

We love you SO MUCH.