4 months

Our darling little princess pea, we cannot believe you are four months old already. Here are some little bits (Or not so little since mama's doing the talking.) about you at this point in your life.

First, you are as good as they come. Daddy and I take you everywhere and you are such a good girl. I never have to worry about going to the grocery store or to events, you enjoy going and doing with us and we love taking you. The only time you fuss other than being tired is when we aren't in the comfort of our home and you don't have your play areas. You don't like to be held nonstop and when you don't have a place to be independent you get bored of being held.

You have a crazy side. Mommy and daddy can both be koo-koo and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You get hyper and dance, move, kick and shout...and 'turn this mother' out as daddy would say! You are always "talkin' this and that" daddy says too. You both make me laugh so much. You are a light sleeper like your mama and have trouble sleeping for long periods of time during the day (sometimes) and never want to miss the action. Your typical, yet ever changing sleep pattern is asleep by 7pm, up at 12ish, back to bed until morning, sometimes too early but you only play for a bit before you go back to sleep. You've yet to have a complete full night's sleep yet, but you're doing good. We still have you with us. It's easier to put your paci back in and reswaddle you when you bust out and start to wake too soon. We may transition you to your crib soon, basically mommy isn't ready to let you go. You can fall asleep without being swaddled sometimes and have fallen asleep in your crib for the first portion of the night, but then I like you back by my side.

You let others hold you and give everyone big smiles. Just recently you will cry for a hot second when I pass you over, I don't know if it's a fluke or if you notice you're not with "mamadada" as we call ourselves. Within moments you are over it and talking up a storm to whoever has you. You play on your own for long periods of time, if I can leave you alone. You let daddy get ready in the morning and mama do some chores while you play with your elephant or toys. You are such a morning girl, you are very cheerful and love to talk and play, full of big smiles. You like to have conversations with mamadada and we take turns talking. You love when I read you books. You look at the pages and listen to the words. I'm glad to see it's possible for you to sit and focus, I look so forward to reading with you as you grow. Now, I read to you while we rock and while you do belly time on your changing table. You are SO good at belly time now. You like to be entertained while on your belly but you stay there happy for quite some time. You drool a lot and usually spit up once when you first lay down. You squirm non-stop as always. You do hold still at times when I have your attention. When I repeat, "Mamamamama, daddadadadada," you look at my lips close and start moving yours, not quite in the right way but you're trying. You will sit still when we make eye contact and talk soft. You sit still when you watch something on TV that grabs your attention for a minute. You'll lay still when you first fall asleep for about 60 - 90 minutes then you're all over the place for the rest of the night.

You are so gentle. You love to hold on to hands, or fingers rather. When I feed you, you grasp one of my fingers so tight and the other hand strokes my other hand. You're so sweet and have such a soft touch. Your tight grip is one of security and love, when we squeeze you tighter you do the same back. You love your hands still, you're constantly grabbing at things and eating your fingers. When you fall asleep you like to hold onto our fingers or your blankets. I have to remember to put one of your small toy blankets near your hands or you pull on your bib so hard you sometimes pull it off and they are on good! You still LOVE to be swaddled, you know it's time to sleep when we swaddle you and it keeps your hands from rubbing your eyes awake. Daddy and I know we need to stop soon but you sleep so much better. The doctors don't really say too much about it, so we'll just keep doing what's working for you. I think when we move you to your crib we'll make a few big changes all at once, yikes! You really like when I put a soft blanket over my shoulder and you can snuggle in, you fall fast asleep. This past week you've been sick and you're still just as happy as can be. You have had a cough, fever, and a stuffy nose. We went and did, as usual and you are as happy as can be. You've had trouble sleeping since you can breathe, you love to lay on me and sleep when you don't feel good. I love to hold on to you and feel each breath, even if I don't sleep all night. Dada kisses your arms when you cry out and it puts you back to sleep, even with his scratchy face. You reach over and hit his face with your hand making sure he's close and stroke his hair with your fingers. You let me suction your nose and put saline drops in, you don't like it but you tolerate it. I clipped your nails for the first time and you held still and let me do that. I was so nervous to cut too low, but didn't!

You love your mama and show me in many ways. I try and kiss your cheeks and you move your lips right over to smack on top of mine. Your lips are always wide open, you love the kiss of France! Whenever we make eye contact you give me smiles. When I rock you to sleep we stare at each other and talk a bit. When I close my eyes and rest my head on the back of the chair you close your eyes and go to sleep. Once in a while you'll catch me peeking at you and you'll shoot me a grin, I can't help but smile back. If you're not quite asleep I can still lay you down, and you'll chat to yourself and rub your eyes until you fall asleep. (usually) I hope you know how much I love you back! Thank you for all your big, wet, open mouth kisses!

On Thursday the 13th you rolled over for the first time. I was playing with you on the floor to entertain you on your belly and your head rolled you over. Daddy and I both saw! You did it again for us, I need to get it on video. It's so easy to make you laugh! Each time I come home on Wednesday after work, Daddy has found a new way. He eats your belly, "Numnumnum..." and you crack up. He will turn his head or tilt it back and whip it forward/around and say, "Hi!" and you think it's the funniest thing ever. He uses "Sophie" the giraffe from the Crews and makes it squeal at you on the changing table when you are tired and you go from crying to laughing every time. I've been tickling you with the "Gitchu-gitchu-gitchu" noise and you enjoy that. I also do the airplane with you and you hold yourself so strong and stiff and love to fly overhead. You like standing best, your little "chicky legs" never seem to tire. You prefer that over sitting and laying. You hold yourself for a long time, longer than we let you, you just need help balancing, but barely. I can just let you hold my fingers and you stand on your own just fine. You are getting so big, long! I notice when I hold you, as excited as I am for what you do next I want to slow it all down and even rewind. I know I'm going to think of more I want to add but for now I'll stop. You are the best baby girl parents could ask for. We are so lucky. We love you with all we've got Sunshine, Sunshine Dust, Sunny, Sunny Day, Pumpkin, Princess, Punka butt, etc. That daddy has so many names for his little porcupine!