Four Months Old

Jacob turned four months old last week. Can you believe it? Even he can't believe that sign says FOUR months...holy cow...where has the time gone?

I can't believe how big he is getting and how he is turning from a small baby into a little boy. I have a hard time remembering how little he once was as he has changed so much in the last four months.

We went to the doctor today and she told me that he is just perfect (which I already knew!). He currently weighs 15lbs, 13 oz (70th percentile) and is 25 inches long (50th percentile). She was impressed that he was rolling over and that he had started when he was three months old. She said that means he is "ahead of the game" with his gross motor skills. I am already bracing myself for him to start crawling early!!

He also got three shots today and he did really well. He cried when he actually got the shots but once I picked him up and cuddled him a bit, he settled down. He even fell asleep on the way home from the doctor's office.

I talked to the doctor about Jacob's spitting up, which is really annoying (for him and me) and happens more some days than others. I was hoping that it was going to end sooner than later, but it seems to be continuing. She suggested that we start giving him a small amount of rice cereal before each feeding. She said that this should help keep everything down. I can't say that I am super excited about starting Jacob on solids, for numerous reasons....it is messy, it is more work that just breastfeeding, and it requires more planning when we are out of the house. I am willing to try it though, so that he is no longer in discomfort. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!

These days, I am really enjoying being at home full-time with Jacob as his personality is really coming out. He is such a happy baby - even first thing in the morning (he certainly didn't get that from me!). He smiles most of the day and is easily amused by the littlest things. His bouts of laughter are contagious - he sometimes giggles when other times, he lets out these huge laughs! He is also very ticklish and I can't resist tickling his little body so that I can hear him let out a little giggle.

He is especially happy and giggly when Daddy gets home in the evening. I think it is awesome to see the two of them interacting and I can tell the love that Jacob has for Keith just by the look in his eyes.

Keith is hoping to pass his love of books on to Jacob. Right now, Jacob is not super excited about books, but we continue to read to him and hopefully, as he gets older, he will learn to love them.

One thing he does enjoy is singing. And, although, I know that I don't have the best singing voice, Jacob really likes listening to me sing. His favorite songs right now are "The Wheels on the Bus", "The Farmer in the Dell", and "You are my Sunshine". Sometimes he even "joins" in while I am singing. It is so cute to see him being able to interact with me more and more.

Physically, Jacob is becoming stronger every day. He now holds his head up really well and loves to be on his stomach. He will lay on the couch or on the floor for awhile, just hanging out. He loves to look around and take in his surroundings.

I think he really enjoys the new views he is getting from being able to sit up in the Bumbo seat or play in the Hop 'n Pop.

He doesn't really "hop" too much, but he is learning how to make the music work by either extending his legs or hitting one of the buttons. And, he loves to watch the lights. It's so much fun to watch him learn new things.

Breastfeeding is still going really well, although Jacob does get easily distracted these days. He often will stop eating and start looking around if he hears someone talking nearby or if I have the TV on. I used to be able to feed him while catching up on my favorite DVRed TV show, but these days I am finding it easier to feed him in silence. This way he can concentrate on eating and not on what is going on around him. Also, I have learned that he and I can connect better when there is less going on around us. I love the closeness that I feel towards him when I am feeding him. Time is going by so fast that I know these days are going to come to an end all too soon.

Sleeping is also something that continues to go well, although the last week or so, Jacob has started waking up every 3-4 hours during the night (he had been sleeping for 10-11 hours straight most nights). I am attributing it to a growth spurt and hoping that it ends soon. The doctor suggested that I do not feed him when he wakes up and I may try that tactic tonight. I am not sure I will be able to ignore his fussing, but I will try.

He is definitely a stomach sleeper and instantly turns over onto his stomach when we put him in the crib on his back. He also has a tendancy to scoot up and sleep in the very corner of his crib. It is quite cute, but makes me nervous every time I see him like this. I worry that he is going to suffocate himself when he turns his face towards the bumper. I go in and check on him often when I am awake.

All in all, our little boy is growing up and I am happy and sad all at the same time. It is so awesome to see him acquire new skills and learn new things everyday, but I am sad that these "baby" days are going by so quickly. Like I have said numerous times, I am truly blessed to be Jacob's mommy and I love him more and more everyday!