The Whetstones: 4 Months Old

Isabelle is 4 months old today! The time is just flying by and I want to remember every single moment. Caring for her has become much, much easier because she sleeps better and her gas problems have subsided. She probably has gas once a week and it goes away pretty shortly afterwards. We went to her four-month appointment yesterday and our pediatrician recommended that we hold off giving her any food like rice cereal until she is closer to 6 months old due to her being born 7 weeks early. The doctor was afraid her motor/coordination skills are not advanced enough. I agreed because Belle just started holding her head up the past few days, and I want her stable enough to sit in a high chair before I start feeding her food. The doctor also noticed that Belle's head is a little flat on the backside (probably because she is always laying down on her back or being held), so she wants us to make sure Belle is turning her head alot, looking around, and basically working on her head control skills. This means we are going to have to start treating the little one like a baby instead of a newborn, and not holding her quite so often. It is a little bittersweet for me because I love cuddling with her. She's already growing up, *tear*! At least all her baby toys like the swing, bouncy seat, and jumper will get used more often now. Here's a recap of what's been going on with her lately:

-Belle, you weighed 12 pounds and 2.4 ounces at your four-month check up. This puts you in the 19th percentile for your weight!

-You are wearing 3-6 month size clothes now, and Mommy is having too much fun buying you new outfits! I notice that some clothes fit you in length, but are too wide. You are still wearing size 1 diapers although they are becoming a bit snug. Pampers swaddlers fit the best and Pampers sensitive wipes seem to be easier on your skin.

-Tummy time is still upsets you more often than not, but we have noticed in the past week or so that you are getting much better at holding your head up. Daddy has been practicing with you by making you stand up and hold your head upright, and you are getting better at it.

-You have started to roll from side to side when we put you on your back. Yay (my mom) thought you were about to roll over once and even texted me a photo while I was at work. You kick your legs with such purpose now that I call it "back crawling." I can place you in the middle of the bed, and you will be near the edge before I know it. This is just the beginning of you becoming mobile!

-You sleep great in your crib, and usually only wake up once at night. We put you to bed around 10 p.m., you wake up around 2 a.m. to drink a bottle and have a quick diaper change, and usually you sleep the rest of the night until 5:30-6:00 a.m. There have been two times that you have slept straight through the night. Although you aren't sleeping all night consistently yet, Mommy doesn't really mind all that much getting up to feed you because it is so peaceful with just me and you in the nursery.

-Since you might roll over soon we put you in a sleep sack now instead of a swaddle blanket so you will be able to use your arms to move and breathe in case you end up on your tummy at night. It only took you three days to get used to having your arms out! I was afraid it was going to take much longer because you used to love to be swaddled. Another instance of you growing up, *tear* again!

-You are definitely able to recognize who your parents and grandparents are, and usually cry now when someone else is holding you.

-It is also getting easier to take you places because you are awake alot more during the day. You stayed for the first time in the church nursery this month and did just fine. This past month we have taken you on several walks around the neighborhood in your stroller, out to restaurants, over to visit friends and family, and even my favorite, shopping :-)

-I think you are starting to enjoy bathtime more. You look very relaxed when we bathe you, and you love staring at your reflection in the mirror.

-I'm looking forward to you being able to sit up soon and play with toys. You aren't quite able to hold things in your hands yet, but I know it will happen before I know it.

-You drink the regular Enfamil infant formula and take usually 7-8 5oz bottles a day. We are weaning you off Zantac because you don't act like you have acid reflux. We stopped giving you gripe water as well, so gas drops are is the only supplement that we give you regularly. It has become more difficult to burp you,and I'm not sure why. You are not constipated anymore and only need pear juice every one in awhile. You usually go #2 every other day.

Belle you make our lives better and we love having you in it each and every day!