Happy 4 Months Old, Will!

Will turned 4 months old about a week ago. He had his well check yesterday & here are his stats:

Weight: 15 lbs, 6 oz, Height: 23 1/2 inches

Developmentally he is at the level of a 5-6 month old! Our pediatrician was very impressed with Will's constant babbling (although he remarked on how loud he is - Will talked the ENTIRE time- loudly! We like to call him "megaphone mouth!") He told me he thinks Will will be talking with a huge vocabulary by age 1 (in Spanish if I can help it! :) ) He also said he was the most "aggressive" 4 month old he has ever seen - due to Will's constant babbling & his action (kicking, playing with toys, etc) on the table! Besides constantly talking to his doctor & showing off his kicking & playing skills, Will also showed off his smile- Mr. Charming this morning! (until the dreaded shots- ugh - hate those!)

Reflections on month 4:

Will started babbling this month - I love talking to him & listening to all the sounds he can make. Sometimes he just runs his mouth until he is all out of air... takes a breath, & starts over again!

Will started turning the pages of his books while I read to him - so cute how he moves his hand & flips over each page!

He is lots of fun in the bathtub... one of my favorite things is to bathe with him - he just splashes & smiles & is just precious. We especially love bubble baths.

That precious smile... & he started laughing this month- big, deep belly laughs! I never know what he may find hilarious. One day a toy will just crack him up, the next he looks at me like I'm a nut as I try to get him to laugh again at the toy. Last week, he thought it was absolutely hysterical to lay in just his diaper & stick his hand in my mouth for me to suck on. (He's sharing a lot lately- he sucks on his hand & then sticks it in my mouth- precious!) Well, the next day, he didn't think that was funny anymore & looks at me like I've lost my mind when I try to make silly noises with his hand in my mouth. When you don't know if your baby will ever be able to smile or frown or laugh & you pray daily for these things, you learn how valuable they are - not a single smile is taken for granted & I often catch myself trying to make him smile for strangers... I just want to share his sweet, innocent joy with everyone. I am so blessed! I can't even describe to you how terrifying it was 4 months ago to fear my baby would never be able to smile at me. I am so grateful for his beautiful smile! Don't take smiles for granted- they are not guaranteed!

My favorite sounds in the whole wide world: Will's heartbeat (while I was pregnant), his cry (when he was born), his voice, & his laughter

He has also started experimenting more with other facial expressions - love it when he makes his sad face & sticks out his lower lip - so so so cute!

We started rice cereal this month & green beans today. He eats like a pro - like it's not new at all to him! He's such a relaxed baby! How many ways has Will been fed? Spoon fed, cup fed, breastfed, bottlefed, syringe fed, 2 different types of sns feeding, tube fed, & gnouge fed (no idea how to spell it... those of you whose babies have been in the nicu know what I'm talking about!) Maybe this is why the spoon is no big deal to him!

Sleeping in month 4: what's that? I don't know what was going on in the last month, perhaps a growth spurt?!?! Will was NOT a good sleeper! He had been a great napper & a good all night sleeper & then he decided to exhaust me with super short naps & multiple night feedings! However, as of a few days ago, he is backing to taking 2 good naps & a short evening nap & is doing much better at night (9 hours 2 nights ago!!!) My new trick for nap times is put on a cd (on repeat) nearby the crib- Praise Baby or womb sounds do the trick. He is having his "quiet time" & praising God I guess! :)

Flying in month 4: Will flew 4 times last month! He has now flown a total of 7 times!

Will got to spend time with all of his grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins, & great grandparents in the last month!

Will completed his first 2 races in the last month (a 5 K & the marathon!)

Will was in his first musical ( church Christmas pageant)

Will went to the church nursery for the first time (harder on me than on him!- He did great!)

Will had his first teenage babysitter- she was FABULOUS!!!

Will began really playing with his toys in the last month.

Whew- so far, I've loved every stage of having a baby. This past month has brought about a lot of developmental changes & he is getting more & more fun as his personality develops! I am loving this motherhood thing! (In fact, I keep mentioning having more babies to Reagan- exhausting but so much fun!)

Happy 4 months old, Sweet Will. I love being your mommy!

Thanks for the beautiful pictures, Sarah!