Annie :: 4 Months

In Annie's third month of life her personality really started to shine. She has become our little spit fire. Maybe it is that she is still so tiny but everything she does is cracking us up. We are such first time parents - hanging on her every move.

Annie is reaching for anything and everything she can get her hands on. From our food to wrappers and credit cards - she wants it all. She even loves grabbing her tootsies, as we like to call them. She plays with toys most of the day while laying her on tummy. If we put her on her back and give her a toy she will roll right on her belly to get a closer look. I am chalking it up to her being a stomach sleeper? She is a rolling machine. Sometimes she will roll four times in a row to get to something. She is also doing the swimming motion. 

She is constantly pushing up on her teeny tiny feet causing her head to dig into the ground in an attempt to move across the floor. She is happiest when we let her hang out with a nakey bottom. She will play with her toys for a good hour or so straight. She is also starting to jabber and will talk back to you if you look her in the eyes and make sounds. My goodness that smile plus some coos melts my heart.

We are working on her sitting. James is hilarious. He has little "training" sessions with her. I am secretly trying to slow the whole "growing up process." Despite my attempts Annie is getting closer and closer to sitting. She sits kind of like a gorilla - with her weight on her hands. She is golden until you offer her a toy and she lifts up her hand and starts to lose balance.

Annie weighs a little over 12 pounds and is wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes. Although she still fits into some 0-3 month pajamas and dresses. She is in size 2 diapers. Everyone still comments on how tiny she is. Pictures are misleading.  Despite her petite size she has these squishy cheeks and chunky legs that we kiss on all day. We really do have an obsession with kissing those cheeks. It is kind of embarrassing.

I am still nursing 100 percent and love it. This past month I have faced some challenges during her growth spurts and have started to take Fennugreek and drink Mothers Milk Tea. I have noticed a significant difference when I work out or try to cut calories. Everything is much better now but I am realizing that nursing requires a lot of work. I am grateful that I have my Mom and James as my nursing cheerleaders. I give her a bottle of breast milk several times a week, which helps me stay sane. Even though I had a few rough days this month, I am still loving it. 

Annie goes to bed around 7 or 7:30 p.m. She wakes up at 7:30 a.m. but is still eating every 4-6 hours throughout the night. She doesn't even open her eyes to eat. She just gets the job done and goes right back to bed. Since she hasn't doubled her birth weight yet - I am not worrying about sleep training. I don't know if that is really my forte anyway. I didn't really pay much attention to her nap schedule until this week - but she is basically on a 3 hour schedule. Sleep. eat. play. I have just followed Annie's lead - and since I don't get out much a pattern has kind of formed. Her night sleeping isn't perfect - and I am still feeling a bit tired. But so far we feel pretty darn good about our little groove.

The one thing that has caused some sleep issues is the rolling. Annie has always been a tummy sleeper but since she started rolling I find her in the oddest positions. She will go from one end of the crib to the next in a dead sleep. I don't even know how it happens but I am grateful she has the bumpers to help ease the blow.

We left Annie with her first non-family member baby-sitter right around the 4 month mark. It has taken me some time to warm up to the idea since we are in a new place but I am so glad I did it. I am hoping we can find a couple to swap with in our ward soon.

Annie and I are having a thumb sucking battle. I can't even admit it to my dentist Dad. But this little girl has decided that her thumb is the cats meow. James thinks its adorable. I try to remind him that you can't take a thumb away and it is a hard habit to break. I pull it out of her mouth every chance I can get and put the binkie in.

She still hates her carseat. I mean HATES it. She even thinks it is a pretty great place to make a messy diaper - and does it almost every time I put her in it. I am fairly certain it is her way of punishing me for putting her in the car. My best bet is to leave the house right after she is fed. Put her in that puppy tired and you are in for a screaming mess.

Still loving her nightly bath in the Puj (best product ever), mornings are her happiest time and she still falls asleep best with a binkie and her silky blankey. Occasionally she will fall asleep in her swing. 

I have loved watching her interact with James this past month. She thinks her Daddy is the cats meow and laughs the most when he is around. Although I hate that she is growing up so quickly, I am relishing every new stage and trick that Annie comes up with. My love for her is so immediate. She is our sunshine and the center of our world.  We sure do love our little spunky bambina.