4 Months

Nicknames: Mah-ree-ree, Fuzzy Lumpkin, Sweetie Pie, Lovey
Temperament: Predictable and delightful.
Thing(s) I Could Do Without: You are transitioning between eating 4 ounces at a time to 6 ounces at a time, and I never know how much you’re going to need or want at a particular feeding. You’re my hungry hungry hippo!
Thing(s) You Could Do Without: Your brother getting in your face and screaming like lion/bear/banshee.
Item/Toy We Love The Most: The Bjorn babysitter bouncer.
Item/Toy You Love The Most: When we dress you in separates you love to be able to bring your shirt up to your mouth and devour it.
Things I’m Loving Most Right Now: Like your brother, you seem to prefer two longer naps instead of three shorter ones.
Things You’re Loving Most Right Now: Flirting with the pretty bald baby you see in the mirror.

First photo: Brother’s leg warmers and onesie
Second photo: Mama’s
Third photo: Brother’s onesie and pants, pants are Polish (gift from Aunt Zu)
Fourth photo: Mama’s dress

M,

We went to the park to watch your brother play and you sat in my lap, smiling and even laughing as the other kids ran by. You’re very interested in everything going on around you, and are always happy to have someone look your way and give you some attention. Now when I have you on my shoulder and hold you up to the mirror your face lights up as you see your reflection and think you’ve found a new friend to engage with.

Your brother says your name in the funniest way, something like mBah-ree. Neither of us can duplicate it exactly. He likes to get right in your face and shout very loudly, and sometimes he pushes the boundaries of what’s okay and pushes your boundaries up and down rather violently to try to get our attention. He loves you so much though, and it is a joy to watch you interact with each other. I’ve frequently heard that people have children close together to try to create strong sibling bonds (even though it is incredibly difficult to handle two little people at once) and I am left hoping that your 3-year age difference along with your difference in gender won’t prevent you from being close friends who use technology that hasn’t even been invented yet to talk about their crazy mom.

You’ve been rolling over more often, from front to back, and once or twice from back to front. You also love to pull the bottom of your dress up to your face and have a little snack. I was thinking that your brother never did that, and then I realized that’s because he never wore dresses. He missed out.

My favorite development this month was when we set you in the Bumbo-style chair for the first time. It has a white cap that goes between the portion on your legs, and whenever we set you in front of that white cap you put all of your effort into getting it off the chair and away from you. It’s amazing to see a baby so young be so determined! It makes me wonder if you will be good at puzzles? I really like puzzles and would love to sit down and put together a jigsaw puzzle with you.

For now though, let’s work on the ability to hold your own bottle. Okay?

Love,

Mama