Four Months Old

Four Months New

I did it.  I went back to work, and then kept going back.  On the first day I cried, a lot, like an abnormal amount.  But, by the end of the week I was able to hold back my tears and leave him without black mascara streaming down my face.  Fortunately, I only have one more week of work until I get 8 more wonderful weeks with him- perks of teaching!  I'm lucky to work with such wonderful people who spoiled me with coffee and chocolate upon my return to ease the pain.  I'm also lucky to have an extra large fridge to hold all the wine bottles I need to make the transition easier. 

Although I was an absentee mother at work this month, I actually don't feel like I missed any huge milestones or that my child has forgotten me.  I still got to witness all his new experiences and made it through the day with picture updates.  I feel like working has made me treasure the time I do get with him more and nothing is better than his smile when I walk in the door.  Don't worry husband, I'm still down to be a stay at home mom if the opportunity arises.   

Likes:

-Talking- H has discovered his voice and he has so much to say!  I'm pretty sure the only one who understands him is our dog, but it's adorable either way.

-Jumper- Harrison's feet finally touch the floor in his jumper and he is now obsessed with it.  He's learned to press the buttons to make music, spin the toys around, and bounce a little bit.  Sometimes he just lounges back in it and stares at the fan- he's a simple man.

-Bumbo- If we are in the kitchen cooking or eating, he joins us at the table in his Bumbo.  He loves being able to sit up and join us in light conversation and wine.

-Bath time- We have started giving H real baths where he is submerged in his seat and he is really coming around to them.  He likes being squirted by the toys and kicking his feet in the water.  He really likes when you sing him silly bath songs, so scrub a dub dub has become my new jam.

-Changing Table- He loves having his diapers and clothes changed during the day.  He laughs and smiles and it makes changing poopy diapers way more fun than it should be.  

-Naps!!!!!!!!! FINALLY.

-So many things.. we have one happy kid.

Dislikes:

Honestly, not much.  He gets hangry on occasion, but that runs in the family.

Schedule:

Harrison's schedule changed slightly this month since I abandoned him to hang out with teenagers.  He'll thank me one day when we can continue to pay our mortgage and not have to live in the gazebo across the street.  His sleep schedule is a mystery to me.  He either sleeps through the night from 7:30ish to 5:00ish, or will wake at 1:00 or 3:00.  You never know what you're going to get.  I can't complain though, he is sleeping long stretches either way and goes right back to sleep after he has a midnight snack.  During the day he is still eating every two hours and his formula intake has increased since I can only pump one time at work.  Thanks to that, I've had two clogged ducts and am ready to throw in the towel because OW.  Enough about my boobs, back to the baby.  He takes two to three naps a day, sometimes 20 minutes, sometimes two hours.  We take him everywhere and he's very adaptable to any situation.  We got lucky with this one, which makes me nervous for our second baby in the future. 

Features:

Blue eyes, blonde hair, chunky thighs.  Need I say more?

He's 26 inches long and weighs 14 pounds 13.5 ounces.  He is wearing Pampers Swaddlers, size 2, and is in 3-6 month clothing (6 months in the Carters brand).  He's one chunky monkey.  

Milestones:

-Sitting supported

-Rolling all the way over- back to front to back 

-Babbling

-Reaching for and grabbing toys... then eating them

-Holding his small bottle

-Holding his hands together

Firsts:

-Mother's Day

-Beach trip

-Wore sunscreen 

-Zoo adventure 

Challenges:

The biggest struggle this month was being away from him.  He was fine and probably didn't even notice I was gone, but it was definitely a challenge for me.  We survived though and there is an end in sight...until August.

Thoughts:

Each month gets better and better.  I keep thinking that each stage is the best stage, but then he does something new and it's even cooler than the last thing.  I love watching him grow and learn and celebrate each victory with him.  This little boy is the best thing that's happened to me and I love him more each day, even though that seems impossible.  

Mother's Day 2015

Toes in the sand