James At Four Months!

At four months, James:

* Weighs 17.5 pounds. This is in the 75th percentile. Last month he was in the 95th percentile. He's working it all out!

* He's 26 inches. This is between the 50th and 75th percentile. He's gotten SO long in the past month. His clothes aren't fitting!!!

* We still haven't worked the sleeping out. He usually goes down around 8 or 9 and is up every 2-4 hours after that. Last night I fed him at 10 and he slept until 5:20. I felt like a new woman this morning!

* He's wearing a size 3 diaper now. We moved up a few weeks ago and it's made a huge difference. Hopefully we'll be in these for a while!

* He's eating every 3 hours during the day.

* He still uses a pacifier only when truly necessary - when he's very upset or very tired. He spits it out after he goes to sleep. If you try to give it to him under any other circumstances he acts like it tastes disgusting!

* He doesn't keep his hands out of his mouth. If his hands aren't in there he's either chewing his wubbie or a burp cloth or the seat of the Jumperoo.

* He's not very concerned about which finger is in his mouth, as long as he has one or all of them in his mouth. I have to keep lotion on his hands because he's sucked them raw!

* He sleeps swaddled up in the Pack 'N Play. The next step is to teach him to sleep UNswaddled.

* He's pretty happy during the day but is the most happy first thing in the morning. Sometimes it might've been close to 4 hours since his last meal but he has to talk to me before he eats. If I try to get him to eat instead of talk it's pointless. I just have to listen and talk back until he realizes he's hungry.

* The Boy likes to sleep late. He's been known to eat between 5 and 7 AM and then sleep until 10 or 11!

* Still loves his carseat. He's more alert in the car these days, especially on short trips. He doesn't fall asleep immediately anymore unless it's truly naptime.

* Still loves to be on the go! He acts so much better in public than at home. I think he just likes looking at new things.

* Still loves to swing but the Jumperoo has beaten it out for favorite hobby. He sometimes swings at naptime or while I'm in the shower, but typically only swings if he wakes up REALLY early and I want to entertain him so that I can sleep a little longer. Is that terrible of me?

* Still loves a bath.

* He can bear weight on his legs for a few minutes. If he gets tired he squats down.

* He's holding his head up pretty well!

* Likes tummy-time more now because we do it at bedtime when Eddie's reading to him. The Boy LOVES to read!

* He can sit up if I have a hand behind his back.

* He still jabbers ALL the time. He's not really grunty anymore. He's laughing more often and we've discovered he's "selectively" ticklish. Sometimes when we tickle him he laughs, sometimes when I change his clothes and my hands touch his sides or his underarms he laughs. It's pretty hilarious but very erratic. He won't do it if we really want him to!

* He's learned to put his pacifier in his mouth but forgets to let go so he pulls it right back out!

* He reaches for and grabs things that are put in front of him.

* He can roll from his back to his side but his arm gets in his way so he can't go all the way over yet.

* He found his feet a few days ago and he loves to pull off his socks. He hasn't put his feet in his mouth yet.

* He's so much fun right now! I told Eddie this morning that I'm loving this stage because he's so much fun and not mobile yet! Ha!!!