then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby is four months old

Dear littlest Russell,

At four months old you:

•Hold your own bottle

•Ate pears

•Starting to army crawl

•Said Mama

•Drool a lot

•Suck on your thumb but still won't take a pacifier

•Grab toys and people's hands and bring them to your mouth to chew on

•Love Charlie. Your face lights up everytime you see her and you reach out to pet her. 

•Sleep has/is going through a regression.  You no longer sleep right through the night, rather you are up at least twice usually around 1am and 5am. You are able to stay awake for longer stretches during the day and for car and stroller rides too. 

•Weigh 16 pounds 2 ounces and are 24.5 inches long

•Wear size 9-12 month clothes, 9 month pants and size 4 diapers

 

Love & Kisses,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby's first word

Dear littlest Russell,

You did it! You have been practicing all week and you finally clearly said Mama. I know at this point you are just making sounds and you don't know what you're saying but oh man did you get the most excited reaction out of me. 

I cannot wait for you to say it in context or any other words for that matter. You are such a bright, strong, smart, happy boy and I'm so proud of you!

Love & Hugs,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then things that make me laugh

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then first food

Dear littlest Russell,

Today you tried (and gobbled up) your very first food-pears. I know, I know, you are "supposed" to wait until the baby is four to six months old before introducing solids but who are "those people" anyways? I'm your Momma and I know you better than anyone and for many reasons I could tell you were ready to at least try something. 

Reason number one: You have amazing neck control-since day one really. It's kind of freaky but I'm glad you came out so strong as I never had to worry about supporting your neck like you were a fragile little bird or something when I held you or passed you to someone else. 

Reason number two: You have been showing a big interest for about a month now in real people food. Every night you watch Daddy and I eat our dinner before you go to bed. You watch us as we put food in our mouths, chew and swallow and I can tell you are learning because you are following with your eyes and reaching out with your hands. 

Reason number three: This may be too much information but I'm going to say it anyways, my peiods have come back for a couple of months now and I feel like my milk supply has gone down. Breastfeeding has become challenging for us right now. You are teething something fierce and the pressure on your gums as you try to nurse frustrates you. Also you are way more aware of your surroundings lately. The dog barks and you pop off to look at her, you pop off to tell me stories, you pop off because the neighbour came home and slammed her door shut, you pop off when you see my phone and want to play with it, you pop off when you hear Daddy talking...I think you get the idea. I'm trying to build up my supply with pumping more often as you have no problem talking a bottle of pumped milk but it's nice to know that you can now be fed something else if you need to be fed in a hurry from Daddy (aka we haven't defrosted a bottle and your freaking out).

Reason number four: I'm trying a new thing out. It's called trusting my instincts. This is going to be challenging but I'm up for it. 

And the main reason or (reason number five): I gave you pears today because I opened a can of them for part of my lunch and didn't want to eat the whole thing so I busted out my baby bullet and voila-baby food.  

Someone sure loved his pears. 

Love & Hugs,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then first date

Dear littlest Russell,

Tonight Daddy and I went on our first date since you've been born. And it felt like a first date in many ways. I was excited and nervous and had an upset stomach full of butterflies. Grandma and Grandpa got a quick run down for feeding, jammies and bedtime as we ran out the door. Of course we picked a restaurant close to home so we wouldn't be out long. It only took one of these bad boys before I started to relax. 

Daddy and I had a lovely time and I was glad and a bit surprised that we talked, laughed and smiled like we did before we had kids. Sure we talked about you but we were able to return to the people we once were and it felt great to eat a meal while it was still hot, no interruptions, no crying babies. 

I'm not sure why you weren't in your bed sleeping when we got home-maybe it was because Grandma and Grandpa were just trying to steal a few more cuddles before they had to go home anyways I'm glad we came home sooner rather than later. I gave you the rest of your bottle that I had to wake up in the middle of the night to pump and put you to sleep. 

I like and love you sweet boy (even though I heard that you peed on your Grandma). We will have a chat about that tomorrow when you wake up. 

Love & Hugs,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby's first Valentine's Day

Dear littlest Russell,

Today was your first Valentine's Day and I'm afraid I failed you. I didn't know that even at this age (I thought it was a school thing) kids hand out cards to each other. So you received two cards and handed out none. Mind you the two cards you received came from my mommy friends who do have school age children as well as children close to your age...so for a lack of any other words "they've got this mommy thing down."

I promise to be on my toes for the next holiday...I just have to google what it is. Easter? Saint Patrick's Day? Is there something in March? Do we prank your friends on April 1st? I guess I should figure it out sooner rather than later. 

Love & Kisses,

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then stranger danger

Dear littlest Russell,

I've noticed lately that you are starting to prefer who attends your company. You now play shy and while you still love to show your toothless grin to anyone who so much bats their eye at you, you will only do it if you are being held in my arms. 

Your grandparents are feeling sad that you don't want them holding you...oh sure you warm up after awhile and you see them as much as a few times a week so it's not like they are strangers but lately as soon as you are in their arms that bottom lip is out in full force. 

I'm hoping that this phase will soon pass after all Valentine's Day is coming up and mommy and daddy plan on going out on a date and leaving you with your grandparents. 

Love & Hugs

Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then baby is 100 days old

Dear littlest Russell,

Today you are 100 days old. How quickly have those days gone by! No longer do you resemble a newborn but an infant all the way. I feel a little sad that you are growing up so fast. The older you get the more my confidence lessens with what I'm doing with you. Sure in some ways it has grown but you are in an awkward stage of becoming more independent without being able to communicate. 

When you were first born I had the most confidence with you. You were such an easy baby (and still are for the most part). Your needs were easily met. I mean after all, all you did was eat, sleep and poop. Then you started to stay awake for longer stretches of time. You didn't wake up crying for boob and that's where the "ok now what am I supposed to do with you" phase entered. So I tried playing with you, reading to you, teaching you sign language, tickling you but I feel like sometimes it's too much and that maybe I'm not very good at it. 

We go to baby story time at the library and you by far are the youngest one there. I have people coming up to me all the time asking how old you are, and when I tell them they congratulate me for getting out of the house all on my own with a baby who is so young. I'm taken aback every single time I see that surprised face. And then the doubt comes in...am I pushing you too much too soon? Are we supposed to be sitting at home singing the itsy bitsy spider? 

Lately I've been trying to let you play on your own without hovering around you, engaging you in play. It's hard. My need for control and protection over you is really high. Maybe it would be different if I could lay you down on the floor and let you roll around and play on your own but we have Charlie who would be all over you in .32 of a second. So far you can play in you exersaucer by yourself for short amounts of time which is nice because it gives my arms a break from holding you. 

So as much as I would like time to slow down or even rewind I would also like it to speed up so we can get out of this awkward stage of I don't know what to do with you thing we have going on. 

And this is where I feel the most satisfied. When you are both sleeping. Haha. Poor baby! You are sure getting the raw end of the deal here. 

Love & Kisses,

Mom