4 months

Dear Kaeden,

This one snuck up on me! It's really not fair that February only has 28 days - it just flew by!


So, you are another month older. To tell you the truth, you've had kind of a grumpy month. Don't get me wrong... there have been plenty of smiles and even a few giggles, but in general, you've been a little bit fussy & have needed more attention.

your "I don't know about this" face

You're already turning into a Mama's boy - in fact, you get upset when Daddy puts you to bed, which we thought was just coincidence at first, but seems to actually be a complaint. Your Daddy is pretty great too, you know! The upside is that your face lights up when you see me, and it always melts my heart. I suppose when I have a nearly 3-year-old who has recently taken to telling me to "go away", it's not such a bad thing to have a baby attached to me :)


You had your 4 month doctor's appointment and everything looks good! You weigh exactly 15 lbs (7 oz less than your brother at this age & in the 50-75th percentile), you are 25.25 inches long, and your head is in the 50th percentile... which is where you lag behind your brother since his head was in the 95th the whole first year of his life!

Ryan & you, both at 4 months - you look so similar in photos, but I really don't think you look like him in person!

You have established more of a routine for your day, although I wouldn't exactly call it a schedule yet. Let's just pretend that this is a day when we're home all day (very rare, but definitely your preference!) You typically wake up between 8-8:30 in the morning, eat, get dressed, play for a bit, and go down for a nap about 1 - 1.5 hours after you woke up initially. You nap for about an hour and then eat again around 11. More playing, another nap around 12:30-1 (once again, anywhere from 30 mins to an hour) and eat again around 1:30. Play some more... nap again around 3:30, eat around 4-4:30. Then you're usually up (though sometimes rather grumpy about it) until your next feeding between 7–7:30, and then to bed around 8! It sounds rather tedious, but most days, we are out & about for various activities, so it is rare that you get to spend all day at home. Plus, even when we are just at home, you have your brother to entertain you!


This past week, you decided you were done with being swaddled. It served you well for many months, but I guess you're getting to be a big boy now. So, now you are going to sleep without it! You have definitely been fussing more to fall asleep initially, but so far it has not affected the duration of your sleep, which was a very pleasant but unexpected surprise.


It hasn't been a particularly eventful month overall. We didn't go anywhere and didn't have many visitors. The weather has been warming up significantly, though, so we've been able to get outside more and go for walks, etc. As long as it's not too windy or bright, you tend to be pretty happy outside - but the wind definitely takes your breath away! And you can't stand the sun in your eyes.





I don't have a lot more to say about this month, so I guess these remaining photos will have to say it for me. I will say this, though - I keep falling in love with you over and over, little one. These are great days, and I don't take them for granted. Mommy loves you!

Kaeden & Mommy, at the park

eying Daddy's chocolate peanut butter!

Ryan LOVES it when you two wear your matching shirts!

happy boy, playing on the floor with your toys

you look so sweet, sleeping in your swing

hamming it up for the camera with your sweet friend, Emelia (Ryan had better watch out 'cause she definitely has a thing for babies!)

looking so grown up in your polo shirt, sitting in your bumbo



and finally, some sweet faces from your 4 month photo shoot - you weren't very smiley, but still cute!

Finally

After 3 1/2 months of trying, I finally got some photos of both of my boys smiling & looking at the camera. YAY :-)

and I know they're not smiling in this one, but I still thought it was pretty cute...

I love these cuties :)

Cousins

I am so thankful that these boys are only 6 weeks apart - what fun they are going to have growing up together (and already do!)



this one totally cracks me up - Atticus is trying to eat Kaeden's hand & Kaeden is giving him a look!


LOVE these boys :)


I had to include this one - Atticus just cracks me up!!

3 months

Dear Kaeden,

Happy 3 month birthday :-)


It continues to amaze me just how much you can grow & change in one month. I have loved getting to know your ever-developing personality. What a sweet boy you are... and oh so sensitive!

You are probably the most nervous baby I have ever met. At times, all it takes is a loud voice or a wild hand motion (especially from your brother) to set you off. You do not like to be scared. So, I guess I would describe your personality as cautious, but oh so lovable. I can't wait to see what you will be like when you are older.

Though you are cautious, you are quick to reward anyone who is willing to play by your rules with a big smile. Gentle voices and smiling faces are your favorite. You have even started to smile at your brother much of the time (as long as he doesn't get too close!) You still love to be sung to, and this month, you've really started to enjoy reading.


You currently weigh 14 lbs, which means you're still gaining about an ounce a day! I'm glad you're healthy, but I hope you slow down soon!


You love to be naked. Getting changed is your favorite. You almost always get a huge smile on your face when I'm pulling off your pjs. I always feel badly putting clothes right back on, but after all, you are a winter baby!



You were so sweet to grant my request and start sleeping all the way through the night this month. You even went above & beyond and started going to bed earlier! Ahh... I feel like I have my life back. You have no idea the difference it makes to have some down time in the evenings before bed. Now, you normally go to bed somewhere between 8-8:30. We've been sleep training for a little over a week, and you are putting yourself to sleep with little to no fussing. I'm so proud of you! And you are even sleeping all the way until 7 or later most mornings. I am so lucky. Of course, every wonderful milestone has its trade-offs, and you have definitely started sleeping less during the day now that you are doing so well at night. Most days, you are only taking 2-3 hours worth of naps total throughout the day and therefore you're generally pretty cranky by dinnertime. And you still insist on being rocked to sleep for naps most of the time, but we'll take it one step at a time. You're doing great! Oh - and you absolutely have to be swaddled to go to sleep these days, so I am dreading the day that you start escaping the swaddle-me!


This month, you started grabbing toys. You especially like holding on to your rattle. You don't even let go when you're asleep - see?


You also still LOVE your owl - he's one of your very best buds. You like to grab onto his strings too.


Last week, we tried out the bumbo for the first time - you loved it! It gives you a whole new perspective on the world :-) And I think you feel less vulnerable than lying on the floor. After a few minutes, your head starts to bobble, so it's a short-lived adventure for now, but we're working on it!


I got my first giggle this month. I was blowing on your stomach and then tickling you under your chin and you gave me the cutest little giggle. But, you refuse to repeat it - now, you still get a huge grin, but it's a silent one! Let's work on that sense of humor, okay? ;-)


You've been rolling over from your front to back, but it's not at all consistent yet. You seem to get in rolling "moods" and you'll do it 3 or 4 times in a row and then not again for a week or two. In general, you still don't love tummy time, but you are being patient with me and we try to get some in at least every day! You are also warming up to your car seat, which is a wonderful thing since you almost never fall asleep in the car anymore.


Like I said, you are warming up to your brother. As long as he is calm and quiet, and especially if he keeps some distance, you are very happy to be around him. You like to watch him... especially when he's playing trains and you can stand up at the table and watch the trains go around. That is Ryan's favorite too. Ryan loves to hold you these days, and you are still not too sure what to think about that. It's usually okay for a little bit until he decides to squeeze a little hard or give you a few too many kisses. But you are a good sport and I know that as time goes on, you two are going to be great buddies!


This month, you had a visit from your Nana & Papa. You always like it when they're around because it means you get more attention and Ryan is so busy playing with Papa that he generally leaves you alone! Of course, I couldn't get both of you boys to smile at once, but oh well...



You've also been spending a lot of time with your B. - she's been watching you most Wednesday mornings while Mommy & Daddy have meetings or run errands... it's been wonderful for both of us, since you hate shopping and pretty much leaving the house at all. Of course, in my efforts to be productive, I never think to take any pictures, but we'll get some soon :-)

So, thank you for bringing joy to my life every single day. I love you, little one!

this moment

new TV

We recently got a new TV. Ryan was pretty excited. Mason had some help carting the beast out of the way (thanks, Casey!), and in the interim, before he had a chance to set up the new one, we came to find this:



In case it's not clear, Ryan had taken the "tv" (I'm actually not sure what exactly it's supposed to be... tv? stove? microwave?) from his play house & put it on the tv stand. Cracked us up!