What’s Liv up to?: Our little Liv is 4 months old already! The best part about how much and how fast she’s growing is that every day she’s discovering and doing something amazing and new.
Loves her Sully, 15 weeks old, 6/3/2013
15 weeks, 6/3/2013
She’s more alert, playful, and vocal, melting our hearts with her babbling, singing, coos, grunts, and laughter. She reaches for her toys, shakes her rattles, tries to put everything in her mouth, and generally never stops moving (or drooling).
Loves playtime. And her toes! 17 weeks, 6/14/2013
We saw the pediatrician this week, where we learned she’s up to 15 pounds, which puts her in the 69th percentile. Her height is 24.25 inches, which is the 44th percentile. And her head circumference is in the 87th percentile. Still with the big head!
Tummy time, 14 weeks, 5/22/2013
15 weeks, 5/31/2013
16 weeks, 6/8/2013
We also learned the tiny white speck on her bottom gum — that I thought was the tiny protrusion of a tooth — is actually a Bohn’s nodule. It’s a benign cyst of epithelial cells that will go away on it’s own. I feel like an idiot because I’ve been running around telling everyone baby girl’s gotta tooth! He did say her gums are swollen, so teeth are in the near future, but nope, no teeth yet. My bad.
That toothless smile! 15 weeks, 6/3/2013
We’re gearing up for my return to work on Thursday, which means I’m pumping a lot more and Liv’s getting more bottles. We’ve been easing her into it, because sometimes, she hates the bottle and other times, she takes it like a pro. Jared’s found she does best when I’m not around, without distractions, when the milk and nipple are very warm, and when she’s sitting upright with her arms free. She already seems to want to hold the bottle herself!
Reaching for toys, 16 weeks, 6/9/2013
17 weeks, 6/14/2013
And then there’s sleep…
Love bug! 17 weeks, 6/16/2013
Apparently, month 4 is known for a period of sleep regression. It’s also an important time for establishing healthy sleep habits, so we’ve started transitioning her into the crib in her room. Turns out baby girl’s not a fan and only wants to fall asleep in her swing, carseat, or while nursing (not healthy or realistic long-term habits…). Liv’s constantly restless. She fights sleep. She’s waking up every couple hours through the night (if we’re lucky), resists going back to sleep, and her eating habits have become completely unpredictable.
Who needs sleep? 16 weeks, 6/6/2013
As a newborn, at least we were expecting to be up frequently through the night and she napped during the day, giving us time to recharge. Unfortunately, 4-month-old Liv hardly naps for 20 minutes at a time and wants us to carry her around all. the. time. Needless to say, we have been very, very tired.
Bellybutton! 14 weeks, 5/22/2013
What we’re up to?: As you’ve probably read, we’ve had a bunch of running adventures! Liv (and Jared) cheered me on at my first post-baby races and we ran a 5K as a family! We’ve enjoyed other “adventures,” like our first family outing to the “cry baby” movie matinee (we saw Hangover 3), as well as brunches and barbecues, reunions with friends from college, house decorating excursions to Bed Bath and Beyond, exploring new dog parks, and numerous trips to Costco (my favorite!) and the grocery.
Costco trip, 14 weeks, 5/24/2013
Aunt Allison’s birthday photo, 14 weeks, 5/27/2013
Happy little race spectator, 15 weeks, 6/2/2013
Brunch at Lotus Cafe, 16 weeks, 6/9/2013
Month 4 Thoughts from the Zen Dad:
Yeah, so I’ve been a little MIA on the blog. Truthfully, I’m addicted to Candy Crush and all of the other “things” that come with my new cell phone. But what I’ve been enjoying most is all of the moments I’ve been spending with Liv and Meg (and Sully). Never in my life have I felt like lying in bed, staying indoors, and just sitting around until noon would feel like a full day. As Meg has mentioned, waking up to Liv’s giant smile will always be the best way to start my day (even at 5:00 AM).
Horsing around with dad, 16 weeks, 6/10/2013
Recently, Liv is so much more interactive. She wants to look at the baby in the mirror. She loves shoulder rides with her Daddy. Most of all, she wants to be held all the time. She already has me wrapped around her little finger because I will do ANYTHING just to make her smile. The weird faces I make for her and the crazy noises… I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
It has also been so amazing to start feeding Liv her bottles. Honestly, it is MUCH more difficult than I ever imagined. There are times when she’s so hungry she happily melts into my arms and takes the bottle easily. A lot times though, I am doing everything I can to keep her calm and focused on drinking from the bottle. I’ve created a twisting technique where it tricks her tongue and helps her continue to keep drinking. Sometimes I walk around with her. Other times I lie her on the changing table (one of her favorite places!) and give her the bottle there. Ultimately, it feels like the biggest accomplishment every time she finishes a bottle and I get to run and show Meg!
I am so grateful about all of the experiences that Liv has brought me. I can’t believe it’s only been 4 months. Seems like she’s been in my life for years. Liv = Happiness.
Finally likes a carrier! 17 weeks, 6/11/2013
Breathing in, I rejoice.
Breathing out, I reflect.
Beautiful afternoon at Stone Brewery, 17 weeks, 6/13/2013
Month 4 in Review:
- Liv loves: Ceiling fans, clapping, the baby in the mirror, Sully’s fur, holding her toes.
- Liv hates: Not being held, having clothes pulled over her head, when the sun gets in her eyes, bedtime.
- Firsts: Sleeping in her crib, taking baths without the sling, riding in a baby carrier without screaming her head off!
- Highlight: Last weekend, I ran 11 miles from San Marcos to Encinitas to meet hubby and baby for brunch at Lotus Cafe, which has the best acai bowls! There were more traffic stops and stretches without sidewalks than I anticipated, which slowed me down, but hubby saw me on his drive down and looped back around several times so he and Liv could cheer me on. I’m looking forward to many more of these long-run adventures since the Long Beach Marathon is only 17 weeks away!
Acai bowl at Lotus Cafe, 6/9/2013
Special (belated) Father’s Day shout out to the hubster! This parenthood adventure we’re on is ridiculously fun (and messy!) and I’m grateful every day that I’m going through it all with you.
Daddy’s girl, 17 weeks, 6/15/2013
(You need a haircut.)
