Happy 4 Months, Brantley!

At 4 months old you...

- Weigh 16 pounds 12.5 ounces (85th percentile)

- Are 26 inches tall (90th percentile)

- We just finished the last of the size 2 diapers and you are now in a size 3.

- You are in between sizes right now. Most of your 3 to 6 months clothes fit you. Some of the footed sleepers are getting a little tight in that size. You are wearing some 6 to 9 month clothes with the sleeves rolled up.

- Love putting everything in your mouth. You've been a little grouchy lately and that is not like you. It makes me wonder if we are getting close to those teeth coming in.

- Trying to get the hang of holding your own bottle (I don't think I'm ready for this one yet).

- Smile all the time and laugh when something is REALLY funny. But you don't just give a laugh away without hard work from the person trying to make you laugh.

- Are definitely a morning baby. I love going to get you from your crib in the mornings because you just look at me and smile.

- Sleep like an angel! You go to bed at about 7pm. We give you a bottle between 9 and 10 and you sleep until I go to wake you up to feed you before work (between 5:30 and 6am). On the weekends you will sleep til about 7 or 8am.

-The last few nights you have started turning yourself over from your back to your tummy in your crib in the middle of the night. This has thrown a small kink in your sleeping because you absolutely hate being on your stomach. I know the distict cry when it has happened. I go in, roll you over, and you go right back to sleep (until you do it again).

- At your four month appointment, Dr. H said we could start introducing you to solids. We've been putting oatmeal in your bottle since you were 2 months old. So we gave you oatmeal cereal to start out. You weren't crazy about it but you tolerated it. Yesterday we tried carrots for the first time and you LOVED them. You smiled and smacked your lips the whole time. It is so much fun to sit face to face and have breakfast (and dinner) together.

- You "talk" all the time. You babble and we babble back to you and it goes on for awhile. And of course, you smile the whole way through it.

- We took a trip to Louisiana for New Year's Eve and you did awesome in the long car ride there and the long car ride home. You were so flexible while we were there. We are so lucky you are such an easy baby.

- Love when I read books to you. We read "On the Night You Were Born" almost every night. Julie gave this to you for Christmas and it quickly became one of my favorites. You just sit and look at the pictures as we turn the pages and I read it to you. One of my favorite times of the day.

- Your favorite toys right now are your doorway bouncer that we got you for Christmas and a toy that Aunt Ashley and Uncle Greg got you to work your feet. You lay on the floor smiling and kicking the hanging toys. Those keep you very entertained.

I want this time with you to slow down. I was telling someone the other day that the first month and a half was so tough trying to learn each other and figure out what I was supposed to be doing. I have "hit my stride" (as Anna says) and I wish I could have that time back. Half the time I didn't know whether I was coming or going. But you were patient with me and we have figured it out together! We have learned so much about each other these last four months. I know what way you want to be held. I've learned your cries. I know what you'll like and dislike. I know I don't have everything figured out. I know there will be another stage we will get to where I will feel overwhelmed and not sure of what to do. But I know we'll figure that out together when we get to it. I love you so much Brantley. My world is so much better with you in it!

3 Months!

Happy 3 Months, Brantley! At three months you...

• Have found your feet and there is not much that can capture your attention when you zone in to them.
• LOVE your bath time and have started to splash in the water. We moved your whale tub from the counter to the bath tub because of all the excitement.
• Are wearing size 2 diapers
• Unofficially weigh 14 pounds.
• Love looking at yourself in the mirror and hear me talking about what a sweet baby I have.
• Eat 5 ounces every 3 hours and get a six to seven ounce bottle at night before bed.
• Smile ALL the time. You are rarely fussy and so much fun to be around. I don't have to worry about taking you anywhere because you're so easy and mellow.
• Sleep in your swing from 7 to 10. Get your nighttime bottle at 10 and go right to bed.
• Your favorite toy is rainforest bouncy seat. It helps mommy shower, clean, etc. I think you'd stay in it for days if I let you.
• Wearing mostly 6 month clothing now. I packed away your newborn and 0 to 3 month clothes this last week and it made me a little sad. It went by too quickly.
  

I can't believe it has been three months. This last month has not gone by as fast as the first two and I am so thankful for that. Every night when I feed you your bottle I rub my nose on the top of your head and try to soak it all in. I know there will a come a time when you'll want to hold your own bottle. I'm going to miss these times. I don't know what I did to be so lucky to be your mom. I feel like my heart is so much bigger since you've come in to my life. I forget what life was like before you. Watching you learn new things and grow is so much fun for us. Your dad and I love you so much.

2 Months!

Oh my gosh, I can't believe two months have already passed! I've been telling myself over the last few weeks that I would be ready to go back to work. I'd be ready to not be spit up on all day long. I'd be ready to have adult conversation during the day. I'd be ready to use my brain again. And the nerdy accountant in me cannot wait to get back to bank reconciliations, journal entries, etc. This is my last week at home on maternity leave. I go back on Monday. And wow, it is starting to hit me how hard Monday is going to be. I am so glad that we are lucky enough to have June watch him when I go back (and my mom on Fridays for the first six weeks).

Ok, enough of being a debbie downer about next week and on to his two month stats...

- Weighs 11 pounds 3.5 ounces
- 23 inches long
- 50th percentile for length and head circumference
- 40th percentile for weight
- He has started sitting up really well in his Bumbo. His head bobbles every now and then but he's got awesome control over it for the most part.
- He smiles all the time. It does not take much to get him to smile. And I of course love that he finds us so entertaining.
- He will play on his play mat for longer periods of time and is learning to bat at his toys. Every now and then he'll get a hold of a toy and hang on.
- Still loving his swing. But we are starting to use it less for naps. He's started napping in his crib more. We are using Babywise to get a schedule and he's taking to it really well!
- Has made eye contact with Sadie a few times. And she can't get enough of him.
- His reflux seems to be under control now and this makes me a happy mama. Once it was under control he started gaining weight and eating great.
- He takes a 5 oz bottle every 3 to 3 1/2 hours. At night we give him a 6 oz bottle. The longest he has slept at night was 6 hours. I think it was a fluke at this point though.
- Still loving his bath time. He becomes so chill when we sit him down in it and loves looking at himself in the mirror while we bathe him.
- Is in Size 1 diapers.
- Wearing mostly 0-3 month clothing but still has a few newborn outfits that fit him well.

One Month

Brantley turned one month old yesterday! I've decided to make him a onesie each month that corresponds with the number of months he is turning. I'm also going to put him in his LSU chair next to his bear so that we can see how much he has grown.





At one month he...

- Is still mostly in newborn clothing but some 1 to 3 month clothes don't swallow him whole.
- Has skinny little legs.
- Nicknames are "Monster", "Bubba", "B", and "Goose".
- Hates being burped. The minute you take the bottle out of his mouth he starts grunting and crying.
- Is up to 2.5 oz of milk every two to three hours.
- Sleeps amazing at night! He wakes up every three hours (four is the longest he has gone so far) ready to eat, but once his belly is full he is right back asleep.
- Laughed in his sleep a few days ago and it was the most precious thing ever.
- Hates bath time - I hope this gets better over time!

He is the most amazing little guy ever. This month has been the greatest of our lives. Such a huge change and adjustment, but so incredibly worth it.