4 months

New Year’s Eve this year was quite different than years past…one beer and in bed by 9! Oh and I must say the holiday has officially moved down to the bottom of my list of favorite holidays for sure. The sound of fireworks popping was disturbing to our sleeping baby. Of course, I was up at 12:30 putting her back to sleep after the big show! I was never a fan of fireworks, but I’m definitely not now.

Over the holiday break, we started putting Brooke into her crib for naps. We had a rough start; she cried for about the whole time the nap usually lasts, which ended up throwing off her whole nap/sleep schedule. On top of which our sweet pea has found her toes. This has made everything near impossible without her playing with her feet, especially diaper changes and sleeping. 

Up until this point, she had been sleeping in her Rock N Play Sleeper in our room. After a couple nights in the new house, we tried moving her to her room. Keeping her in the sleeper, with a shirt of mine close by (so she would be comforted by my scent) we hoped she would start getting adjusted to her new room and the idea of being away from us at night. Brooke would cry and need her paci replaced throughout the night, which she had not been doing up to this point. We were unsure if the increased attention at night was actually because she was losing her paci or if it was just her not sleeping well. With Michael working out of town, us recently moving, the interrupted sleep and other added stress, we were all getting a little cranky. Something needed to change. The icing on the cake was waking up to our daughter sitting up in her sleeper! We had her buckled in, but I was still so nervous about her safety. Brooke is over 15 pounds now and likes to sit up and play with her toes; it was time to move to her crib! Plus mommy missed sleeping through the night…and wanted the same for Brooke too!

January 3^rd, the night before her 4 month "birthday", was the first night our baby girl slept in her crib through the night…and she stayed in there a solid 13 hours! I had it set in my mind that I would wait 15 minutes between crying to check on her and assure her mommy was there and loved her very much! After her nighttime routine (bath, bottle, bed), she began crying. I talked to Michael the entire 15 minutes while I sat in the front room of the house (the furthest from her crying) before going back into her room. After the dreadful wait, I went in, replaced her paci, put my hand on her tummy, told her I loved her, kissed her forehead and turned on the glowing seahorse again. She began crying again before I made it out of the room. I talked to Michael for what seemed like the longest 15 minutes as she continued to cry. I headed back to her room to repeat the same steps. I got to the door of her room and she stopped before I walked in. I returned to look at the monitor and sweet pea was fast asleep. I was shocked, sad, happy, excited and tired among so many other emotions! Off to bed, I went, not knowing how long it would last. Much to my surprise she lasted through the night. I hope it is not a fluke and she will continue to sleep this well in her crib. Woke up in the morning to a sweet smile from a girl who slept through the night without scaring her mommy half to death trying to break free from her sleeper; she was able to squirm and wiggle all around her beautiful crib. Happy baby = happy mommy.

Her 4 month appointment, she measured in at 25.25", 15 lbs 15 ounces and a head circumference of 16.75". She has some dry skin which because of the strong family history could be eczema but it is still too early to tell. It doesn't seem to be bothering her, but we are keeping her skin very moisturized, especially with the cold, dry weather. Everything else seems to be right on target. Pediatrician suggests waiting until 6 months to introduce solids, so no changes for now. She received another series of immunizations and cried less than she did at 2 months. She is such a strong girl! Later she showed signs of fatigue, but no other side effects from the vaccinations.

Our little girl is growing up, and while it makes me sad, I absolutely love to see her personality develop and learn new things everyday. A child brings on so many emotions, I never would have imagined. She fills my heart with so much joy. It takes a lot of will power to not get out of bed in the middle of the night, go in her room and just scoop her out of her crib. I could hug her and kiss those cheeks all day long. I am so proud to be her mother. I thank God daily. Happy 4 months sweet pea!