I’m finding it incredibly hard to believe that this sweet little cutie-pie is already 4 months old. A third of a YEAR! Wow.
It’s been a fast four months when I look at it as a whole, but we have definitely had some long days. This sweet boy is slowly starting to enjoy life a little more each day (most days) and is becoming a little bit easier to keep happy, which has been wonderful! Here’s a little bit of what four months looks like for Mr. Alex…
Just for Fun: Here’s a look at Lucas at 4 months!
Weight & Height
We’ll find out officially at his well check appointment later this week, but according to my home scale calculations, he looks to be weighing in at around 17 pounds.
Eating
In case you couldn’t already tell by those sweet thighs, Alex loves to eat. On the days that I’m home with him, Alex will typically nurse every 3-4 hours, depending on how long his naps are. When he’s at daycare, he usually winds up having 3 pumped bottles. He still gets one 4-oz formula at bedtime and, depending on when he last nursed, he will sometimes want a little “top off,” so to speak. He’s a great and efficient eater, and it’s definitely one area of our day to day routine that goes smoothly.
Sleeping (naps)
Alex is a pretty good napper for me, but no so much for daycare. Our sitter can usually only get him to nap for 30-40 minutes at a time, maybe 2 or 3 times during the day. When he’s home with me, he’ll usually nap take 3 naps, anywhere between 1-3 hours, and an occasional last cat nap depending on where everything falls. As much as I love when he takes a nice, long nap during the day, we’ve been trying to determine whether or not that’s messing with his nighttime sleep. I’ve been trying to do most naps in the crib, but he does still take them occasionally in the Rock ‘n Play. We still swaddle him for naps, too.
Sleeping (at night)
Oh dear. This is an area we’re still struggling with, and usually just when we start to think things are getting a little better, we wind up back in a tough stretch. Alex still has trouble really staying down at bedtime, just like I described in his 3 month update. Some nights he stays asleep, some nights we only need to go in once to rock and settle him again. And other nights (like the night before I wrote up this post) it took from about 7:30pm – 11:30pm. Needless to say, that was a rough night for me.
We try to do bedtime anywhere between 7-7:30pm, depending on where his last nap fell, and on bath nights, we start a little earlier. Our routine is bath, diaper and jammies, bottle, book, bed.
Once he’s finally asleep for the evening, our nights always look different. He’ll usually wake up once, but it could be anywhere between 1-5am. I’ll nurse him and put him back down; some nights he goes back down quickly, and other nights, it takes a bit longer. Those are the nights that I swear I start half dreaming as I’m rocking and walking around his room with him. It’s quite a weird thing when that happens!
Clothing
We’re in mostly 6 month clothes at this point, although we do have a few rogue 3-6 month onesies that are still working for us, and still rockin’ size 2 diapers.
Social
Alex has started to be a lot more “chatty” this month, with plenty of coos, gurgles, and giggles. When he’s fed and not tired (and doesn’t have gas…) he is happy as a clam and will give loads and loads of smiles!
Just like his brother, he’s also proving to have a very strong personality; when he’s happy, he’s the sweetest, most smiley little guy. But when he’s hungry, tired, bored, or whatever else that is making him unhappy…ohhhh, he lets you know it. In a BIG way. This kid can screech and scream with the best of ’em!
Alex is also incredibly curious and is becoming very interested in his surroundings. He’ll watch any of us leave or enter a room, and can also get rather distracted while he’s nursing.
But out of everyone in the house, I’m pretty sure that he gets most excited and is the most intrigued by his big brother.
As soon as he hears his voice or sees him, his eyes get huge and he develops a big, gummy grin. It’s the absolute sweetest thing ever!
New this month
Alex can now sit up with a little assistance, which is great because it allows him to see the world around him without us having to hold him all of the time (he really loves this seat, which was gifted to us from a friend!)
He’s started to intentionally grab for his toys and will often pull them towards his face or mouth. He’s also found his feet recently and loves to grab for them.
He still won’t take to a pacifier, but he’ll often have his thumb/hands/fist in his mouth, so we may wind up having a thumb sucker on our hands…!
Likes
His brother, bright lights and colors, mommy’s singing (bless his heart…), Sophie the Giraffe, reading books, the piano mat, being swaddled for bedtime (although I’m not sure how much longer it will last), being tickled under his chin, being held and bounced.
Dislikes
Pacifiers (a blessing and a curse!), being overtired, being out of eyesight from anyone for too long, being in his car seat for too long, staying in the same spot for too long (he likes change and he likes to be on the move!)
How is Mommy Doing?
I’m likely going to have to put together a full blog post on this area sometime soon, because I could easily let this little section take over the entire post. There has been a lot weighing on my mommy mind lately!
Emotionally? This is a tough season of life. Some days I feel like I’m doing okay. Other days I feel like I’m barely getting anything accomplished or doing anything right. I hit a particularly rough patch on Sunday night and, I swear, Alex must have realized it because the following night, he actually went down for bed with ZERO wake-ups and slept almost 12 hours straight. It was incredible.
Physically? I’m pretty much at my pre-pregnancy weight, but everything is definitely still…different. And who knows whether or not they’ll ever go back to anything other than this, but whatever happens is cool with me. I have too many other things to occupy my time with than worrying about a number on the scale! I’ve also hit the postpartum hair loss stage and have been losing that at a rapid pace (it’s so gross). The same thing happened with Lucas right around the same time so I’m hoping it doesn’t last too long. If anyone has any advice for this one, I’m all ears!
Comparison:
Alex, you are getting more and more fun with each passing day! And no matter how crazy things are going, your little smile has the ability to immediately make everything all better. <3
Angela says
I love these kind of updates! He is a cutey! When my daughter when through these tough nights, my husband and I would alternate getting up every other night. I had to pump more and use more formula, but it was huge for me mentally knowing that every other night I would get a good night’s sleep!! By 5 months she was a much better sleeper, so our nights of sleeping apart didn’t last long!
Kelli Rudolph says
We do this, too! My husband and I take turns with who sleeps in the baby’s room! Seems kind of strange that we aren’t in the same bed right now (but until she’s 6 months old and the risk of SIDS drops we’ve always slept in the same room with her). … but knowing I’m going to get a good night’s sleep every other day at least is HUGE!
Laura says
I just want to say that you are doing such a good job! I have two kids that are 18 months apart, and that first six months is hard. HARD. I hope it’s encouraging to know that if you are finding joy now, you will be blown away by what is coming! Once my youngest passed her first birthday, I felt like life felt 10 times easier! And seeing them really play together is heart melting! Hang in there because the best is yet to come.
Unfortunately, I have no good advice about postpartum hair loss. But it is real, it is awful, and I’ve been there too. My stylist was always horrified hahaha!
Courtney says
Thank you so much, Laura. You’re right…these first few months ARE hard! But your words are encouraging!!
Bri says
Happy 4 months Alex! I started sleep training my little guy after he turned five months and it’s been quite a game changer in the sleep department. Precious little sleeps is the site- check it out. We definitely tackled things aggressively (CIO) but it is paid off greatly. Also, the four month hair loss is quite possibly the worst thing ever. Vaughn just turned six months and it has finally has stopped falling out in handfuls. Now I’m just half bald ?
Courtney says
We did CIO with Lucas around 6 months so it’s definitely something I’m not opposed to – Lucas has been (for the most part) a really great sleeper!
Alana says
Happy four months, Alex!!! Courtney, what do you mean by you’re back to your weight but things are different? I’m not a mom (yet) but I’m always wondering about how it’ll change my body. Is weight just distributed differently?
Courtney says
Haha everything is just a bit softer and yes, distributed a little differently :)
Christen says
I had two girls and it always amazes me that they are just polar opposites. My second, Bryn, is just pure emotion. Her highs are high and her lows are low. Parenthood is never dull, huh?
Courtney says
So crazy, right?? I’m so curious to see how Alex continues to develop with his personality!
Jennifer says
I was gonna say- how do you handle 2 kids and 3 jobs?! You must be absolutely exhausted! You’re doing great from what I can see!!
Courtney says
Haha, it’s exhausting! I think I’ve kind of forgotten what free time looks like ;) But thank you!!
Bethany @Luluruns says
I totally hear you on those tough night! My little son is six weeks tomorrow, and nights are always an adventure with him. You’re doing great mama, keep it up!
Erin says
He is honestly THE cutest baby!!
I hate giving out parenting advice but this is one that I can never help passing along… my son was a terrible sleeper so when my daughter was born, I was like ‘I can’t go through this again!’ in regards to the sleep habits. Their Pediatrician had been telling me for 2 years to get this book (to apply to my son!) and then when I was pregnant the second time, he’s like ‘you NEED to just read it!’… so I did, finally. We read it, learned SO much about sleep, and how the habits we teach (or let them learn) now can stay with them for life. I can’t recommend it enough!
https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-Child/dp/0449004023
Melissa H says
I feel you on the hair loss! It’s so hard, and I’m right there with you too. I try and tell myself it’s all the hair we held on to and normal and will stop, but man it’s so hard not to panic and feel awful about that. I even googled pics of post partum hair regrowth to remind myself and help feel better, lol. Mine is still thin from baby #1 without much left to lose so hoping it stops. Enough about hair, sorry! You are stunning and an excellent mama.
Kaitlyn @ Powered by Sass says
What cuties!
->https://poweredbysass.com/2016/10/12/travel-recap-munich/