long and lean

We went to the doctor on Friday for the 4 month well visit and she was very impressed with little Eddie's strength, in particular his control of his head and neck. She also shared his growth results, which were 26 1/4 in. long (90th percentile) and 15 lbs. 5 oz. (75th percentile) and said "he's long and lean." We haven't called him "chumbly" in awhile. His new nickname is "bomba," which is the word bomb in Italian. I said it a few months ago, as it is sort of a take off on the word for baby (bambino) and other nicknames for babies in Italian (bimba), and it has stuck.

As some of you may have realized, every month on the 18th to mark Eddie's monthly birthday I take photos of him with a bear that Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Rick gave us when Eddie was first born. I will continue to do this throughout his first year to note his growth as a comparison. This week when I took the photos he did something he has never done before...he started interacting with the bear (see photo)! He grabbed it and gave the bear a kiss...or rather put the bear's face in his mouth. Here is a four month update...crazy that it has been four months!

physical: rolled over in crib during the night, but still have yet to see you roll over during the day. When you are placed on your stomach you lift your head up and have your arms out, as if ready to crawl. Often your feet are in the air too. We know that you can move because whatever position we put you in in your crib you seem to move into an entirely different position and often are on the opposite end of the crib or with your head wedged in the corner. You have more control sitting up now when assisted and we can prop you up with pillows and you will stay sitting for awhile. You are very sturdy on your legs...seems like you will walk before you crawl! You are bringing your hands together and using your hands a lot, mainly to suck on. You are handling objects very well now, grabbing for things, holding onto them for long periods of time and even passing them from hand to hand. Your cognitive development is apparent too because when you drop a toy or it gets out of view you often whimper or start to fuss, indicating that you want it back. Still drooling a lot and no signs of teeth...

language: the coo's are more throaty now, almost like gurgles and what they call "raspberries" which is when you almost blow spit when you make them.

expressions: you stick your tongue out sometimes. You still have a very focused expression when playing with toys or starring at people. You are smiling more and more. We are trying to get you to laugh out loud and you try, but it is almost like a dry laugh which doesn't make noise. You like to be kissed all over, more so than tickling, which always gets a smile out of you.

personality: the colic is over, thankfully! and so you spend more hours sleeping in your crib than before. During your waking hours you are still very persistent, driven, active (like to be in motion or standing or playing with toys) and intense. You like to be picked up and held. You like to play with toys and books but you get frustrated easily and start to whimper or fuss - I read that the frustration is part of the learning process and that we should allow it happen because that is how you will learn.

books we've read: the current favorites are "Christmas Mice," "Pat the Bunny," and an alphabet book. You are starting to really get engaged in the reading process, grabbing the books, turning the pages and even putting them in your mouth - this just happened yesterday with Pat the Bunny. Today you were reading the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" so vigorously that you got a paper cut!

toys we play with: you are really into toys now, grabbing everything and putting things in your mouth. your favorite right now is this orange plastic ball that is a web of rings, making it really easy to grab onto, from www.rhinotoys.com. you seem to like harder plastic now and like to put the connector rings, like those to hang toys from your stroller or carseat, in your mouth. Also started to use your Razz teether that our neighbor Beth gave us. It is like a bumpy pacifier and you seem to really like sucking on it.

songs we sing: we have been singing holiday songs this month. You like "Jingle Bells," "We Wish You A Merry Christmas," "Let It Snow" and basically whatever gets into my head from listening to Sirius Pops channel 866.