Hi all! Happy weekend! I want to get into the habit of adding my weekly IG posts all in my newsletter & giving you guys the lowdown on sales for the weekend so you don’t miss anything! I know sometimes I can be busy when I’m looking at IG and forget- so having something in my inbox helps me!
So…here we go!
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Wow, first of all I have to say that I’m literally going to pat myself on the back for actually getting this blog post up and out on the actual day that he turns 4 months. That. is. impressive. Haha. Most of the time I’m like 3 days late with the photo and I get around to the blog post a few days after that! Ha! #MOMLIFE
So, here we are… 4 months! The last month has brought a TON of smiles, his first plane ride & first time in florida, some pretty crappy sleep (ha), lots of rolling and dirty diapers, and his first giggle!
We went to the dr. yesterday and the little guy had a few shots and had his 4 month check up. Currently he’s rocking in at almost 16 lbs (!!) and is in the above 70th percentile for height and weight. Kid doesn’t miss a meal! ha!
He continues to be a SUPER super happy baby. So smiley, engaged, and talkative (in a baby way I mean, of course). He was a pretty good traveller (other than the sleep side of things) and napped on the go pretty well when we were out and about. He loved the water! I’m totally looking forward to experiencing his first summer starting next month and seeing the “summer world” through his eyes! Every single day, regardless of how tired I am, I feel so thankful for our three boys!
I always find it interesting when people share what sort of schedule, if any, that they have for their infants. Sammy is still on the Eat, Play, Sleep schedule and I’m proud of myself for sticking to this! With my older two we always fed before sleep so they got used to nursing to sleep…which makes it harder on you because they always associate falling asleep with nursing or a bottle! Hopefully this pays off.
Currently we are on a 90 min wake schedule rather than timed naps because every day is a little bit different. Traditionally I have waited until baby has gotten to be 6 -8 months before trying to implement set times/drop down to just a morning and afternoon nap. The last couple of weeks his naps in the morning have been shorter (about 45 mins). In the afternoon he tends to take one long nap (2-3 hours long)This works out alright because my older two are generally napping at the same time so we aren’t missing out on doing anything during that time frame! I know a lot of people do a set schedule like Moms on call, but I want to have the flexibility to take my older kids to the park, walk for one of his naps, etc. and I don’t want too much structure especially with 2 older siblings. So, I try to shoot for 75% of his naps at home and the rest we just roll with!
Nighttime sleep hit a real tough patch when we went on vacation. This happened with both of my other kids at the same age, so it doesn’t really alarm me. Its just part of the process. ((sigh)) Unfortunately none of my kids could just adjust really easily being somewhere new when they were babies!
He NEVER got comfortable in the pack and play and then ended up catching a cold from my middle son. So, needless to say it was rough. I think his best night he was up twice, worst was 4-5 times! Ouch. When we got home from the trip I feel like he was all out of schedule and honestly he was just a mess. It took a couple of weeks to get him back on schedule (and a few nights of crying) because he was routinely waking after the trip out of habit and expected me to come into his room like I did when we were in Florida. On top of the travel, we had to remove him from the swaddle and he was also going through the sleep regression. So, yeah. Fun stuff. ha.
I tackled all three problems (unswaddle, post-trip hangover, and the sleep regression) with the following:
Unswaddling: bought the Merlin Sleepsuit and used it for a week to help him transition out of the swaddle. Doing one arm out of the swaddle was NOT working and going cold turkey would have been disasterous. We loved the Merlin! He felt cozy and his reflex didn’t wake him up with it, but he could still move around a little bit which helped the transition. Once I felt he was somewhat used to being out of the swaddle with the Merlin, I put him in a sleep sack because I didn’t want to have to wean him off the Merlin in 4 months.
Post trip Hangover: I tried as much as possible to get back into a routine STAT and try to limit naps on the go for a few days. Things improved after a 5-7 days but he was definitely still waking more than usual…which brings me to….
Sleep Regression: This has always been such a challenge for me with my boys. Each and every one of them went through such a difficult stage with the 4 month sleep regression. This basically means that their sleep cycles are changing to be more like ours, and not like a babies. Which is ultimately good, but CHANGE is hard y’all. Especially when you WERE sleeping and now you AREN’T. lol.
So, I reached the point where I had to let him cry a little bit to learn how to self-soothe. We would periodically go back in and check but after one night (two rounds of intermittent crying), he slept 7pm-4 am. Not every night is like that, but at least I have him back on somewhat of a schedule sleeping from 7pm-1 or 2 am. Usually after that he might be up every 2-3 hours but it sure beats being up every 2 hours like clockwork after I put him to bed! ALSO..he’s out of the swaddle! So #winning!
If he’s still waking when he gets a little older, I’ll get a little more aggressive/serious about sleep training to sleep through the night (between 6-9 months)
Nursing is going great- I feel like I’m almost at a point where I’m almost not going to be leaking anymore (yay). He generally nurses about 5 times a day . He still nurses once a night, twice on a bad night. I think its more of a comfort thing for him, not necessarily hunger because a few nights a week he only wakes once. I found with all 3 of my babies that they wanted the comfort and connection when we nursed in the middle of the night. I’m okay with the one wakeup at night, 2 is a bit excessive. ha. So we’re working on that!
I currently still pump when I’m at work or out although I do try to plan things around when he eats (mornings and weekends) because pumping is such a drag. I do love my willow pump though. I can move freely rather than being stuck to an outlet plugged into my hospital grade pump. My review for the Willow is coming in the next 10 days on the blog!
Giggling, hands ALWAYS in the mouth (discovering), tons of smiling and rolling from side to side (not onto his belly yet)! Its so fun watching him do new things. A little part of me dies inside because I know its “my last firsts” but I guess thats all part of life, and part of parenthood!
Likes
The Jolly jumper
His playmat
Walks
The Swing
Being around people
Smiling
his brothers
bouncy seat
Baths
Dislikes
Dirty diaper
Car rides (for the most part)
Not being entertained!
Wind
Shots
Sitting in the car seat for too long
Here are a few of our 4 month favorites & some cute apparel we either have or that I think is so adorable!
Hope you all have a great day! xo
Alex
Change. The only thing that is constant in life.
I just dropped the boys off at the airport and I was literally dying inside. All thats been on my mind the last few days is how different everything is going to be when they get back. I’ve been trying to soak in my mornings with Seb while Max is at school, family dinners and breakfasts…ahhhh. Not going to lie, pretty much in tears when I went to the car. Knowing the changes ahead of us, that nothing will be the same, how did this all go so fast??! I know they’re going to have a blast (my oldest was up at 5:20 am ready to go LOL) but its never easy in these moments knowing tons of changes are coming your way. I’m so excited; yet scared, anxious, sad, so many emotions. Here’s to our new normal of a family of 5!
That’s not to say a small part of me is basking in the fact that In the next few days I don’t need to bend over with my huge bump 83939 times a day to change diapers…or pick up toys, put toys together lol, put shoes, coats, gloves, on/take off my toddler, etc. haha.
Or the fact that I’m on no timeline. WHAT? I don’t have to be home at a certain time for the kids or bring them everywhere. So foreign to me.
But still….miss them so much already.
6 am bright and early ready for sunshine and Mickey Mouse with their grandparents!!!!
So…for now I’m going to distract myself with a fun post about my 10 faves of the week!
things I’m loving right now….
DYSON BLOWDRYER. Um yes. Yall. This is life changing. I have super thick hair and I swear I put off my whole hair washing process till the last possible moment cause it takes forrrrever. And also #momlife and I’m slightly lazy abt it haha. I got the dyson blowdryer for Christmas (just the basic one) and honestly I can’t say enough about it. I know its a huge investment…but if you have thick hair and are super busy (who isn’t??!!) you need this. Also, if you have to wash your hair a lot (like every day), it is a must have. This blowdryer has made my hair way softer than my old dryer, my blowout lasts longer and honestly it is SO quiet and dries my hair in like 5 minutes (and I have sooo much hair).
2. I love this Gleaming Heart Roadtrip sweater for Valentines Day and its almost 50% on the rack!
3. This Topshop Belted dress has been on my wishlist for like…weeks now and its under $50
4. This Abercrombie Long Turtleneck sweater is 50% and comes in a ton of colors…
5. This purple pom beanie from Abercombie is so stinking cute and unique and the price is SO good.
6. I’m a sucker for stripes and need to snag a few of these AERIE striped tees for postpartum and layering.
7. Isle of Paradise Self Tanner: I have super fair skin and love to have color. I was never good at finding a good self tanner. Over the last year I’ve liked the Josie Maran Argan Gold but it does get on your clothes/sheets after application if you go to bed after and I wish it lasted longer. Enter Isle of Paradise tanning water (or the drops I heard are really good). I AM OBSESSED. It doesn’t leave any residue on my sheets after application, its SUPER Dark, lasts for 3-5 days, doesn’t come off on my clothes and it has a slight smell but honestly the next day I can’t even smell it. It took me one application to figure out how to use it and make sure it was even. All of my posts lately I’ve had it on. Its a MUST. FYI I use Dark.
8. The double up Ardell lashes are my new fave- add soooo much volume!
9. This Jcrew factory pom hat is GOALS. Can you tell I love my winter hats? Also comes in black/pink!!
10. I’m on the hunt for nursing friendly clothes and this ruffle trim wrap top from Jcrew factory is perfect…and feminine. I also love their tissue turtlenecks. Save 50% off on 2 or more items, 60% off on 3 or more items, and 70% off 4 or more items from clearance!! YAS.
Hope you all have an amazing weekend.
XO
Alex