4 Months!

Our baby boy is 4 months old already! I can't believe how quickly the days go by. Sometimes I really wish that time would slow down because my little baby is getting so big so fast! Luca is so much fun! He is really starting to develop a little personality and it is so amazing to watch him as he becomes more and more aware of the things that are going on around him. I took him in for his 4 month check-up today and these are his stats:

Weight: 14.1 lbs (50th Percentile)
Height: 25 inches (50th Percentile)
Head: 16 inches (30th Percentile)

He did not grow as much between 2 and 4 months as he did between 0 and 2 months. The pediatrician said that is fairly common and he is still very healthy and everything looks good, so not to worry. Whew!

Luca is still just nursing - he wants nothing to do with formula. We have tried giving it to him a few times because I am concerned that I am not making enough milk for him. The pediatrician said that at this age he should be able to go 3-4 hours between feedings during the day and 6-8 hours at night. Well he is definitely NOT going 6-8 hours at night and sometimes during the day we barely make it to 2 hours before he starts to get hungry, so I have tried to supplement with a bottle of formula here and there, but he will not take it. I feel so bad because he gets so excited when he sees the bottle (which he takes just fine from anyone when it is filled with breastmilk) but as soon as it touches his tongue and he realizes it is formula, he spits it out, closes his mouth and turns his head away. He is so smart - he knows that's not the good stuff :-) The Dr. did say that if we think he is ready we can try giving him rice cereal once a day. I definitely think he is ready because anytime that we are eating in front of him he is constantly reaching for our fork/spoon and he is really interested in what is on our plates. So, I will probably try the rice cereal with him in the next couple weeks.

Here are some of the things Luca is doing right now:

• Cooing/talking and squeaking/squawking with delight
  
• Smiling with a big, open mouth grin
  
• "Standing" - we can prop him up with his hands on the couch or ottoman and he will stand there for several minutes without falling down
• Rolling over in both directions
  
• Grasping things - he is able to grab things like his binky and turn it in his hands to put it in his mouth the right way
• Sucking on his hands/fists (and thumb - which we are really trying to stop)
  

Two of my favorite things in the whole world :-)

Being silly with dad before his bath.

Morning smiles for mom while she is working.

He loves bath time.

Luca and his Auntie Erin.

I love this picture! He is so cute I just want to eat him!

Hanging out at Grandpa's house.