The Real McCoys: Happy 4 Months Kate!

I know I say this every month, but I can't believe that Kate is 4 months old. Although life with Kate is wonderful in too many ways to count, this has definitely been our toughest month so far. Mainly because Kate has started getting up multiple times in the night, whereas she had been sleeping at least 5-6 hour stretches every night. Let me tell you, there is a huge difference between 5 hours of solid sleep and 2.5 hours. We have gone through every level of trying things to get her to sleep longer ... feeding more during the day, letting her cry (couldn't do it), comforting her, moving her to her own room, bringing her back into our room, earlier bed time, later bed time, longer naps, shorter naps, more naps .. well you get the point. After reaching a point of almost breaking down, I have just accepted that this is (hopefully) a phase she is going through and it will come to an end. I should also clarify .. she is a good sleeper, in the fact that she goes to sleep easily, goes back to sleep easily (after being fed) and naps well. So we are not pacing the floors at night trying to get her to settle, it's just that she wakes up to eat multiple times. I have struggled wondering if she is waking out of habit .. but we found that she does not go back to sleep without eating, and if she does she wakes up very soon after. She also eats a lot when she wakes up, making me believe she is truly hungry. Another source that helped me accept this stage is the book, "The Wonder Weeks", which truly did wonders in helping me understand that what she is going through happens to a lot of babies, and it will end!

Other than the sleep issues, we are doing really well. Thanks to the sleep issues, we have established a set bedtime, which gives us more of an evening routine and gives Kevin and I some time together in the evenings. Kate is learning something new every day. She is very alert and active, is a very happy baby and giggles a lot more now. She still loves her play mat but has also started to show preference for other toys as well (her Oball and stuffed lion). She loves the dogs, and will pet them if they lay down next to her. She also smiles at them and talks to them, its like she has all of a sudden realized that they are living things. Her new firsts (since the last post mid-January) are:
- She rolled over! From her back to her front, at the babysitter's. We haven't actually seen her do this, but she does consistently roll to her side from her back - she curls up to suck her thumb if she's tired.
- Laughs often
- Is still wearing 6-9 month clothes, but definitely needs 9 month sleepers
- Found her feet, she will almost face plant while reaching for them .. it's very funny.
- Has starting shaking her rattles
- Has a lot more dexterity in holding objects .. will move them from one hand to the other
- Still babbles a lot
- I am signing to her, she has not tried to sign back, but I have noticed the last couple of days that she looks at my hands questioningly when I'm signing .. it's like she's figured out I'm doing something with them that she should pay attention to.
- Got her first cold :( She is currently sick, and it's not fun at all. She was also sick while I took her 4 month old pictures, so please excuse the runny eyes and nose.
- Does not like going to the grocery store any more ... we have more melt downs there than anywhere else. I dread going!
- visited the farm - we went for my dad's birthday

Her hair is so long it gets in her eyes, so while yes, this headband is cute .. it's also functional!