Turtle Monkey

Last night went really well with Elias. He was in a great mood when he came home from daycare. I had chili ready for dinner and Elias was content to sit in his swing while I grabbed a bowl. Even though he’s not going to be ready to start solids for another couple of months, Mark and I are thinking of getting him a high-chair like device so we can all sit at the kitchen table together as a family for meals. I’m not sure whether this would frustrate Elias since he can’t have what we’re having, or if being able to look him in the face and talk to him while we’re eating would entertain him.

Then we did another video chat with Mark’s parents, but Elias wasn’t going to produce a smile for anything. He did get a little talkative at the end of the chat, but he was his usual stubborn self through most of it.

After his 8pm feeding, he fell asleep on my shoulder and I held onto his sleeping little body for at least a half an hour, while Mark and I watched Stargate Atlantis. After the show, I went and put him down in the bedroom and to my shock and amazement, he stayed asleep for a good 90 minutes or so! He woke himself up by coughing. I went back there, picked him up and bounced him back to sleep again before laying him back down. He lasted another 30 minutes or so before another cough woke him up. By then, I was ready to go to sleep as well, so I joined him.

One night earlier this week I tried putting him to bed this way unsuccessfully for about two hours before I gave up and went to bed. We’re going to try to be as consistent as possible about getting him to bed using this method because it was OH SO NICE to have some time alone with Mark. We just watched TV, but it was still very nice.

I think tonight I’m going to try keeping him awake a little bit longer (as long as he’s not acting fussy or obviously tired) because he woke up around 5am this morning and refused to go back to sleep. It wasn’t really so bad, but I’d prefer him to stay asleep a little while longer in the morning (especially considering he always has a long morning nap anyway).

My baby turns 4 months tomorrow! I just can’t believe how fast time is flying. I don’t know if I’m going to get enough baby cuddles in before he grows up.

Elias started showering with his daddy, as it was easier than trying to bathe him while both of us were dry. Mark truly enjoys this bonding experience and Elias absolutely loves the water splashing around him. I’m starting to think of looking for baby swim classes that we can take him to. I think it would be a wonderful experience for all of us.

I went back to work this month. Mark helped ease me into it by taking two weeks off when I went back. This was a wonderful idea because we were able to ease Elias into daycare and I was able to spend some time with Elias while working from home. Now that Mark’s back at work, Elias is in daycare full time. He really seems to enjoy it there and all his teachers adore him and are wonderful with children. (Yesterday morning when I dropped him off, one of the teachers had a bunch of babies gathered around her and one in her lap. She was singing “Hush Little Baby”, making up her own words.)

Mark had intended to bring Elias to my work for lunch one day, but that never happened. Mark did take him on an outing to the grocery store where he showed Elias off to all the cashiers and managers we’re familiar with. Elias apparently loved it and smiled at almost everyone. We really need to start taking Elias on outings. I’m always afraid he’ll be fussy and that fear prevents me from wanting to take him out, but I’m not sure what I think the big deal is. People understand a fussy baby and Elias usually isn’t fussy as long as he’s fed, dry, rested and stimulated.

It’s a joy watching Mark with Elias. It’s clear how much Elias loves his father and loves spending time with him. He gives his daddy the biggest smiles and sometimes only daddy’s comforting will do.

I feel lucky that Mark and I have grown even closer together since Elias’ birth. So many couples buckle under the stress and it’s easy to see how, because there is a lot of stress in the beginning. Mark has been so strong for me and I feel we have a true partnership. I know it helps that our relationship was in a great place when I got pregnant. It’s hard to believe that one year ago I was newly pregnant and now we have a nearly 4 month old!

Elias still isn’t reaching for objects, but we have a few teething cloths and when we place them over his torso, he always manages to get one of the corners in his mouth. He’s started trying to sit up when you hold him in a reclined position. I’ve noticed him doing it in his swing, which is a bit reclined, as well. I definitely think he’ll be able to sit up before he can roll over.

Our 4 month baby well visit is on Tuesday. I wonder if the pediatrician will have anything to say about the fact that Elias can’t roll over yet. I don’t think it’s too uncommon at this point. I need to remember to ask him about Elias’ rashes (I’m pretty sure he has eczema.) and the fact that he claws at his face violently when he’s tired. Perhaps he’s allergic to something.

We really like this pediatrician, so we don’t expect him to push solids on us. I’m guessing he’ll respect our decision to delay them until at least 6 months (especially since Elias cannot even reach out for objects at this point!) though he may make a comment about rice cereal. It’s like they get paid every time they mention rice cereal or something.

Elias has always slept well through the night. I used to wait to put him to bed until after a full feeding. But lately I’ll let him stay up after his evening feeding (around 7pm) for as long as he’d like and then put him to bed without having another feeding. Most of the time, he’ll sleep through when that last feeding should be (10 or 11pm) and wake around 3am hungry. Last night for the first time, he slept from about 8:30pm until 5:30am without an overnight feeding. He did wake up hungry earlier than he would have if he had an overnight feeding. I’ll try feeding him a little extra at the evening feeding to see if that makes any difference. Overall, he’s consuming less formula now than he was when he went in for his 2 month visit (from 28+ ounces to 24 ounces daily) though I doubt it’s because he’s getting any more breast milk. I think maybe it’s just because he’s not currently going through a growth spurt.

I’m anxious to see what Elias weighs. He was 15 pounds (ugh!) at his 2 month visit (which was actually 2 months 10 days). I weighed him on the scale the other day (weighing myself, then both of us, then subtracting my weight) and it was 18 pounds, though that isn’t the most reliable method.

So, we never got around to sending birth announcements or thank you cards, but I’ve finally ordered some Moo MiniCards and I’m going to send those out along with personalized notes as “birth announcements”. The back of the cards point to this website, which I’m not sure too many people know about. I hope they turn out as cute as they sound.

You can view all Elias’ three month pictures in this Flickr set.

Elias really gets a kick out of my stepfather, Jim. My mom and Jim came over Saturday night and Elias was just fascinated with Jim, who’s very animated around him. Jim plays patty cake, sings songs and acts like Elias’ strength is crushing his finger when the baby wraps his hand around it. Elias eats this up and erupts in dozens of smiles and baby giggles (no full blown laughs yet). While Mark and I can pry a smile out of Elias when he’s not in the best mood, smiles always seem to come easily for his grandaddy.

I have Elias sleeping in the Moby for the first time since we were in Texas. Part of me wants to take him out and put him down to finish his nap, but this warm, small sleeping body pressed against me feels heavenly. I think I’ll hold onto him for a bit longer.

I was actually able to put Elias down to bed around 9pm or so tonight without having to join him myself. This is the second time that’s ever happened. It did require me going in to calm him a few times, but he hasn’t made a peep in about an hour now. I hope this isn’t another one time thing and we can keep him going to bed in the evening so Mark and I can have some time to ourselves.