Here are some of the latest videos of Ryden. He is just as cute as ever, and we still want to keep him. Lots of new things going on lately and he is handling it like a champ. anyhoo, I am of few words this post... enjoy!
Yesterday, I almost got Ryden starting to roll over on video. He just didn't fully complete it. I was wondering why he wasn't getting it down, yet, but then I realized that he has been working hard on sitting up. Anytime you have him in a recline position, he just sits there and does crunches trying to sit up. Sometimes cute, sometimes kind of annoying, like when you are trying to cradle hold him and oput him down for a nap, and all he wants to do is try to sit up, and then gets frustrated. He is getting better at sitting longer and longer unassisted now, too. Milestones.... it's like one step forward two steps back.
anyhoo, here's the video. and his diaper really isn't that big, I think it must be the angle from the laptop.
and here is Ilsa trying to, I can only guess, mimic Ryden and all of his hard work. Mind you, my dog can roll over. It was much easier teaching her. If only, I could train him with treats and praise, too... HAH!!
The beginning of this week we went to Ryden's four month check-up. Thank God I don't have check-ups this often. I can hardly make it to my yearly ones. I think he might be starting to figure out that the doctor is not going to be a fun place to visit on such a regular basis. Sad but true. However, just like last time, he is doing stellar.
You should have heard Eric use his proud man/daddy voice when the doc said that he was around the size of a 9 month old. "Really"! said the deep voiced daddy.
Here are the stats.......
weight: 18.6 lbs.
height: 26 inches (although I think his head was a little crooked when she measured him... maybe add a 1/2 inch to it)
this still puts our little man in the 90th percentile in both weight and height. He is a healthy boy with a healthy appetite. I guess while I am at it, I might run down the whole list.
let's see.........
HAIR- somewhere between dark blonde and light brown. It's fine, but coming in pretty well. It's starting to get a little longer right down the middle on the top. I think he will have a natural mohawk in no time. Pretty normal baby fluff.
EYES- Absolutely dreamy. I think Ryden is definitely going to have daddy's eyes. Which is a light brown with a hint of yellow, and on some days hints of green. Not to mention, they take up most of his face... also just like his daddy.
TEETH- He got his bottom two almost a month ago. They are coming in pretty well and are absolutely stunning! I am surprised that it went as smooth as it did and I can only hope the rest will follow suit. I ordered him a Sophie the Giraffe that should be here in a couple of days. I hear it is a favorite to teething babies.
SLEEP- I hear there is a nasty monster called the 4 month sleep regression. Well, at least on a minor note, I think it has paid a visit to our house. I also hear sleep is over-rated, but it must have been an insomniac that made up that nonsense.
First off there are naps. These are probably hardest to deal with because it is like an endless cycle of putting him down.... all day long. Since he only sleeps for 45 minutes, he ends up having either 4 or sometimes 5 naps a day. We walk him around and usually jiggle him a little in our arms. Eric calls it the "palsy". I swear that the wooden floors in our house are creaking way more than they ever have. Then there is the whole transferring of the "time bomb" when he does fall asleep in your arms and you go to put him in his crib *without him waking*. I have also gotten to know my neighborhood extremely well. Driving home with a baby that is almost asleep always requires just a few more blocks to finish off the job.
As for nights, that is an entirely different routine. First off, we put Ryden's crib in the bedroom, next to the bed, a couple of weeks ago, because he was almost reaching the weight limit in his cosleeper. Typically, I start his bedtime routine some where around 6:15 or so. Bath (which is starting to be really cute), diaper and PJ's, brush his fuzz head, nursing and then some rocking. This usually puts him in bed sometime between 7 and 7:30. There has been a few times we have put him in his crib awake and he actually fell asleep. Dang fluke. Then his first wake up (feeding) is sometime between 10pm and midnight. I bring him into the bed for this and then put him back in his crib when he is done. Lately, the next wake up is around 1-ish (for the past week or so). he use to make it until about 3am. Again, I nurse and then put him back... that is unless I fall back to sleep and then he stays in the bed until I wake back up. Usually, his last wake up has been sometime around 6am. At this point, I nurse him and typically just leave him in bed until we get up, which is usually somewhere between 8-9am. I look forward to the days, when he goes back to just one or two night feedings. I won't hold my breath waiting for them, though.
Oh yeah, and last night is an example of why we have his crib in our room. I woke up to him rustling in his crib. Since he wasn't crying, I was about to turn over and go back to sleep, but I just happened to peak over at him. That is when I noticed his leg was sticking through the slats in his crib. What the heck!?!? As I stood up, I then noticed that the floor was wet. That is when I saw that he was laying diagonal in his crib, his leg was hanging out, his diaper was halfway removed and apparently he had proceeded to pee on himself and the floor. To my amazement, he was ok and wasn't even upset... at least, yet. BOYS. For this reason and many others, I have no regrets about sharing our room with him.
EATING- Ryden is still breast fed only. I plan to start introducing solids slowly once he turns 6 months. I am waiting for his gut to close fully (usually somewhere between 4-6 months) and for his tongue thrust reflex to go away. Then I will know he is ready. We are really looking forward to this, especially, if he shows the same enthusiasm towards solids as he does nursing. I will continue to nurse along with feeding him food.
LIKES- his fingers, my fingers, diaper changes, toys, trying to chew on things, laughing at Ilsa, nursing, being wrapped up in the Moby wrap, exercises to get his gas out, cooing at the ceiling fan, being a chatty chatterson, smiling at mommy and daddy, waking up, sitting on his potty-pot, looking in the mirror, bath time and did I mention nursing :)
DISLIKES- being put in and taken out of the carseat, overly long tummy time, sitting on the couch for too long, falling asleep alone, falling asleep in general, strong wind on his face, and depending on the day... half of the things on his likes list.
I guess this about sums up the life of a four month old and what it's like for those of us that are along for the ride. New things each day and once you think you have something down, there is always a wrench that comes out of nowhere to muck things up. Living with a baby is not easy, but I know it just so small in the whole scheme of things. So, I try to manage it with grace which is really hard considering half the time I don't even know where to find it.
The holidays were lovely even though Ryden was really to young to partake in the festivities. Still, celebrating everything as a new family was just lovely. Eric has to go back to work on Monday. We are all sad :(
Not too many new pics as of late, but here are a few and then some from the holiday cards I sent out and a short little video of him babbling..........
