Madelyn: 4 Months Old...

Madelyn Joy is 4 months old!  She had several milestones this past month and seems to have completely grown out of the newborn stage.

 

A few weeks ago, Maddy slept through the night several nights in a row.  She hasn't done it since, but we're hoping she starts to do so again soon!  She is just waking once in the early morning to eat.  The time change has thrown us all off and she is now waking earlier in the morning (around 3:30 or 4 am instead of her usual 5 or 5:30 am).  She is usually up for about an hour as I struggle to get her back down...she just wants to talk and smile!  Once she's back down she usually sleeps until 6 am before getting up for the day.

 

I am happy to say that we've made great strides in the nap department.  She still isn't thrilled about going down, but she is fighting us less and is going down much easier.  I'm finding that she is really needing to nap in her bed as opposed to "on the go".  She'll fall asleep when we're out and about, but wakes easily and doesn't get the good nap that she needs.  Her afternoon naps are usually the longest around 2.5 - 3 hours depending on the day and our schedule.  We've struggled some as she tends to wake up mid-nap and we either have to rock her or pat her back to help her get back to sleep.

 

She is still nursing every 3 - 4 hours during the day and gets the occasional bottle.  We have been giving her a bottle before bed 3 - 5 nights a week.  She appears to be eating about 4 oz (according to bottle feedings).  She is still spitting up some and the amount usually varies from day to day.  This past month she has also been drooling like crazy...it seems like her clothes are always wet!

Maddy is still our little thumb sucker and I think now she might prefer it to her paci.  She will still take her paci when she is getting tired or falling asleep, but really doesn't use it other than that.  Most of the time when we go to check on her in her bed, she is sucking her thumb.  It definitely comes in handy as she can soothe herself and she looks so cute doing it!

 

Maddy can now roll from back to tummy.  She is quick to flip over now as soon as we lay her down on her back...it's making diaper changes a little challenging already!  She enjoys playing on her tummy with her toys and we've really noticed her trying to pull herself forward with her arms and drawing her knees up underneath her.  She manages to scoot around her crib and now we know how!

 

Mads is really loving her sisters and loves to watch them play.  She smiles and laughs whenever they show her any attention.  She isn't the biggest fan of her baths these days unless she is in the tub sitting up with her sisters.

 

 

Maddy is wearing a wide range of sizes as most are hand me downs (and seem to have shrunk some throughout the years).  She can wear 0-3, 3 month and 3-6 month sizes clothes and pj's.  She's still in size 1 diapers, but will probably move to size 2 once we are through our current stash.

 

She is still the happiest, little baby.  She does have her screaming fits and fussy times, but for the most part she is super content.  She smiles so easily and has the most adorable little giggle that typically comes with hiccups.  She, of course, loves to be held and loves to see everything going on around her.  Oftentimes we'll find she has drifted off to sleep in the midst of all the craziness happening around her.  She is making lots of noises these days...grunting and blowing raspberries.

And now for our monthly photo shoot.

Maddy loves to sit up and pull herself forward.  She is constantly trying to sit up when we lay her back.

 

We can't believe this little girl is already 4 months old! 
Happy 4 month birthday, Madelyn!