Dear Takeshi,
You are now 4 months old. The day before you turned 4 months, you started grabbing your right foot with your right hand and it wasn’t accidental like it had been the past few times you had done it. Then the day after you turned 4 months you started to grab your other foot, so you can now grab both feet and rock on your back. When you do that, you no longer look like a helpless baby; you look like a little boy.
You are also laughing more and can do so when we tickle you — you used to just tense up with this look of “What do I do now?” You have such a hearty deep little laugh; it makes us all laugh when we hear it. It seems that you get more and more tickle-ish as time goes on. When I undress you before your bath, you always laugh when I pull your onesie off; your arms come up, your back arches and your neck squinches down into your shoulders and you let out a “heee heeee.” Of course, once your diaper is off you get so excited since you know it’s bath time and that is still your favorite time of the day.
The other day you met Heath and Emily’s baby, Tanyon. You seemed so interested in him but unfortunately, Tanyon is still a bit young and couldn’t play with you. But you seemed content to just watch him, mesmerized that there was another little person in this world.
You still try to talk and you purse your lips as if you’re trying to form words. A few times I was certain I heard you try to say ‘hello’ or ‘mama’ but I’m sure it was just wishful thinking. Everyone says that new parents are always so anxious for their child to start talking, but that once it starts they wish they had enjoyed the silence. I love you gurgles but I wish you were able to express your thoughts.
Your bachan has now been taking care of you for over a month and she knows you better than your mama knows you! She says you have one small nap in the morning with Papa while she goes to work out and then another nap before lunch. Then right after lunch you have your big nap of the day. Of course, when she is most tired and would really appreciate one of your 2 hours naps to get some shut-eye herself, you decide you only need 30 minutes and wake up bright eyed and ready to continue your day. But she says you’re a good baby and that makes it much easier on her.
You’re starting to reach for and grab things. Once something is in your hand, you want to taste it. You love to grab hair… and lips… and noses. You still flail your arms when you get excited and are often hitting your bachan in the eye.
I got you a bumbo seat a few weeks ago and you love to sit in it and watch what everyone is doing. I used to hold you on my lap at dinnertime but that kept you too low and you couldn’t see everyone. Now we put you in your Bumbo and set you on the table; you love that you can see us and are more entertained on the table than you were on my lap.
The doctor said that since you are eating every hour to hour and a half while you are awake that we can start you on rice cereal. While I’m excited that you are on your way to eating solids, I feel like you are growing up so quickly. It’s hard to imagine that you were once so small; you’ve gotten so big! But you are healthy and happy and that is all that matters.
I love you so much, booger-butt,
Mama
We wanted to start him on it yesterday but just couldn’t find the time and today Jay was out pretty much all day and I wanted him to be there when it happened. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll be able to start him on it. We also have to start giving him some vitamins (Poly-Vi-Sol) which I tried to give him today but he spit most of it out. Tomorrow we’re going to mix it with his morning bottle to see if he takes it that way. 