4 Months

Another month has come and gone and my tiny newborn is now four months old! I really can't believe it. Time is flying and she's changed our lives in so many ways - all for the better!

Looking like Great Grandma Margaret (which is
where her middle name 'Belle' comes from)

So sleepy after a fun filled day on mommy's 30th birthday!

Routine/Schedule: Our routine is still the same, we're on a three hour schedule.  I know it's not for everyone, but I am SO GLAD that we started this from day one. I am convinced this is the reason she sleeps through the night (up to TEN hours some nights!!).  I plan to do the same thing with any/all kids that we have.  I crave routine, babies crave routine, it just works for us!

Our sleepy head.  She usually spends the last few hours of her
sleepy time in our bed.  If she sleeps til 6, I feed her and then keep
her with us until 9 am when she wakes up for the day. 

Feeding: Miss V still gets fed every three hours.  I was planning to space the feedings out to every four hours, but to meet her needs I've actually had to sometimes feed her after only two or two and a half hours. Maybe she's just increasing my supply.  

She's a really good little feeder now, we have no latch issues anymore.  Thank goodness! She also used to be quite the dawdler and take up to 30 minutes on each side! Every time she ate I had to plant myself in one spot for an hour giving me two hours of free time between feedings, which really meant one hour since she also wanted to nap on me.  She's dropped down to 10-20 minutes per side, I am so thankful!

Our pediatrician said that we can now begin to give her veggies (either baby food or pureed) and water via bottle.  I'm not too sure yet.  He said some babies won't really get the hang of swallowing until six months, but honestly, I'd rather just keep her on strictly breastmilk until six months, which I'm pretty sure is what the AAP recommends.  I'll entertain the idea of water since it gets really hot and I don't want her to get dehydrated. It would also be easy if we should fly somewhere, I could give her a bottle of water during take off and landing.

Daddy trying to get a burp out of this little bug!

Sleeping:  She still sleeps through the night, by some miracle! I'm sure that'll change when teething begins, but I sure hope not.  Right now my great debate is whether or not to continue swaddling her.  She sleeps so well with it, I don't want to ruin a good thing.  However, she is outgrowing her swaddles so I'm undecided on whether or not I should buy a bigger one or just transition her to the sleep sack.  I think her arms will still go wild and wake her up, I guess I'll just have to try it and find out.  

Her napping could still use some improvement.  She typically sleeps 10-30 minutes for every three hours of wake time.  It really should be at least an hour, but since she sleeps all night, I won't complain.

Sleeping in the Moby!

Nap time... on daddy, because she can't sleep during the day
unless she is on someone!

Stats: At her last checkup (last week) she weighed in at 12 pounds 10 ounces and is now 23.5 inches long.  She's growing well!  She got her shots that day, too.  She tolerates them pretty well.  Of course she cries a bit but then she just gets sleepy.  She doesn't really become cranky for the day, just naps more than usual (probably the normal amount that she should be!).
She can still fit in to some 0-3 month clothes and sometimes wears 3-6 months.  She seams to be pretty on target with her age/size.

Think Spring!

Struggles: We really haven't had any issues, for the second month in a row! Woot! Woot! I am in denial a bit that I turned thirty over the weekend.  Whatever, my mom told me that my thirties would likely be the best years of my life and I couldn't agree more! 

I'm also a little concerned about returning to work as its fast approaching.  I'm set to return (to day shift) the first week of June. I'm nervous about switching to days because it is very different, however I know I'll get an appropriate amount of orientation before they set me free again :) I'm hoping to get on an every other day schedule in the beginning so that my milk supply can sustain.  I may decide that I'm not a big fan of that, we'll just have to see.  

I also plan to start looking into nannies/sitters for last minute situation if they should arise.  For example, if Brett gets a meeting or an audition that he must attend and I can't get the day switched.  I'm sure that'll be a stressful process.

Still making silly faces :)

Starting to show interest in Sophie!

Milestones:  She finally smiles with a purpose! Oh, it melts my heart every time! She's so darn adorable (maybe I'm biased, but seriously, look at that face!). She's also starting to giggle a little bit.  It's just a tiny little chuckle.  She must be saving the big one for something really impressive ;) She's also cooing up a storm.  She just talks and talks... I'm sure she inherited that from her daddy! 

When she does tummy time she looks like she may try to roll over one of these days, which means I can't leave her unattended on the couch/ottoman/changing pad like I've been doing! She also puts a little weight on her legs like she's trying to stand and holds her head a little better each day.

Adventures:  We've had a pretty uneventful month.  Oh, that's not completely true I guess.  We escaped LaLa Land for a few days to celebrate our anniversary (8 together, 1 married).  We drove up the coast to Pismo Beach, where we were married.  We honestly just relaxed.  Did a little wine tasting, ate great food and saw a few of friends from the area.  We had hoped to see more, but we never left Pismo/SLO.  We also had some professional photos taken of Veda by our wedding photographers, Marcia & Michael who so graciously volunteered to do it! We absolutely love them! Of course, Veda wouldn't give us even ONE smile... little turd!

We've also been on a bajillion walks, which is nothing new, but it is pretty cute to watch her look all around at the trees.  I feel like the only other places she's been is to doctors and dental visits! We rode along with daddy to an audition in Santa Monica and I regretted every second of the crappy traffic on the way back... I've gotten pretty used to just hanging in/around the neighborhood. 

Just chillin' with mama

In the exact spot we were married - one year later.  A lot has changed in that year!

I guess we did also have a couple of play dates.  We visited one of my former coworkers and her daughter one day and went to a local park to meet up with a bunch of new moms for a picnic.  We also attended one breastfeeding group so I could see how much she takes in (about 4.5 oz).  We'll probably go back to that closer to the time I return to work so I know how much she should get via bottles for daddy. 

There is a nearby pool that we've been patiently waiting to finish getting remodeled and it should be done this summer, I'm so excited to take Veda swimming to find out if she's a little water baby like her parents.  I'm hoping we'll find out she inherited my skin tone rather than her daddy's because I don't want her to burn!

Celebrating our anniversary with our new addition

Realizations:  Brett and I are a pretty great team!  I've been pleasantly surprised at how well we're able to adapt to each new challenge.  Of course we argue because he's not doing everything exactly the way I want it done and vice versa but, in the end, that's what will make Veda a well rounded individual.  Brett and I are complete opposites, but that's why it works for us.  We're having so much fun being parents! 

About 3 weeks old, look how much she has grown!
Heartbreaking & exciting all at the same time.
4 Months old below

How we (the parents) are doing:  No complaints over here!  I mentioned I interviewed for a new position last month.  In case you missed the post about it, I applied to be the charge nurse at night, however, I've decided that night shift will not be best for our family, so I am instead switching to day shift in the same unit.  

I am so excited about Brett's career right now.  Obviously, I've always believed in him... I moved across the country, away from everything I've ever known to help him pursue his dream.  It's all paying off now! I mentioned he has a new manager, he's also about to sign with a great agency and really has been busy.  He's auditioned for lead roles in two major network television shows, two national commercials, voice over work and this last week he auditioned to be one of the main characters in the broadway musical Book of Mormon.  I am SO PROUD of him! He's also working on getting a comedy special done.  It's going to appear to be 'overnight' success - that's what they always want you to think - even though he's been at it for thirteen years.  Veda really is his good luck charm!

Looking forward to: I want to savor every second of this last month of maternity leave.  I feel so fortunate to have gotten to spend the first five months with her and, again, so thankful that I only work three days a week.  Loooong days, and I am going to miss her so much, but I know she's in good hands with daddy.  I'd like to get back to the midwest sometime this summer... I'm not sure when, but this little rascal needs to meet her great grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and other extended family!

We have a serious daddy's girl on our hands!  I think
he's pretty smitten, too!  <3 nbsp="">

And in case you forgot... I was trying to think of a cute way to capture her growth over the next year, so what I've decided is this: I bought a dress that's size 12 Months and I plan to put her in it every month until it fits.

4 Months