4 Month Update

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Parker is doing great. I am loving this stage. He is all smiles, laughs, coos and squeals. He is very interactive, which is so much fun. We went to the doctor on July 21, for his 4 month checkup. It always makes me feel so good because they have a developmental milestone checklist, and he is always doing everything that he is supposed to. The list for today was:

• Smiles to get attention
• Keeps head steady when sitting on our lap
• Rolls and reaches for objects
• Wants to play
• Likes to cuddle
• Lets us know when he likes or dislikes something
• Babbles
• When on his tummy, uses his arms to lift his chest

They weighed and measured him. He is such a big boy! Here’s where he is this month:

• Head is 42 cm – 76th percentile
• Weight is 16 pounds, 6 ounces – 74th percentile

• Height is 26 ¼ inches – 94th percentile. He was off their charts!




Eating with a spoon for the 1st time!

 The big thing I was hoping for was that we got the green light to start introducing solid foods! His first solid food was carrots. He loved them and caught on to using a spoon very quickly. He has now had carrots, applesauce, squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, pears, green beans, and peaches. He eats a fruit for breakfast and a veggie for dinner.  TJ and I loved watching the many facial expressions Parker would make every time he tried something new.

TJ and I also thought he might be teething. He drools a lot, and he loves “chewing” on his hands. The doctor says that lots of moms of 4 month olds claim their babies must be teething because of all the drool. Apparently, 4 month olds just drool a lot and it rarely means teeth. However his doctor did say that his gums looked puffy which is a sign of teeth. Doctor’s visit aside, I start back to work next week. I am very excited about going back to teaching however I am not at all excited about being separated from Parker!! I have been with him from sun up till sun down for the past 4 1/2 months. I know it is going to be hard for both of us. Parker will be staying at a in-home daycare with Mrs. Tami. I have decided to take him over there 3 days this week for a couple of hours a day just so he can get used to seeing her face, her smells and get familiar with all the new surroundings. I just know that he will settle into a great routine with our baby sitter.....but it still makes me feel empty inside when I think of leaving him. I am sure that there will probably be many tears on the first day. Tami is a stay-at-home mom that lives 5 minutes from my school. I know she is going to be just fantastic. He is going to be her only full-time child that she watches, and I'm sure he will live on her hip all day long. She is such a loving person, and it makes me feel good that there will be a really awesome, well-trained second set of eyes on him.

I am also really learning to let go more. It has been a slow unconscious change. I think I am just getting more comfortable with being a mom, but the hyper-vigilance around protecting him from any sort of perceived danger is lessening. I am kind of relieved for his sake. He deserves to have a normal childhood. For example, I don’t mind being out in groups as much, or environments that I don’t feel that I can control, or situations that take my constant attention away from him. I don't make people put use germ-X every time they touch him. I am also beginning to trust leaving him with his grand parents so TJ and I can go out for short stints. It is all baby steps on my part, but it is getting easier, where it as felt almost impossible before. My parents said that it takes a few months, and they are right. Here we are month four, and I am getting there. It is scary, but I am also glad to worry a little bit less.

Finally, it has been a year since my little guy was on his way to change our lives forever, and this whole journey began. It has been fun to remember the anniversary of deciding that we wanted to become parents to the day when I found out I was pregnant. This year has been a marathon, facing all sort of first adventures. I can’t believe looking at Parker's first baby picture, and comparing that with what he looks like today. He is such a joy. I tell him all the time that he is the most precious thing that has ever happened to his Daddy and I. How did we ever do without our Parker? He is such a miracle, and our family wouldn’t ever be close to complete without him.


1st day we met him!





4 months old



 

4 Month Pictures

Here are a few pictures of our little bundle of joy!

During Parker's 3rd month of life he has had a few "Firsts":

He got in the pool for the first time on 4th of July. He loved it!

This month he had his first tornado warning, which was more frightening for me than him. As a precaution, I placed a cell phone charger, diapers, wipes, flashlights, his car seat, a bottle, formula and a camera (haha) in the closet. We were prepared just in case it decided to turn our way!

TJ and I started leaving him in the nursery during Sunday School and church. For some reason, this was very difficult for me. When TJ and I dropped him off I had so many instructions for the nursery keepers that the sweet lady said (without sarcasm), "If you want me to come get you when he wakes up I will." I'll be honest, while sitting in church all I could think about was him. Is he crying? Did they burp him? Is he wondering where his mommy and daddy are? After the closing hymn I was the first one out the door to go check on him. When I walked in he was sound to sleep in his moses basket with a full (burped) belly. We truly do have the sweetest nursery workers and I haven't had a problem dropping him off since. I do still go check on him in between church and Sunday School and I'm not sure if that will ever end. :) 

He met someone who keeps him distracted for a good 15-20 minutes. We love this guy! His name is Mr. Ceiling Fan. Do you know what I can get done in 15 minutes these days? I can shower…eat…wash bottles…clean....
All those other babysitters - play mat, swing, mobile, toys - are nothing compared to Mr. Fan. His ability to entertain our son is supreme. We’ll be using him for as long as possible…

Motherhood

"A mother always has to think twice. Once for herself, and once for her child." -Sophia Loren

From the second Parker was born (well, more like since I found out I was pregnant) my brain has been on overload, constantly thinking for two. Anywhere we go, anything we do, TJ and I first think how it will impact or effect Parker. His schedule has become a priority in the family. TJ and I still get to do lots of things we want, but we are constantly planning and making decisions for three. We are always thinking about Parker. Is he eating enough, sleeping enough, too hot, too cold, having enough tummy time? etc, etc, etc.... I worry if he's crying, and I worry the same if he's "too" quiet. His daddy and I just love him so much and want to take care of him the best we can.

Motherhood has completely exceeded my expectations. I knew I'd love it, but I never imagined it would be THIS amazing.

Parker Wayne is the most perfect, adorable, fun, sweet, little person in the world. I am so lucky to get to see him change and grow every day. Each day he does something new and I feel like everything new he does is a milestone.

Here are some stats on the 3rd month of our baby boy's life!

*He can now control his head
*Love's to watch moving objects (Molly)
*Looks at bright, colored objects with interest (He loves The Price is Right)
*Plays with his hands; clasp and unclasp them
*He turns his head towards sound
*He smile's in response rather than spontaneously (I love this)
*He laughs out loud
*He responds by making sounds when I talk to him
*Gets excited at the sight of his bottle or at the sound of me shaking it up
*He loves kicking his feet like he is riding a bicycle (this is a flashback to when he was in utero)
*He enjoys when TJ or I read to him. He sits there like he's actually listening so attentively. It's pretty cute.

We are so thankful for a healthy, happy family!

My Husband and Parker's Daddy

I fell in love with my husband on a whole new level the moment I saw the look on his face when he first held our little Parker. He had the most glorious smile and eyes brimming with tears. TJ is the most gentle, tender, patient and fun daddy a boy could ask for. Yesterday afternoon as TJ was walking in from work, Parker was almost asleep so I was headed to lay him down. TJ said, just a minute let me give him one little kiss. I was secretly thinking, Really? He's almost asleep but I walked over and TJ gave him a sweet little kiss on the forehead and I then went and laid him in his bed. Normally around this part of the day Parker will sleep for a good hour and a half. This is when I can water my flowers, pick up and just catch up chatting with TJ about how our days went. I ran outside to water my flowers and when I came back in TJ was in Parker's room. As I was walking towards his room I had a look on my face that stated, are you crazy...I just got him to sleep. I stood the doorway, TJ's back toward me, he was leaning over Parker's bed saying, "Hey my little bud, did you and mommy have a good day? I missed you so much." About that time giggles from Parker erupted and my heart felt like it is going to burst. Our little man is IN LOVE with his daddy. I think one of the most beautiful things in my life has been watching TJ fall into the love of being a daddy. Being parents is a whole different experience, more than anything we've ever had the privilege to take on or dive into. It's one thing, being responsible for yourself and your own needs. It's another thing entirely, to know that you have a child that is absolutely dependent on you. TJ and I want to be the example that we want our child to grow up to be. Chances are, he'll end up being a lot like us. We want to teach by example and live a life that our child can mimic.

Our Sweet Boy

9 Months.....

Just before.....

Right after......

Nervous Daddy.....

                                                                       1 Month.....

                                                                      2 Months.......

                                                                            3 Months.......

2 Months....

I've got to start with the cliché that everyone says, these past 2 months have gone by much too quickly. Parker is growing and changing so much everyday, and I am trying my best to take it all in, every cry, every smile, every second spent snuggling with him, feeding him, laughing at his cuteness. He has made his daddy and me so incredibly happy. These days, life has molded itself around Parker. Born March 10th, our tiny little spitfire came into this world screaming. Our lazy days of going where-ever whenever seem to be a figment of a life that once was. So far, Parker has grown out of his newborn-three months clothes at just three months old. He has mastered eating and letting us know when he is hungry. At two months and one week he began sleeping all night. Our night-time routine is great. At 9:00 we bath him, put him in his PJ's, I feed him 2 ounces while his daddy reads him a book, sing a few lullabies, kiss him goodnight and lay him down by 9:30. He falls asleep on his own and doesn't wake up until around 7:00 the next morning. We wake up and snuggle in bed for about 30 more minutes. I say snuggle, but it’s really daddy and I trying to catch a few extra minutes of shut eye. He loves, loves, loves bath time. He loves to be fully submerged up to his shoulders in water. He enjoys laying on the changing table to air out a little, fully naked and enjoying his birthday suit. He also likes his car seat and car rides, thank goodness! It's a little rough getting him all strapped in, he don't actually enjoy anything about that part, but once he's in, tighten up, and clicked into the base in the truck, he is usually happy. Parker is now eating 6 ounces every 3-4 hours.

4 Days Old

Taking baby home...

I love the sweet, faint noises Parker makes when he wakes up and stretches his tiny arms over his head and extends his chubby, full of rolls, little legs as far as they can reach. I love that when he finally does open his eyes that his entire tiny face lights up with the most adorable grin to one side, when he sees me leaning over the cradle. I love how impressively strong the grip of those tiny little fingers can be. I know just how quickly this stage will pass us by and I am hoping that these little newborn gestures will be permanently visible in my mind.