4 Months

4 months

14 lbs 10 oz

25 1/4 inches

James,

4 months old! What a month it has been, full of change for both you and I. Biggest change for mommy has been the day after your 4 month birthday my maternity leave concluded and work commenced. It is a bittersweet thing, going back to work.  I miss you terribly but I am also enjoying intertwining my old job at Bayer HealthCare with my new job as your mommy. 

Morning before I left for work

For you, little man, so much has happened this past month.  Unfortunately, you had to face your first real sickness. You came down with RSV the week before Christmas. You woke up with a horrible cough and stuffy nose. Just as I was contemplating calling the Doctor, I received a call from your sitter, Teresa, who was calling to let me know that 3 of the daycare kids were out sick and one was diagonalized with RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus).  This disease is so contagious, so I wasn't going to be suprised if this was also RSV rearing it's ugly head in the Shempp household. By the time we got to the doctor that day, you were having a lot of trouble catching your breath and the cough was getting worse by the minute. I have never been more scared for you. You were so miserable and watching you struggle to breath...awful. I hated not being able to help you. After a few days and a few trips to the doctor to monitor your breathing, check your oxygen levels and ears for infection, we went home the 4th day with antibiotics and a breathing treatment. You didn't love the treatments but by the end of the day were you breathing much better.  Of course once you were on the mend, both mommy and daddy came down with horrible colds ;) Thanks buddy.

You were doing so well with your sleeping and eating, having many nights of sleeping from 8-6 and eating 25-30 oz of formula a day (5-6 oz/5 times per day).  However, after your bout with RSV you have regressed a little, taking smaller meals of 4-5 oz per feeding and getting up twice a night for a snack (11pm and 4am).  You are still going to bed around 7:30pm and waking up at 6:30am (for the most part, happily).  You take 4 naps a day of 45 minutes to 1 hour.  You will only sleep longer if we rock you back to sleep.  I know it is probably a bad habit, but it is one of my favorite things to do.  Nothing better than snuggling you and watching you sleep.  You still insist on being tightly swaddled and we have since had to buy you new types of swaddles that are harder for you to break free.  You think you want your arms out, but are really mad once they are ;)


New tricks this month...rolling from stomach to back. You hate being on your stomach so much that the minute I put you there, you roll right over.  You also have really started playing with your toys and putting everything in your mouth (except your paci, which all the sudden you hate!)  Your favorite toys; anything that sings or krinkles.  You have also been insistent on sitting up as much as possible.  You can't quite it do on your own, but you want us to help you so you can sit up and interact with your world.  You have also started cereal, although you are not quite sure about it, so we are taking that slow.  You are really laughing and smiling now. What really gets you going is "play fighting" with daddy (punching and kicking him) and chasing Charlie around the house.  Goodness...you are all "BOY"! I love that about you ;)

You are growing up so fast little man, I'm trying to soak you all in. Happy Birthday. Love you so very much!