Happy 4 Months Addison Joy

Happy 4 Months to our precious Addison Joy! I cannot believe our family has been blessed with her for four months already! So much has happened over the last month....

The Stats

Official Weight: 15 pounds, 13 oz (90-95th percentile)
Official Height: 25.5 inches (90-95th percentile)
Head Circumference: 17 inches (95th percentile)
Diaper Size: 2-3
Clothing Size: some 3-6 month and some 6-9 month/9 month depending on style and brand; mostly the ladder
Doctor's Comments: "She is a great baby", "Passed with flying colors", "Must be very active" and my personal favorite "She is one lucky baby"

Developments

• Sat up for the first time (7.24.10)
• Took her first vacation (7.2-7.16)
  
• Took her first airplane ride (7.2)
  
• Has discovered Piper by reaching out to pet her and giggles when they make eye contact (see video below).
• Really loves to read now (see video below).
  
• Outgrew her bathtub, but until we move--the current tub will have to do!
  
• Developing some very good eye hand coordination, when you hand her something she can intentionally and in a very controlled manner grab the toy, look at and....then...EAT IT.
• Showing many signs she is ready for SOLIDS (tongue thrust reflex slowing down, very interested in our food when we eat, studies us at the dinner table, puts everything--I mean EVERYTHING--in her mouth, drools substantially, sometimes seems hungrier than usual). The doctor even agreed it may be time to start experimenting with solids!
  
• Giggling and talking more and more everyday (see video below)!
  
• We have introduced sign language with a little more consistency now. Until she signs back we will focus on "Milk", "Finished" and "Bed". Most babies do not sign back until 6-8 months, but it never hurts to start early. We are excited to introducing this because although babies do not have the cognitive ability to speak--they do know what they want and that they must somehow communicate it (usually by crying and squealing).
  
• She is still a GREAT nighttime and daytime sleeper. She sleeps 12 hours at night...NO waking and takes two 2-hour naps plus a short cat nap during the day.
  
• We have begun to test a 4 hour schedule. Everything I read says this is the schedule that every mom dreams of....4 hours between feedings....what will I do with my time?

Coming up next....

• We are planning a trip to Boston this month (hopefully). This trip will include her first train ride as well as our entire family's first time to Boston; we hope the trip works out.
• Solids: A couple of firsts as it relates to solids...we will attempt to introduce cereal this month as well as MAKE our own cereal. I am SO excited to begin making her food, although I reserve the right to switch to store bought if needed :) This also means we begin our first lessons in HIGH CHAIR MANNERS (Babywise Part 2 lingo). More blogging to come on testing solids as well as MAKING the baby food so stay tuned! If solids do not go over well, we will take a break for a while and try, try again!!!
  
• We hope to take a trip to the Zoo this month.
  
• Who knows what else is in store for our gang...we are always up to something!

Recent Pictures and Videos

Comparison photos
it's hard to tell how much she has grown in the past month because now that she can sit up....she will only do that! Notice where the top of her head is in comparison to the top of the chair cushion.

And now the bloopers from the 4 month "photo shoot"...she is trying to get down from the chair!

More bloopers from the 4 month "photo shoot"...
I am barely holding on to her shirt here---she stands really well on her own already!

More bloopers from the 4 month "photo shoot"

Happy girl in her bouncy thing!

Reading the Bible with Daddy

Practicing sitting up

Discovering Piper this month

She is really starting to get into books now (thanks for the book Mia!)

Giggling like crazy!