More than ever, time is flying by around here. Some days I'm so glad, because we are so much closer to settling in our home. And other days, I'm grasping at the days because I haven't gotten enough giggles or smiles from my two little loves. Four amazing months have flown by since Smith made his grand entrance into our lives! Four months, y'all! That's crazy!
Things have been so super busy around here, but I have had plenty of time to soak in the days full of snuggles, kisses, and "I love you"s. Smith is a joy and a precious gift. We are so thankful for his sweet life and those who gave him life. We are thankful to God for his surprise gift in the form of a 6 pound 12 ounce sweet boy.
In case you haven't noticed, Smith is no longer 6 pounds 12 ounces. He is currently over 13 pounds. We go for his four month shots this week, and I will have a more exact weight and height. I had to take him to our hometown pediatrician to check his sweet little ears last week. That's how I know he was over 13 pounds. Nothing major. I was concerned because for a couple weeks Smith had begun fighting his bottles and crying during feeding. Eventually he started refusing anything past 2 ounces. He wasn't getting enough nourishment and I just could not figure out what was wrong. I gave more gas drops, switched bottles, and manipulated his little body to get him to take as much as I could. But nothing was working. He was still sleeping okay, but he became more and more fussy during the day. Thankfully, we have friends who are generous with their medical knowledge. I texted a pediatrician friend of ours who suggested his ears may be hurting when he sucks. I contacted our hometown pediatrician (because we were there visiting) and she graciously squeezed us in to check his little ears. Fluid on the ears it was! For the last week, he has been taking Zyrtec daily and some Benedryl. He is eating well and not fighting it at all. He has, however, caught the dreaded cold that Millie Janalee and I shared with him. So we are continuing on the Zyrtec and Benedryl to help until we get to our regular pediatrician in Missouri this week.
Smith also still has a good bit of cradle cap on the top of his sweet head. We aren't sure if he has signs of Eczema, but it is on my list of questions for our pediatrician. I have noticed some small dry red patches on his body. They don't seem to bother him. Yesterday I noticed, he has begun scratching his head breaking the skin at times...so I bet his head is itching. For that, we have started adding tea tree oil to his shampoo...in addition to the cradle cap treatment we have been using for a while. It looked better this morning.
Other than that, he is perfectly healthy and happy!
We are no longer squeezing in to 3 month clothes. He is wearing 3/6 and 6 month clothes. He looks very well fed because of his incredibly delicious cheeks! I love a baby with chubby cheeks and rolls! Smith still has the capability of being "Mr. Serious", but his smiles are the sweetest thing ever. When he smiles or laughs, it is as if he is getting teased. Be still my heart!
He still loves to pull his head and shoulders forward trying to sit up. When he is sitting up, he will pull them forward and fall flat on his face. He is strong, and he is working hard on toning his muscles to do other things like sitting up, rolling over, and more. He has not even attempted to roll over yet. He's not a fan of tummy time, and I don't force it. I don't rush things. He will eventually figure it out on his own time.
We were visiting family for over a week this month, and when we got home he was so glad to get on his mat and play with the mobile of toys hanging over him. He grabs toys and brings them to his mouth. His favorite thing to put in his mouth is his pointer finger. I love it! Smith's hands are in his mouth at all times and he is full of slobber and drool. His gums don't look swollen or anything, but I'm keeping my eye out with all these signs. We have to keep those sweet hands washed because when they are not in his mouth, he keeps them in a fist...which leaves them smelling less than favorable. Ha!
As far as eating, he is still eating 6 ounces of Enfamil Prosobee every 4 hours. He usually takes his last bottle between 8 and 9, and goes right to sleep afterward. Smith still sleeps swaddled. It is our nightly routine and he is comfortable with it. I wrap him like a burrito in the swaddle and he just smiles at me. Seconds later, he is asleep in my arms and I take him up to the bassinet. Yes, he still sleeps in his bassinet. Smith will be in our room until we move, because we don't have an extra room...besides the guest room in our basement. And that's just too far for my comfort. So he will sleep with us in our room until we move in June. And I'm okay with that! He sleeps well at night, and on the occasion that he wakes up (which he has done lately with this cold) I can just reach over and pop that paci back in. No problem. Don't even have to open my eyes to do it!
He loves his big sister! More and more he finds her, stares at her, and smiles when she talks to him. He prefers her to most anyone. It is a precious bond I love watching form!
One of the most unique things to Smith's personality is how brokenhearted he looks when he cries. He can go from laughter to completely brokenhearted in the same breath. It is the funniest and saddest thing. Bless his bones! When this happens, I typically know he is ready for a nap. But his cute little face cracks me up. Completely brokenhearted. Thank goodness for our baby swing. Strap him in there and tuck him in with a blanket, and he's gone! Oh, but you must cover his face also. It's just one of the cute quirks of this sweetie.
Hopefully, we are nearing the end of our family cold that we have kindly passed to Russ now. Back to our happy boy with even more squeals and giggles than before. I could just eat him up with a spoon. Precious angel baby!
Smith,
You have brought even more joy to our home than I thought possible. Watching the way you look at and smile at Millie Janalee every time you hear her voice is the icing on the cake. I pray you will always look up to her and love her fiercely. She will be your best friend. And a funny one too! I pray you have your own unique personality to bring to our family table to keep us on our toes. I'm pretty sure you've already got that one mastered. May you grow strong and confident. And may you always feel the love that surrounds your life from before you were born. May you come to know Him at an early age, and I pray your daddy and I show you the way everyday. We love you more than you know!
Love, Mama
