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29 Apr '12 - 776 W, 18 I Rafe's 4 Month Birthday

Here we are, at the four month mark. He's just getting so big now! He seems to be just growing up almost too quickly!

* Mouse over the pictures for captions

He went out to dinner with us and was quite sociable - he was passed around the table and was content to be held by everyone. He just quietly sat there and observed us. He did not cry. We were very pleased. He's also been to Yaya's soccer matches and was quite content to stay in the carrier, enjoy the fresh air, and watch all the little kids running around. Again, no tears. He had his first trip to the grocery store - he just slept in his car seat the entire time! So far, so good, still a mellow little fellow!

The day after his 4-month birthday (since it fell on a Sunday), we went to his doctor for the 4-month well checkup. The boy is at the 50th percntile for weight and head size, but at the 90th percentile for height (still). He grew 2 inches in the last 2 months. Craziness! The doctor is pleased with his progress. He's standing and bearing his weight well, and certainly babbling, meeting your eyes and responding well to visual stiimuli - he was practically flirting with his (female) pediatrician! He was babbling and giggling, jumping around (with my help / support) on the examination table, his doctor found it hard to take her eyes off him. She said that he was as sociable as a 6-month old! Of course, two jabs later, he wasn't as flirtatious anymore, poor baby.

Adik is also batting things with his hands - reaching out and touching/batting/holding things. Of course then he takes it right to his mouth. The drooly boy is starting that long, painful (and saliva-filled) process of teething - he will suck on his hands (or mine) forever. His little mittens keep getting soaked through! And his clothes, and my clothes. He even had a rash on his face caused by sleeping in his drool (a trip to the doctor to rule out eczema and moisturizing lotion + hydrocortisone steroid cream, and voila!). He is starting to sleep longer hours at night, so our feeds keep getting later and later (he slept till 5:30 AM once!). It's getting better for us. He still gets his 2-3 ounces of formula, and we are thinking about eliminating a bottle-feed session, but just so hard to do it since he always seems to be hungry for the expressed breasst milk or formula that he gets (we do 3 pump+feed cycles a day, left over from his bilirubin days).

These next two pictures were taken the day before his birthday, but I love them so much I had to include them:

The owl bed is one of Adik's favorite hangouts! And now let us see how Adik spent his 4-month birthday!

After some playing, we all went back to bed. Later, Adik hangs out on the pillow:

Yaya has been a good girl, sharing her toys with her brother (see more Purrsley sharing here). Then with great dexterity, we do a self-portrait:

After a nice refreshing nap, it is time for tummy time with Papa!

And then it was bath- and bed-time for little boys. It was another fun day! It it so amazing how quickly these four months have gone by, and how all our lives have changed since Adik arrived. We just can'tget enough of this little boy (and his sister's not too bad either). Happy 4-month birthday, baby boy! We love you!! And to close, our cheeky chum has a word for us all:

See y'all next month!