4 months old… well, 4 months plus a week, but close enough, right?
EAT
Kaitlyn eats 4-5 times a day. She naturally gravitates towards 4, but I find myself trying to shove in a 5th feeding because 4 sounds like too few. When she nurses, she takes her sweet time. It ends up being 20-25 minutes each time.
I forgot how much I enjoy nursing. She often wraps her little hand around my thumb or fiddles with her ear. I’ll be honest that during the day I sometimes use that downtime to play on the phone, but at least once a day, I try to put the phone away and remind myself how it seems like I was just nursing Hailey… as in, time flies.
The BIGGEST piece of news is that Kaitlyn drank an ounce from a bottle the other day (toss that confetti!!). I totally tricked her into it and I wouldn’t say she has mastered it by any means, but having even a glimmer of hope that she will take to a bottle is life changing. I keep pumping an ounce after her morning feeding to practice with later in the day. I hope to report back soon with even further success!
SLEEP
I hate even tempting fate with this section, but she’s sleeping well. She goes to bed 7:15 and usually wakes up between 7:00 and 7:30. She does the best on days I am home and can give her quality naps in her crib. She sleeps unswaddled, in jammies and on her tummy. Always.
Speaking of naps, she bounces between 2 and 3 a day. At home she will nap 9:15-11ish and 1:15-2:45 with hit or miss on the evening cat nap. If we are on the go, she will only sleep 45 minutes MAX in her car seat, so those are often 3 short nap days.
She took her first cat nap in the Ergo the other day and mannnnn did I forget how much I love that. A sleeping baby on my chest? Yes please!
PLAY
She’s my busy and happy girl. I recognize daily how grateful I am to have such an easy going second child. Around 14 weeks she found her feet and started giggling. She loves bath time, drools a ton and often has both hands shoved in her mouth, but when I think of Kaitlyn, the thing that stands out the most is her desire to GO. I can’t keep her on her back for more than 2 seconds.
She enjoys her exersaucer, but prefers to be on the ground so she can do her inch worm move. I tried to capture it, but, well, here:
She pulls her legs up underneath her, then stretches back out resulting in tiny movements forward. She can inch her way over to toys already and visions of baby-proofing are starting to bounce through my head.
I’ll come back and update with her height and weight once I get it, but the consensus among friends is that she is long (tall?). I get that a lot from strangers if I’m carrying her. More than once I’ve had some joke that she’s already as tall as I am. Hardy har har.
I think that about covers it. Hailey is sweet as can be to her and Kaitlyn seems to like watching her, though I really look forward to seeing that relationship develop over time.
And just because I have to squeeze in one more picture….
Gahhhhhhh. I love her.
Ok, mommy gush fest is over… for now.
Beth says
ADORABALE! She is going to be crawling in no time! Go, Kaitlyn, go!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
I feel like she is starting to look so much like your husband! She looks like such a happy and sweet baby 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
I think she looks more like David too! I love it 🙂
Sherry says
Keep on gushing! I love every bit of it!
Alex @ Get Big, Go To Work says
O my goodness….that inchworm picture is too cute. She is getting so big!
christina says
look at her pretty smile! she’s adorable.
Michelle G. says
Really, really cute baby!
Jessica says
Does she ever get fussy in the evenings with such a long wake time before bed? My little girl is almost 4 months and I would love to get down to 2/3 naps, but her wake time still seems to be around an hour and a half/hour and forty five minutes.
So great she is sleeping so well! We are moving to a house soon and as soon as we are moved and her crib is set up I am going to start doing some gentle sleep training. She already sleeps much better than my son did at her age and sucks her thumb to self soothe so I am feeling really confident about it. Hopefully you guys glide right over the 4 month regression… I am dreading it!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh I know, I hold my breath every night preparing for the 4 month sleep regression!
K was a cat napper (4 45 minutes nap a day) until I started following (loosely) moms on call and gave her a chance to extend her naps- it’s been great!
Occasionally she will be fussy in the evening but I’m lucky because generally she is really easy going, I just may have to hold her or carry her in the ergo (which I love!).
I’m so glad you have a pretty good sleeper- I hope it only continues to get better! 🙂
Therese says
How does moms on call recommend extending naps? My baby is a cat mapper too!
Brittany Dixon says
Once you get the following the schedule, putting them down at the same nap time is helpful. Then when K woke up after 45 minutes, I let her fuss for a few minutes and to my shock she went right back to sleep! They are about giving the ‘opportunity’ to take two long naps, even if it means popping in with a pacifier or gentle pat. They explain it MUCH better than I could though. Now I can usually get at least 1 long nap a day which is great!
Angela says
She is a cutie! I would love to hear how you ditched the swaddle. I know we are going to have to tackle that soon!
Brittany Dixon says
I wish I had tips, but really it was MUCH easier for her than with H. Once K started rolling, I started leaving one arm out, then said screw it and just went for it. She cried for a little bit, but rolled over on to her belly and slept just fine. So, no credit to me on that one!
For H though we swore by the Magical Sleep Suit- made for an easy transition! (http://www.ahealthysliceoflife.com/beer-for-milk-our-swaddle-transition/)
Good luck!!
Shari says
She is such a cutie! 🙂
Colette says
Aaah, too cute! I’m also very jealous of you and that 7-7 sleep schedule! It seems so far away for me with my almost 3week old!
How old was Kaitlyn when you started to apply the moms on call sleep plan? We are still on 3 night feeds here, she’s a hungrier baby than her big sister was, and it’s taking its toll now, especially with a toddler running around during the day and no chance to nap.
Brittany Dixon says
I am so grateful for the sleep I’m getting now and certainly don’t take it for granted. I know you’ll be there soon too, though it seems so far away right now I’m sure. I started to follow it loosely around 13 weeks. More details of what we did here –> http://www.ahealthysliceoflife.com/how-i-got-kaitlyn-to-sleep-through-the-night/
Those first weeks (months) are such a blur, especially when you have an older one too so big hugs (and cups of coffee) to you!
Colette says
Or in my case, diet coke! (Really need to start liking coffee!) lol
My 2yr old STTN at about 10 wks, so I’m praying for another good sleeper, and trying not to wish the weeks away too much.
Carrie (This Fit Chick) says
These are darling!! What a sweetheart- look at that smile!
Marie says
Hi!
I don’t often comment, but just wanted to make a quick suggestion. We too had lots of trouble getting my 7mo old son to take a bottle (my daughter- now 2.5- was no problem!). We tried countless things (I own my own dental practice so went back part-time at 2mo) and finally a great friend, who’s also a family doc, suggested trying the “Mumijimi bottles”. google them! There were the only bottle that worked (and saved us!)
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
Oh my gosh, she is so cute!!! Man, time is FLYING! It sounds like you’re enjoying every moment 🙂
Stacy says
Not to be a downer, but 4 20-25 minute nursings sounds like a miracle! My son would nurse 40-45 minutes at a minimum and at 4 months we were still doing 7-8 feedings every single day…and he wouldn’t gain weight (he lost weight between the 4th and 5th month). He is almost 2 now and we don’t think about his babyhood often, but this is one of the reasons we consider having an only child. Do you find it worth it to have 2 children? What made you decide to have 2?
Brittany Dixon says
Oh Stacy, I can’t imagine how stressful that must have been for you!
I can only speak from my own experience and I love having two children, though it is busier than I imagined! I always knew I wanted more than one though and have been blessed with healthy, relatively easy going babies. If I hadn’t been, who knows, I might have felt differently. Good luck in making the decision that is right for you family <3
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
I can’t believe she is 4 months already!!! I just love her sweet face!
LaToya says
She is beautiful!
Jen says
Adorable! Isn’t the giggling the best? I can’t believe she’s so mobile already! She’s going to be crawling so soon!
Kate @KateMovingForward says
Such a little cutie! My little one was no-go on a bottle, but we got her eating from a MAM bottle. Switching to a more “natural” type one helped her adapt. And I hide when she eats from it. lol!
Brittany Dixon says
I totally agree with you on the more ‘natural’ type nipple. The Medela Calma seems to be working really well for us, but I will keep an eye out for the MAM too! Thanks 🙂
Monica says
Oh my goodness! That bunny hat is the cutest thing ever!
They grow up so fast, don’t they? Mine just turned 18 months today! Ack.
Marjorie says
Where did 4 months go?! She is adorable!! Happy four months to sweet baby girl. 🙂
Katie Harding says
What a doll! She has the prettiest smile!!
Laura says
She is just the sweetest! I don’t think I’ve ever commented before- but I always want to! Love your blog, your sweet girls, your sense of humor, and great writing! 😉
Brittany Dixon says
Thanks so much for the comment Laura! You totally made my day! 🙂
Ali says
As you know, we are fairly committed to just keeping with our two little ladies here at home. But, man, I swear, kaitlyn is the only baby who really makes me question that decision. BUT only if I could guarantee another baby girl. I am SO partial!! Xoxo
Heather says
She is absolutely adorable! I love all of the pics!
kathy says
In a word….ADORABLE!
Emily says
awww I miss nursing 🙂
adorable