4 months

Ok, I admit that I've been a bit delinquent in my posts lately. I blame it on not having a wireless internet connection at my new digs. Aaarrrgh!

So....there's lots to share about O's recent development. First and foremost, I am extremely happy to report that he is now sleeping through the night pretty consistently. (That is, typically 8 hours or more!) Praise God! He has also managed to establish a fairly regular nap schedule during the day, which is another blessing for Mom!

He rolled over from his tummy to his back for the first time a few weeks ago, but refuses to do so on command. Only when he feels good and ready does he impress us with that trick, so it was a good week or more before Daddy got to witness it. And now, he actually seems more interested in scooting than rolling when he spends time on his tummy, so there's that.

He continues to be a very smiley, happy boy who has gotten quite adept at grasping objects - which all go promptly into his slobbery mouth. I suspect that he may be showing early signs of teething...or he may just like to taste everything you put in front of his face. Unfortunately, he still has a problem with spitting up. Just about every time he eats (and sometimes even a couple hours after he's eaten), he spits up and makes a mess all over himself, whoever happens to be holding him, and sometimes the floor, sofa, chair, bed...whatever happens to be nearby. The doctor referred to him as a "happy spitter" since it doesn't seem to bother him and he is gaining weight well, and says I should just resign myself to a life filled with extra laundry.

At his 4-month check-up this past week, everything looked good. He weighed in at just under 15 pounds (the 50th percentile for his age), and measured 24 1/2 inches (35th percentile). All in all, he's a very healthy baby, and for that, we are extremely grateful! Dr. Omar (who I was very impressed with and am lucky to have gotten to see, thanks to a family friend of the Petersons!) says that we can start introducing solid foods at any point. I can hardly believe that my little baby is already ready to eat from a spoon! That just seems crazy! I think I may wait another couple weeks, just for good measure. Perhaps that will help with the spitting up, though...

Still no formal interest in our house in Washington. We are praying that we get an acceptable offer signed before the end of this month, but are quickly losing hope that it will happen. (Burying St. Joseph in the yard didn't seem to do the trick in our case.) Darn this economy! In the meantime, we are living with Ryan's parents and are grateful for the free rent! But as each week passes, we are growing more and more anxious to get into a place of our own again. Fortunately, Owen doesn't seem to mind where he is, so long as he has loving arms to hold and play with him and smiling faces to smile back at...and there are lots of all of those things around here!

Pictures

Aunt Jackie carved this lovely pumpkin on Halloween for her favorite nephew.

At cousin Tony's wedding in Indiana. O did very well on his first road trip and hotel stay!

With Grandma at the wedding reception.

O was so excited to finally meet his uncle Chuckie. They're going to be buddies for sure!