4 month check up

Today we went to the Dr. for Tylers' 4 month check up and vaccines. He weighs 15 lbs on the dot and 25 1/2 inches long. He is still in the 50% percentile so he is maintaining his weight as he grows longer. He's grown 6 1/2 inches since birth! We are going to switch to oats or barley cereal since the rice cereal seems to give him a tummy ache and gas. After a few weeks of that we will start some veggies. He can also start drinking from a cup, since a bottle has been an issue. The Dr. said it is trial and error, but I am hoping he will like it so Brandon can feed him too. He got a vaccinne and didn't even cry at all!! I was so suprised and waiting for the cry all the way to the car, but it never happened. I guess he is growing up to be a big boy and taking pain like a man! That is kinda scary because I think he will grow up to be one of those kids that pain doesn't bother, so he will do all sorts of crazy things since he will have no fear... let's hope not. All in all he is doing much better this week. He slept for almost 13 hours last night and woke up once to eat - Amazing. And I just put him down for a nap and he cried for a few minutes them fell asleep. I'm so proud of him. Out new game is for me to chew on his hands, he thinks this is so funny. And he seems to think the word dada is funny too! All is well!

Like Night and Day

I'm learning that no two days will be exactly alike with a baby. Not that I didn't already know that having been a teacher, but to be so drastically different is amazing. After the last few days of Tyler crying so hard at nap time and bed time and waking up frequently, today has been exactly the opposite! He took 3 naps and was in bed by 7 on the dot!! Amazing. I did darken his room by shoving pillows in the top windows to block the light. It would be amazing to contribute todays sucess to a few simple pillows in the window, but stranger things have happened! Here's to a great night sleep.

Random Pictures

4 months old today!!

Happy Birthday!!

Tyler's Milestones
Fourth Month

-Ticklish underarms
- Grabs rattles and puts them in mouth - fingers are always in the mouth!!
-Rolled over from tummy to back, and almost from back to front
-Almost sitting up by himself, needs support but is getting very close
-Started rice cereal, but it didn't feel good on his tummy. Took some time off.
-Grips hands, clothing and toys very well
-Started teething, but no tooth yet!
-Blows bubbles with mouth
-loves being up on legs and can stay for a long time
-Reflux is still very bad. Sleeps very well (8-12 hours), but is in his bouncer in his crib.
- much better at tummy time. Can hold head up and stay for several minutes.

The impossible

It seems impossible to try to summarize my journey into motherhood up to this point, as I said I wanted to do. So, I am just going to start from today and do my best to document Tylers' moments. He is 4 months old today - August 22nd!! Happy birthday! I know that this next month will be an exciting one. We are getting a little play area ready. When he takes off, he is going to need it!!



Tyler's Milestones
First Month

- Born April 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 am!
- Weighed 4 lbs 15.9 oz, 19 inches long
- Eating well and napping 2-3 hours at a time
- Waking up every 2-3 hours at night
- Rocked to sleep in a swaddle


Tyler's Milestones
Second Month

- made first roadtrip to Corpus to see family at 4 weeks
- made second road trip to Dallas for Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Clinton's wedding at 7 weeks
- began to smile at mommy and daddy
- can lift head briefly while on tummy, doesn't really like tummy time
- focuses on mommy and daddy's face
- reflux starts
- still waking up every 3-4 hours to eat at beginning of the month. By the end of the month you were sleeping 8 hours strait!!
- like to stand on legs with support
- started making noises often - talking


Tyler's Milestones
Third Month

- much better at tummy time. Can hold head up and stay for several minutes.
-Began laughing outloud - so cute!!!
-Talks all the time, like to hear the sound of his voice.
-loves being up on legs and can stay for a long time
-Reflux is still very bad. Sleeps very well (8-12 hours), but is in his bouncer in his crib.
-very smiley!!
-follows objects with eyes
-brings both hands together
-keeps head body level when pulled up from floor
-turns in direction of mommy and daddy's voices.

The Battle

I never really understood how your heart and your mind can want to go in two different directions all at once until I had a child. This fight seems to be coming up often recently. Tyler has suffered from reflux since he was born and it is getting worse as he gets older. I know it will go away eventually, and of all problems to have it is a good one, but being thrown up on all day is no fun. The worst part is that it is affecting his sleep patterns. I have been rocking him to sleep for the most part since he was born, as I was told, "you can't spoil a newborn". But now that he is four months, the art of self-soothing needs to be learned. The problem is: how long do you let him cry it out???? For regular babies, those without reflux, the answer may be as long as it takes. The problem with reflux babies is that the longer he cries, the worst his reflux gets resulting in a choking, coughing, gaging baby who wakes up after 25 minutes of sleeping, and when I pick him up he burps and spits some of his last meal due to his fit before. And there is the battle. Do I keep rocking him to sooth him into a peaceful sleep and teach self-soothing methods after the reflux is over, or do I let him cry it out hoping that he will eventually self-sooth and sleep longer. How long can your heart handle listening to your crying baby? I never thought I was a softee, especially after teaching for four years, but having your own does change things. And so, the battle continues.....

I caved....

So, after contemplating for a while about how to keep track of all my memories with Tyler, I decided to get on the bandwagon and start a blog. I have always enjoyed writing, and I think that if I don't start writing down all of Tylers' memorable moments, they may slip me by. Better late than never. So, I am going to attempt to backtrack and start from the beginning of this experience and record my thoughts as well as fun moments that I have with Ty throughout the day. I am going to do a paper scrap book too, but that won't include my daily thoughts and experiences. I also think this will be very therapeutic, since I am home alone a lot (without adults...of course Tyler counts!) and I'm sure Brandon will appreciate not being bombarded with tons of ranting about this and that the second he walks through the door. I'm always thinking of so many things throughout the day and now I'll be able to share. Enjoy!!