Another Jacob Update!

So much has seemed to change already that I thought I'd post another blog about it! One, to keep you all updated, but also because I plan to use this blog as I track Jacob's development and milestones.

We're continuing our rice cereal meal in the evening. And Jacob is already becoming a pro and eating from the spoon. He quickly learned that it will get him food and opens his mouth and sometimes even leans forward to get that rice cereal! Some people have asked if we've noticed him sleeping longer through the night with adding cereal to his diet and frankly, we really haven't. But I've also read on some websites that you're suppose to still do a full feeding (i.e. breastfeed) and then feed them the cereal. So I'm wondering if we started doing this if it would make a difference. We've also started implementing a bedtime routine. I've wanted to do this for a while now since Jacob still sometimes has sleep problems and the rice cereal meal has made it easier to get one started. So we eat anytime between 7-8pm, take a bath, get our pajamas on, read a couple stories in the rocking chair and sing some songs. Then we'll either rock until Jacob is asleep or sometimes we'll put him down in the crib semi-awake and let him fall asleep that way. I know the latter is probably better to help his sleeping habits and self-soothing but it's hard.

Jacob also loves bath time! I'll pour water from the cup in front of him and he'll just stare at it so intensely and then reach out and try to grab it! But he has gotten too big for his infant bath seat! His chubby legs hang off the bottom! And he can't sit up by himself yet so it all of this does make for an interesting bath time. But we've got a new bath chair on the way that should make things a lot easier!

And yes, while Jacob can't sit up by himself in the bath yet, he is becoming a much better sitter! We're working on his sitting by using the bobby around him so when he falls to the back or side, he won't hit the ground. It also helps him pull himself back up into the sitting position again - which he is also getting better at! It won't be long before he'll be able to sit by himself with no support needed!

He also continues to get better every day at reaching out and grabbing things - whether it's a toy, blanket or my hair. :) It's so fun to see him want something and then work to get it! He's also great about putting things into his mouth! He'll try to put any toy he can in his mouth and of course all blankets or clothes. You can tell he's really teething because of all the extra drool, but also because he'll put blankets or certain toys in his mouth, bite down and then pull them out of his mouth. He's also started pulling on the nipple of the bottle when eating. Which he's also started to hold on his own now at daycare! :)

And Jacob is rocking at rolling! But now it's a lot of rolling from his back to his tummy! I'll put him down on his play mat, walk away shortly and when I come back, he's on his tummy! But the great thing about this is when he's on his tummy, he can really support his head and will hold himself up on his arms and hands! We're really working on crawling and you can tell he wants to move so bad! We'll put a toy in front of him and he'll kick his legs to try and get moving! He can sometimes move himself in a circle, but hasn't figured out how to move forward yet! But I'm guessing it won't be long!

Four Month Check Up

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to update the blog... even though I've had a lot to say. Or a lot that I could say. Or want to say. :) But between a baby, starting a new job and life, things get put to the back burner. But I did want to do a quick update after Jacob's four month check up! So here we go! 

Jacob is still a "perfect" baby. Meaning, his numbers are all looking great. Although I'd argue he's perfect in all ways! :) He weighed in at a whopping 17lbs 11oz! At four months!! His cousin weighed around 17lbs at 9 months! So I'd say he's getting well fed! Ha! His weight is in the 86 percentile. He's 25 inches long, 38% and his head is 17 inches, 87%. He's had a bit of a cold for a while and so the doctor showed us how to properly clean out his nose and man, did he have a lot of snot up in that little nose of his! And Jacob was not a fan of having his nose suctioned out! haha He screamed pretty hard, but he can breath so much easier now! He still has a bit of a cough and hopefully that gets better soon. He also got his four month shots and these were a lot better than at 2 months. For one, Daddy got to help hold him down so Mommy didn't have to! But he didn't cry nearly as much, maybe he was still traumatized from the nose suctioning! 

The doctor also gave us the go ahead to start some rice cereal! So at his evening meal, we add a tablespoon of rice cereal in with some milk, so not a lot. But we feed it with a spoon, which is a messy ordeal! But he'll get the hang of it soon! I was hesitant to want to start with the rice cereal and when Austin asked me why, I confessed it's because I feel Jacob is growing up too fast and I want it to stop! :) But I know that just can't happen.

Jacob is becoming more and more fun to interact and play with every day. He is still a little talker, telling stories to whoever will listen! Although sometimes he picks some very inopportune times... like 5:30am! But it's a lot of cooing, blowing bubbles and raspberries, and a lot of vowels sounds. It's so fun listening to him try and communicate! He also loves to be upright. He hasn't figured out his balance yet to sit by himself, but he's working hard at it. Sometimes he'll get it for a second or two before tumbling over! He also LOVES to stand! He, of course, can't do this by himself yet either but has the leg strength to stand up and even help himself stand up. He just squeals whenever you let him stand. 

He still loves mirrors - he'll just look, smile and talk to himself in that mirror all day long! He also has really gotten the hang of grabbing toys and blankets. Before he would just hold his arms out and try to grab things by putting his arms together but now he knows how to reach out and grab hold with his hands. And he's grabbing all sorts of toys and bringing them to his mouth. The doctor said he was starting to teethe! Nothing through yet but it might not be long! So he just loves playing with all his different toys. And he's really figured some of them out too, pulling on certain ones that vibrate or make noise. He also has this spinning ball toy, one on each his activity chair and activity table that he knows how to spin and play with. I just love watching him as he learns and figures all of these things out. 

He's also still great at rolling. He'll roll to his sides a lot when he's playing on his back. During tummy time, he'll roll to his back a lot quicker. He still isn't always a big fan of tummy time, especially when we try to keep him from rolling to help strength those muscles and maybe start moving towards crawling! He's also found his feet. Putting them up in the air and grabbing on to them, or trying to grab them and then trying to put them in his mouth. He hasn't figured out if he can actually do that yet or not. 

And Jacob still gives the best, award winning smiles that can just melt your heart! I love picking him up at daycare and once he sees me, he just gets this huge smile on his face! Or when he hears his dad talk, he'll just smile and smile! No matter what else is going on, his smiles always make me smile. 

So that's about it for a Jacob update! And that's about all I have time for right now! Hopefully more soon!