Dax's Journal

Dear little one,

Today is your four month birthday. It is amazing to me that you have only been part of our lives for such a short time. But what a time it has been. I've never been so happy and I've never known a love so simple and so pure.

As I write this, you are finally allowing yourself to drift to sleep for the first nap of the day. You have become distinctly anti-nap in the past couple of weeks. There is just so much to do and you don't seem to want to take a break. I always know when you are tired because you suck your thumb and rub your head. When you do sleep you move all over the place, often ending up in an entirely different place facing in a completely different direction than where I laid you down.

You've found your voice by now and you spend a lot of time "talking". I try to get you to say "mama" and "dada" but you just smile at me. Sometimes when I call your name you look over at me as if you know that I'm talking to you. Often when I ask you a question you will answer me in a stream of babble with such a serious look on your face.

At this point you can roll over from front to back and from back to front but you haven't figured out that you could just keep rolling and transport yourself in that manner. And I am very glad of that because we are not ready for you to be mobile, yet. You most enjoy standing up, whether in your exersaucer or with someone helping you to balance. You are also starting to enjoy tummy time a bit more and you can even do a mini-pushup for a short time. You love to do baby sit-ups, pulling yourself up by clinging to my fingers. When you get yourself pulled up, you grin so widely. Sometimes you laugh and my heart just melts.

You and I have learned to really love your bath times. You make such a mess, kicking your feet until you cause a veritable tidal wave. I always end up soaking wet. You can sit up in your little tub now and that makes it a lot easier on both of us. You've recently started to do something funny when I have you sitting up with my arm in front of you to support you. You bend your head down and suck on my arm. It doesn't matter if I just fed you or not. You will contort yourself and grunt until you get my forearm in your mouth and then happily suck away.

You love to play with toys now and you got a ton of them for your very first Christmas. Although, you mostly enjoyed playing in the wrapping paper.

Your favorite toy of the moment is definitely your exersaucer. You also love to play with your linkadoos. You have so many toys. There is never a dull moment.

You also love to play with your friend Miranda. We have play dates with Miranda and your Auntie Siobhan every week. When I have to go back to work and you have to go to daycare, it may be harder for all of us to get together but we will make it work.

Soon we'll be going to your four month appointment with Dr. P. You'll have to get more shots again and mommy will probably cry right along with you. We'll also be talking to Dr. P about when to start you on solid foods. That's amazing to me that you may already be ready for that milestone. These four months have gone by so very quickly.

Your daddy and I love you so much. We are so happy that you came into our lives. Every day we cuddle you, kiss you, hug you, and tell you that we love you. This you can count on. Every day.

I hear you stirring already. I'm sure you'll be waking soon so I'd better stop writing. I love you so, my Little Pooh.

Love,
Mommy