4 months!

Dear Kate Elizabeth,

Yesterday you turned 4 months old! This last month has brought lots of changes and new skills on your part, and we LOVE watching you develop everyday! It's so much fun to see what you can accomplish, but your Mama also gets sad that time is flying by us.

You are HAPPIER!! Now, you smile more and even laugh sometimes and you pay lots of attention to lights and sounds (toys or TV). You are so smart too...we've noticed that you catch on to patterns and you already recognize certain songs and sayings. You are so much fun to play with! You still get a bit cranky when it's nap time or if you're bored, but nothing like before :)

You can now roll over both ways and you try so hard to scoot and squirm! You like the bumbo seat sometimes, and the swing is still in use. I'm back to work now, so you get to hang out with Nannie all day and you're usually such a good girl for her! Y'all play lots (you especially love their beach) and she loves her days with you. Nannie told me the other day that when she wakes up in the mornings, she can't wait to come over and get you when I go to work :)

 You and Nannie on the beach. I lost your sun hat so you wear your "My first fishing hat" so you don't get a sunburn!

You still nurse and I pump 3 times during the day at work so Nannie has plenty of the good stuff to feed you :) Last weekend, I started giving you some rice cereal! You just barely make the minimum age, but you love taking your medicine, so I figured you'd enjoy it, and I reallllllyyyyy want you to sleep a bit longer at night. I love you more than anything, but waking every 3 hours just isn't fun. Last night I cheated and let you sleep in the swing, where you slept 5 hours...

You love the dogs too! And clearly, Maggie loves you :) I don't let her lick all over your face, but she was licking your toes and you were smiling, so when I tried to get a pic, she snuck in for a kiss!

You still wear size 2 diapers (Pampers sensitive with some A&D original each time) and you're wearing 6 month clothes. They fit, but you're very tall and some things may be too short soon!

Last weekend, we made a quick day trip to Orlando to celebrate Emily's birthday at Ice at Gaylord Palms. We weren't sure what you'd think about the 9 degree temps, but you were great! I strapped your bundled self in the Bjorn (which is a LIFESAVER these days) and then wrapped their big jacket around you. You never fussed!

 Thanks for the hat Aunt Lauren!

 Daddy, Kate & Mama, and Uncle Jeremy

Nannie with most of her babies

 Happy Birthday Miss Emily!

 Who said you wouldn't use your baby North Face in Florida?! Thanks Uncle Scotty!

 This cracks me up! Scotty took it - you were actually sitting in the bumbo, but you look so grown up!

This is where you lay in the mornings while Mama does her makeup before work (don't mind the unmade bed...it's always made before I leave the house :) and sometimes Maggie watches you!

You have a very regular bedtime routine that has kind of just fallen into place. You still get a bath every night because NOTHING makes you happier, then I blowdry you, dress you, nurse you and you're OUT in just a couple of minutes. Then I lay you upright against my chest to get a burp out, and when you're sleeping there and cuddling with your little arms around me, ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD. There is nothing more perfect, and it is one of my favorite times with you.

We love you SO much and can't imagine our lives without you! You are so precious, and I LOVE your babbling. You have the sweetest, most beautiful little voice and I just know you have so much to tell us. You are going to be such a talker! You're an automatic destressor for all of us, and I look forward to every single day with you!! 

You're my favorite thing, baby doll!!