thundering silence

I Just Rolled Over!

I Just Rolled Over 011, originally uploaded by mmarano.

Cuteness Explosion

Dylan at four months 020, originally uploaded by mmarano.

Oh my God could they be any cuter? This is the play group minue baby Joaquin who was at the pediatrician at the time. The cutie in the boppy is Beck, then there is Patrick and Hannah, the only girl in the group, and of course The D Man.

She got me!

Dylan at four months 011, originally uploaded by mmarano.

I always try to prevent mom from catching me smiling on camera. This time she got me!

Month Four

Oh my dear baby boy,

You are four months old today and you are growing like a weed! You were born five weeks early and at four months you weigh 16 pounds! You're in the 95th percentile for weight. Not sure of your length yet as you are too wiggly for me to measure alone.

You talk to us all the time now. Gooing and Ahhing and that most beautiful of sounds you make, laughing. It's the cutest laugh I've ever heard and when you do it my heart bursts open and I fall even more in love with you. Your father and I spend lots of time trying to make you laugh so we can laugh with you until our bellies hurt.

We had a great holiday with your Nona and Uncle Blair. We had Christmas Eve dinner at Cousin Janet's house in Sausalito. You had a bad tummy night and were crying much of the time. But after Uncle Blair got you to sleep, you were a much happier boy.

You've been pretty fussy this month. But you've got good reason. Your teeth are starting to bug you. You're drooling like a champ and even have the telltale drool rash around your cute little mouth. But you are so happy after a good nap. Something we still don't have on a regular schedule yet. I've decided I don't care. I'll let you do what you need to do.

You also don't typically go to bed before 9 pm. Sometimes you go to be as late as 11 pm. Which is tough when mommy and daddy are wiped out.

Your poor father has been working 15 hour days on this big project and on the weekends when he finally gets to see you he says you've grown even bigger.

You went on your first airplane ride this month. We all flew back to DC where you were conceived by the way, to get the condo ready for sale. You were a CHAMP on both five and a half hour flights. You slept the whole time both ways. We were impressed considering you'd already been asleep all night!

You are still a good sleeper although you have nights now where you get up every few hours to feed. For the most part though, you sleep 6 or 7 hours and then eat and then sleep another 2 hours. I don't follow any of the "rules" the baby books talk about in terms of putting baby down when he looks tired. I nurse you to sleep, it's the only way you'll calm down enough to drift off. Plus cuddling with you is the best thing in the world! Louis likes it too. And you don't even seem to mind that his 15 pound weight sleeps on your legs.

The kitties have also decided that your changing table is their new nap place. This does NOT make your father very happy but you don't seem to mind sharing.

Your new favorite thing is your bouncy seat. We tried it at Roberta's house and you fell in love. So of course I had to buy it for you. You watch the fishies bob around and listen to the bubbles and ocean sounds contentedly for up to a half hour which is AWESOME 'cause it usually gives us time to eat a meal!

But by far, your very favorite thing to do is chew on your hands. You can't seem to get enough of their yummy goodness.

You even chew on them in your sleep. This is your cue to me that you'll be waking soon to eat.

You are so damn cute your father and I can't stand it. We love playing with you. Letting you pull yourself up to standing while you grip our fingers is a new thing that is very exciting to all of us. It makes us realize that soon you'll be sitting by yourself, eating solid foods and standing using the furniture.

One thing I've learned, and compared with the other moms, is that dads and moms feel differently about our crying babies. Mommies have to respond to you, pick you up, cuddle and try to fix the problem. It is physically painful for us to hear you cry. Dads however, seem to find your crying fascinating. I've caught your father on more than one occassion just watching you as you scream your head off. He likes looking at the shape of your mouth and tounge while you scream. Apparently this is not unique. The other dads do it too. Us moms don't get it and always come in to "rescue" you babies, even if you really don't need it.

You're growing so fast and I'm still loving every minute. You've changed our lives little man. And we relish in it. We love you so very much.

Love,
Mommy

A Christmas Story Redux

Holiday 2005 020, originally uploaded by mmarano.

Look I'm that kid Randy who couldn't put his arms down.

Holiday 2005 012, originally uploaded by mmarano.

I must have them!

Christmas at Grandma's.

Holiday 2005 014, originally uploaded by mmarano.

Oh these hands are so yummy.