Lily's Pad: 4 Months

Dear Violet and Ella,

I know I saw this every month, but SLOW DOWN!! How are we already at 4 months?! I JUST had you two! I can't stand how fast you two are growing up already!

We've had a lot of laughs this past month. At the beginning of the month you only laughed when tickled. You are both ticklish under your chins and your bellies. You guys love to be tickled! Over the month you've both started laughing at other things. Ella, you think your big sister Lily is hilarious! When she runs around you just crack up. You also think it's funny when I sing a string of staccato notes! Violet, you loved to be bounced, and crack up when we bounce down the stairs sometimes! Both your laughs brighten my day, and make the hard job of being a twin Mommy more than worth it!

You both have gotten so strong this month (as I'm sure you will every month!). Violet, you are now rolling over from tummy to back more often!! Finally it's not a fluke anymore! Ella, you still haven't rolled over, but you sure to try! You can get up onto your side from lying on your back, and just almost get onto your tummy, but not quite. Violet, you do this too. I'm keeping my eye on you both...I know we'll see back to tummy rolls from both of you this month! I think one of the reasons you haven't rolled from your tummy yet Ella is because you have actually started to enjoy tummy time! You like to look around at the room for a while! You both are lifting completely with your arms now during tummy time, so you get a good view of the room. You also LOVE looking at a mirror during tummy time!

You both discovered your toys this month! It started with kicking your toys on the play mat, and then hitting them with your hands on the play mat. Now you are both grabbing the toys from the mat...and playing with toys that we give you! Just like with Lily, Freddy the firefly is a big hit with you too. You also have the grouchy lady bug and Mortimer the moose that are big hits. All are the same type of toy....bright colors, crinkly noise, with rings and soft teethers to touch and bite.

Speaking of biting things, you two are definitely teething now! Everything we give you goes straight to the mouth to chew on, and your hands are constantly in your mouths! Sometimes, if you are close enough, you even chew on each others hands! You both are soaking through shirts every day with crazy amounts of drool. We've had a few very fussy days where the only thing that will calm you is one of my fingers to chew on and rub your sore gums. I feel so bad for you both being in pain! Teething does not look easy for you little guys! I'm starting to feel some puffiness on both of your bottom gums, and a roughness on them too. I think we may see your first teeth pop through within the next 2 months!!

You both have also just barely discovered your feet! Just this week I noticed you both grabbing at your feet and staring at them! You both like to hold your toes! I started helping you get your toys to your mouth. You both LOVED though and though it was so funny! I had you both on the floor next to each other when I did this for the first time earlier this week, taking turning helping you get a foot to the mouth, and you both were just cracking up!

We had your 4 month doctors appointment earlier this weeks, on Tuesday. Eleanor, you are 12lbs 8oz (25%), 25 inches long (75%), and a head circumference of 41. You doctor was pretty happy with that. She still thinks you are pretty thin, but nothing to worry about. Lily was almost the exact same size at 4 months though, so I think you are a great size! Violet, you are 10lbs 12oz (5%), 23 1/2 inches long (25%), and a head circumference of 39. The doctor wasn't to happy with your weight gain, even though you stayed on the same range on the growth charts. I'm not worried though. You are healthy and happy. I just think you were meant to be smaller! Even your doctor admitted that that could be the case. Either way, she wants us to start solids. We'll be starting them next weekend, once we get a new high chair! I'm so looking forward to starting solids, but at the same time I'm sad that we're already at that stage! As for how you are eating now, we are still on the 4oz every 4 hours during the day schedule.

This month has been full of learning for you both! We are so proud of how fast you are hitting your milestones! It's such a joy watching you two growing up together! I can't wait to see what this next month holds for us! First solids! Rolling over? Sitting up? First babble? I look forward to it all! Just don't grow up to fast girls! I'll miss these baby days when they are over! Love you both more than I can say!

Love,
Mommy

Ella's 4 month shots: