I can hardly believe she’s 4-months old already. I’m pretty sure I say that every month, but it’s true.

We went to the doctor today for her check-up and vaccines (I hate that part). Here are her stats:

• Weight: 12 pounds, 14 oz
• Height: 25 1/4 inches
• Head Circumference: 16 inches

This month, Cora rolled over from stomach to back and on her playmat she’ll frequently roll from her back to her side. She also stopped needing the swaddle blanket to sleep. She can now very intentionally touch or grab something, although sometimes she misses. We have seen her start to whine or cry when one of us isn’t the one holding her, but we saw her intentionally show a preference for the first time! After church on Sunday, I was holding her facing outward so she could see. We walked up to Soc and she reached forward a little and lurched towards him! We both think she knew what she was doing. It was so sweet that she wanted Daddy to hold her.

She’s still eating 6-8 times a day (usually 7), exclusively breastfed. Dr. W. said we could start solids any time now if we want to, and that we definitely should by 6 months. I don’t think I’m quite ready yet. The AAP recommends exclusively breastfeeding for “about six months,” and Cora seems to have a bit of a sensitive tummy, so I’m not anxious to jump into it just yet. Dr. W. did say that if we’re concerned about her tummy, we can start with rice cereal and keep it at just that until 6 months. Cora does seem to be hungrier these days and she meets the milestones for starting solids, but we’re going to pause and see, think it over and pray about it.

During playtime she’s very active! At least I think so. Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s “normal” and what’s a unique personality trait of your baby when it’s your first. I used to babysit and all, but I haven’t spent a huge amount of time with young babies besides Cora.

She’s not sleeping through the night like a “Babywise baby” but she is pretty average according to the doctor, hitting about 5 hours in a row at night, sometimes more, (and dreadfully) sometimes less. This used to stress me out more, but recently I’ve prayed through it and kind of gotten over it. That doesn’t mean I don’t also pray almost every night that she’ll sleep 6 hours or more, but I’ve stopped obsessing so much when she doesn’t. After Christmas travels we started a new routine that includes some extended playtime in the evening, and she seems to be responding to that really well in terms of all three points on the triangle: eating, playing, and sleeping.

LIKES: Her play mats — both of them! For Christmas she got the Kick and Play Piano Gym, which is pretty stinking cool. She also likes “talking” to others and to herself (her favorite place to do this is the changing table), being sung to, sitting on laps, and we like to think she likes the piano.

DISLIKES: Being away from Mommy or Daddy (although Mommy may be projecting a little bit here with the end of maternity leave looming), the Bumbo seat (I think it’s too constraining for her taste), staying up past nap time — sweet thing is so curious, she really has a hard time falling asleep if we’re out and about. It’s so funny because she’ll look around half smile and then cry and then look around intently, and then whine and cry. Then she falls asleep almost instantly once you turn the car on to head home. On the flip-side, she also doesn’t like when she realizes it is actually nap time, even if she’s tired. Luckily, that only lasts a few minutes. She has a lot fewer specific dislikes, but when she’s done or doesn’t want to do something anymore, it’s pretty clear.

We are head-over-heels as ever for little miss Sweet Cheeks! See you next month for our next “official” check-in!