Four Months!

 

Miss Elizabeth is now four months!  She has become so much more fun this month!  Here are some of the highlights:

• rolling in both directions (back to tummy, tummy to back)
• sucking her left thumb (hallelujah!!  You can bet I was excited about that one!) while snuggling with her puppy blanket
• noticing and smiling at herself in the mirror
• squealing/singing
• grabbing at toys and doing a better job getting them in her mouth

my newest little thumb-sucker!

I am still dairy-free and think it has helped lessen her congestion and baby acne.  I also noticed blood in her diaper after a delicious, dairy-filled weekend--oh well.  I'll keep the dairy-free diet for as long as is necessary.  Good thing I know all the good stuff since I've done it before!

At the doctor today Elizabeth was 26 1/4 in. long (97%) and 14 lb. 1 oz. (70%).  Even though she is obviously growing and doing well (up 1.5 lb. and 1 in. in a month), I am still thrown by what a peanut she seems to be.  Compared to her chunk-a-munk siblings, she's a lightweight! :)  It is great, though, to know she is still right on track length and weight-wise!

Elizabeth has become a happy, content baby girl who is loved by all the people who meet her.  She gives big smiles and definitely loves the attention lavished on her by her siblings, reserving some of her biggest smiles for them.  She still sleeps 10 hours (or sometimes more!) at night (8pm-6am) and doesn't do long naps during the day.  We'll see how my being home and not working during the summer will change that schedule.  She also still eats about every 3 hours during the day (6 times/day). 

I feel a bit more settled as a mom of four now.  Jack's last day is today, so we shall see how the summer goes when we're ALL home.  Elizabeth is doing so much better that I feel like I am less overwhelmed.  It's hard to remember, even though I've done it three other times, just how much a baby rocks your world.  Thankfully, those first few months don't last forever, and soon the fun, happy stages come!  Yay!

Ready to conquer the world!

Last night Grant graduated from preschool! Wasn't he JUST in the 2/3 class??  Is he really moving on to kindergarten?  Crazy!  I have not been thrilled some things that have happened in his class this school year, but he has done well and will hopefully be no worse for wear as we head into kindergarten.

So excited to take a picture

"Please, no more pictures."

grabbing the diploma from Miss Lydia and getting off the podium as quickly as possible--Grant is not quite the attention-lover his brother is!

Grant with his diploma--He said he wants to be a race car driver when he grows up.  I'm not surprised by that one--lots of speed and adrenaline involved in that job!

 

 

We love you, Grant, and are so proud of all you have learned and grown this year.  We pray you will continue to learn and grow as you enter kindergarten in just a few weeks!

Eye of the Beholder

When I told people I was pregnant with baby #4, the most common response was, "Was this planned??"  (Other lovely responses were "You're crazy," "Glad it's you and not me," and "Are they all by the same guy?"  That last one was my personal favorite.)

Okay, just consider this your PSA: when someone tells you she's pregnant, these are NOT  appropriate, encouraging responses.

Just sayin'...

Now that sweet Elizabeth is here, I find it interesting to hear what people say.  Sometimes I get, "Wow!  You've got your hands full!"  (And that is usually when they just see the three younger ones with me.  I love telling them I have one more in school.)  However, the best is when people say,

 

"Oh, you are just so blessed."

And they really do mean it!  In this day and age some people still see children as BLESSINGS!  They even see MY children (in stores, the dr. office, our neighborhood, etc.) with their craziness and loudness and still think we're blessed.  These comments have been a challenge to me, a call for me to see myself as blessed in spite of the chaos.  Even on the days when I don't feel like Mom of the Year or on the days when the kids do everything opposite of what I think "blessings" should do.  Even on those days I am still blessed to have each child in my life and in our family.  Because, if I am completely honest, I do feel blessed, regardless of what some people may say or think.  My children may make me feel frustrated, and life may not look like I always imagined it would.  (Who knew the precious little ones I wanted so badly could make me lose my patience so quickly?)  On the other hand, I wouldn't trade the messiness of life with four young kiddos for anything!