My giggly 4-month old

I can't believe how quickly these past 4 months have gone by.  It seems like only yesterday when I was sitting in a hospital room, not having gone into labor, but having a 'surprise' induction thanks to some mild pre-eclampsia. 

And now I have this HUGE kid.  Over 18 lbs. of solid baby boy. He really is the happiest little guy.  He is firmly a thumb-sucker, turning to that little nub when he is trying to comfort himself to sleep or interested in eating but not starving yet.  And sometimes, when he's sucking his thumb to fall asleep, he fusses a bit.  And that is code for 'nurse me to sleep, mommy!'  Other times he starts sucking his whole hand.  That is code for 'HUNGRY!' 

He is not a kid who cries for fun or just to hear his own voice.  When Donovan cries, it's for a reason, and it sounds painful.  Sometimes it's that we have missed his hunger cues.  Sometimes it's a rather soiled diaper (the double-edged sword of neutral-smelling breastfed baby poop).  Usually it's a tummy ache, no doubt related to his food sensitivities that we have not fully uncovered.  I have eliminated all soy and dairy from my diet, and I am an avid label-reader, but sometimes you just don't have control. 

When he wants to hear his own voice, he chatters away.  The kid loves to 'talk'.  He gets a goofy grin on his face in response to the sound of his voice.  It's awesome.  He also laughs a whole lot.  And his laugh is infectious!  He loves having his cheeks 'eaten' and hands and feet kissed.  All of these things make him super giggly.  He's a giant flirt - he laughs and smiles at anybody who makes faces at him.  I'm in big trouble with that one. 

Donovan is getting really good at grabbing things.  While he nurses he enjoys holding my hand or shirt.  While on his play gym he holds the rings that hang above.  He hasn't picked up any toys yet, but I bet he would hold something if we put it in his hand.  He's also big on grabbing my finger and sticking it in his mouth and chomping on it.  I wonder if that means that teeth are on the horizon.  He is also *this close* to rolling over.  He tries really hard.  He even rolls to his side when we lie him down on his back.  It's like, now that he knows that he can view the world from different angles, there is no reason to view it from his back anymore.  And his head control is fantastic.  I can hold him in my arms and he keeps his head upright like a champ.

We are still working on the sleep schedule thing.  And, honestly, Mike and I are still just taking Donovan's lead.  We are waiting for the daycare stuff to become routine.  Some nights he is asleep when he gets home, and even sleeps straight into the evening and through the night.  I'll wake him up once or twice for a diaper change and dream feed, but he is content to keep on sleeping.  Other nights he is a bit more energetic.   Last night, for example, he never really went to sleep.  He just took a few naps in a row. He does have the ability to put himself to sleep.  He will often lay down on his blanket or his play gym. 

Unfortunately he still has green diarrhea.  It has been 3 to 4 weeks.  We have his well visit on Wednesday, and hopefully we will figure out next steps at that time.  It might be another trip to the GI doctor.  It might be another set of poop collection vials.  I just don't know what else we can do. 

Anyway, it's been an amazing 4 months.  Amazing.  I love my little guy :-).