Brenson is 4 Months Old!

Yesterday, our Brenson-man turned 4 months old. He just gets sweeter by the day!

He is growing so fast, as you can see in his monthly photo with his giraffe. It's hard to believe how much he's grown in the past month!

Brenson is wearing size 6 month and 6-9 month clothing. In sleepers, he's definitely up to size 9 month because he needs the length. In shorts, we are still wearing a few 3-6 month pieces since length is more flexible. He's in size 2 shoe and size 2 diaper. However, as soon as we use up the size 2s we currently have, we'll be moving up to size 3 in diaper (probably next week).

I generally try to post these updates on the 10th of the month (since he was born on the 10th), but I wanted to wait on this one since we saw Dr. F this morning and I would have exact weight and height measurements. Everything checked out great . . . I was just a bit nervous about his heart, but Dr. F said that it sounds great! He weighs 16 pounds and 15 ounces (WOW!) which puts him in the 86th percentile for his age. He is 26 and 3/4 inches long (96th percentile), and his head circumference is 16 1/2 inches (42nd percentile). When the nurse initially measured his length, she measured him at 27 inches. However, she decided that 27 inches just couldn't be right, so she measured again and came up with 26 3/4 inches. I really think he is 27 inches, but oh well :-). 

Nursing is still going great. Brenson nurses or takes a bottle of pumped milk 5 times a day (7:00, 10:30, 2:00, 5:00, and 8:00). He definitely prefers nursing over taking a bottle, but he will take a bottle. He generally takes around 6-7 ounces. We won't be starting baby food for a while yet.

One thing that I LOVE is that Brenson sometimes sits with us at the table while we eat as a family. He just looks SO big sitting in his little seat! We will generally give him a toy to play with while we have dinner, and it's just nice to have everyone sitting together.

I've mentioned in the past that Brenson is a spitty baby, like Brianna was. He seems to be outgrowing this (yay!!!). He already spit up way less than Brianna did, but it's getting better with each passing week. He still has days here and there when it seems like he spits-up a lot, but overall the situation is improving!

He still loves to lay on the floor and play. His playmat is a favorite right now, as well as the bumbo. He also loves the swing and bouncy seat. I am so thankful for all of these things that occupy him while I need to take care of other things.

Overall, Brenson is a happy little guy. However, when he gets upset it typically happens very quickly and he is difficult to calm down. I would say he has more extreme moods than Brianna at this age. He is happier and gives more smiles, but he can also be fussier and harder to calm. One thing that works pretty much every time when he is inconsolable is to take him outside. He loves being outdoors and will calm right down. He also loves our family walks in the evenings.

Brenson has really started reaching for toys and grasping things this month. We love watching him really concentrate when he's trying to grab something. Of course, this makes holding him while we eat a bit more challenging.

He also tends to be a little wiggle worm. He loves to kick and squirm while he's having a bath or getting his diaper changed and it can be quite a challenge! Lately, he has started arching his back when we try to put him in the carseat (which he pretty much hates), or if we try to put him in the swing or bouncy seat when he doesn't want to be put down. He also does this if I prop him up in a chair to take his photo when he just wants to play.

Brenson is such a little snuggler! He loves to be rocked to sleep for naps (although not for night-time - when going to bed for the night, he wants to be swaddled and laid down). He also likes to put his cheek against mine and just hold his face there. Love this! He is a Momma's boy all the way and will sometimes just look into my eyes and talk and laugh and coo while I'm holding him. PRECIOUS!

When Mr. Man is wanting to be held, he has the sweetest little pout face. How could I resist this?

We have finally moved Brenson to his own crib in his own room. Yes, it took us a while to do it. Part of the reason is that we had people staying with us on and off for the last several months (and they were staying in Brenson's room). Another reason is that he is such a fantastic sleeper, and I didn't want to risk  messing that up. However, he made the transition beautifully and is doing great in his room. One day, after I laid him down for nap, he was fussing and it sounded muffled to me. I went in his room to find he had rolled over (completely swaddled) and had his face in the mattress. Eeeeek! It scared me to death! He hasn't done this since. We do use an Angel-Care monitor which helps me worry about things like this a little less.

Mr. Brenson's hair is really starting to thicken on top, although he still has a big bald spot in the back. In person, his hair is extremely blond. He doesn't hate tummy-time so much anymore (thankfully), and will constantly roll from his back to his tummy to play. I love the way he holds his little hands when he's propped up on his elbows.

A few more random things: Brenson still uses a soothie, but only when going to sleep. He won't play or sleep with it in. He doesn't have any teeth yet, but is drooling a TON, so maybe soon? Sometimes, he puts his feet in his mouth and sucks on his toes. When I say, "Brenson, give kisses" he opens his mouth wide and slobbers all over my face. I love this! He is very ticklish on his ribs and feet. Brianna captivates him. When Brenson is fussing or just griping, sometimes he'll say "Mamamamama". I don't think he is assigning meaning to this, but I like to brag that he says Mama already :-).

(The spot in the above photo is spit-up, not a leaky diaper . . . although he has a lot of those, too!)

Thank you, God, for blessing us with this little man. He is such a joy!