4 months

Baby M,

What an exciting week and couple of days we have had!  You made it the whole 9 hours (though with all the frequent stops, it was closer to 13) to Gulf Shores, AL, and you were such a good baby!  You went on your first crab hunt, had your first pictures made in white and khaki, and put your feet in the sand.  You were not much on soaking up the sun, so we took turns with you inside our beach house!  You had been trying to roll over for a while and had done it once before but had always had trouble getting that one arm out from under you, well on Father's Day (June 17) you rolled over and over and over!  And now you won't stop!  We have got to work on getting you to roll back the other way because we are constantly rolling you back over so you won't get mad (you're not a tummy kinda baby).  On the way back home, we stopped to eat breakfast at a Cracker Barrel in Greenville, AL.  I was holding you/rocking you while trying to eat, and this sweet lady came over and wanted to hold you so I could eat.  I have to admit I was a little wary...who was this crazy person trying to hold my baby...her table was next to ours and her daughter was so embarassed.  I eventually gave in, and she rocked you right to sleep.  However, I don't remember tasting any of my meal...I gobbled it down, so that I could come grab you back!

Finally back home from the beach, and you have turned 4 months old, which means time for some solid food.  I have been planning for a long time to make my own baby food.  I want to know exactly what you are eating, and I want you to be healthy!  I made so many bad choices which negatively affected my  health when I was younger, and now I'm working hard to exercise and eat foods that are good for me.  I want that for you too.  I have heard a thousand times from other moms that I probably won't keep it up, especially when I go back to work, but I'm going to do my best!  Your first solid...a sweet potato!  I think you liked it...you made some funny faces at first, but after the first couple of bites, you were opening up your mouth in anticipation!  Another first!

Inservice and school are pretty much back in full swing for me.  Part of me is ready to work; teaching is just part of who I am.  However, most of me is agonizing over the fact that I'm going to miss so much of your first months!  I am going to miss rocking you during the day, playing and laughing, and even changing all those diapers.  I'm doing what is best for both of us though!  One request: become a doctor, and let this mama retire early :)  Love you

Mama

Beach Baby!

Max,

We are headed to the beach in just a few days, and I am so excited to get away for just a little while before school starts back and everything shifts into high gear.  You probably won't remember your first vacation, but I'm going to take tons of pictures for you! You are set with your own pair of sunglasses, swimming trunks, go pod, straw hat, beach towel, sun tent, and swimming float...can't wait to get you in the sand!

Right now you have a sinus infection and you don't feel very good, but you still smile all the time.  You are such a happy baby! Dr.  Minor said you weigh 15 lbs and 1 oz.  You are getting to be such a big boy so fast!  You are even rolling over now.  Sometimes you can't quite get one of your arms out from under you, but you sure are trying.  The last time I wrote  you were just starting to sleep in your crib at night.  You have transitioned extremely well!  You still get up for a middle of the night feeding and every now and then you wake up, and you just want to be rocked. :)  It is so hard for me to let you lie in your crib and cry a little, so that you can soothe yourself back to sleep.  I haven't quite mastered it yet. 

I am learning how hard it is going to be to go back to work full time at the end of July.  We have had such a good time together...all I can think about are the things I'm going to miss.  This month I had a few inservices and by the time I got home, it seemed like it was time for you to get ready for bed.  I felt like I hadn't seen you at all.  The good news is that you will be staying with Aunt Bonnie and Baby Jude.  You will have so much fun, and I will be missing you!  The great thing is that we still have a month and half...we will make the best of it. 

You, Jack, and Jude are just the sweetest things.  Jack calls you "Jack's baby" and he is always wanting to give you kisses.  And you and Jude just watch each other all the time.  Thankful for all of our babies.

I love you!