4 Month Milestones

As I sat filling out my 2011 Calendar tonight, I got to August and took a deep sigh as I wrote in "Riley's First Birthday" on the 24th. As far as I think we are away from that day, it already haunts me. We are already 1/3 of the way there.

Height: 24-1/2" (50th percentile)
Weight: 14 pounds, 8 ounces (75th percentile)

Sleeping Patterns: She goes down between 8:30-9:00 and sleeps until right around 7:30 am. She sleeps (on average) 11 hours. Her waking hour really depends on what time she goes to sleep. Her naps have changed a bit in the last month, with her morning nap being the long one now. Usually, she is awake for 2-3 hours in the morning and then will go down for a nap that averages about 3 hours. Her afternoon nap is only about an hour.

Places Traveled: It's been a pretty calm month, rightfully so, since the Holidays were upon us. We did manage to make it up to Lake Wales one weekend, which was a TON of fun!

Accomplishments:
Most exciting for Mommy, Riley had her ears pierced at her 4-month well check with her Pediatrician. I was SUPER nervous about doing it, but I'm glad it's over with. I wanted to do it young enough that she wouldn't remember it and so that she was still young enough that she wouldn't tug on her ears. I love them and both Daddy and I think she looks SO pretty with her new earrings.
Riley had a bottle or 2 over the last month. I am trying to get her more and more used to bottle feeding, so that I can leave her during feeding time. She is starting to take it better and better with each bottle. She's still a little stinker for me, and usually won't take it from me unless she's starving!
Riley is now very controlled with her head and can sit up with assistance. Soon enough, I will go get Tyler's jumper out of storage and add it to the plethora of toys that these kids have. She really loves to sit in her Bumbo and play with toys on the play tray.
Riley had her first real Jeep adventure during this month. We went to Lake Wales mid-December. That Saturday we went for a ride that lasted almost the whole day. As I suspected she would, she did great!
She has almost perfected picking toys up and playing with them. She especially loves her Spider (which Mommy calls "Spidey").
Proving to be quite the teether, she drools constantly. I'm still protesting the bib, only because I think it ruins the outfit. Now that she can pick up and hold toys, they ALL go in her mouth. When there is no toy in reach, her fist does the trick. Drool, drool everywhere!
Riley had her first visit with Santa during this month and we actually visited 2 different Santas. The first one was at Christmas on Las Olas and the second was at Bass Pro Shops. Riley did great both times, as she is too young to know the differece this year. Next year will be a whole different song and dance.
Probably the most heart breaking (for Mommy) of all her milestones this month, was moving her into her crib. She's been sleeping through the night since 7 weeks old, so it was time. It doesn't get any easier with the second child. The first night was a sleepless night for me and I still go in and check on her from time to time.

Foods: Breastfed. My sister watched her for a few hours last week and while there, she did have 1 bottle of formula. I was so happy to hear that she did well with it. I think she is outgrowing the reflux, as most babies do by the time they are 6 months. I think over the next month, we are going to test the waters with oatmeal.


Riley's Big Girl Bed
Pretty Girl with her new earrings!
Happy, Healthy and Growing! You can check out photos by clicking the link on the top right of the blog. And so it goes...

3 Month Milestones

3-Months-Old, YES FOLKS, 3-Months-Old. One quarter of her first year of life has already passed us by.

Height: Not sure, no appt this month
Weight: Not sure, no appt this month

Sleeping Patterns: She goes to bed between 9-9:30PM and wakes between 6:00-7:00AM. She's a good little sleeper. In the morning, she's up for about 2 hours and then goes down for a nap which usually lasts about an hour. She takes a nap in the afternoon that is usually about 3-4 hours long and then another cat nap right around dinner time.

Places Traveled: With this GO,GO,GO lifestyle that we lead, there hasn't been much downtime, which results in lots of traveling. Over the last month, Riley has been to Lake Wales, Palatka and Sebring. It's a good thing that her relationship with her car seat is getting better, because it makes for more peaceful travel.

Accomplishments: First and foremost, Riley's newest cousin, Raegan, was born on October 28. Riley and Tyler both got to go into the Labor & Delivery room as soon as she was born, to meet their new cousin.
Riley started belly laughing on October 27, when she was just over 2 months old. She still only does it for Daddy, and I am trying my best to capture some on video. It is to most incredible sound.
Riley is a drool-bug and it's just about time to add the bib to her ensemble. It's evident that she is definitely teething. At any given moment, she will try to shove her entire fist into her mouth and chew on it.
Riley went to her first concert on November 6, at the Davie Rodeo Arena. We went to see Gretchen Wilson. Riley sat tentatively in her stroller for most of the concert.
We attended Birthday Parties for second-cousin Abbie, Friend Brayden and Aunt Leah.
Riley got to experience her first Hunter Family Vacation, that we take annually in November. This year we went to Palatka, Sebring / Lake Placid and Lake Wales. While in Palatka, we attended Cousin Jessica's Baby Shower. We had such a great time visiting! We then packed up and headed South to visit Riley's Great-Grandparents in Lake Placid for Thanksgiving. We stayed there for a day and then finished the week off in Lake Wales. It was much needed R&R for the whole Hunter Family.
Riley has also discovered her hands and has become very fond of them. She has also started reaching for and grabbing onto toys. Her activity gym that she lays under is a big hit for her.
Also amongst her new discoveries, is her voice. I call her a little bird. She does love to talk back to you when you talk to her and can become quite the gabby one once you get her going.
Riley is NOT a binky baby and won't even entertain the idea for Mommy. She will occasionally take it for others, but it only lasts for a few minutes.

Foods: Breastfed. I try to give her a bottle of breast milk every now and again so that she gets more familiar with it. She has had 6 bottles in her lifetime, and does better with each one. I gave her a little bit of formula last week (to test her reflux) and she did great, which leads me to believe that she is growing out of it already.

Happy, Healthy and Growing! You can check out photos by clicking the link on the top right of the blog. And so it goes...