Anne Elizabeth is 4 months old!

There is something so special about her. I think it's because she's truly the baby in our family, the last one. Which I'm not at all sad about, lol!



She smiles all the time and totally lights up when she sees us. She also gets all wiggly when she gets excited. I've been able to make her laugh a few times, usually by kissing her belly.

Annie weighs 13 lbs, 14 oz. She's either 23 or 24 inches long (I can't remember what the pedi said!) She's in size 2 diapers and 0-3 month clothes. She drinks 4-5 ounce bottles every 2-3 hours. We put her to bed around 8:00, Chris dream feeds her around 10-11. She still wakes for the 2 am bottle, then again at 4 and 6 (yeah. sucks.)

She likes to sit in her Bumbo for short periods of time. I usually put her in there when I'm in one of the girls' rooms. They love to play with her when she's sitting up :)

She likes her play mat, too. She looks at the hanging toys and Mr. Sun. Every once in awhile she'll knock them with her hands (not sure if this is on purpose yet!) I'm hoping to try our her exersaucer this month.

I think we're going to try cereal in the next few weeks. But that's it until she's 6 months! I loved skipping baby food with Abigail. I can't wait to see how Anne takes to food! She loves to gnaw on my finger as well as on hers.

Big sisters at 4 months:


Audrey:


Abigail:






Miss Punctual has been going through the 4 month wakeful. The past 2 nights she wakes earlier and more often. I despise those nights- the ones where I see every hour on the clock, lol. Sleep training is looking better and better! I have no idea when we'll do it. Probably at 6 months like with the older two. The 2 am feed is all good, but I REALLY wish she'd skip the 4 am and go a longer stretch.

I am glad she's so little at this time of year. I want to do nothing but stay in and hibernate all day, every day. She is the perfect excuse to do just that!

Month 4 seemed to be very similar to month 3. I get more and more excited as each month brings new things. My favorites- more sleep, sitting up, rolling over. Can't wait!!

Things I Don't Want to Forget about Abigail

Abigail is the BEST helper! She hands me clothes when I'm folding the laundry and moves them from the washer to the dryer (and presses the buttons, of course!) She helps rinse out the bottles at the sink. When I vacuum she takes the brush attachment and walks around with it, brushing different areas of the floor. She likes to help pour ingredients when I'm cooking or baking. When I'm refilling her juice cup or snack dish, she says, "I hold the top." She is the sweetest thing! Of course the jobs take a bit longer when she's "helping", but I love the bonding time with her, and I'd never discourage her from being helpful.

She loves her Grandma and Grandpa SO much! She always wants to go to their house. When I tell her I'm on the phone with Grandma, she says, "Abby's Grandma?!"

When she thinks she's done something wrong, she immediately says, "I sorry- I so, so sorry." It melts my heart.

She's DONE with the paci! And it was so, so easy. For the longest time she only used it in her bed. Then we started getting lax- letting her have it to keep her quiet in stores/restaurants, for "quiet time" in her room. And I started to notice she was asking for it more and more. One morning I decided we'd try stopping. All day I told her that the paci was becoming bad for her teeth. She seemed very concerned about that, lol. She even threw one of them away! I was skeptical, but at bedtime she didn't even ask for it. I thought for sure she'd wake up wanting it during the night (like she has so many times when it would fall out of her bed.) But she slept all night :) I thought for sure it would be a never ending battle with her- she's so adamant and strong-willed. Fingers crossed that we're done with the paci forever! Side note- Annie doesn't care for the paci at all!

She repeats after me. When I say, "I love you, pretty girl!" She says, "I love you pretty mom!" I make a big deal about it and give her hugs and kisses and she just thinks it's the funniest thing! It takes us awhile to say goodnight to each other. As I'm walking out her door I say, "Goodnight my sweet girl!" She says, "Good night my sweet mom!" and I run back to her bed for tickles. We do this 2-3 more times and we have too much fun.

She sounds so sweet when she sings the songs from Frozen; "For the First Time" and "Let it Go." I love, love, love her sweet voice!

I love watching her interact with Annie. She gives her fist bumps, talks to her, and is SO entertained by her! The are going to be best buds for sure.

She thinks it's funny to attack me with kisses. She laughs so hard when I wipe them off my face, lol.


One morning I woke up to the girls sitting in front of the window watching the snow fall. It was all Audrey's doing- she pulled the chair over, got Abby to sit with her, gathered their drinks and blanket. There are definitely times when I'm overwhelmed with their bickering...but this was one of those times I felt so grateful that they have each other.

Anne Elizabeth is 3 months old!

She is smiling all the time now! I love when I catch her looking at me, a serious look on her face, and then when I smile at her she gives me the biggest smile back! She's also cooing ("talking") and when she's REALLY excited she squeals, lol. She's being adorable like it's her job!


I turned 3 months old on Christmas Day!

Big sisters at 3 months:


Audrey


This picture of Audrey looks crazy similar to Annie!


Look at Abby's crazy hair!!!

She has a pretty consistent schedule. Swaddled and bottled between 7-8, Dad feeds her again before he goes to bed (10-11) and she sleeps in her crib until about 2:30 am. I feed her and she goes right back to sleep. For awhile I dreaded the 2am feed because I could NOT get back to sleep afterwards. It was awful because by the time I did start to drift off, she'd awake again around 4-ish to eat. Now she sleeps in her bouncer next to the couch. She will go until 6am and for some reason I fall back to sleep more quickly. I don't mind the 2 am feed at all- but I'll be glad when she starts skipping it- I'd love to sleep all night in my bed :)

After her 6 am feed, we go back to sleep until 7-8. I pump and she stays awake to greet everyone. By the time I'm done, she's ready for a nice long morning nap in her swing. The rest of the day is like that- eat, awake/play, sleep in the swing, repeat. I'm too chicken to have her nap in her crib. I love watching her nap- she'll clasp her hands together or they'll lay right in her lap. She has the cutest little face and she looks so calm and peaceful.

She's doing the normal baby stuff- bearing weight on her legs, opening and closing her hands, bringing her hands to her mouth. She watches us and follows moving objects. She smiles (HEART MELTS!!) and coos (SWEETNESS!!)

I'm pumping 4x a day; first thing in the morning, during the day (around 1-2 pm), before bed at 7:00, and then when I get up to feed Annie at 2 am. I make plenty of milk for her (she's eating between 4-5 ounces) and I'm still freezing a little bit here and there. I'm down to about 125 lbs. My clothes are starting to hang on me (especially my pants!) I really should start exercising to tone everything up, but I'm too lazy, lol. Maybe in the Spring when it gets warmer! Maybe...

This month she had her first cold (with a cough!) She had her first ER visit and later saw a doctor about her hands and feet turning blue (all is good!) She sat with Santa and got to visit with her Great Grandparents from Texas. She got to meet more family on Christmas Day :)

Pics from the past month:


I worried my parents with my freaky blue hands and feet! But my heart is perfect and I'll totally grow out of it!


Super cute in my hospital gown!


Mom can't resist this pout!


I love to mile and talk to my Dad. He's my nighttime buddy!


Mom loves to watch me sleep


My big sisters love to bring me toys!


I love Mr. Sun, just like my sisters did!


Mom adores my rosy red cheeks!

I can't wait to see what this next month brings! I can't say that time has flown by. Her being 3 months old feels just right. Time isn't necessarily flying by, but it's not dragging either. I love being home with the girls, knowing that I have plenty of time to enjoy them :)