Always & Forever: Madeline and Molly: Four Months

Madeline and Molly,

You are FOUR MONTHS old today! Just like that one-third of your first year of life is in the books. Wow! Now that we are out of the "fourth trimester" things really are getting easier, we are settling into a routine, and we are enjoying life as a family of five. Y'all are really smiling and laughing a lot, and interacting with Carter, and it could not be a more fun time than to be your parents right now. We love y'all!

So we are finally starting to feel like we've "got this" when it comes to parenting twins and a toddler. I'll admit, some days are a HOT MESS with lots of tears from everyone. But for the most part we feel like whatever we are doing is working and we have three pretty happy kids (and two happy parents.) Y'all are eating, playing and sleeping like champs. It is truly remarkable how different this newborn stage has been when compared to the first four months with your brother. Even though there is two of you, it's still easier than he is or ever was. Please keep it up!

Our day pretty much looks like this: Molly wakes up somewhere between 4:00am - 6:00am and we bottle feed you and put you right back to bed. Molly wakes up again around 9:00ish and I tandem nurse you and y'all hang out in your swings for awhile. If you don't fall asleep we will do some tummy time and lay around on your activity mat. You eat again around 12:00ish, hang out in your bouncers, more tummy time, and down for your long nap around 1:00pm. This time y'all will sleep as long as I let you, and I typically wake you up around 4:00pm. By then Daddy is home and I either go run errands with y'all or Carter Man. We try to keep y'all awake but you usually sneak in a cat nap while we are eating dinner. I nurse y'all for the last time at 7:00 and put you to bed around 7:30pm.

Madeline Kate,

You and Molly have changed places and you are now our temperamental baby. You want to be rocked to sleep, you want to take your time eating, and God forbid we make you lay on your stomach. You fuss if we aren't holding you, if you are too tired, if you are not tired, and for no reason at all. You cry is still more like a whimper, and you almost always make the most pitiful face and stick that bottom lip out when you cry. It's heartbreaking to watch! You cry like we hurt your feelings and so we usually rush in and try to calm you down so you will be happy again.

Speaking of being happy, you are generous with your smiles. You smile at ANYONE for ANYTHING! You are not as talkative, but when you are happy you completely light up the room. You definitely favor your Daddy and when he's home you are all about being in his arms. He makes you smile the biggest and laugh the loudest. I just love watching the two of you together.

And although we ragged on you this month for being so temperamental, you still show a great deal of contentment (when you are being held.) And even though you want to be rocked to sleep, you will sleep forever. You are never the one to wake up from your nap or at night early. We are 100% on Molly's schedule and you are just along for the ride. If it weren't for Molly you would probably still be sleeping all day and all night!

We love you sister bear, Maddy Kate, Mads Pads. To the moon and back.

Molly Ann,

What a difference a month can make! You have been cool as a cucumber this month, just content as can be. You are rarely upset, but when you are, watch out! Unlike your sister you can make a racket when you cry. It's so easy to tell your cries apart because you just sound mad the entire time. Thankfully we don't hear your cries all that often! You are happy to just sit and observe, and don't ask too much of us except for food and clean clothes and diapers. Poor thing, between your brother and your sister you were rarely held this month! I promise to make up for it soon.

You are thisclose to rolling over to your stomach. And once you master that I'm afraid you will never roll back. You love to be on your belly and will be a stomach sleeper just as soon as we put you in your crib. I'm thinking you will probably sleep just like your brother, on your stomach with your hiney in the air. You still love your paci, love to eat and can fall asleep instantly no matter where you are. You take a little bit more work to lure your smiles out, but talk all day long. Sometimes you even sing for us! I love listening to your little voice and can't wait until you and your sister blabber back and forth to each other.

We love you sister bear, Molly Ann, Molls Balls. To the moon and back.

Madeline 4 month Stats

Weight: 10 lb 12 oz (3%ile)

Length: 23.2 in (13%ile)

Eating: nursing 4 times a day with one bottle overnight. Typically 9am, 12pm, 4pm, 7pm, and 5am

Bedtime: around 7:45pm

Awake: around 9:00am

Naps: 10:00am, 1:00pm and a catnap around 5:30pm

Diapers: size 1 Huggies

Clothes: newborn

Favorites: being held, your Daddy, smiling

Development: bearing weight on legs, swatting at toys above you, can sometimes grasp a toy, constantly playing with your tongue, can hold your body up with your arms when on belly

Milestones:

5/26- first visit to the grocery store solo with all 3

5/28- first trip to Mama Jo's

5/29- first 7-hour stretch of sleep at night

5/30- first sick visit

6/15- got baptized