J-Bear is 4 months!!!

I have so much to post about...hopefully I'll get the chance this week.  But today is J-Bear's 4 month birthday.

To start with, here is the link to his newest photo album.

October Photo Album of J-Bear!

Dear J-Bear,

You are my little cuddle bug.  Your "big sister" (as she calls herself) was not much of a snuggler as a baby, although she is now.  But you love to settle into my arms and grab my hair in each hand and just hold on tight.

At 4 months you already weigh 20 pounds (although we will find out if it's a little more at your check-up this week).  That is the same weight as your sister at a year!  This has made things a little more challenging as we moved you out of your bucket seat into a new car seat in the new car - more on that in a different post.

So, I thought you'd be snug through the winter in your bucket seat, but now I have to keep waking you up to transfer you from the car seat into the snap and go with the bucket seat - but you can't even fit into the straps of the bucket anymore so I'm not sure what to do - you aren't ready for a front facing stroller and I'm not spending more money on a new stroller.  Hoping my friend lends me a bigger bucket seat to fit the snap and go.

You are really an easy going little man.  You love attention and you smile and giggle when you get the attention, but often your big sister gets a lot of your time.  You love being sung to and you love having a bath, maybe because it gives you some one-on-one attention with me at eye level (since I'm still bathing you on the kitchen counter).

Your sister just adores you, and for the most part, you enjoy her too - I'm not sure if you like it when she whisks your blanket away only to give it right back to you, or when she pats you on your head saying "my little boy-boy."  But you look at her and smile....I think/hope you will have a very special relationship.

You've started to join us at dinner by sitting in your high chair.  I don't think our conversation is too interesting because you fell asleep at our last meal.  But I think you like it better than sitting in your bouncy chair on the floor and getting completely ignored.

And you have now started spending time on your feet in the exersaucer...you seem to really enjoy this.

One thing we are struggling with is you and SR sharing a room.  As I type this, you are sleeping in the bassinet in my room.  I don't know how families get their children to share a room.  You have had a few sleepovers, but when you are asleep first, your sister can't fall asleep and often ends up (deliberately???) waking you up.  Then when you cry, I need to remove you from her room.  If she's asleep first and you go in, sometimes you'll sleep soundly and sometimes you'll cry to take you out.  Luckily, once SR is asleep she stays asleep.  I hope we can figure things out.

You have the chubbiest little feet...little legs...little arms...you are just so yummy.  I'm not sure how shoes will fit you, but we'll cross that bridge later.

Unlike your sister, you seem to really like tummy time.  You hold yourself up really high and love looking at your reflection in a mirror.  I practise rolling you over and leaving you on your side so you can pull yourself back to your tummy.

You also love music/singing classes.  We just finished Sing and Sign and you loved looking at the teacher, other mommies, and babies.  When we make it to our Singable Stories class, you sit and observe all the other babies.

I picture you growing up to be thoughtful and observant.  SR was similar in that way too, but she's a regular Chatty Cathy now.  I am so interested in how you will develop.

I posted a picture of you and your sister in your fourth month on Facebook - I can't get over how many similar features you have...your face structure, chin, noses, eyebrows, lips.  But I don't see the similarities as strongly when it's just you and her together.

Here are the two pictures.  And I'm sure I could find ones that are even more similar.  Look at how your cheeks and chins are the same.  The distance between your nose and your lips.  Your eyebrows.  Blows me away!

I am pretty sure you will be starting to eat food this week after we see your doctor.  I look forward to reporting on your progress next month.

My little snuggle-bug, my J-Bear...I never knew how much I would love you....and yet I love you so much.  I sometimes realize that you don't get nearly the same amount of attention that SR gets/got.  I need to try to make more of an effort with you.

Love, Mommy