Four Whole Months (and then some, since this is a little late)

Four Month Old Magnolia:

- Has discovered the fascinating wonder that is her feet. She's always grabbing them.

- Laughs when we hold her up high over our heads, or sometimes when we change her clothes.

- Loves to stick her tongue out. Sometimes over and over again, which is hilarious. She even blows raspberries sometimes.

- Loves to yell and talk in funny voices (that's what she's doing in this picture).

- Sits up almost all by herself.

- Loves to sit with Mama in the kitchen while she cooks dinner.

- Has the sweetest baby mohawk.

- Had her four-month appointment and shots. She did a little better this time, and I'm proud to say I didn't cry.

- Weighs in the 72% and is 98% for length.

- Is currently being sleep-trained. (A BRIEF note on this: I didn't want to have to try the whole crying-it-out thing, but her doctor strongly recommended it. I've tried alternative methods to get her to go to bed on her own but it's not happening, and if we don't correct some bad sleep habits now, I think Magnolia and I will soon be nocturnal, and she will likely still be sleeping in my bed when she's 13 years old. We're doing a modified version of crying it out; we don't like the idea of letting her keep crying until she gives up, so we go in often and pat her and wipe her tears and reassure her that it's okay and we love her. We're currently on the third night, and while it's torturous for me to hear her cry, since she's not a big crier in general, it seems to be getting a little better each night. It also seems to be helping her to nap better, which will make life way easier for all of us.

- Loves grabbing and holding and eating her little toys. Sophie the Giraffe, Owlie, her little Ikea rattles, and her play mat are her favorites.

- Is ready to start eating solid foods! I was going to wait a month or maybe two, but the doctor said that since she sits up so well we could start any time, especially if she seems interested in food. She's been staring at everything we eat for the last couple days, so as soon as I buy some baby spoons and baby bowls and a box of cereal, I think we're going to give it a whirl.

- Wears 6 month clothes in jammies and pants, but still fits into 3 months for shirts.

- Is a happy, sweet, smiley, beautiful baby girl. We are constantly amazed by her and thinks she just gets cuter and more delightful every single day.