Happy 4 months to my little Ansley Sue (posted a week late)! Wow! What a month! I think this has been the toughest month since Ansley was born! I have never wished to stay home with my children as much as I did this month! I knew it would all work out, and Grant and I said we would look back and laugh! It has been tough though! I really thought Ansley being at Mother's Day Out would be perfect. She would be at the same place as Addison, and I knew the people who worked there. Well, Ansley had other plans! Her personality just wasn't a good fit there on top of her not taking a bottle. But it really wasn't a good fit at my work either. I finally came to realize, she just would do better in a home environment where it was more calm, and quiet once she started taking a bottle better. I was blessed to find someone that could keep her,! I re-read "The Happiest Baby on the Block" this month, and it made me feel so much better- hence the title of this post...My mom has kidded me about how 2 laid back people could have such an intense child! Well there is a little section in the book titled "What happens when 2 Cocker Spaniels have a Doberman". We thought this was quite funny! Ansley meets the criteria in the book for an intense and sensitive baby! Each month, she becomes a little more mellow, but she still has a strong personality. So what are some of the things that qualify her?
1. Cold air made her SCREAM not whimper
2. When laid on her back her arms would flail about not rest serenely at her sides
3. She startles easily at loud noises and sudden movements
4. When hungry, she wouldn't get fussier and fussier, but instead would accelerate immediately into strong wailing!
5. When eating, she is an all-you-can-eater (slurping mild down with speedy precision)
6. Once into a vigorous cry, it was hard to get her attention, and took a while to settle her down.
So 6/6 suggesting a passionate baby! She's not been colicky or cried a lot, she's just had her intense moments! But like I said, she is becoming more mellow. She is so sweet and likes to cuddle now. She loves being talked to, and loves to smile at you!
So Ansley, what are you up to at 4 months?
You have 2, side, bottom teeth that have barely broken the skin, but aren't all the way in. You drool A LOT! You have started blowing spit bubbles!
You are growing stronger, and sitting better with support! You will look at us when we are trying to get your attention, and you really watch what we are doing!
You have started sucking your thumb! We gave up on the
paci. I didn't really want to push it, but wanted you to be able to calm and soothe yourself...well, you do that with you thumb and/or fingers now.
You take bottles with NO PROBLEMS!! Can I get an AMEN!!! Finally, the week before you turned 4 months old, Nana came and stayed 3 days. Your daddy was in
SanDiego, so Nana came to keep us company. Taking bottles for 3 days straight really helped. We continued to give you a bottle after that every day, and now you take them fine. Now Grammy and Nana don't have to start all over each Monday!
You can sit in your
Bumbo, but you really prefer to stand!
You smile when you get out of your bathtub because...
You really enjoy kicking and splashing water EVERYWHERE!
And you love touching the water. I love watching you learn about and experience things in your environment!
You reach and grab things now and put things in your mouth! You haven't rolled this month- you can but instead you just get mad!
You are sleeping for up to 11 hours at night! I put you to bed in the pack n play one night with just one arm swaddled, thinking I would fully swaddle you when you woke back up. Well, you didn't wake that night, and that is when you discovered your thumb! You slept 8:30 to 6:45 that night! The next week I just started swaddling you under your arms and you did fine. Then on August 20, you slept all night in your crib! Such a big girl!
I love you precious girl so very much! You make your mommy so happy!
You are such a happy girl! You are smiles most of the time! You started cereal this month, and still nurse several times a day. Your sleeping is sporadic. You sometimes sleep all night, but most of the time, you still wake at least once to nurse and then go right back to sleep. You sleep a total of 11 hours at night.
You still drool a lot! Your bottom teeth still have not come through! It is crazy! Your gums will get all swollen and it looks like they are going to break through, but they never do!
You are sitting better and better all the time! You love interacting with us, especially your sister! You laugh out loud. You enjoy your exersaucer. You are doing great at Ms. Devan's house. You even put yourself to sleep for your naps now!
And you gave up on sucking your thumb...you now suck your middle and ring fingers. 
