Salem Update: Four Months

It's amazing how time flies! We celebrated Salem's four month birthday by heading to Nashville to visit her new cousin Brecken. He's just the cutest little thing ever! I'll post more pictures of his cute little self soon.

In the meantime, here's some pictures of Salem from while we were gone.

Salem cheering for the Panthers and learning all about football from Uncle Michael.

My little miss social bug! She always wants to be facing out to see the world.

Salem playing "running girl" (see this post).

I also need to add some information on how Salem is developing. I want to use this blog to remember some of her milestones, and that means I'd better get to posting more often since she changes so quickly!

Salem giggling at Nurse Beth.

She had her four month check up a little early due to our insurance requirements, but I'm just getting around to posting the update. She is in the 50th percentile for height and head size and the 25th for her weight. We think she's just right. She was right around 12 lbs then and I know she's grown even more in the last week or so. Here's some other things she's doing right now:

Smiling all the time...and not just for family. She'll pretty much smile for anyone that talks sweet to her and smiles back! (remember...she really is quite the social child!)

Sticking out her tongue. She just really discovered it last night at church. Cute, but a little distracting to those around us! She would stick it out and play with it, moving it all around like she was trying to figure out what it was.

Chewing on everything she can get into her mouth. Hands, bib, clothes, toys - you name it, it goes in her mouth. We think she's teething, especially on the right side where she chews the most. It's early, but I cut my first tooth at 3 1/2 months, so it might not be early after all.

"Talking" when she's in a good mood. Grunting happens a lot too. Folks we're gonna have a talker on our hands soon!

Coughing and sneezing. No, she's not sick, but she has definitely figured out how to do these two things like big people.

Walking! Ok, not really. But Chuck did dream that she was walking already!

Standing up on your lap...or on the floor...or on the bed...or really anywhere you'll let her stand. She would rather stand than sit anytime. Even in her Bumbo seat she tries to stand up. If you hold her up standing on the floor, she'll move her feet backwards like she's trying to walk backwards.

Spitting up. We're still having some reflux issues but nothing that has required any intervention besides having her stay upright after nursing.

Nursing. Yes, it's her favorite thing. This child loves to eat. Thankfully we've finally gotten a rhythm going now.

Reaching. She'll reach for anything you put in front of her. My mom recently figured out that she'll actually hold her hands out as if she wants you to pick her up. I'm not convinced that she knows exactly what she's doing yet, but it won't be long before she intentionally reaches out to be picked up.

She's facinated by lights - computer screens, the phone, the TV. We barely ever watch TV, but when we were at Meghan and Michael's watching the football game, she was mesmorized. We don't want this to become a habit though.

She loves music. Or maybe just singing. Sometimes the only way to calm her down in the car is to sing her our good morning song over, and over, and over, and over...

She doesn't like to be left alone. Really at all. I'm hoping this will change, otherwise I'll never have a homecooked meal again. I'm fine with carrying her around so she can see what I'm doing most of the time, but I can't do that when I'm cooking and she's only mildly entertained by her bouncer or swing.

Her mommy and daddy think she's the cutest thing ever. But hey, why wouldn't they...she IS the cutest thing ever! :)

Side note: Chuck was just talking with Salem, telling her that she's his little bear. I said that no, she couldn't be a bear because cousin Brecken has been nicknamed "Brecken Bear". So he started trying to come up with a different name for her...here's what he tried...Salem Snake, Salem Snail, Salem Spider (ew!), Salem Sloth, Salem Seal...I think he needs to keep trying!!

So we're just thrilled about our little girl. I've been looking around for good information on making your own baby food and which foods to start and when because she'll be ready for them soon! I'm going to try keep her on just breast milk until 6 months but as social as she is, she might be ready for them sooner so I want to be prepared. Anyone have any good suggestions?