Happy belated 4 months Declan!

As I wrote in the previous post, months 3 and 4 of Dec's life zoomed by.  We did manage to write a 4 month letter, even though we didn't get any official pictures.  So here's our letter, with some pics of Dec at 4 months old:
Dear Declan,

Happy 4 months!  I’m sad to say that with you to keep us busy, we never got around to a 3 month letter or picture L  The good news is we’re just too busy having fun with you to sit down and write a letter, but we promise to keep up to date for the rest of your first year!  At your 4 month checkup, you were 16 lbs, 2 oz and 26 inches long.  You’re pretty “tall” for your age, but not quite as chunky as Gavin was at this age.  You did a great job at the doctor this month Dec.  You needed to get 4 vaccinations: 1 “drink” and 3 shots.  You took the drink down like a champ, and didn’t even cry for the first two shots!  You’re such a brave little guy!

We also got some wonderful news about you this month Declan.  When you were first born, you failed the newborn hearing test in the hospital not once, but twice.    This meant we had to take you to an audiologist at 1 week old to be tested again.  Daddy and I assumed you would pass and everything would be fine, but again you didn’t pass.  This meant we had to follow up with your pediatrician and an ear, nose and throat specialist.  We did follow up, but no one seemed to be able to tell us IF you were hearing, and if not, WHY?  At home, it was clear that you weren’t hearing everything, but it did seem that sometimes you could hear what was going on around you.  Eventually, we were told that we would have to wait until you were at least 3 months old to determine anything else.  You were just too little to figure things out yet.  So we waited (and waited some more when your hearing appointments kept being rescheduled), and earlier this month, you were re-screened at the audiologist.  And it turns out, you hear just fine!!  We may never know why you weren’t hearing in those first weeks, but we’re just happy that you’re as healthy as can be.

Dec, you’ve developed a lot in these last 2 months.  You can grab toys around you, and you really love to grab the monkey on the mobile in your crib and really shake him up!  You can pass a toy from one hand to the other, and you can roll from your belly to your back.  Tummy time isn’t as awful as it used to be, now that you have much better control of your neck and head.  And you’re starting to sit up!  Right now its basically sitting where it looks like you’re trying to touch your toes (which you can do, it must be nice to be so flexible!), and that only lasts for a little bit before you start tipping over, but you’re definitely on your way!  You do like to sit in your Bumbo chair as well, and Gavin thinks it’s so cool that you can sit like a big boy!

The one area you could work on Dec is sleep!  Much like you did even just after birth, you are ready to eat every 3 hours on the dot, even at night.  You’ve gotten a little better about sleeping during the day.  Sometimes you take a nap that last an hour or longer, rather than your 20 minute cat naps, and everyone is happier when that happens!  Since you’re not sleeping as long as we might like at night, your doctor suggested that you start “solid” foods, so today you had your first few bites of oatmeal.  You smiled at the first bite, but I don’t think you’ve really figured out how to swallow quite yet.  I think you had more fun making oatmeal bubbles than actually eating the oatmeal, but that’s ok!

Since we wrote you last, you’ve started going to Miss Jeanne’s because Mommy had to go back to school.  You seem to like Miss Jeanne’s, and Gavin likes having you there.  You’re the youngest one there Dec, and I think you like watching all the older kids crawl, run and play.  You’re a very observant guy Declan, and you’re happiest when you have lots of action to entertain you.

This month you went on your first long road trip Declan.  Our family of four packed up and drove down to St. Louis to watch your Uncle Kevin play in the NCAA tournament at Washington University.  You did a great job in the car and at the hotel, and we all had a really fun time!  You loved Uncle Kevin’s game (they won both of them that weekend!), and you had a good time at the Magic House with Gavin and Grandma and Grandpa.  Hopefully we have lots of fun trips ahead of us with you and your big brother!

Some of your likes have stayed the same since you were 2 months old Deckers.  You still love the song BINGO, and peek a boo is still hilarious (although you laugh so much more now, so it’s a lot more fun for Daddy and I!).  You’re a little more tolerant of car rides, and you still think Gavin is the coolest guy around.

One thing we forgot to mention in your last letter was one of your most popular nicknames: Mr. Poopers!  You got this nickname from Daddy, who is a pro at making up songs for you and your brother.  Somehow Daddy came up with the Mr. Poopers song, and now it’s a hit in our house.  You light up and giggle and smile every time we sing it.  Even Gavin knows the words, and will start singing the Mr. Poopers song when I walk in the room with you!  We promise not to keep calling you Mr. Poopers when you’re 16 and going on dates, but for now, it’s a cute nickname that you love!

We think your next milestone might be teeth Declan, because you are the king of drool right now!  Every outfit of yours ends up soaked, and Daddy and I find our sleeves, pants and feet covered in Declan drool as well!  You haven’t found a toy that you really like to chew on yet, but you’re also not very crabby about your potential teeth either. 

We’ve had a great third of a year Dec, and we’re looking forward to all the fun to come.  We love you buddy!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Practicing the art of sitting

 Brothers!  Gav was so excited that Declan was sitting up like a "big boy."

 Forget this sitting thing, lets skip straight to walking!

 Hugs

 Dec and his beloved blankie.