4 months

Mr. Julian Edward is 4 months old already and my how he is growing!  After our visit to WI, I noticed that he is much more coordinated than before at grabbing things, though he still has a ways to go.  He is still fascinated with his feet and this morning at 4 am, he decided to put them in his mouth and play.  Bad timing, but super cute.  He was also giggly yesterday.  Dan tried to get it on video, so I'll try to post that soon.  His doctor's appointment for his well checkup is on Thursday.  I work that night, but I still want to go since he'll want to nurse after getting more shots.  I'm going to give him Tylenol this time!

Other tricks/likes/things:

• If he cries, I can just start quoting one of his favorite books (Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Baby Einstein Water Water, or the new book my mom gave him, Hello Animals) and he'll stop.  He has many other favorites, but I've memorized thhose and they have a rhythm that he likes.
• He loves the sound of musical instruments, or me imitating the sounds.  He especially likes drum sounds and that worries me. Uncle Bob, Aunt Suzie, Megan, and Macey got him a turtle that plays classical music and he is very serious, but attentive when he plays with it.  
• He sits in the bumbo without trouble, holding his head much more steady.
• Giggles about once a day for the past week.  I'll post the video.
• Still loves tummy time but gets frustrated when rolling over belly to back.  He is trying with all his might to roll from back to belly and is so close.  He squirms everywhere.  When he sleeps (swaddled still), he pushes himself to the edge so his neck is bent.  We're not happy with this and we're nervous and excited for our new mover and shaker.  Where did the baby go who would just lie there?
• He loves his new to us, preowned stroller that faces out.  We were finally able to go on walks in WI because it wasn't so hot.  He loves being outside and will stop crying once we take him outside as well.
• He loved looking in the mirror, but now he is hamming it up by playing shy with me or himself in the mirror.  I NEED to get this on video because it is hilarious!
• He is mastering the tripod position.  He likes to see the world by sitting up, but has tolerated lying on his back more than ever.
• He's obsessed with everything going into his mouth, chomping on those items, and drooling up a storm.  His cheeks are suffering from the saliva.  I keep a bib on him to protect his chest from all the drool and spit-up from said drool. Will he teeth early?
• He loves touching our faces and hair.  Thankfully I got my hair cut because it's easier to get it out of his grip, but he loves to touch our explore our faces.  The video shows this.

I worked the other night and he did not take the bottle well from Dan.  We are going to start giving him a bottle a day to get him used to it.  I work Thus and Sun nights, so hopefully he'll do well.  He's also starting the 4 month bad sleeping.  He was up so much last night.  I read that at 4 months they are learning so many new things and taking in the world, that they have a harder time sleeping longer periods.  We'll just plug along, but I will need a nap today!

He participated in a study today at IU for tracking baby's eyes at pointing and a face looking at objects. The computer cameras can detect his eyes to see if they are looking at the object that is being pointed to or follow the eyes on the face to the object.  He got 100% on the first activity, but got bored with the second and didn't finish.  I asked the researcher to send me the article once they get published so I can tell Julian that he helped with neuroscience research :)

This video is a little long (I prefer 30 sec videos), but I don't have the time or energy to modify it...sorry.