4 months

See this irresistible smile? Ridiculous, isn't it? He's so darn cute it just makes my heart ache. This little boy brightens every minute of the day. I can't believe he's 4 months already. Where does the time go??
Dear sweet baby Owen,
I can barely believe you are 4 months old. This month has been tremendously eventful as you take the bull by the horns, leading us along your amazing journey. Four months, a third of a year, all too quickly passing. It seems as though just yesterday I could cradle you in the nook of my arm and watch you sleep. Today, that's simply not the case, as you are too interested in the world around you to spend any more than you have to soundly asleep. These days you are passing milestones left and right. Early in April you rolled over for the first time, and toward the end of April you sat up alone for the first time. You are incredibly vocal, continually telling us what you think and who's really the boss...
You never cease to amaze me, withe each passing day you teach our whole family something new. Your sweet disposition, amazing smile, and genuine love of cuddling makes my heart fill with happiness. I can't tell you how wonderful you make my day when I come home from work and see your adorable smile, your coos, oohs, and ahhs. Seeing your beautiful smile makes our life so much more complete. So effortlessly fantastic.
Your strength continues to impress us, as you love sitting in the Bumbo, and try to sit up on your own leaning forward to touch your toes all the while precariously balancing upright, just long enough to make the claim that you can sit up! before slowly leaning toward the side until you make a dive toward the floor in a slow-motion lean.
You've settled into a fantastic routine, sleeping in your crib now, with various naps between 1 and 3 hours, you go to bed around 6:30 and usually sleep until 5 or so, then nap toward 7 am, getting all the sleep you need to be a happy, healthy little boy. You've adjusted to your new nanny, Lindsey, well. She adores you and you seem to enjoy your time with her, smiling, rolling over, and playing. She's not the only one that adores you though, Collin continues to dote on you whenever he can. Collin loves to show you toys, give you gentle kisses on your head and hold you in your rocking chair. We can't get over how loving he is to you, how he wants to read you stories and share with you.
Your days start with an enormous stretch as you quietly lay in your crib and take in the world for a few moments before our day begins. As I pick you up, we head off to greet Collin and you are so excited to see him, always talking cooing, ahhing, giggling and laughing at the faces he make at you. You love him so much, its so apparent that you two will be two peas in a pod. After getting dressed and cleaning up we play with you on the floor, reading books and admiring your favorite peacock toy.
As Collin eats breakfast, you watch in anticipation, waiting patiently for the day you'll get to enjoy food. I'm already sad that this is going to come far to soon in our future. When Collin was four months I was anxious to plan to give him cereal and sweet potatoes, which we held out until 5 1/2 months or so to do, but with Owen it feels like we can't wait long enough. He's growing too quickly. We'll wait until 6 months at least before he starts to eat baby food, because I don't like the idea of him growing up so quickly, I dislike it, I dislike it, I dislike it. Slow down baby boy. Slow down.
After breakfast we usually read books or do puzzles or play with toys with Collin. You observe in quiet contentment. As I talk to Collin I wonder how much of the conversation you are aware of, and we diligently try to put you in the focus of our playing, saturating your days with new words, new experiences, and tons of love.
Before we know it, its time for me to head to work, and Lindsey comes to play with you. You take your first nap and start your schedule of eating and napping until your dad comes home. Around 2 pm, you are in the midst of your longest afternoon nap and Drew prepares for your afternoon routine of playing and eating, and napping. Its finally starting to get warm outside, and we look forward to being able to explore the backyard with you in tow as Collin plays on his swing-set and climber.

After your final nap its nearly time for me to arrive home and as soon as I'm in the door, your sweet smile greets me and reminds me that no matter how trying the afternoon at work, nothing is quite as soothing, amazing, adorable and relieving as your smile. I scoop you up and cuddle with you for the few hours before your bedtime, squeezing every moment I can out of your day to share with you many mother-son moments in time.
And so, at 4 months, you are growing, all too quickly and I can barely catch up as I'm chasing two of you boys these days! Your little personality is nothing short of perfect, such a strong and happy boy, amazing us each day with your new discoveries, giggles and sighs of contentment.
We love you. We can't wait to see what 5 months bring, but wish it wouldn't come so soon :)

love
Momma and Daddy