Letters to Leo...3 - 4 Months

Dearest Leo, 

This post pretty much includes the majority of your first summer...The Summer of Leo! You continue to amaze us with how happy and content you are.  You've traveled the state, neighboring state, and even went cross country these past two months...and really you did it all with a smile. 

Post bath smile

People watching in the 3rd ward

Milestones/Special Firsts:
*Gosh, where to even start.  You've been smiling non-stop since you turned three months old.  

 Visiting Uncle Aris for his bday

Hanging out in the park

*You love to laugh! I was the first one to get you to laugh and for a few days I questioned whether or not daddy believed me.  It wasn't until the following week I was able to get you to do it in front of daddy.  You were laying in the back of our truck while I was changing your diaper and I started tickling you up your chest to under your neck.  Daddy was even able to get it on video.  
*Summer travels: Camping at Mirror Lake State Park, DISNEYLAND in California, first beach visit (Hungtington), cabin in Hayward, and a visit w/friends in MN. Your favorite ride at Disneyland was Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  You enjoyed your first boat rides - one in Hayward on the Chippewa Flowage and another in MN on Lake Minnetonka.  You never even cried once in your life preserver.  

 Mirror Lake

Hungtington Beach

 Chippewa Flowage

Lake Minnetonka

*1st Fourth of July - You enjoyed the parade and slept through your first fireworks. I was wearing you and you didn't even flinch once...sound asleep.  Your nouna loved snuggling you that day too!

 Parade

Nouna love

*1st Trip to the State Fair - Your favorite part this year was strolling through the Dairy building. Tons of people to watch, AC, and many strangers gawking over you. The Giant Slide is definitely on your radar for next year. 
*About two weeks before you turned 4 months, you started propping yourself up and sitting --aka doing the gorilla.  

*When on your tummy, you now lift your head quite high and hang out in that position for awhile.  You frequently roll from tummy to back.  Nonee says she also saw you roll from back to tummy.  

*The backpack baby! We put you in it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and you could not stop smiling.  You went on your first mini-hike on your 4 month bday, 8/24. You kept looking down at your brother and sister just beaming, like "Look at me, look at me!" 

*Bumbo is your friend - in about 15 minute increments a few times during the day.

  
Things You Like Right Now:
*Can I say pretty much everything?!? You are especially liking your newfound skills that allow you to experience what being a big boy is all about --hikes, sitting in the highchair, Bumbo time, being held by your brother and sister, rolling, etc. 
*When you're happy - everyone and their mama knows it! You KICK your legs like crazy!!!! I was wearing you at Noah's Ark on your brothers bday and you were kicking so hard I literally had to brace myself to prevent myself from losing my balance.  You caught everyone's eye at the State Fair because of your kicking accompanied with the sweetest smiles.  Bath time is also a joy as you kick, kick, kick in the tub.  
*When anyone picks you up -you kind of look around all proud like "Ha, look at me - I got what I wanted!" with a little smirk on your face.   
*You're still a great sleeper! We put you down just before 8:00 and you usually sleep until 5:00 the next morning.  You nurse and then go right back to sleep for another hour or so.  You like to take a late morning nap for about an hour and then a longer nap mid-afternoon.  

Your Current Dislikes: 
*I am sitting here literally trying to think of something. Hmm...you've come a long way in your car seat travels --you don't even cry in the car anymore.  

Your Brother & Sister: 
*They adore you and you adore them --it's mutual! Now that you're a bit stronger they like to take turns holding you in the morning while I'm getting ready. Actually, it's usually an argument between them about who gets to hold you first, which then leads to whining about one of them getting to hold you longer than the other.  Elle's number one priority is checking in on you and making sure you're content.  She brings you toys and sits right next to you while you do tummy time on your play-mat.  She brings her toys to you and describes them and gives you a narrative step by step of what she's doing with them.  When either one of them talks to you - you just light up instantly.  

Your Daddy:
*Daddy had thee best summer with you.  He's already very proud of you and all of your accomplishments in your short 4 months here with us.  We talk about you all the time and keep saying to each other, "How did we get so lucky?! Leo is amazing!"  I think one of daddy's highlights has definitely been taking you in the backpack -seeing how happy you are to try something new and take in the world around you. He just went back to work a couple weeks ago and is having a great start to his school year.

Your Mommy:
*When it comes to your mommy, it's simple --I'm just truly loving life with you, your brother & sister, and daddy.  I'm gearing up for the start of another semester at UWM - starting my 4th year already.  I thank God for giving me this opportunity to have a job I love that also provides me with time at home every day with you.  Each family has a challenge put forth - to find what works best for their family.  Lucky for me, what is best for our family allows me to be home and involves holding, snuggling, and playing with you every chance I get.  
*You're still nursing like a champ - you eat about every three hours.  I get up in the middle of the night to pump and save that milk for later in the evening.  You like a big meal before bed and by the end of the day I don't have as much as you would like.  This has been working out great and I've even been able to pump enough to freeze some as well.  I imagine we'll be starting some cereal mixed w/breastmilk soon...like next week! :)

Little Leo, our Leo Moo...we all love you so very much!

Love, 

Your Mommy