Wow - Has it really been that long?

It's 7:53 am and I'm sitting up in our loft waiting (expecting) E to wake up any minute now and have been so for the last almost hour. The reason is because for the first time EVER he fell asleep unswaddled and in his crib by himself (hugging his blue blanket dog). So naturally I have to stay nearby just in case b/c if I even thought about going back to bed, there is no doubt he would wake up :) For the record, he slept swaddled, in his car seat, from about 10:30 last night till 5:30 this morning...but when I tried to put him back to sleep he wouldn't go. This is after he started arguing with me about going to sleep in his swing (he's been sleeping in his swing since a little after he turned 3 months and I gave up trying to get him to sleep in his crib...he slept through the night the very first time we put him in there). So I tried putting him down in his crib (again) and to my utter shock he fell asleep within minutes!

Probably this post will take several attempts to finish, but gosh it has been way too long since I posted. I can't believe the last time was when Evan was just 6 weeks old! That seems like an eternity ago now since having a baby is like having a brand new person living with you everyday. Right now it seems like I blink and he has learned or done something new. He is 4 1/2 months now and capital A-dorable. Now I think I am realllllly in love with him. Yes I loved him from day one, but maybe only in-like until now :)

So much has happened I really don't know where to start. I think I'd have to write way too much for way too long to sort it all out, so I'll try to make a list of the top 10 things I've learned in the past few months (in no particular order, except for number one):

1. NUMBER ONE most important thing I've learned: Babies do not have to sleep in their cribs and if you try to make them when they don't want to, they Win. You will die from sleep deprivation before they give up.
2. Swings and carseats are my best inanimate object friends.
3. You don't have to keep the same pediatrician you started out with and they won't even care if you switch.
4. Breastfeeding isn't the only way to feed a baby and sometimes everyone involved is happier if boobiesare returned to mommy sooner rather than later. I guess with this and the fact that I ended up getting the epidural I'm not as crunchy as I once thought. Not a true hippy...but maybe still a Yippy (term coined by my nephew for describing me - a yuppie hippy)
5. Mike is the bomb for taking on Daddy duty every weekend so I can either rest or get other stuff done around the house, and I know I'm lucky and he is a rare breed. YAY MIKE!!
6. Sleep deprivation = depression. I can survive and be happy on a little sleep but not complete lack of sleep. I guess I need sleep as much as I need sunshine and warm weather.
7. Four month olds are so irrisistable it makes you want to have more!
8. Being a parent is the hardest job ever and makes you appreciate your own that much more! Thank you mom and dad!! I love you guys!
9. Being a parent is the best job ever and now that the steep learning curve/adjustment period is over I am loving every second and wanting to photo/video/write and record every moment!
10. I can do this job well. I'm gaining more and more confidence every day. Taking Evan to D.C. was a huge confidence builder...what a great trip!

Evan is such a sweetheart (my little stink bomb) and amazing teacher, I can no longer imagine life without my little family. I also want to say how grateful I am to have a healthy baby. I know way too many people who are struggling with health issues both major and minor with their children and wow, what strength and love they must have to be able to deal with that! Watching their struggles really puts life into perspective. I am so proud of them, they are all wonderful people and their kids are so lucky to have them for parents.

8:22 a.m. Evan still sleeping...oh I heard a little peep. 8:28 a.m. waking up...more later.

10:30 a.m. Wow! Evan is back in his crib (unswaddled!) for a nap. It's like he woke up this morning and said "ok mom, I had a really great last night in my carseat...I'm ready for my crib now...zzzzzz." I'm sure we'll have some trips back to the swing/carseat (trying not to jinx it) but I'm amazed. Yipee! (later note: okay so he only slept for 1/2 hour, but hey it's a start! he is now talking to himself rather loudly)

I drug out my baby signs book this morning and E and I went through all the flash cards together to see what we have in store for us. I'm really excited to start teaching him some signs soon. Well, I feel like I have so much to say about the past few months, but its almost too overwhelming to try so I'll leave with the following stats for Evan.

At his four month appointment, Evan weighed 15 lbs, 4 oz, 25.75 inches tall, head 16.5inches
At two months, he was 11 lbs 13oz and 13lbs 10oz at 3 months.