Sydney, you are now 16 weeks old and weigh in at 15 pounds, 10.2 ounces. In another month, you will go to the doctor for your well-baby check-up and we anticipate that you will have grown from last time's 24" tall. (Some of your pudgy rolls, specifically in your arms, are starting to disappear so, we're guessing that your long bones are growing again.)
On your 16 week birthday, you met Grandma Carol for the first time. She couldn't wait to break you out of your carseat and hold you. She kept her hand on the back of your head and moments later announced "how strong he is at holding up his head." Then, mommy asked to borrow you for a minute where mommy let you hold her fingers as you walked across the floor of the restaurant - alternating little steps of left, right, left, right, left... (Funny, how she thought you were strong for being able to hold your head up. By the way, you're a little young for that skill already, but when you were much smaller, Aunt Sue joked about your strength that "pretty soon, you'll be walking" and she was right!)
Most of your hair, from birth, has fallen out. Grandma Olson declared that you look like Uncle Fester from the Adam's Family, but mommy wonders if you'll ever get the opportunity to see re-runs of that show to even know what we're talking about.
You LOVE to smile. You like to play Peek-a-boo, but sometimes get bored with it, forgetting we are playing, and you look away. You are getting much better at reaching for toys during tummy time. You have a good grip and are able to transfer toys from hand-to-hand. You try really hard to get the toys into your mouth, but often - your hand ends up in your mouth and the toy pokes near your eye instead. You do easily forget that you are holding onto your toys and drop them. You do not object if we try to take them away from you. You like to pet the cats... Otto seems to be the only one who will let you get close enough. In fact, he likes to rub against your toes and it makes you smile.
You LOVE your mommy and daddy. You can definitely pick us out in a crowd. You will still go to strangers without fuss. (Actually, you like most people who will smile at you.)
This past week, you finally chilled out on all of the excessive chewing and drooling has decreased slightly. Maybe those teeth will hold off a little longer... You like to suck on your fingers, with the middle/index combination being your favorite. You preferred your left-hand fingers for most of this past week, but recently discovered the same combination on your right hand.
This past week, you also discovered two new sounds: The first sound, was an ear-piercing sound where you sounded like a cross between fingernails on a chalkboard and an out-of-tune rooster. You expressed it loudly. In fact, at mommy's doctor appointment, the nurse came through the waiting room, wondering why you were crying, but then laughed when she realized that you were "just talking"... loudly, might-I-add. Your second sound this week is that of a whimpering puppy. That sound is much sweeter and soothing. (We'll say you found an outside voice and an inside voice. Either way, you are funny!)
Late last night, you finally figured out how to roll-over from your back to your tummy. Mommy caught the first one on video and was excited to tell Daddy about it. (It took you 1 minute and 37 seconds to free both arms.) Then, during Daddy's early wake-up, this morning, you showed him for yourself, over and over again... and much faster than last night.
When mommy put you back in your bed, after your 4am feeding, she was a little surprised at 9am to find you sleeping on your belly. YEP, you've mastered that new skill already, it seems.
(SIGH, our baby is growing up...)
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