Jonah is 13 weeks old. What a difference it has been since he made it to three months old! Most nights he is sleeping until 4am or 5am. He is doing great sleeping in his own crib and will go back to sleep until about 7:30 or 8! Although we still have nights where he gets up two or three times, that is no longer the “norm.” He can see much farther now and can be soothed by our voices sometimes (although he still prefers to be held and snuggled!). He has also graced us with some real belly laughs. He has been doing the “silent baby laugh” for a few weeks, but now we can get a good chuckle!

Also, the “drool train” has arrived! Everything is soaking wet—bibs are a must at this point. This horrifies Ella--she constantly wants to wipe off the drool and spit-bubbles he constantly produces. He loves to suck on blankets and gets very excited when he can grab the edge of his blanket and stuff it in his mouth. Also, he has started to use his pacifier more. Although he does not love the pacifier, he is calmed by it occasionally. He would prefer to be a thumb sucker but he can not quite coordinate it and usually ends up gagging himself with his fingers.

Ella is getting excited about turning 4 years old this summer. All her friends have already turned 4 and she is concerned that “EVERYONE is 4 years old!” Her imagination is amazing—she has created a colorful castle to live in with princesses and some dragons. She has informed us that we may come and visit her colorful castle, but we can’t live with her. She is very into princesses and loves books and movies about princesses and, of course, dressing up is a daily activity. She is also interested in all the spring plants. We go on lots of “nature hunts” and identify as many flowers as we can in our neighbors’ yards and along the greenway path. She has been a big help in the yard and likes to water the plants, de-head the flowers, and pull weeds.

Ella continues to be a fabulous big sister and a huge help. Jonah loves when she talks to him and she can usually distract him when he gets upset. She says: “I have the touch!” when she can calm him down by rocking his car seat or getting a blanket for him. In the morning, she races to his room the moment she hears him on the baby monitor. She also pretends to be his mom and says things like: “Wait until you see my sweet son. I can’t believe how cute he is!” She tells me that I can be his big sister!.

We hope you are all doing well!
Sarah, Andrew, Ella, and Jonah Peter