Daisy's baptism day

I'm 4 Months Old today!

Dale came into this world screaming and didn't really stop until almost 3.5 months later. Justin and I wondered what kind of child we'd brought into our family and seriously questioned whether he should be the last! He pushed me to my limits both emotionally and physically. It's sad to say but I really didn't enjoy him at all those first few months. As time passed and Dale learned how to smile, however, I really started to feel like he would actually be an incredibly sweet child. Justin scoffed at that but in the past 3 weeks he has turned into such a sweetheart. He likes to be entertained still, of course, but I've never seen a kid LOVE getting his diaper changed like Dale does. He starts talking and giggling as soon as we lay him down, and I'm pretty sure he is most ticklish when laying on his changing table. There isn't a part of his body that isn't ticklish, come to think of it. He breaks out into giggles for his older brother and sister at the most random of times (most of the time they don't even know he's watching them until he just starts laughing hysterically at them...). He has the cutest dimples like his brother and sister, too. Dale also has a little faint birthmark on his bottom that we didn't discover until he was over two months old (sad, huh? But he was so fussy we never just let him lay around naked and the nurses put a diaper on him as soon as he was born so how would we know?!)

Dale is also a TANK! He doesn't look it, but he's already 17lbs! He loves to eat! We also reintroduced the pacifier and bottle to this kid during the last month to try and ease the pain of taking car rides with him, and he takes both of them very well now!

Lately I've been giving him about 4oz of formula a day as well to help fill him up in hopes of a longer stretch of sleep at night. This is where he still causes us some trouble. He gives me a 5.5hr stretch about 3-4 times a week, followed by 2-3hr stretches. The rest of the time he sleeps about 3hrs at a time. During the day he rarely naps for more than 45minutes (which means I rarely get naps while the kids are at school!), though in the late afternoon I can occasionally get him to sleep 1-2 hrs. I'M TIRED! I think the longer stretches, though, are becoming more frequent and I'm just praying every day as he grows that his sleeping patterns will adjust as well.

Dale loves to play in his bouncy-saucer thing and also doesn't mind sitting in the Bumbo seat for 10-15min. while I prepare meals during the day. What a blessing to have him strong enough to sit in these toys so I don't have to hold him all day long anymore! He's started drooling and chewing on his hands nonstop so you'll probably see all future pictures with him in a wet shirt or a bib. His older brother and sister did the same thing and if he's like them he still won't get any teeth for another four months. He stands really well when supported and easily rolls from stomach to back. He's just barely starting to roll from back to stomach. I'm not sure if he'll beat Adaira's record of crawling at 5.5 months, but that's okay with me since I don't want him crawling until we get back to AZ! 

We love Dale. We are so grateful that he is happy and healthy and that Heavenly Father sent him to us. He's almost always up for a big gummy smile and just loves to be included. I do think he will be a very special and sweet boy just like his older brother. If he has the heart that Brighton does we will be very happy!