7.16.11 - Four Months Old!

Weight:  15lbs. 15oz. (75th percentile)

Height:  26" (89th percentile)
Head Circumference:  42cm (50th percentile)

Well, another month has passed by quickly!  I can't believe Cale has been  in our family for four months now.  Those really difficult first few weeks seem like years ago!  Cale is becoming such a little boy with his little personality coming out more and more each day.  As of now, he definitely looks more like me as a baby.  Even his dark hair is a Kreul trait - my little sister was born with the same dark hair.  I'm sure as he continues to get older, we will see more of Adam's features in him.  As for personality, he seems to be a mix of both of us.  He has a very serious side, like Adam, and concentrates diligently on things.  He WILL NOT sleep in his car seat, his stroller, or on our shoulders (which leaves his crib or pack 'n play), because usually when he is in his car seat, his stroller, or on on of our shoulders, there is WAY too much going on for him to miss.  He wants to be apart of it all.  He gets that from me - social butterfly...

In Cale's fourth month...

He found his toes!  Now, he rarely lets go of them!

Everything has started to go in his mouth...including those fingers!  Fortunately, he still has not found his thumb and he only sucks his fingers on occasion.

He has started to read books...literally.  When I read a book to him, he likes to join in.  

Video to come.

He has started grabbing at things - EVERYthing!

He has decided he loves his Lovey.  Usually, it covers his face when he sleeps.

He learned to roll from back to tummy!

He has decided on a favorite toy - his keys!

This past weekend, Adam's mom, Danon, and her friend, Dorothy, came to visit.  

Adam's mom was playing with Cale and he started cracking up - I mean, a full belly laugh!  As soon as I can get it on video, I'll post it.  His laugh is precious!!

And, just for a little Cale-ism...

This is how he drinks his bottle.  Hand over the eyes, eyes closed.  It cracks us up!

Rice Cereal

A few days ago, we thought it would be fun to give Cale his first taste of rice cereal.  He has started showing signs of wanting to eat and his tongue thrust reflex is gone, which makes him pretty good at eating off of a spoon.  It wasn't quite as messy as I thought it would be!

 First taste...

"Mom, what in the world is that stuff!?!  I'm not so sure..."

So, about 30 minutes later, we went for the second attempt, but in one of his favorite places...the bathtub!

Second attempt...

"Hmmmm...this tastes familiar."

"Hey, this isn't so bad!"

First Plane Ride & Trip to Kansas City

This past weekend, my mom and dad hosted a huge party in their backyard.  It started out as a joint Graduation party for my sister and a "Welcome, Cale" party, so a few of my parents friends could meet Cale.  It quickly morphed into a "Party on the Patio", complete with a live Beatles cover band, a margarita machine, food that was to die for, and 50-60 of their closest Kansas City friends.  We had a blast!  It was so much fun to see so many people that we had not seen since our wedding.  

Let me just say, traveling with a child is not an easy task!  Besides all of the extra things that have to be packed, working around a nap schedule proves to be a bit of a challenge.  Thankfully, my mom wanted to stock up on all the items we might need (car seat, pack n' play, bathtub, diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, outfits, etc...), so we really didn't have too much to pack, and we got lucky and managed to schedule flights that worked with Cale's schedule! 

We boarded Southwest on Saturday afternoon.  Cale was wide-eyed throughout the entire process at the airport.  I think he loved all the action!  As soon as the big jets started up, his eyes shut and he was out the entire ride.  We could not have dreamed it to go better!

We arrived in Kansas City around 4:00, and made it home just in time to put Cale down for a power nap.  He slept well, and was able to stay awake until 8pm.  His usual bedtime is around 7, so he was exhausted by the time Adam put him to bed.  We set the pack n' play up in my sister's closet, and Cale slept through the band and the noise of 50+ people going in and out of the house!

The next day, my mom and I took Cale to the neighborhood pool to go for his first  swim.  I thought that he would probably love the pool, since he is such a fan of bath time.  I was right...

He was such a little stud in his shades and hat.  He loves his sunglasses - he is actually able to open his eyes in the bright sun when he is wearing them.

When we finished swimming, we lounged a bit...

Later that evening, we were hanging out in the living room, and Cale became completely captivated...

"Captivated by what?", you might ask... that would be the T.V.!  LOVELY.  He's starting early.  If the T.V. is on and I turn him so that he is not facing the T.V., he will crane his neck to find it.  I guess the T.V. will be turned off a bit more now - perhaps that is not such a bad thing.

Bear got his attention again - check out that smile.  P.R.I.C.E.L.E.S.S.

From Sunday to Wednesday, we....

...hung out with people we love...

Courtney & Brett

Bear, Sugar-Lady & Cale

Daddy & Cale hangin' out on the back porch.  Cale LOVED the weather in KC!

...had lots of bath time...

All smiles!

Who can resist those buns?!?

Like father, like son...

...sat on the back patio...for a long time...

...made new friends...

Erin (a high school friend) & her son, Cooper, who is 6 weeks younger than Cale

Ashlee, a friend from high school

Kathy, a very fun next door neighbor

Lizzy, a good friend and second mom to me!

Cale met a lot of other people, but unfortunately, we didn't pull the camera out fast enough when they came to visit.  We'll get those pictures during the next trip to KC!

We flew home Wednesday afternoon.  Cale, once again, did great on the flight.  We were so thankful to have had the opportunity to spend some time in Kansas City.  We were also thankful to return home and get back into normal routine.  The great news is, Cale seems to like airplanes better than he likes his car seat.  At least he is okay with SOME mode of transportation! :)