Social Distancing Summer is in full swing here and we are still keeping afloat. I cannot believe that Hunter is 4 months old today! He has definitely made this pandemic brighter for us and we love him so much!
Hunter weighs in at 14 lbs 0 oz and is 25-1/4″ tall. We have his 4 month check up on Tuesday and Hunter can’t wait to show our doctor all his new tricks (and teeth)!
We have definitely been blessed with a chill and happy baby! Hunter has the biggest grin and isn’t afraid to show it to anyone. He is a really active guy and very alert. He loves to jump in his bouncer and his jumperoo, roll and scoot around the room, stand and wiggle on Mommy’s legs, sit up like a big guy and play with his sisters. Hunter is all about the teething toys right now – or will gnaw on just about anything. His two bottom teeth popped a week or so ago and his top ones aren’t too far behind. His hair is getting so long on top, it kind of resembles a cockatoo or a wave most days. He loves to giggle and laugh with us, play peek a boo, grab his sisters and Mommy’s hair, splash in the bath and swim in the pool. Hunter loves to dance around and go on walks with Mommy, snuggled up in his ring sling or Solly wrap. He enjoys feeling new textures and trying to stick everything in his mouth. He loves to prep and cook meals with Mommy, play band with his sisters and take longs naps with Daddy. He seems to suffer from FOMO like his sisters so there isn’t a lot of sleep going on right now, but his smiles make it all worth it. Hunter is a little chatterbox and loves when you talk back to him. We love watching him grow and can’t wait to see all that he gets into this month!
Belly Laughs
There is nothing better than belly laughs and Hunter is the king of them right now. Whether it’s goofing off with Mommy or laughing at his crazy sisters’ shenanigans, this little guy has us giggling right along with him.
Two Front Teeth
It happened. Hunter’s two bottom front teeth made their appearance this week and his top two aren’t far behind. Teething has been a little rough for all of us. Poor guy is drooling up a storm and gnawing on anything he can get his hands on. I’ve only been bit a few times so far, so not bad!
Rolling Over
Hunter started rolling over this month. He can roll from his back to his tummy and from tummy to back. Though, if he had his way, he would just scoot around in circles to get where he wants to go. The girls have enjoyed cheering him on (and interfering) at every possible second. I don’t think he’s going to stay stationary for much longer – look out world!
Sitting Up
Speaking of big boy moves, this little guy has been working on sitting up all on his own. He loves sitting in his Bumbo to play princesses with his sisters, cook with Mommy and play with his own toys. He doesn’t like lying on the ground for very long and grabs hold of your hands to help him sit up. He’s a little wobbly right now, but his little core is getting stronger by the day. He loves just sitting in our laps or right in front of us to be in on all the action.
Jumperoo
Our little action hero has really gotten into his favorite past time – jumping. He is so engaged in his bouncer, playing with all the toys and pushing the buttons. He also jumps with reckless abandon. We brought out the Kangaroo jumper that fits to the beams and he thinks he is such a big guy! Hunter also loves it when Daddy swings him in it. Mom loves that she can set him down for a few minutes to get some work done.
Tummy Time
After mastering the roll and scoot, this little guy doesn’t stay still on his tummy for long. He is really using his arms and shoulders to get higher off the ground. I think crawling isn’t too far away (help!). He does love to play legos with his sisters on his tummy; it’s so fun to watch!
Father’s Day
This past month we got to celebrate two really cool dudes in our lives – Daddy and Pop Pop! We had a pretty low key Father’s Day this year with a brunch at our house followed by a lot of playtime. We are so fortunate to have these guys in our lives – from building our dreams to fixing our problems big and small, there’s not a lot our guys can’t do and we are forever grateful for them!
Family Visit
One of our favorite parts of the summer so far was a visit with David & Mary! It was so good to spend time with our ND family and the girls were excited to show off their little brother. The girls loved playing Pokey Pockets (or Polly Pockets in the real world), drawing with chalk and learning all about making jelly. Hunter was a fan of the extra attention and napping with Uncle David! We miss them already but it was so good to see them!
Summertime Fun
It has definitely heated up here so we have had to adjust our schedule to enjoy the outdoors. The girls have enjoyed getting out to the park early in the morning while Mommy walks around with Hunter. We’ve also chased a lot of frogs, caught fire flies and searched for mushrooms. We have also had a lot of water fun this summer! Our pools have opened up (partially) for the summer and we have gotten the chance to go a few times plus the girls just started swim lessons. It’s been nice getting a little normalcy back in our lives and we have felt comfortable and safe with all the regulations they have put into place. Hunter has really enjoyed cooling off in the pool too – poor guy gets really hot!
Independence Day
Speaking of summer fun, we also enjoyed watching Olathe’s 4th of July Fireworks again this year. We kept it pretty low key during the day and took the girls up to the new soccer complex to watch the show. They made a few friends, did a lot of cartwheels and enjoyed watching the fireworks light up the sky. We missed big BBQs with friends, but glad we got to spend the day together.
Sisterly Love
We love watching Hunter interact with his sisters. They may rule the roost now, but we have no doubt he will be giving them a run for their money soon. He enjoys all the attention from them and the extra snuggles. Bailey can make him laugh the hardest and he is always fascinated by Sienna’s gymnastics.
Sleepy Baby
Hunter sleeps pretty well overnight but those teeth are starting to get in the way. He has no problem snuggling up and dreaming on Gigi, Uncle Mat and Daddy, but he tends to stay awake when it’s Mommy’s turn. But I will not turn down snuggles with my little smiley guy if offered!
We are very thankful for our health and family right now. This summer has flown by already and we have a lot of big things coming up, decisions to be made. I have to admit that although we may seem to have it together sometimes, there are nights that I am up worrying about everything that is going on. Do we send the girls to school in the fall or do online learning? We haven’t seen some family for months and at this time I am not sure when it will be safe to see them again. What are the holidays going to look like this year? We have always worn masks at work, when we are in public and put them on the girls when they are going to be close to others. My hands are blistered from the excessive hand washing and hand sanitizer. Are we doing enough? Why isn’t everyone taking this seriously? I want my kids to enjoy this moment of their lives, but I also want to protect them. The questions and decisions that need to be made are overwhelming at times. I am so fortunate to have my family so close and they have been invaluable these past few month, even more so than always. Are we doing the best we can to keep them safe? It’s hard not to show your fear and frustrations in front of your kids but we want them to understand what’s going on in the world – not only with COVID but with the racial inequality and protests going on around the country. How can we be better and teach them to love and care for one another? Trying to juggle a Kindergartner, Preschooler, Newborn, aging senior dog on top of super busy work flows has really been a challenge outside of everything else. I’ll admit I’m overwhelmed and could definitely use a cup of coffee (or 5). However, we are taking it one day at a time and trying to stay positive while making the best out of the situation.
We hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy! We will get through this together!
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