Oh, my Tobin, you are so sweet.

That’s the word that always comes to mind when I think about how to describe you:  you’re just plain sweet.  You’re many other things, too:  calm, good-natured, gluttonous, a pretty good sleeper, squishy, grabby, curious, and enamored of your brother.  The only times you get upset are when you have to be in the carseat for a long time and sometimes for a cranky few minutes at night.  Mostly, you are a delight.

I was just telling Mubby that there should always be a baby around, especially one as fun as you.  I’ve really been enjoying you lately.  Maybe it’s because, having been through this time with your brother, I know how fast it goes.  Maybe it’s because you’re just such a nice guy.

You’re getting close to rolling over.  You’re learning to grab toys and blankets and other objects.  You are determined to shove your entire fist into your mouth.  You spend more time in your bouncy seat than you’d probably like, because your brother and I are often busy doing some kind of art or cooking project, but you’re usually patient as long as you can watch what we’re doing.  I think you’ve been in a growth spurt lately, because you’ve been eating a lot and your sleep hasn’t been quite as good as usual (though you’re still pretty good at it).

This month, you got to enjoy your first Thanksgiving.  You didn’t do much, really, but your Uncle Tyler really enjoyed meeting you.  You also got to spend time with more family, including Mubby and Skittergramps, Nana and Papa, and Uncle Michael.  This time of year can be a little overwhelming for a baby, but you’re mostly handling it well.  You’re used to getting hauled around, and the kids at Miles’s preschool love to see you when we come to pick your brother up.  Miles is proud to show you off, too.  He likes to lean over your carseat and say, “Aw, he’s such a cute little fellow.”  It’s true, you are.  You have such a joyful smile, and your little button nose and bow-shaped lips and soft, squishy little cheeks are so sweet.  You’re in that pre-crawling chubby baby stage, and your dimpled little knees are so much fun to kiss.

Photo by Gary Clarke

At diaper change time, you like it when I wiggle your legs fast and say, “Doesn’t it feel good to be freeeee?”  You laugh when we kiss your neck and tickle your sides.  You still enjoy baths in your tummy tub, maybe because when you suck on your hands in the bathtub, they have a slightly different flavor.

You’re also getting to that distractable stage, which can be a challenge while you’re eating.  If we’re in a noisy room or you catch a glimpse of your brother, you’re likely to turn your head fast to figure out what’s going on.  That can leave a dribbly mess of milk.  Sometimes I don’t even know what triggers it.  You’ll just abruptly stop nursing and look up and smile at me.

Your smiles are really amazing.  They take over your whole face, and it’s impossible not to smile back.  I was telling your Skittergramps, it’s not even a challenge to take a smiling picture of you, because it’s practically your default facial expression.   People often comment on how serious-looking you are, though, which puzzles me because I see so many sweet sunshine smiles.  I think it’s because you like to furrow your brow.  When you’re not smiling, you do look very deep in thought.

You’re almost ready to roll over.  You’ve sort of done it, but I think that was more coincidental than purposeful.  It won’t be long, though, before you’re flipping like a little pancake.  Now that you’re getting more interested in toys, we’ll probably be able to place one just out of your reach, which you can then stretch and maybe roll in order to get.  Maybe next month’s update will include video footage of you rolling.

Happy four months to you, my little sugar booger.  I’m awfully glad you’re the baby we have around these days.

Love,

Mommy