WEEK SEVENTEEN

So much happened this week I don't even know where to begin. It's as though by hitting four months, suddenly Oliver has morphed into a different little baby. He's staying awake for longer periods of time during the day now and his schedule is starting to become a bit more predictable. I've actually been using a sleep tracker program I found online to monitor his sleep patterns. It's interesting to see the similarities from day to day.
My husband and I decided to try giving him cereal for the first time this week. When we put the first spoonful in his mouth the look on his face was priceless. It was a combination of disgust and confusion. I think more ended up on him them in him, but we keep trying a little bit every day. I decided to taste it to see what the fuss was about, and the cereal is actually quite nasty....no wonder he was making faces! At this point he seems more intrigued by the side of his high chair then the food, and I don't blame him -- it's not very tasty.
We also got an exersaucer for him. Just a warning: when starting your baby in one of these contraptions, do it for just a few minutes at a time at first as it has the potential to BLOW THEIR MINDS! After about five minutes of Oliver being in it the first time, he became so wound up I thought his head was going to explode! So the next time I actually took all the toys off and got him used to being in the saucer without the distractions. Recently I added a couple of toys and he seems to be managing a bit better.
If you've been reading then you know what a constant battle Oliver's gas has been for us. Well this week my sister-in-law found me these wonder tablets from Hylands that have been a lifesaver. After giving him a dose, the gas comes right out and he seems so much happier. It has helped extend our morning sleep time and, because it's a homeopathic product, I don't have to worry about giving him any synthetic products or additives.
This week I've also been experimenting with putting Oliver in his crib for naps during the day. With the help of a full body swaddle I've actually been having some success! So far an hour-and-a-half is our longest stretch. I think that's pretty good for a little boy who would only nap in his sling. Don't get me wrong – the sling is great for cat naps and I still love having him close to me, but when he takes a two-hour nap, his 17-pound body can really do a number on my back!
It's been an exciting week in our house, and I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring.