Dear Caroline,

Today you are 4 months old! You continue to grow so fast. I am very much enjoying this phase – you are adorable, animated, and smiley. You have started interacting with us, laughing and giving us huge baby grins when you’re in a good mood, and getting obviously excited when anticipating something.

This month your hair started falling out! You have a patch on the base of your neck, and a patch on the top front of your head, but otherwise the rest is very thin dark hair. I never imagined that your hair would fall out this late, so I was very surprised! I’m curious to see how it grows back in. You still have a bad case of cradle cap, which goes away when we use olive oil on your scalp.

You really do love your sister, and she loves you too. She likes to get in your face and you don’t seem bothered at all. Twice I’ve left the room to come back and find you “decorated” – first with a permanent marker, and the second time with stickers. You didn’t seem bothered at all. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before she starts dressing you like a baby doll. :-)

You love to talk to us, too. You watch us intently as we talk to you, and then you play around with making noises from your mouth too. It’s fun to see you learning! You then usually start munching on your hands, so I wonder if you are teething. If you aren’t talking, then you usually have your hands in your mouth.

You love sucking on your thumb right now! I am really hoping this doesn’t become a bad habit, because I was a thumb-sucker myself and I remember how hard it was to give up that habit. Unlike your sister, you don’t take a pacifier at all. Every so often you’ll take one, but you usually spit it out shortly thereafter and stick your thumb in your mouth instead. We’ll see. :-)

This month has been fairly low-key, as your daddy was so busy at work so you mostly hung out with your sister and mommy around the house. You did get to dress up as a lion for Halloween, and we went to a trunk-or-treat at a local church. You have been content just to go along for the ride.

Next month will bring Thanksgiving, and the start to the Christmas season! I am so excited to share that with you!

Love, Mommy