Oh joy for a new toy!

Eli just had his 4 month check up.  He weighs 15 pounds 13 ounces and is 25.5 inches long.  He's in the 67th percentile for both height and length, which is great!  His head circumference, however, is in the 97th percentile!  He may look like Jason, but I fear he got my family's gigantic head :)  All the more room to grow a great big brain, I suppose!  The rest of his wellness checkup went great.  We transferred to a new pediatrician which we're happy about.  Right now, Eli is still just breastfed, but we'll start looking at solids in the next couple of months (whenever he seems interested in starting).  Eli is still waking up 4-5 times per night and she had some good suggestions for things we could try.  Hopefully, we'll get on track because I am so tired of being tired all the time!  At the end of the wellness visit, we had to do more shots (much to my dismay), but I really do think they're more painful for me than they are for him.  He is such a good little boy!

Lately, Eli is finding his "voice."  First it was coos and sweet, soft little gurgles.  Now, it's high-pitched screams!  I must say, I miss the cute (quiet) little noises he used to make!  He has a lot to say, and he's not shy about screaming it at the top of his lungs for everyone to hear! 

Another change we've noticed is his growing strength and independence.  He can now keep his head up while he's spending time on his tummy.  He LOVES to arch his back and scoot around on the floor. Eli craves a little independent time and spends about 2 one hour sessions on the floor each day.   His leg strength is also increasing, and one of his favorite things to do is squat up and down and up and down while being held...enter, the greatest toy we've utilized so far:  the Johnny Jump Up.  I know these toys have a sordid past and many parents are leery of using them, but I figure as long as Eli is supervised at all times while in the Johnny Jump Up, I feel like it's safe.  Plus, he LOVES the thing.  We have a bigger one that Eli just doesn't quite fit into yet, so my mom found him a smaller one that works for him at this young age.  Here is Eli loving his new toy: