To our sweetest Ishu,

You’ve kept us quite busy this month. In between your frequent wake-ups at night and your calling out for mama when you roll onto your belly (but can’t roll back), you’ve kept us on our toes.

I hope that some day – when you inevitably roll your eyes at me or get frustrated at us for whatever reason – you look back at these posts and remember just how much we loved you. Being a mama to you has made me appreciate your Nani and Dadi and all the other mamas in the world. It is hard work being a parent, but somehow you make it all worth it.

This month, you’ve done all sorts of fun things. You’ve become an expert at popping your toes in your mouth when a pacifier isn’t readily available.

You can now roll from back to belly (only by way of your left side) and your neck has gotten so much stronger!

You handled your 4 month shots like a champ. Your papa went in with you and he said it was the LOUDEST he’s ever heard any baby scream (and that’s saying a lot because he’s working in the nursery with newborns this month). But you immediately calmed down once he picked you up and held you close.

You’ve got a new toy at your Nanu and Nani’s house and you love sitting among all the buttons and mirrors and music playing. But, after a while, you always want to end up on your favorite playmat with the piano. For some reason, those songs and hanging animals never get old. And now you get to see them from a whole new angle since you can flip over.

You used to prefer falling asleep on your own. Now it seems like you never want us to leave you. Every time we set you down in your bassinet, you want to be picked right back up again. As a result, we are all a little sleep deprived. But we are trying so hard to enjoy all the snuggles and love that come with this phase.

You’ve discovered that you can make so many noises. Gone are the days when we’d hear you quietly coo from the bassinet. You screech and squeal and scream as you learn all the different sounds your little body can make.

You like laying next to Bade Nani on her bed as she does her exercises. She really, really loves the days that you’re there and she’s always so much smilier when she gets to hold you.

We’ve got quite the collection of teethers and you really go to town, rubbing them back and forth on your gums. I think the blue elephant teether is, hands down, your favorite. But we’ll carry a whole baggie of teethers wherever we go and rotate through them.

Our apartment is constantly a mess. But you’re learning and growing and I’d much rather get down on the floor and play with you than clean everything up. I used to try to put things away while you were napping but we’d have to pull it all out again once you woke up, so why bother?

Messy homes just mean that we’re prioritizing the right things, right?

Every day that goes by, I find myself in limbo. Wanting to hold on to these days when you’re so itty-bitty. But also eagerly anticipating the next big thing you’re going to do.

We can’t wait until you start crawling and sitting up and eating solid foods. But, for now, we’re going to enjoy you right where you are, just as you are.

We love you the most. With every piece of us. And that’s a complete understatement.