Dear Eleanor… Four Months

Dear Eleanor,

Four months – whoosh! So very much has happened, so very much has changed since our last letter, yet so much is still the same, you’ve come full circle baby girl – but goodness me the past two months have challenged mummy!

Bang on 12 weeks everything changed. You literally went from overnight sleeping 10+ hours…to waking every half hour distressed and very sad. Where had placid Eleanor gone?! Mummy was almost just as distressed, as all of a sudden our blossom baby needed rocking to sleep, when once I would just put you down and you’d nod off. All of this of course collided with moving into your big girl cot, in your big girl room all of your own. It must have all been too much for you poppet, you were scared and Mummy had to help you adjust.

You became much more interactive in the past two months, no longer content just to sit in your swing – you want action! All of a sudden you need constant entertainment – constant! Your little brain started going a million miles an hour, so much to learn, so much to master. I think this was part of your sleeping problems, going over and over all your new skills as you tried to go to sleep and settle yourself like you used to do so well. Now you needed Mummy’s help – lots more rocking, lots more cuddles, it’s scary business growing so much! You started desperately trying to roll over, and would get so very frustrated with it all. Lots of grunting and grizzles on your rug on the floor trying to master it – placid Eleanor was getting fired up! Just yesterday you finally did it, one minute Mummy saw you trying (as usual) and the next she looked over and you were triumphantly propped up on your strong chubby arms on your tummy! Clever girl. There’s no stopping you now, and you seem pretty chuffed and much more content because you’ve finally cracked the rolling puzzle.

At about 14 weeks you got your first bought of illness care of sniffly nosed coughing cousin Violet. Thanks Violet. You went downhill fast, coughing coughing coughing, all night long. Poor blossom baby was sick, you were so blocked up and couldn’t breathe at night. You couldn’t sleep without your dummy, but you couldn’t breathe with your dummy in. Oh the joys! Your little coughs all through the wee hours of the night/morning made Mummy so very sad. The little coughs turned into coughing fits, so distressing for you and for Mummy and Daddy. During the day you were very quiet, lethargic and just wanted cuddles constantly. I have been happy to oblige for my poor sick little girl. You finally started to improve, after so many cuddles, Vicks on your chest and feet, snot sucking and humidifier in your room – just in time for our trip to Fiji!

The tropics definitely agreed with you, Blossom. You positively bloomed in Fiji – our happy, contented, placid baby girl was back! You splashed in the pool and the ocean with your Grandi and cousins, doted on all day long, entertained endlessly. You slept soundly in your pram, your day sleeping has improved out of sight since you’re well again and used to your big girl cot now. You still only sleep for 40 minutes sometimes, but Mummy is trying to just let you do your thing and we’ll find our way, as always.

During the past two months you have become a little bit Mummy obsessed. Poor Daddy hasn’t been very popular! But you spent lots of quality Daddy time in Fiji and you’re great pals once again. He is such a wonderful Daddy to you Blossom, he loves you so very much, it makes Mummy’s heart nearly explode watching you together. Just you wait and see how much fun he is. You have started to squeal like a real little girl lately! Oh my, it’s begun! You laugh differently these days, shrieking and gurgling at Daddy’s silly faces and blowing raspberries on your tummy. You have maybe just started to understand peek-a-boo. So much fun to be had with you baby girl as you grow. And grow you do! In Fiji over 8 days you put on almost a kilo! The big growth spurt has almost definitely been hindering your sleeping and behaviour lately. Goodness me, you grow like a mushroom! You have rolls for days, so very chubby and delicious, our little hippo.

You have started to develop your own precious personality, Eleanor Joy. I can’t wait to see your funny little self grow, learn and love. You charm the pants off anyone who meets you, it mustn’t just be biased Mummy and Daddy who think you are just the best!

Keep blooming Blossom,
Mama