04 Dec 4 Months with Maverik

Maverik is 4 months old today, which means he’s already one-third of the way through his first year! He’s getting chunkier and heavier, and my arms are definitely getting a serious workout. With the colder weather outside, it also means more cuddles inside. Since going back to work, the time I can fully focus on him is limited, but I’m enjoying every second I get. My favorite moments are our morning snuggles in bed before I log on for work. Truly the best quality time!

Speaking of going back to work, I’m still figuring out the balance. It’s only the first month, so I have a lot to catch up on. I’m grateful I was able to take almost 14 weeks off, but it still doesn’t feel like enough. I wish I could take a whole year off without guilt, like Japan. Thankfully, I get a lot of help from my in-laws, and I feel much less overwhelmed than last time. There’s still a lot to juggle between work, caring for a newborn, finding time to pump, and managing Katerina’s school and dance schedule. We just have to get through this season of chaos, and I know I’ll miss it someday when I look back.

We had Maverik’s 4-month appointment, and he now weighs 15 lb 7.3 oz (47th percentile) and is 25 inches long (37th percentile). He is now double his birth weight, and those handmade rolls are so squishy and cute. I use his chunky rolls as emotional support and give them a good squish whenever I need it. He is smiley and super active—he cannot stay still! He constantly moves his arms and legs and wants to stand on his feet and tap dance all the time. The doctor said he’s hitting all the milestones he’s supposed to, which was great to hear. He received four vaccinations this visit—one oral and three shots in his legs. My poor baby screamed and cried, but he calmed down after chugging an entire 8-oz bottle of milk.

We are now officially in the cold and festive season! Maverik had his first Thanksgiving, where he was passed around to family members, keeping everyone warm and entertained. He also met Santa for the first time. We went to downtown Boise to see the beautifully decorated fundraiser trees, where Santa and Mrs. Claus were there. Since I was holding him, he did just fine meeting them. It was such a sweet moment to capture a big milestone like meeting Santa, and it’s a memory I’ll always cherish for him.

As for milestones, here are the things he achieved this month based on the CDC milestone app:

• Smiles on his own to get your attention
• If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle
• Looks at his hands with interest
• Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
• Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy
• Makes squealing noises
• Rolls from tummy to back

He first rolled over from his back to his tummy on 11/19, and Erik captured the moment. He came in so excited to tell me, like a proud dad. I wasn’t expecting it to happen this fast since it took Katerina a bit longer. I was so excited for this milestone. It took him a few minutes to get onto his tummy, but he eventually figured it out. When he rolls over, his arm gets stuck under his body and he gets fussy, so he still needs some practice—but I’m sure he’ll perfect it in no time. We may have a crawler soon, so I’m enjoying the no-baby-proofing phase as much as I can!

To Maverik,

Fatima