Dear Sam,

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray.” And there have been quite a few gray days this month. Welcome to January in Pennsylvania, buddy. But regardless of the snow and the freezing temperatures, and no matter if we don’t leave the house, your gummy grin always lights up my days.

You started out the month with your very first cold. Poor guy. I’m sure we can blame it on almost two weeks of holiday travel — from Pennsylvania to Alabama and back again — and passing you from one set of arms to another. Daddy and I caught it, too, and between the three of us, we were sick for just over a week. You had a sniffly nose and a pathetic little cough, but, fortunately, you never got a fever. So we sucked the snot from your nose several times each day and ran the humidifier every night. Through it all, though, you never stopped smiling. You’re such a happy guy!

You also developed a mild case of cradle cap this month — at least we believe that’s what it is. The skin on your scalp is dry, which causes you to scratch it with nails that I find impossibly difficult to keep properly trimmed. We stopped washing your hair every day, and that seems to help.

You’re becoming more alert and more talkative with each day. I look forward to our daily chats and love that you’re developing intonation in your voice. Daddy thinks you might become a storyteller like your Mommy. You’re also now rolling over from belly to back and from back to belly, too. In fact, you are quite the squirmy worm. We finally had to move your bath time from our bathroom to yours for fear that you would finally roll right off the vanity and into the sink! Now you have your own tub with Thomas the Train toys and a stack of colorful cups, and you can sprawl out on a towel on the floor. You still love to splash and kick your feet in the water, especially when Daddy adds “double bubbles.”

Speaking of feet, you love yours. You are constantly kicking off your socks, so sometimes we let you go barefoot, and you are just memorized by those piggly wigglies.

You’re starting to develop eye-hand coordination and can now reach for toys — and then you proceed to put them right into your mouth. The Oball fits perfectly into those little hands of yours, and you’ve become quite intrigued by your ABC train and Leap Frog music table. But your current favorite thing is the Jumperoo. Your feet still don’t quite reach the floor, so we slid a thick board game underneath to allow you to jump. And, jump, you do! Every day we rotate between these toys — as well as the Bumbo — and you last about 10 minutes with each before you’re ready to move onto the next.

Another new activity we introduced this month: music. We set Pandora to the Family Folk station and sing and dance around the living room, typically just before nap time.

This month we’ve been working really hard to transition you into the crib for nap time (as opposed to our arms or your swing). You like to wake up 30-40 minutes into your nap and scream, which is not fun for you or for Mommy. Yes, gone are the days of deep infant sleep. Apparently your sleep patterns are maturing, and it can be difficult for you to stay settled during the “active sleep” stage. Can you tell that Mommy has been researching this topic? Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do until your baby body adjusts. And so I typically let you cry for a few minutes, but if you’re not able to drift back into sweet slumber, then I scoop you up and let you finish your nap in my arms. It’s not ideal, but it’s what works right now.

I’m happy to report, though, that you’ve had a much easier time adjusting to nighttime sleep. We had a few rough nights that required me to re-swaddle you or re-insert your pacifier as many as five times, but we survived. And you dropped your middle-of-the-night feeding (which happened anytime between 3am and 5am). We even had a few nights this month that you slept from 8pm until 7am. Way to go, little man! Our next step is to wean you off the swaddle — especially now that you’re consistently rolling over in both directions. But we’ll save that progress update for next month.

Your 4-month doctor’s appointment isn’t until next week, but we estimate that you’re about 13 pounds. Still our little Peanut! You’re still wearing size 2 diapers and are just barely fitting into your size 3-month clothes — the shirt sleeves and pants legs are becoming too short! We’re not looking forward to your shots next week, but we are looking forward to talking to the doctor about introducing solids into your diet. We think (we hope!) you will love food. Most nights you help me to prepare dinner while nestled in the Baby Bjorn. I describe each ingredient to you — crunchy orange carrots and shredded purple cabbage, onions that become sweet after you cook them, whole wheat rigatoni boiled in salted water. And sometimes I sit you in my lap while I eat, and you follow each bite from my plate to my mouth. Daddy is especially excited to watch you taste your first food. And he hopes you’ll love pistachios, pickles, and peanut butter as much as he does.

Another sign that you’re ready to eat? The drool! Yes, you are a drooling machine. In fact, we purchased new bibs with plastic lining between two layers of cotton, and you still average about four per day. But until we get the official go ahead from the doc, I’ll continue to nurse you six times per day: roughly at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm. And you’ll continue to grow big and strong and more active by the day.

Sammy, I love how you suck in your bottom lip when you’re in a deep sleep. I love your toes that look just like Daddy’s and the little creases at your wrists. I love to kiss the spot just below your ears and listen to you giggle. And, of course, I love those big blue eyes that are so expressive and so observant. Thank you for bringing so much sunshine into our lives.

Love,
Mommy

Yes, I occasionally miss the regular adult conversations of my former life, but I don’t mind talking to this little guy all day, every day.

We’re all about healthifying takeout food. Our most successful attempts to date are General Tso’s Chicken and Thai Peanut Noodles. But I do believe that we have another to add to the list. Tonight we not only made a favorite fried dish more healthy, we also made it vegan.

We turned to Mama Pea for assistance because, well, she’s a superstar when it comes to tasty vegan dishes.

Quinoa (a recent obsession of ours) replaces the traditional rice and is cooked with equal parts vegetable broth and coconut milk. It’s then combined with garlic, ginger, green onions, peas, and pineapple. Finish with a handful of cilantro, a couple shakes of soy sauce, and a wedge of lime, and devour!

Seriously, this is so flavorful. And it makes a complete meal when served alongside a pair of egg rolls. (To make the egg rolls: Saute shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, and bean sprouts with Schezwan sauce. Place in egg roll wrappers, roll, seal, and fry in peanut oil until golden brown.)

What’s your favorite quinoa dish? As I said, we’re hooked.

16/366 Winding down after a busy Monday.

17/366 Everything goes right into the mouth.

18/366 New bibs that claim to be waterproof. We’ll see how they stack up to the drooling machine.

19/366 We always have balls of cookie dough in the freezer. This is both brilliant and dangerous.

20/366 Good Friday morning from the nursery.

21/366 What does delicious smell like? Chicken with honey, cinnamon, cumin, and apricots.

22/366 “He died as he lived. He fought hard and stayed positive.” May you rest in peace, Coach. (Photo taken in 2007.)

I covered mostly big ticket items in my favorite finds for newborns post. But there are so many more products that we fell in love with during the first three months of little Peanut’s life.

Let’s start with sleep. We started swaddling Sam when he turned two weeks old. We probably should have started sooner, though, because he loved it! We used the Summer Infant SwaddleMe until he grew out of it at about two months. Then we switched to the Halo SleepSack. Both products are great and kept Sam snuggly warm while also preventing him from waking up during his inevitable startles.

We moved Sam from our bedside to his crib at seven weeks. This transition was made much easier for Mommy and Daddy thanks to our digital video monitor. We chose the Baby Touch Digital Color model from Summer Infant. It allows you to scan the room and zoom in on your sweet sleeping (hopefully) babe. It also includes a talk back feature, which Nick loves to use. He often checks on me from downstairs while I’m nursing Sam, or he’ll just freak me out with his best Darth Vader voice. But, in all seriousness, I don’t know how our parents survived without the digital video monitor.

Onto eating. Sam was exclusively breastfed for the first three weeks. At that point, we attempted to introduce the bottle (with breastmilk), but he wanted nothing to do with it. We tried several varieties from Medela to Dr. Brown’s, and finally fell in love with Tommee Tippee. They advertise the bottles as being “closer to nature,” and I do believe that’s true. They really do resemble the size and shape of the breast. Also worth noting: We use the Medela micro-steam bags to sanitize the bottles and the grass countertop drying rack to dry them.

Despite Sam taking to the bottle, I still often nurse him outside the privacy of our home. I’ve fed him in outlet mall parking lots, at rest stops off the turnpike, in the airport, and in the living rooms of many friends and family members. All of these scenarios were made more comfortable because of my “hooter hider.” I have the Nest Ruffle Style from Bebe au Lait.

Now that we have the essentials covered — sleeping and eating — let’s move on to a few other favorites.

Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Pail and Refill Bags: Originally, we wanted to avoid a diaper pail that required custom bags. But I’ll tell you what, Sam’s nursery has never once smelled like a dirty diaper, thanks to this genius contraption. The Arm and Hammer baking soda cartridge absorbs odors and dispenses baking soda each time the lid is closed, and the self-sealing system locks away odors. Each disposable bag holds about 25 diapers, which lasts us about five days.

Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Bag Dispenser and Refill Bags: Another genius product from Munchkin and Arm and Hammer. It’s compact and convenient and can always be found in our diaper bag, our car, and the bottom drawer of our media console unit in our living room.

The First Years Newborn to Toddler Tub with Sling: This tub has grown with us since the day we brought Sam home from the hospital. (He’s just four days old in the photo on the left.) The detachable sling was convenient for those first few weeks when baby boy was teeny tiny and still so intimidating. And now that he’s bigger and stronger, the deep ergonomic design cradles him while still allowing him to kick and splash. (Two months old in the photo on the right.)

Stretchies PJs from The Children’s Place: We discovered these jammies just before Sam turned two months old, and we haven’t looked back since. The material is soft and stretchy and comes in so many fun designs. Monsters, dinosaurs, cars and trucks, oh my.

Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton and Little Goose by David Mraz: Two of our favorite books. Really, anything by Sandra Boynton is a favorite in our house. And Little Goose is a necessity for all of you mommas out there.

Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym: We don’t just have forest friends in the nursery, you can find them in our living room, too! When we first laid Sam on this mat, he could barely focus on the owl, the squirrel, and the apple. But now he bats at the animals, grabs the wooden ring, and stares at himself in the mirror. It’s fun for him — and us, too! (How has our baby grown SO much in just four months?!)

Lamaze Firefly: This is the first toy that Sam was really attracted to. It’s colorful and soft and squeaky and crinkly and has a teething ring that always ends up in his mouth. Actually, who am I kidding, Sam has put anything and everything into his mouth since he turned two months old.

I know every baby is different, but these are the things that worked for us. Do you have anything to add?

Now that I’m home with Sam during the day, I struggle to find lunch ideas that are simple but still exciting. Because let’s face it — some days I barely have time for a ham sandwich and a handful of grapes, and there’s nothing exciting about that. But I’ve found that if I plan ahead — i.e. make a batch of this Thai chicken salad on Sunday — lunch is something I look forward to. I can assemble it quickly and sit down to savor it while the little guy is napping.

This wrap is full of flavor and packed with enough protein and veggies to keep me satisfied until dinner.

Do you have any easy and fulfilling lunch ideas to share?

1. Sam is now rolling over from belly to back. And Nick was here to witness the milestone moment! We applauded, of course, but baby boy wasn’t nearly as amused as his silly parents.

2. I have a new favorite Pandora station: Family Folk Songs. Sam and I listen to it at least three times every day — typically before nap time. I have no idea where I’ve stored the lyrics to so many children’s songs, but I know every word to about 90% of the songs. Nick, on the other hand, needs some practice. Did they not sing “The Green Grass Grows All Around” and “I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas” in Germany?

3. Sam has a new favorite toy: the O Ball. It’s the perfect size for his little fingers. And, just like everything else, it goes straight into his mouth.

4. For the past two weeks, I have successfully planned a week’s worth of meals. This is a big deal for us. We’ve cut out little trips to the grocery store for ingredients like basil and lemons and carrots. And we’ve eliminated the question that typically comes every night around 5pm: “What’s for dinner?” … So what was for dinner? Potato gnocchi with roasted butternut squash, cranberries, and pecans. BBQ chicken sandwiches and sweet potato fries. Rigatoni with stewed tomatoes. Thai chicken wraps. Yum!

5. I may not be getting to the gym on a regular basis these days, but I’m finding other (and much more entertaining) ways to exercise. Airplane!

Sometimes there’s nothing better than a big beefy burger. With caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, and a thick slice of cheddar cheese. But if you’re looking for a healthier alternative, look no further.

This quinoa burger far surpasses any other vegetarian burger I’ve tried. It’s full of flavor and has a nice spicy kick — thanks to roasted red peppers, chipotle peppers, and chopped fresh cilantro.

Hearty red quinoa replaces beef as the protein component, and it’s also gluten-free and a good source of dietary fiber. If you’re not yet on the quinoa train, it’s time come aboard!

Finally, mashed black beans and cooked yellow corn add substance.

See how colorful?

The only downside to this burger is that it doesn’t hold its shape. Simply add an egg if this concerns you. Or just scoop up the extra pieces with a fork!

Are you a fan of veggie burgers? If so, what ingredients do you use?

8/366 A green drink a day keeps the doctor away.

9/366 Bath time is the best time.

10/366 Dogfish Head Ta Henket beer. Why, oh why, did they cancel Brew Masters?

11/366 Our furnace stopped working early this morning. So Sam is napping downstairs by the space heater.

12/366 Long overdue for new lenses.

13/366 Homemade spaetzle and schnitzel. Nick’s specialties.

14/366 Sheets are clean. Pillows are fluffed. Can I just crawl in now?

1. I’m craving routine in this new year. When I worked full time, I had a very predictable routine. From my morning cup of hazelnut coffee to a book in bed before turning out the light. Now I operate on Sammy time. But we’re through the “fourth trimester,” and I do believe we’re both ready to establish a (flexible) routine. Caring for this sweet boy will always be my number one priority, but I’d feel more satisfied if I could tackle a few more tasks throughout the day.

2. Sam has been an agreeable sleeper since the day he was born. It didn’t take long for him to decipher day from night, and he has been sleeping consistently for 7-9 hours for the past three months. Naps, however, have recently become a struggle. Why? Because instead of cuddling him during those long daytime naps, we’re trying to transition him into the crib. It’s been a challenge, to say the least. He has no trouble putting himself to sleep; it’s the staying asleep part that he hasn’t yet mastered. After 30-45 minutes, like clockwork, he wakes up screaming. (The 45-minute intruder, perhaps?) So I swaddle and re-swaddle and re-insert the pacifier and rub his belly and stroke his cheeks and try as hard as my heart can manage to not pick him up and hug him tight. Moms On Call says that it takes 3-5 days for a baby to form a new habit, so I’m hoping this gets easier.

3. Maybe the reason why Sam is having trouble napping is because he has so many wonderful new toys to stimulate him during the day. Thank you, Santa! (And grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.) His big gift this year was a jumperoo. And, although his feet can’t quite reach the floor, he’s still so mesmerized by the lights and sounds.

4. Remember the Vitamix that we bought just before Christmas? Well, we’re using it on a daily basis now. I’m sort of addicted to the following green smoothie: 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt; 1 cup almond milk; 1 tablespoon peanut butter; 1 frozen banana; 4 cups spinach.

5. And to make that green smoothie even more enjoyable to drink, I bought our first pair of Tervis Tumblers — with colorful straws, of course.

6. I’ve been losing hair at an alarming rate. I know it’s a normal postpartum symptom, but it sort of freaks me out.

7. Speaking of postpartum, I’m now just 2 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight. Woohoo!

8. That weight loss, though, has little to do with exercise. I’d like to say that I’m running every other day, but I’m just not there yet (see thing #1). I do, however, want to run another half marathon this summer. I know I just need to choose a race and sign up so I feel motivated to train.

9. Nick emailed this article to me yesterday. It’s why we quit cable.

10. And now I leave you with a photo that makes me laugh out loud. Do you think he’ll grow into it before spring?