Sam and Max are four months old

 

Sam and Max, getting bigger!

Sam and Max are four months old today, August 21st. It's hard to believe how quickly they've grown, and remember where all the time went. Thankfully we have this blog to look back at the earliest days, since the memories are already fading.

Today we took the boys to the pediatrician for their four month checkup. Pediatrician appointments and vaccination schedules are about the only things which follow their "actual age", whereas all other developments are relative to their "gestational age" (also known as "adjusted age"). Given that they were six weeks premature, their adjusted age is only about two-and-a-half months. Measured against this, they're around the 50th percentile for height, weight and head circumference, so they're growing quite nicely and are doing well. Max is up to 12.2 pounds and Sam is 12.4 pounds. What wonderful little angels!

Sam and Max have continued to successfully sleep through the night since the beginning of August. Putting them down for sleep is getting even easier as time goes on. Amanda and I have worked hard to keep a consistent routine for bed times and naps, which is obviously paying dividends. Their nighttime sleep is amazing, but their daily naps aren't always the greatest. I expect that as they get older and need less sleep their daily naps will shorten before their nighttime sleep is reduced. We'll have to continually adjust as the boys develop.

To the photos!

Sam smiles!

Max smiles too, just not at this moment

Sam enjoys a cuddle with Mom

Sam and Max are increasingly becoming more alert and aware as time goes on. They enjoy looking at this black and white book (titled "Look!"). Apparently babies enjoy the really stark contrast, since their ability to see is still developing. Look! holds their attention quite well these days.

Max focuses

Sam is astonished by what he sees

Amanda's friend from high school produced this beautiful rainbow quilt. In fact, it's actually two quilts that have snaps that allow them to come together to form one giant piece. It's a very thoughtful gift. Sam and Max say "Thank you Annie Trickey!"

A bold sky, August 16th ~7:30pm

Less than an hour later, a colorful sunset, August 16th 8:24pm

Great Aunt Bea reads to the boys

Max enjoys some private tutoring

Sam and Max are starting to grasp

Max likes to hold the rainbow toy for brief periods

Still Max (I know, its tough when they're dressed the same, right?)

Sam gets a chance at the rainbow toy and Max gives the green and blue one a try

Sam and Max are just starting to interact with the simple toys that are easy to grasp. Their arm and hand movements are more stable than they once were, and these toys seems like a great way to start developing their eye-hand coordination.

Brotherly love

"Hey buddy, I like your outfit!"

Sam says "Thanks for stopping by the blog, see you guys next time!"