I hate parenting advice books/websites/etc

When Joey was first born, my mom told me that it's great that they know more about babies now (like about dairy sensitivities) but that she feels kind of bad for us because there's SO much information out there about babies right now.  It's enough to drive a person mad.

I didn't agree with her.

Until now.

Over the last two weeks Joey has decided he hates naps.  Before this, he would easily take 3-4 1-2 hour naps, depending on the day.  4 months hit and boom.  We're stuck with a child who takes craptacular naps.

So, in my normal fashion, I went to the trusty internet to see if I could find a solution, and here is what I found:

- You could be keeping your child awake too long

-You could be keeping your child awake not long enough

- It could be teething, an ear infection, or cold (none of which are the answer)

- Your child may not need as much sleep

- Your child may need more sleep

- Make sure the room is dark and cool, but make sure it's not like night time because then he might get his days and nights mixed up

- It may be a growth spurt which should only last 2-3 days but some people swear they last 2 weeks

- It could be some tummy trouble

- He needs help getting through the transition from light sleep to deep sleep, so go in and pat his back, shhh, etc

- You going in may wake him up even more or make him dependent on you to fall back to sleep

- He's hungry because you're doing "eat, play, sleep" so he gets hungry shortly after he goes to bed.

- He may be about to hit a developmental milestone, so he's practicing in his sleep.
- He needs more of a routine, so put him to bed at specific times, like 9, 12, and 3.
- He needs less of a routine so just put him to bed 2 hours after he wakes up.
- Don't do a routine at all, wait until he looks sleepy and then put him to bed.

And I'm sure I could come up with more that I found.

But really people????

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

End rant.

Joey - 4 months

It's hard to believe that two more periods of time like the last four months and we'll already be at Joey's first birthday.  Where has the time gone?!  Neal and I often look at him and talk about how big he is now compared to when we brought him home.  We were even looking through pictures the other day and found the ones from when we first brought him home.  He was SOOOO tiny!!!

Anyway.

Joey's accomplishments this month:

- Officially moved from 0-3 month clothes to 3-6 month clothes.

- Moved into size 2 diapers.

- Started taking naps in his crib.

- Really started consciously grabbing onto his toys.

- He went camping for the second time!

- Sat facing forward in his stroller for the first time.

- Started being able to sit while supported.

- Took his first trip to Utah.  Met his friend Jerek who is a couple weeks older than him.  Read about our trip HERE.

- Then took his first trip to Idaho.  I'll give this trip its own post later.

- Moved into his new house!  Again, another post later.

- Started solid foods!  He LOVES "eating dinner" with us.  He will sit and babble at the table like there's no tomorrow, and it's the only time he will do it!  I'm convinced it's because he feels like he's actually eating with us and wants to be a part of the conversation.

- Found his feet.  Oh boy does he love those feet.  He's even gone so far the last couple of nights as to try and play with them in his sleep, and wake himself up in the process.

- Had his first cold :( it was rough for all of us.  We were lucky enough to find a cute humidifier though.  It's shaped like an elephant and his name is Elliot.

- Went to his first family reunion for the Milligan side of his family (Neal's mom's side of the family).  This is where his middle name comes from :)

- Decided he no longer wanted to be rocked to sleep, which we are trying (sadly) to take advantage of.  Currently he wants to lay on his side with his hands next to his face with one of us patting his back until he drifts off.  We're working on getting him to fall asleep in his crib, and then we'll work on minimizing the patting.

- Started trying to roll from back to front.  (He doesn't seem too enthused about it now though that he's figured out he can scoot himself around on his back to get what he wants).

- Weighed 15 lbs 9 oz at his 4 month checkup.

Some other cute pictures from this month: