Happy 4 months, Harper!

Sweet Harper, I can't believe you are already four-months old! Time has passed way too fast and you are growing up right before my eyes. I dearly miss so many of your newborn mannerisms -- the way you would cuddle with me and sleep for hours during the day, the way you would root around on my chest and neck when you were hungry, the little piggy grunting noises you made when you were trying to nurse, your newborn cry and sighs and the chipmunk noises you made when you were unhappy. But, while I will always miss your newborn idiosyncrasies, I have fallen even more in love with your hugs, your quirky smile and flirty nature, and the way you shyly nuzzle your head in my hair when you're unsure about new people or surroundings.

Four months has been a magical age for you. You are happy, chatty and playful for the majority of the day. You've settled into a napping routine and you will put yourself down for your morning nap, though you sometimes need encouragement for your afternoon nap.

You look forward to our long walks and prefer for me to wear you in your baby carrier, though you will settle for your stroller if I am too tired to carry you. You love bright colors and people and delight in going places with your daddy and me. You are a great shopper and we talk to each other the entire time we are in the store, even though we tend to get strange looks.

You are eager to stand and sit up and just need to hold onto my fingers to help you balance. In fact, you sometimes fuss if I don't realize that you want my help with sitting or standing.

You love playing with your toys and immediately bring them all to your mouth. You have always refused a pacifier, but you have learned to soothe yourself by sucking on your fists or your thumb. You also enjoy sucking and gnawing on my knuckles. You are a champion bubble blower and have hours of fun each day blowing bubbles and even spraying them on mommy and daddy. In fact, my shoulder is usually damp from your bubbles, and you almost always wear a bib to keep your chest dry.

You have taken to putting yourself to sleep at night, though you still wake up once or twice for me to feed you. I look forward to you waking up early every morning so I can bring you back to our bed so you can nurse and nap with me while I get a little more sleep while daddy gets ready for work.

You have my heart wrapped around your raspy little voice and I relish every coo and squeal. Sometimes I know I hear words in your vocal play and I am so eager for you to find those words to share your thoughts with your daddy and me. For now, we're learning sign language so we can communicate better.

I love you sweet girl, and I am so proud and happy to be your mommy. I never imagined a love as deep as my love for you could exist. But it does, and it continues to grow with every passing moment. Happy four months, sweet Harper. You'll always be my sunshine!