The Fuhr Five: Cole

Cole is having a great time at four months and we are having a great time with him.

It seems like it has been a big month for him, making big jumps in learning, getting stronger and more expressive... but that sounds pretty typical of most months for babies, so maybe he just had a typical month!

At four months, Cole giggles a lot, talks a lot, and likes to constantly have something in his mouth - a nini, toy, toe or thumb.

He began rolling this month, both front to back and back to front, which in and of itself is pretty cool.

But when he started rolling, he also had the big realization that he can move himself and now tries to all time. I love seeing desire to get an object in his eyes and then work to move himself there. The realization of mobility seems like such a big moment in life.

Cole pushes his bumbo around with his foot to get something on the counter, swings his body around or rolls to his tummy to reach toys and is now inch worming himself across the floor to reach someone.

I love the inch worm move - scrunching his legs under his booty, with lots of struggling and grunting,

and then arch his back to flatten out again. It seems like a lot of work for just an inch of progress, but I guess its worth the effort if thats your only way of getting somewhere!

And if not on the ground working on his mobility, Cole wants to be standing. He wants us to hold him up or be in his bouncer or exercise gym, where he is upright and watching the world around him and reaching for something to put in his mouth.

It's been a good month of other firsts:

first jumps in the bouncer

first ride in the Chariot (E has been booted out to make room for little bro!)

first swim in a pool

first swim in an ocean-like body of water, the Gulf of Mexico

and my favorite, his first all out belly laugh. And really, is there anything better than hearing your baby whole heartedly laugh? Nope.

Ethan and Kels love this new development in Cole, they are having a great time making him laugh. Kels likes to hop around on the floor in front of him or strut her stuffed animals in front of his face while he tries to grab them, both of which makes him giggle and giggle.

Ethan and Cole already seem to have a special bond. They crack each other up and love to sit and play and laugh. It seems to be a genuine good time for both the four year old and four month old. Ethan tells people that Cole is his best friend and I believe it.

This month, the older two have started including Cole in their games. He gets to fly one of their planes or be a part in their role play or have some Legos in front of him as they build (the jumbo size).