Jason: Four Months Old

 Old Jay-Bird is getting to be a pretty big boy!  We don't head to Dr. B's office til tomorrow for our official weigh in (and shots) but putting him on our scale shows a 17+ pound baby!  I guess my milk is like liquid lead!  He's getting so big and long that the carrier car seat is not even a convenience factor anymore.  I usually just take him out of it and carry him over my shoulder or use the baby Bjorn. 
The sleep regression lasted about a week, and then it was over as suddenly as it began.  Jason has made the midnight/1 AM feeding a permanent part of his schedule, and I guess he just feels it is necessary because of his size.  I think that once he starts food in the next couple of months, he will drop this feeding.  And since this is the last Drinks from our side of the family, I don't mind spending a little snuggle time in the glider at night. 

 More rolls than a bakery, I tell ya!

 Jason likes:  being held, watching Mickey Mouse Club, eating, when people make noises/faces at him, his bath time, being swaddled, his paci, toys that make noise
Jason dislikes:  almost nothing.  This is the most easy going kid I ever had!  I guess the only thing that comes to mind is when I take him out of the bath and he's wet and cold.  That's about it!

Sleep Regression 101

 Yup, the dreaded sleep regression.  Because no one around this house is getting much sleep lately.  You start with the perfect sleeper--at 6 weeks, Jason was going from 6:30 PM to 2 AM without a peep.  I was in heaven.  In the past week, he has decided to switch things up.  It started with an extra waking session about an hour after I put him down.  No biggie, pop the paci in and back to my fun evening stuff.  Then a paci wasn't working and he wanted to be fed.  Growth spurt?  Maybe, so I obliged his needs.  A couple days in, and he was getting up at 11:30 PM and then 2:30 AM.  What?!?!  I did a little internet "research" and found that sleep regression is a huge problem around 19 weeks (guess who's 19 weeks old?!)  Here are the other signs:

• fitful naps (lots of little catnaps instead of long ones)
• chewing relentlessly on hands and thumbs (this is biggie for him now)
• not wanting to be put down (this is why he was in my lap while I ate dinner every night last week)
• trying to go back to sleep within a half hour of being up for the day
• change in eating schedule, usually eating less (he starts eating great, but stops after 5 min. now)

So my baby is 5 for 5.  Add the new nighttime shenanigans, and it ain't so pleasant around the Drinks household right now.  Luckily, we're down one week and I read that this should last 2-4 weeks tops.

And we can thank his growing brain for all this fun--sleep regression happens when they switch over from newborn sleeping to adult sleeping patterns.  So even though I don't like this new routine, it's a sign that his little brain is growing all sorts of new synapses and making new connections.

I only wake up constantly because of my new skills of grabbing toys!   It overwhelms me!

OMG, Did You Make That?!

Jason looks dubious, but I expect the VT ear flap hat with pom pom to be a big seller!

 Yes, yes I did.  For pretty much every baby shower I have attended for the last decade, I have made the recipient a baby blanket or hat.  I have a lot of fun making them, picking out different color combos or going with somebody's "theme".  And for a long time people have said "You should sell them!"  But logistically, here's the problem:  (1) I don't have free weekends to man a booth at the local craft fairs and (2) you can't make someone a custom order if you're sitting at a folding table selling your hats.  
Carrie gave me the push I needed to go ahead and open a store on Etsy.  If you want to check out my store, click here.  Carrie also gave me a kick-ass name for said store, so let me introduce you to Hippity Hoppity Hats!  Do I plan on quitting my day job and selling thousands of hats every month?  No.  With over 56,000 stores dedicated to crochet on Etsy, chances are my store will go a month or more without even one view.  But I'm not trying to get rich here.  I'm trying to channel my hobby into something that could make other people happy.
And don't forget, I do custom orders! :)

 Emily is super jealous of my "photo shoots" with Jason, so she got Timmy's hat out of the closet and said "take my picture"!

The sad life of a hat model--sometimes the boy has to wear the girly hat with a flower.

My photo assistants

Score!  A decent pic for the website!

My hat model is so demanding....

I figured that a plate of river rocks would be a good substitute for those times that Jason has a model-moment breakdown.

Scalloped edges!  Pretty flower!  Any size from preemie to toddler!  And for only $12?!

Carrie suggested I wrap it up nicely, so here's what you get in the mail when you order.

A computer, ink, $3.97 Avery pack of business cards, and anyone can open a store.

Did I mention I do custom orders?!  School colors / colleges / etc.