Well, I have no idea why but we're back to 3.30-4.30am feeds after weeks of not having them. How rude, I say! I was just starting to enjoy my nights of sleep that had been missing since 6 months of pregnancy. Oh well! At least they only last 20-30 minutes and the wonderful world of Foxtel has replaced the repetitive world of Guthy Renker. I will no longer have to deal with PedEgg adverts. Yippee! Unfortunately, these feeds are seen as 'normal', I'll have to wait until they're happening 2-3 times a day before contemplating solids.

The sleep deprivation is affecting my work though, concentration span of a goldfish! Having to triple check my work and even then I've made mistakes. Luckily, I have a very supportive employer.

CJ's stats
4 months old - 8.37kg

Milestones reached

• Sucking on hands
• Grabbing things and taking them to his mouth
• Rolling tummy to back
• Beginning to roll back to tummy
• Grabbing his feet and trying to suck on them (but his chubby belly doesn't let him bend that far, hehe!)
• Very interested in what goes on in the world and tracks everything with his eyes
• Recognising Mum's voice and looking for her when he can't see her
• When on tummy, trying to move forward but chubby thighs can't bend up

Round 2 wasn't won by either mother or baby. Neither breast nor bottle got CJ to sleep two nights ago. In the end, he was overtired and he didn't seem like he wanted settling, although he was complaining about being tired. By 11.15pm, he'd had enough and finally went to sleep only to be awake 4 hours later for a feed. I hadn't had to deal with an early morning feed for weeks, my body went into shock! Haha!

Round 3 was won by Mum. Although no bottle was used, CJ was asleep by 9.30pm last night. Coincidence? Most likely! Mum hoping the battles have come to an end? Always! :-) We shall see tonight.

CJ is getting so close to rolling over but it looks like his pudginess is stopping him. On his belly, it looks like his pudginess won't let him crawl. But there's still time! At least he's got cushioning for when he starts walking and falling...

For the last 10 weeks, CJ has refused to sleep between 4.30pm and 10.30pm. After 6 hours of feeding, my nipples felt like there were about to drop off, or they just wanted to wither away and sulk. CJ would continually feed for roughly 10-15 minutes, have enough, perhaps doze for 15-45 minutes before waking up and wanting another feed. I can't make him feed any longer than the 10-15 minutes so last night at 9.30pm, I put my foot down. Out came a sippy cup with cooled boiled water and he sucked on that for half an hour, on and off. He didn't like the taste but he kept going back. By 10pm, he didn't take the sippy cup any longer. 15 minutes later, after a bit of rocking, he was fast asleep and didn't stir until 5.20am this morning.

Round 1: Mum.

If this bottle feeding continues, perhaps CJ will spend a night at his grandparent's place, and his dad and I might have our first night to ourselves. Now that sounds like a plan!

I also cooked in a slow cooker for the first time yesterday, must say the BEST invention. While Bubs was asleep in the afternoon, I got tea organised and could then actually sit down for the first time in 16 weeks and have an hour to myself. It was wonderful!

It looks like CJ's sleeping pattern is on the move. Not really complaining though as he slept from 9.30pm last night through to just before 7am this morning. Sometimes I do worry that he doesn't sleep from 4.30pm through to when he falls asleep at night but it doesn't seem to bother him at all. He sleeps well during the day, staying awake between 1.5-2 hours, then sleeps from 2-3 hours a couple of times a day so he is getting the right amount of sleep over a 24 hour period. The good thing about being awake from 4.30pm through to whenever is Scott is able to interact with him, have a bath with him, get that father bonding with him (and give Mum a break!).

I do have to say getting CJ out of bed is the best as he's always full of smiles, grins and baby talk.

CJ had a very bizarre sleeping pattern today. Was asleep at 10pm last night then woke up at 5am this morning, which is very early for him. Was asleep by 5.30, to wake up at 6.30am for a feed. Asleep again at 7am, and was asleep until 9.15am. He then had another short feed before I kept him awake to head off to the community nurse for his 3-4 month check up. Will perhaps start introducing a bottle of water to his feeds during his 4.30pm-10.30pm wake time, where he sleeps very little and eats quite a bit. Bundled him into the car and he promptly fell asleep just before 11am and didn't wake until 2pm. Fell asleep at 3.45 and woke at 5pm. Slept between 8-8.30pm and is now waking up for his top ups before (hopefully) falling asleep between 10 and 11pm for the night...

His weight gain continues to impress, putting on just shy of a kilo in 3 weeks. Was told I should be proud that it's all breast milk doing that, no formula or solids. But have been told solids won't be too far away, perhaps in the next month or so. Looking forward to that! CJ's a healthy 7.96kg at 14 weeks and 6 days old. Smiles, makes eye contact, looks for interaction and has started to laugh. Joins his hands together, loves standing while supported, enjoys talking to Mum and starting to enjoy Dad's company. He is developing a great personality!

Have to admit, I really can't complain about any of the journey so far. My pregnancy was a breeze, only suffered a couple of days of morning sickness, although tiredness did affect me for a good 3-4 months, but nothing a 6.30pm bed time didn't fix! Haha! Was diagnosed with gestational diabetes but it had no affect on me or bubs, I ended up losing 2 dress sizes after giving birth so I was a happy camper!

Really, the only problem that came about was the birth. By the time I hit full term, although Bubs was in the right position for birth, he hadn't dropped. Went in to see my obstetrician the day before my due date, the final scan showed Bubs was just under 4kg, hadn't dropped to any position I could give birth naturally to and I had what seemed to be a hind rupture so my waters were leaking but hadn't broken. My ob booked me in for a caesarean the following day and at 8.17am 23rd September, we had CJ in our arms, weighing in at 3.765kg/8lb 4oz.

CJ was nice enough to lull us into a false sense of security the first night when he slept for 6 hour blocks. We were wondering what people were going on about with screaming babies and sleepless nights, but we quickly worked it out the second night CJ was with us when he started sleeping in 30-45 minutes blocks. Luckily it was only that night and the 4th night we went through. He was very quick to settle into a routine, sleeping 2 hours, eating for 1 so at least we could get our head around that. Really, I could count on one hand how many bad nights we've had with Bubs, and a majority came in the first 3 weeks.

CJ has very quickly climbed to a whopping 8kgs, with 00 clothing no longer fitting him. We've given up on going over the top with clothes buying as he spends such little time in them. We may get a few weeks out of 0 size clothing so we may try getting clothes that aren't romper suits or body suits, although now that Summer has hit, he doesn't wear many clothes at all, getting around in a nappy and singlet or just a nappy alone.

He's such a calm baby, full of smiles (started smiling at 8 weeks, laughing soon after).  He's got a cheeky personality and brings a lot of laughs and joy to everyone in the family. CJ's the apple of his pop's eye and is always spoiled by his nan. He also spoils everyone else with his smiles and laughs, and has just started talking to everyone and searching for eye contact and interaction. It won't be long before he starts grabbing things and rolling over.  We're entering a great period now, he's starting to sleep through the night from between 10-10.30pm and 6-7am. After 5-6 months of not sleeping well, it's bliss!