INCHWORM

She's already on the move! I wouldn't go so far as calling it crawling, but Allegra's gotten the hang of wriggling her body around to move across her crib, or the floor. We'll lay her in her crib at one end, and by the time she falls asleep, she's inched her way across the whole thing until her head is nestled against the opposite side. I keep telling Kristen that it'll be no time at all before she's running around...It's going too fast.

ALLEGRA SITTING IN A TREE

My baby girl has begun to give kisses, and it's the most wonderful development yet. Truly, it's little more than an open gummy-mouthed drool on the recipient's cheek, but the kind that you refrain from wiping off for at least 10 seconds. The real news here is that it's clear when there's real intent on her part to give a kiss.

She gets a huge smile on her face, mouth-wide-open, and leans as much as she can toward you. You of course have to meet her half way (or more so she doesn't fall over) and place your cheek in her path, but it's just better than anything else you could do all day.

She's such a little sweetheart and I can't get enough of her - at least between the hours of 7am and 11pm, I mean, we have to be civilized and get our sleep! - when I'm home. Which speaking of, I've ben traveling a bit recently. When Kristen would put the phone to her ear to hear me talk, she - according to Kristen - would get all wide-eyed and looking around for Daddy. I really don't like leaving her or the rest of my family, mental note: avoid traveling as much as possible!

MOHAWK

Allegra's 'doo is pretty sweet. It's brown for one. But even cooler is the fact that it's really only growing on the top of her head, simulating a decent mohawk as it grows longer and longer...meanwhile the sides of her head remain fairly hairless. Very hip.

PURE BLISS

Allegra's nearly 4 months old already. I'm sad at how the time has just flown-by already. I can't help but feel as though I've fallen down on the job of writing about her initial months in our family, but really, there's not a whole lot to tell. The main point is that she is simply a pleasure, and I cannot imagine a baby being any easier than this. (Which is odd, because after the boys, I couldn't imagine a baby being even remotely easy...)

The only speed bump along the way has been the reflux that Allegra dealt with the first few weeks. But even with that discomfort, she was still as happy as could be. The sweet baby that sleeps through the night, smiles most of her waking moments, and can be set down to 'play' on her own for short periods of time seems to be here to stay. (knocking vigorously on wood...)

A great example of her temperment came the other night. I had been sitting on the couch talking with her for a bit, before sitting her on my lap, facing out while I watched television. After a bit she started to fuss. Now I should point out that Allegra's fuss is pretty much the equivalent of most babies in a happy mood. So I put her on my shoulder, figuring she'd like to change positions - she really only likes to be on our shoulder, or sitting facing out, she's not the type to dig the cradling position. She was still fussing, so I stood and rocked her. She was immediately happy again so after 5 minutes I sat back down. Unhappy again. I finally decided that maybe she was just tired, so I laid her in her crib. Without a peep she stuck her thumb in her mouth and put herself to sleep!

This is what I'm talking about. She knew what she wanted - for me to leave her alone and let her sleep. She wasn't in the mood to deal with me holding her in a dozen different positions or any of that nonsense - she was simply ready for sleep and wanted to be left to it. And for that, she shall always been treated like a Princess!

I really can't communicate what a pleasure Allegra is in our family. I could sit and 'talk' with her all day, watching her beautiful smile, listening to her coo or giggle. It's just the best. We are so very blessed that she's a part of our family.