Month Three

11.10.2015


R is three months old! Someone pinch me. It feels like she's always been here and also like she just came, if that even makes sense. Let me tell you: it. is. exhausting. having someone to care for 24/7. A few days ago, Jordan's mom kept R for an hour or so, and Jordan and I were like what is this free time?

I went grocery shopping, in case you're wondering what kind of foolery I got into that night. Speaking of apples (insert ode to Honeycrisp), I made an absolutely delicious meal last month. Jordan wasn't as gaga about it as I was, but don't listen to him. I'm telling you it was good. I'm actually making it again this week. Get the recipe here.
Okay, so back to R. She's a doll, I tell you what. I thought Daylight Savings Time was going to kill me, but actually she slept through the night that Saturday of Fall Back and every night since! I mean WHAT. I haven't had a solid 7 hours of sleep since I got pregnant (because when you're pregnant, you wake up every hour to pee all night long; I don't miss that one bit). <<--- EDIT. I wrote this about her sleeping a few days ago, and since then she has most definitely not slept through the night, so never mind about that.
The big news this month has been R's activity mat. (We have this one, in case you're wondering.) Before a few weeks ago, we would lay her on it, and she was completely uninterested. But then one day instead of crying or looking around, she stared straight up at the toys hanging above her and smiled! Ever since, we lay her on it a few times a day, and she is so happy! 

Just in the last week or so she has started raising her arm up to bat at the toys. She's learning. She is figuring out that her arms are attached to her body, and she can manipulate them to touch things around her. It is the absolute craziest, most wonderful thing to watch. AKA MY BABY IS A GENIUS. Jordan and I are always sure she's a prodigy until we realize these are normal developmental milestones for this age. But anyway. She's awesome.
In similar fashion, she discovered her hands this month, and she now likes to shove them in her mouth. Sometimes she'll shove both fists so far into her mouth that she gags herself, which makes a terrible sound but now we're more or less used to it. But with the hands in the mouth comes her tongue sticking out and lots of drool! It's not quite as bad as some of my friends' babies, but she is starting to soak up her shirts with drool, and her tongue is almost always sticking out.

This month something fun happened... she started talking! Talking for a baby, but you know what I mean. She is definitely saying things to us with little baby coos, and it is the cutest! We keep wondering what her voice is going to sound like. Although at this point I'm okay with her not being able to talk... I'm not sure I'm ready for toddler sass and the "why?" question 86 thousand times a day.
She loves to push down on her legs and stand up, and she likes to be held facing out so she can see what's going on. We're pretty sure she's going to be a feisty little girl! Her eyes change from blue to brown and back again, so we aren't sure where she'll land. As far as her hair, in some lights it definitely looks like it might be red. Jordan has red all over both sides of his family, so it's a definite possibility!

R is still wearing 0-3 size clothes, although some of them are getting snug. She didn't have a doctor appointment this month, but we're guessing she's around 22" tall, give or take, and 12-13 pounds (birth weight was 7lbs 9oz / 19.5"). I'm still exclusively breastfeeding her, and I don't seem to have a supply problem at this point. She eats every 2-3 hours around the clock, except for a good long stretch at night (praise!).
We've decided that milk and yogurt upset her stomach, so two of my food loves are out for the foreseeable future. I can't be too mad about it, because look at that face. Now, if she decided chocolate chip cookies hurt her stomach, we might have a problem.

I'm trying to soak in every minute of her squishy goodness, but I'm also trying to find time for me. It's been three months, and while I do NOT have this motherhood thing figured out (does anyone ever?), I do feel like a fog of sorts has lifted and we really are finding a new kind of normal. She's not on a schedule yet, but her fussy times are much more predictable, and usually we can figure out what's wrong with her and calm her down relatively quickly. (Key word: relatively)

So that's where we're at right now. R still likes car rides, bath time, and walks in the stroller. And we've added the activity mat to the list. We thank God every single day for her and are just smitten. I love having a little girl! I may or may not keep buying nonessential baby girl clothes online. I seriously need to get off some email lists. Apparently I need to be a working mom to support my shopping habits. College fund? Who needs that when you can have bows and headbands in 15 different colors?

For anyone who is interested, I compiled all the little iphone videos of R I've taken over the last three months and put together a little video. YES, I'M A FIRST-TIME MOM. I realize I probably won't do this for future children, but videos are a fun way to see change and growth in a way pictures can't show sometimes. I definitely haven't watched this 102 times already. I swear.

If you can't see it, watch it on YouTube here
(p.s. Make it to the end, and there's a funny outtake.)

shelleystirs said...

She is so adorable! I know that I say that every time you post something. Oh my heart, the baby voice. Love it!

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

You are taking some really awesome pictures! I hope you are printing them =)

I'm glad you all are finding your niche. I'm sure that is really nice to be able to have a routine and somewhat understand what she needs.

She is super cute and I really hope to meet her in a few months (and see you too ;) ).

Robyn B said...

so, i'm loving these R updates! :) and you my friend are getting some GREAT shots of her! you will cherish all of these darling photos to look back on! of course you know that though :)

that outtake! :)

Michelle said...

The video is so precious! I remember when G suddenly started playing on her activity mat. I felt like the heavens were shining down on me when she could entertain herself for awhile.

Kaity B. said...

Isn't watching them learn the best thing ever?! Sometimes I just watch Charlie play and explore and think about what an amazing place the world must be for a baby. They are literally experiencing everything foe the first time. This morning as I was getting ready for work, Charlie tipped over the recycling bin and was playing with all the bottles and I just thought about how cool it is that something as mundane as recyclables is completely foreign and exciting to my sweet boy. (And thus concludes this segment on things only Moms care about).

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

How fun to watch her discover things--like her arms! So precious.

Ali said...

She is so adorable! It is so fun watching them and they grow and learn. You start to appreciate the most basic things in life when seeing them for the first time through your child's eyes.

Rebecca Jo said...

I cant believe she's 3 months... I feel like your post on delivering was just last week!
Love her little sass with that tongue :)

Rach said...

Oh goodness, that video is just too much cuteness! How is that even possible! The music really got me, haha! Not to mention her sweet face. Happy 3 months, R!

The Lady Okie said...

I know! It's flying!

Kristin said...

She is so stinking cute!! Happy 3 months :D

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

Just too cute! The tongue.. the eyes.. everything!

Courtney said...

Your pictures are beautiful! You captured her wonderfully. These months are passing way way way too fast. I'm not a fan!

Laura said...

Little Squish is adorable! It's a blast watching them learn, isn't it?

Nadine said...

Ahhhhh that video was just so sweet!!! I have several friends who have babies that are newborn to 5 months and it is amazing how much they change every time I see them. I just know that video is going to be incredible to look back in a few more months when she has grown and developed so much more!

Anna said...

I love her play mat! And her chair! I think Parker needs a chair like that.

Isn't it the greatest when they start interacting with things? I can't even remember the time when Parker wasn't putting things in his mouth. A simpler time, really.

She is too stinking cute. Seriously. It hurts my ovaries.

One thing I have learned is never to say anything positive about your child's sleep habits. It's just bad news.

Charlotte said...

I love reading your updates. Like I said on your video: SO MUCH CUTENESS.
Happy 3 months, little R!

Erika @ All Things E said...

Girllll, these photos are gorgeous. Probably because your baby is SO GORGEOUS. Loved this update! She's too cute!

Amy said...

oh man. 3 MONTHS?!?! how?!?!?
she is so beautiful - and all of these new explorations of hers (hello hands to mouth!) and being so observant. i love it! :)
also that recipe = yes please!

Andrea H. said...

She is absolutely adorable!! I love the video!! You will cherish that as she continues to grow and learn :)

Erin LFF said...

She is so, so beautiful!! You have quite the eye for photos too, friend! :)

Unknown said...

R is the sweetest! I love when babies put their tongues out all of the time. My niece is 6 months old and it's so bizarre to see her starting to understand and interact with the world! Your video was the cutest. And I think I used up my superlatives for the day. :)

Jenn @ Optimization Actually said...

I love the video! And watching babies grow is absolutely fascinating. I love seeing their little brains develop. But it also makes you keenly aware of how fast time is going, since they change so quickly.

Sarah Alway said...

Oh my goodness, she is an absolute doll! Honestly, whenever I have free time away from my child, one of the first things I do is take a nice long shower (and shave my legs!) or grocery shop. Grocery shopping sans kids is like heaven... Such a rare treat!

Unknown said...

So precious! I love the video :) Happy three months, little one!

meghan said...

I love the video idea. I need to do that before I go back to work. Did you just do it in iMovie? It's a great idea. Also, I'm sorry that I'm glad to hear that sleeping got worse around this time, mostly because we're dying here lately with sleep. I need to know I'm not the only one. She has never slept through the night, though. I'm starting to get desperate...

meghan said...

Oh, and I wanted to add: I love the comment about you and Jordan deciding that she's a baby prodigy when she does things, because I'm the same way. I'm totally like, "Wait. This is early. She's going to be super strong and super smart." Ha! We moms...

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