Zoe Louise | Three Months

I can't even handle the chub on those thighs!

Miss Zoe, we've really hit a turning point this month.  I'm fearful to even write about the huge improvements you've made in case I'm jinxing us :)  Mommy's knocking on wood while typing this.  

Daddy and I were talking the other day about how we can't believe you are already three months old.  And three months old means that mommy is already half way done with her maternity leave.  I can't even think about that right now though.  I miss that newborn smell and the way you'd curl up on my shoulder to fall asleep.  But...you are getting to be so much fun.  Your personality is really starting to shine through, you are so much more alert, you smile all the time, and you are much less cranky :)  I love watching you do new things every day.  You rubbed your eye a while ago when you were tired and it was the highlight of my day seeing you do something new.  It's funny how something like that means nothing to other people, and even daddy thought I was crazy for being so excited.  Having you has really opened my eyes to the small things in life that I take for granted.  Like rolling over, or putting your hands in your mouth.  It's such a huge accomplishment for you and I get so excited to see you exploring this big world.  

Stats:  You don't have another appointment until 4 months.  Based on you growing out of all of your 3 month clothes, I'd say you are right on track.  

Likes:  Swaddled to sleep.  Our bigger sized sleep sacks finally came...yay!  Eating.  White noise CD.  Bath time.  You've really started splashing like crazy.  Your mobile.  The fabric hoop art I put over your dresser/changing table.  You can be cranky and ready for a nap, but as soon as I plop you on your changer to get you ready for bed, you start smiling and sometimes giggling at the birdies on the fabric.  You love facing outward when we are holding you.  And I'm sad to admit, that you love the TV :(  Terrible habit I know, but I think you just like the lights and movement.  You also LOVE Mr. Hungry Caterpillar that Nana got you.  You'll try to eat the legs, the head, you'll throw it while laughing, and shake it to hear it rattle.  Maybe this will turn out to be your "baby" like mommy had when she was little :)  You also love your hands.  You'll be screaming away in your car seat and then suddenly silence.  I turn down the radio and sure enough, I can hear you sucking away :)  You also hold them like you are praying when you take your bottle.  It is so sweet.  I love those chubby little fingers.

Dislikes:  Being burped during/after your bottle.  You are getting much better with this though.  I now only burp you a few times and it seems to be going better now that you are getting more before we make you wait.  Being overtired.  Early evening until bed time can still be rough but you are definitely getting better.

Biggest Achievement This Month:  Sleeping through the night and going to bed a little earlier.  You now usually sleep until 6:45 am or sometime in the 7 am hour.  If you wake up before 7 am, I put you back to bed after eating.  Otherwise, we are up for the day.  You've dropped down to 6 feedings, and now you get your last bottle around 9 pm, and you are finally falling to sleep shortly after.  Eventually, once you are old enough to cry it out a little, I know you'll be able to fall asleep on your own.  We'll get there.  This is already a huge improvement over last month.

Biggest Challenge of the Month:  Getting you to sleep at a normal time.  We're getting there though.

Secret Tricks:  You still love to bounce and rock side to side simultaneously when you are overtired or cranky.  

Sleep:  You take your last bottle a little before or after 9 pm depending on the day and sleeping anywhere from 6:45 am to 8 am.  You still need a lot of our help to fall asleep.  

We moved you to your crib this month.  Mommy and daddy are sleeping so much better now without having to listen to your grunting :)  The only hard part is that I usually don't hear you through the monitor until you are VERY awake and ready to eat.

Your naps are getting a little worse.  You only nap for about 45 minutes some days.  I can only keep you up for 1-1.5 hours before you get cranky.  I've started to let you cry for a few minutes when you hit this point and you usually fall back to sleep.  Part of me wonders if you are close to ready to move down to 5 feedings a day.  Somedays I feel like I am waking you up from every nap to make sure you get all of your feedings in before 9pm.

Temperament/Personality:  You really are becoming such a happy baby.  You make it known when you want something, but you let us know when you are content too.

Eating:  You've been down to 6 feedings pretty consistently now.  You take 5 oz when you take a bottle, which seems like so much to me for such a little girl, but I'm not going to fight you on this one.  You aren't by any means overweight and you are actually content once you are finished eating, so I guess you need that much :)  I still nurse twice in the mornings and pump three times. You now get only one formula bottle.  I still haven't had to touch the freezer stash, but I'm starting to get close to pumping less than the amount you are eating in your bottles, so I might need it soon.  Or I'll go back to two formula bottles a day.  We'll see what we decide.

I love those chub chubs!

Randoms: I packed away your 3 month clothes this month :(  Mommy does love wearing new clothes though so it's been fun getting out your 6 month outfits.

We are used the last of your size 1 diapers.  I guess we should have taken the ones that Beeba had left back with us...sorry Beeba!  You'll have to save them for the future...or maybe we can stuff her in them for a few more days :)

Milestones:  You can definitely hold your head up now on your own for the most part.  You bobble a little every once in a great while, but it's definitely not happening very much at all now.

You can roll from your belly to your back pretty frequently.  Although you hate being on your stomach for tummy time.  As evidenced by this video.

You are really trying hard to grab your feet.  I have no idea when this typically happens for babies, but I'm always fearful to leave the room in case you do it while I'm gone.  I constantly cheer you on when you are staring and reaching for them.  I think you probably think I'm crazy and wonder what I'm doing :)

And you are giggling and interacting with us more and more.  Daddy loves to get you to talk and laugh with him.  We sit for quite a while on the couch when he gets home from work just trying to get you to do your "tricks."  It's quite entertaining :)

Outings:  We've been to lunch with friends, doctors appointments, and shopping.  You also had your first mall walking experience.  You lasted for quite a while before you were done.  I hope that doesn't mean that you don't like to shop.  Because mommy is a shopper and she'd love a companion :)  I did find a few, cute clearance items at Baby Gap.  We also had a mommy/daughter lunch date at Olga's.  You slept the whole time and were less than impressed.  I know it's just a matter of time before you are fighting me for the snackers :)

We also went to the DIA this past week as a family.  You did pretty well!

Favorite Baby Gear:  We bought the Ergo carrier this month with Christmas money from Nana.  I love it!  And you seem to like it too considering you napped the whole time you were in it when we went on a few walks.  Swaddle sleep sacks.

And now comparison shots again :)

We love you Miss Zoe!  I can't wait to see what month 4 has in store for us :)