Brooke: 3 Months

Dearest Brooke, 

We've been together for 3 months already. And when I say together I literally mean I've been with you almost 24/7.  We celebrated Thanksgiving this last month (to be documented in a separate post) and thanks to your grandparents I was able to go on a date with Brett, aka Daddy. It was surprisingly hard to be away from you.  You see, you are my baby, and I worry about everything when it comes to you. From dirty diapers to the length of your naps and everything in between. You are growing up so fast and despite my best efforts I can't remember all the cute and new things you do.   Thanks for cooperating today as I took far too many pictures (to make up for a lack of pictures the rest of the month). In addition to adorable pictures, I'll try to record some of the cute things you've been up to this last month.  

• Growing. You ARE growing, even though it is a slow and steady process for you.  At a Dr appt last week you weighed in at 9 lbs 10 oz. It wasn't an official growth check so I don't have the rest of your stats but the doctor said you are staying on your "curve" and she is not worried.

• We finally moved you out of newborn diapers and into size 1! It may seem like a silly thing, but it was our first big move up with you. On a related note, you sure know how to blow out a diaper if you want to!  Since moving up a size we've seen significantly less which is also great. 

• You will stand and support your own weight for a few seconds if we hold you up.  Dad wants to be able to hold you on his hand standing up, but you aren't quiet there yet.
• You will hold things in your hand and love holding our fingers but aren't grasping for toys yet. 
• You still love bath time with daddy and have even stopped screaming when we get you out. One night all of your towels were dirty so dad found the next best thing. A sports center towel. 

• You don't like strangers. We went to our old ward's Christmas Party and whenever a stranger would come say hi you'd look at them, get a big pouty lip and start screaming.  The one exception to this is that you smiled and played with two girls at church on Sunday.

All dressed up for the ward Christmas party

• We decorated the Christmas Tree and you were so happy looking at the lights. We showed you some of our family ornaments that we collect when we go somewhere new (vacation, honeymoon, etc).  We had a lot of fun adventures before you joined our family and are grateful for those memories and excited to take you places once you get a little older.  

• You LOVE facing out, I have to hold you up and out for you to be happy.  We took a trip to Target and I wore you in your carrier facing out and you loved it.  Usually I just hold you in my arms though. 

• A friend gave us some other "baby-wearing" carriers to try out. A Mei Tai and a ring sling.  Unfortunately you have to face inward in those so I'm still working on trying to get you to like them. 

Who needs toys when you have Christmas Tree lights! 

• You like to stick out your tongue, or rather you don't quite know to keep it in your mouth.  

• You have dimples! One on each cheek but the one on your right is usually easier to see. I tried to get a picture of them today but no luck.  I'd have you smiling all big but then you'd see the camera and were SUPER interested in it and would turn from a smile to a stare.  

• You love sitting up! I meant to get pictures of you in this rocking chair every month to show how you change. The first month I tried and failed because I was alone and I forgot last month so we'll start now.  I think you are pretty cute sitting in it!

• You are very alert.  There isn't really a time when you are "drowsy".  If you are awake you are looking around with your big blue eyes!
• A man at church on Sunday said you look like a little person, not really like a baby.  We think he was right.  Maybe because you don't have too much baby fat or maybe because your head is mostly proportional. Either way, we think you are the cutest little person ever! 
• The weather finally cooled off again so you got to wear your "winter outfit" to a sports award dinner at the high school last night. 

And by "winter outfit" we mean long sleeves and a vest

• You love loud places where there is a lot going on! The dinner last night and the ward party last weekend were great. You just looked around until you were tired and then fell asleep. Sure the naps were super short but despite my best efforts I can't get you to "just fall asleep" anywhere else. 

• You are on new medicine for your acid reflux and so far its great! You no longer writhe around in pain while sleeping and are much happier during the day. It gave you insomnia for the first few days, but hopefully we are over that! Waking up every 45 minutes was NOT fun. 

• Because of all your tossing and turning, you have a rather unfortunate hair style. You have rubbed the hair off your head in a line that goes all the way around. :( I don't see the back of your head very often but when I do I can't help but laugh.  Don't worry I'm not laughing at you, okay maybe I am. 

• Speaking of turning your head... You are a champ at following me around with your eyes and turning your head.  You will watch me walk away if Dad is holding you and you will look towards my voice when I talk to you.  I'm not going to lie, I love being your favorite! 

• You've started drooling lots and still spit lots of bubbles. I'm usually covered in drool, but your hands get the worst of it. They spend a lot of time in you mouth. 

Little hands, bubbles and a lack of baby rolls. 

• Your sleep schedule is about the same as last month and continues to be our number one focus. I am grateful, however, that you go quickly back to sleep in the middle of the night. With the start of your new medicine your quality of sleep has improved and that makes me happy! 
• You still hate the car and love walks. You sit in the same car seat for both but car rides are often miserable. 

Early morning play time

• We play on the bed in the morning when you wake up. You are so happy and smile lots then. It makes up for any rough night!

• You like to look at the TV and we'll let you watch it sometimes. Especially if it means dad can get some cuddle time in.

•  You like tummy time better on the couch or on the bed.  The other day you turned over (from belly to back) but it was mostly a fluke. I put you down and you immediately turned over so I'm guessing a large part of it had to do with how I set you down.  

Resting after holding her head up for a while. 

• You are making so many noises and coos when you are happy. I should really get a video of it sometime so I don't forget how cute each noise is! We have little conversations after naps and sometimes you'll sing along with me when I sign silly songs.  
• You are and always will be loved very very much!