3 Months

We made it to the 3 month mark!  They say the first 3 months are the hardest, and we've made it through.  Mike and I would say the first month is, by far, the hardest.  It just gets easier as you get to know your baby and figure out a schedule.  Of course, there are still hard days - like right now as Matthew is going through his 3 month growth spurt.  He is learning and growing so fast that I want to soak it all up.  It's amazing how his little personality is coming through as he grows and learns.

~ We don't go back to the doctor until you're 4 months, but we went 2 weeks ago and your were 13 lbs 12 oz.  I'm guessing you are now a little over 14 lbs.

~ You are still wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month and 3 month clothes.

~ With this growth spurt you are taking in 7.5oz - 8oz of formula every 4.5 hours.  You eat at 7:30, 12:00, 4:30, and 9:00.

~ You are still sleeping through the night (YAY!) and sleep around 9-10 hours each night.  If you wake up, which you rarely do, we can just give you your paci and you fall right back to sleep.

~ You are smiling and laughing all the time now.  It is the most precious thing ever!  You first truly laughed on Halloween and it gets cuter each time you do it.  You really laugh when Bella, our dog, is playing with her soccer ball toy and running around the house.  Your get a kick out of looking at yourself in the mirror.

~ You are also talking a lot more.  It, too, is the most precious thing ever!  I love having little conversations with you throughout the day.

~ Right after starting daycare, you developed a stomach bug.  Your Pop had to come pick you up early and take you home.  Once we got you on Pedialyte, you got better.  However, you passed the bug to both your mommy, daddy, and Emie.  Luckily when mommy and daddy had it, your Emie, Pop, and Aunt Lauren took care of you all day so we could get better.

~ You developed a rash over your neck and stomach 2 weeks ago that the pediatrician said was in the "cradle cap" family.  We've had to bath you using Seltzen Blue shampoo and Dove body wash for sensitive skin.  You also have a prescription lotion we put on each night.  The rash looks so much better!  I'm hoping we can go back to using some of the baby products because they made you smell so good.

~ Now that you can keep your head steady for longer periods of time, you are trying to sit up more often.  Whenever you're in your Boppy pillow or your swing, you lift your head like you're doing crunches trying to sit up.  We help you by lifting you up slowly by your arms.  You sometimes get frustrated when you can't get all the way up on your own.

~  You've mastered rolling over from your tummy to your back!  It's so fun to watch!  Now that you can roll over, tummy time doesn't last long.  Sometimes you will just relax on your tummy by sitting up on your elbows and looking around.  You are also enjoying play time on the play mat more.  You spend your time lifting and kicking your legs and batting at the toys above your head.  You've also started moving all over the mat during play time!

~ Bath time has become a fun activity for you - you will actually smile and/or laugh during the bath.  On nights when you've been a little fussy, you calm down right when you get in the warm water.

~ You now watch mommy anywhere she goes.  If you are being held by someone else and you hear or see me, you will stop what you're doing to watch me.  I love it!  Especially when I get a big smile just because you can see me :-)

~ You love being read to.  You watch the pages and love the bright colors and shapes.  It's so cute how you concentrate while we read to you.  You actually started turning the pages of your soft foam book and it's so cute!

~ Some new favorite toys are your Bright Starts Musical Remote and soccer ball rattle.  You still like your musical panda.  When we play with your remote and panda, you try so hard to press the buttons on your own.  You'll get there.

~ You still love to suck on your hands and fingers.  I've caught you staring at your hands in amazement a few times recently.  You also like to watch mommy and daddy's hands/fingers move.

What an amazing thing it is to watch you grow and learn every day.  You have a true curiosity about the world around you and it shows in your eyes.  You are constantly looking around to see what's around you.  I am so blessed to be your mommy.  I can't wait to see what new things you will do over the next month.