More changes in the last month....reminding me again of how fast this time goes. I am desperate to hang on to her sweet baby self -- her smell, her gummy grins, her soft weight against me, the way she gazes at her momma, the softness of her precious skin. I want to remember all of it, but am painfully aware of how quickly she will grow. As any momma that stays home with babies knows, some days feel so long and it can be easy to feel like this season of life - of no showers and little sleep and early risers and a house that gets messier faster than I can clean it and a three year old that NEVER STOPS TALKING - can be so overwhelming. But I know how fleeting is really is, so I try to remind myself to take a breath and soak it up, even on the days that feel like they will defeat me.
A little update on our girl:
She is still nursing like a champ. She eats every 3.5 to 4 hours these days, which has almost cut out one of our daytime feedings. Because of this, she's waking earlier in the night to eat, so we are still working through the change in schedule. I usually take her up to her room to feed her in the rocking chair.....when I lay her down on the ottoman to get situated, she starts kicking really fast and fussing and grunting and makes this face like "What's taking so long, Mom?" -- even though she doesn't lay there more than 10 seconds before I start feeding her. She knows when she's hungry!
Baby has grown out of her newborn clothes and is wearing mostly 3 months, some 3-6. She is long (just like sis!) so she often needs more length before she really fills out her clothes. We spend most days in pajamas. :)
Little girl takes 3-4 naps a day. Sometimes in her swing, sometimes in her bouncy seat, sometimes in her crib. It just depends on what we are doing and what time of day it is. She unfortunately has to do some of her napping in the carseat on the run - depending on if it's a school day for big sis or we have errands to do or whatever.
She is such a sweetheart. She is so calm and sweet and her smiles seriously melt me into a puddle. Our families ooh and aah over her constantly, and marvel at her laidback personality, quiet nature, shy smiles, and dainty coos. She is a little lady! Just like when Natalie was a baby, we hear things like "Is she always this happy?", "Does she ever cry?", and "She's so calm!" I guess we are blessed with happy and easy baby girls -- but I am confident that, someday, when we have two teenage daughter, we'll be wishing for these sweet baby days again. :)
Lillie is getting interested in her toys, she likes to kick at them and bat them with her hands. She LOVES to look in a little stand-up mirror that we got her for Christmas. In fact, now when we put her in front of her mirror, she studies herself for a moment and then bursts into a huge grin. So cute.
You can see in the pictures, she has found her hands this month. She loves her paci, but when she doesn't have it those hands are constantly in her mouth. She chews on them, sucks on her fingers....loves them!
She still loves her big sister like crazy, and they really are sweet together. Lillie often just watches Natalie spinning and twirling around her (in all her three year old glory!) and smiles. We've gotten a couple of little giggles out her in the past week or so - I can't wait for more laughs!
Sweet, sweet girl....momma loves you.
And, for comparison....Natalie at three months:
