Dear Madelynn,
You are no longer a newborn anymore, in age or in personality. This past week was really rough - you fought eating, fought sleep, and were very clingy. It turns out you were having a growth spurt plus a huge developmental leap! As of yesterday you can hold your head up during tummy time, laugh (more like a little giggle), pay closer attention to books, grab toys and get them to your mouth, and you seem a bit taller. You are also back to your normal, happy self! I am so proud of you and everything you are accomplishing so far. :) Here are some things about you at 3 months:
-You have attached yourself to Blankie - a soft, green & white, part minky blanket that my Aunt Suzanne gave us. You must have Blankie to sleep or if you are fussy. Blankie must also be right by your face (or over it!!) when it's near you. Let me tell you, that scares me half to death!! We have had to stop swaddling you because you scream and throw a tantrum until your arms are out and you can snuggle Blankie. Girl, you are opinionated!
-The Christmas holidays kind of threw off our schedule we had going. You haven't napped very well since we got back, but here's the sort-of schedule we have going, as far as eating and sleeping.
- 8:15 wake up
- 8:30 nurse
- 10:00-11:00 nap
- 11:30 nurse
- 1:00-2:30 nap
- 2:30 nurse
- 4:00-4:30 nap
- 5:30 nurse
- 7:00-7:30 nap
- 9:00 nurse and go to bed
- You have been waking up 2-3 times per night to nurse. What happened to just once? Mama is tired! :)
-You are enjoying playtime more too! If I put a toy in your hand, you can bring it to your mouth. You talk and smile at the animals on your playmat and your stuffed animals. You love to read books with Mommy.
-You nurse about every three hours. I've stopped timing you so I don't know how long you eat for. Sometimes you eat one side and sometimes you eat two sides. Just depends on how hungry you are! You have also stopped spitting up as much. Some days we can make it through in the same outfit! Not often, but it happens.
-I think you are beginning to teethe. You are drooly and loving chewing on your knuckle. You also love the Nuby teethers I bought you that look like a paci, but have a gum-shaped silicone teether instead of a nipple.
-You are a big time Daddy's girl! As soon as he gets home you smile and want him to hold you and play with you. If I try to take you from him for any reason you get mad. You love your Daddy!
-I am thinking it might be time to gently start sleep training you, as you are only napping in your crib for about 30 minutes at a time now. If you are in your swing you nap for 2-3 hours. Honestly, because I need to work, most days you take one nap in your swing so that I can get everything done. I need to stop enforcing this habit, though, I know. But I'm not quite ready to sleep train you!
-You love when we hold you up and you can "stand" on your feet. Your legs are VERY strong and you stand up straight. You love it, too.
-You are finally okay with tummy time since you can hold your head up and push on your arms a little. You love when I put your Touch and Feel books on the floor in front of you so you can "read" them during tummy time. You also like when I pull out the video camera and turn the screen around so you can see yourself.
-You wear size 2 diapers. You can still wear 3 month size onesies, barely, but generally wear 6 month size clothes. You wear 6 month jammies but have nearly grown out of those in length as well. You are just a tall girl!
-You are very social. You LOVED Christmastime and all of the attention you got from family. I don't think you got put down once! And you totally relished every second of it.
-We now have a bedtime routine that you have gotten used to. We do lotion and jammies, then pass you over for a few minutes of Daddy cuddles. Then, we rock and read a story. Then, turn off the lights, turn on the sound machine and your lullabies, and nurse/rock to sleep with Blankie. I usually give you your paci when you are done nursing as well. Then I lay you in your crib, where you sleep until your first waking of the night. Usually after that, I bring you back to your Rock N Play in our room to sleep.
-You enjoyed Christmas morning! You weren't quite sure about what was happening, but your face lit up when we "opened" your baby doll from Mom & Dad! Maybe you thought it was a friend to play with you, I don't know, but you definitely smiled big. I thought it was adorable! You made out like a bandit this year too - we couldn't help ourselves. :)
-You were also SO good on our road trips! It's about 17 hours round trip of driving, and you never once had a meltdown. You slept a lot, and when you were awake, you just stared down the mirror, looking at us with puppy dog eyes.
-You are still a fairly mellow, happy, easy going baby. You are starting to develop opinions and you definitely let us know how you feel about things! But, 90% of the day, you can be found smiling and talking. Sometimes you are trying SO hard to tell us something, but can't form the words. You really do talk most of the time though. Just like mom. :)
-Your nicknames are Princess, punkin, peanut, and monkey. Princess and punkin get used the most.
-Sometimes, I look at you, and I can't believe that this is real life. How did I get so lucky?
We love you so much, Maddie! We can't imagine our lives without you.
Love,
Mommy
