4 Months

Dear Lucy,

Time is going by too quickly!  Four months in the scheme of things is not a huge amount of time, yet it feels like aeons since your birth and your newborn days!  You are an observant and engaged young lady now. You're working very hard on finding your hands and rolling over. You are working on your core strength and are doing decently well at tummy time.

Each day you amaze me. You become more aware, more "worldly", more in tune with your feelings and opinions. I think you know who we are. You light up like a Christmas tree when you see me or Dad. You giggle when Mommy kisses your feet or cheeks and when Daddy sings to you. Overall, you're a pretty sunshiney kid, even through teething pain. Speaking of teething, you shun all your teething toys in favor of chewing on your hands. 

We have less time together during the week because you slowly moved your bedtime up from 10 pm to 8 pm. I never feel like we see each other enough, so weekends are very cherished around here. 

Four months in, and I still cannot believe I get to be your mommy. Whatever I did to deserve you must have been something incredible. You are my heart, Lu. 

Love, Mommy

Lucy at 18 Weeks

Weight: Due to our spontaneous pedi visit, we learned she is 13 lbs 13 ounces, 24.24" tall and 16" head circumference.  

Medical Issues: She had quite a few days of very little eating, but more frequent poops. It concerned us so much we took her into the pediatrician. He diagnosed that it was a bit of teething mixed with a stomach bug. A day after that, she started a huge growth spurt, taking in about 1/3 more of food! She woke up Sunday morning looking like a different kid. 

Sleep:  RnP in her room. I don't have the heart to crib transition because of the crappy sleep she's giving us and the cold she's getting. Maybe someday.... Her naps are still really short. She probably takes about 5 short naps a day. 

Clothes: 3-6! 

Social:
The usual -- Target, dinners out, lunch date with Mama

Crying:
Teething. Hunger. Tiredness.

Milestones:  Getting really in tune with her hand motor skills! She's been a little less vocal as she goes through her stomach bug and growth spurt. She's been getting a lot better at tummy time, though I'm weak and give in after she starts fussing. 

Lucy at 17 Weeks

Weight: Not sure -- we go March 6 for her 4 month appointment. 

Medical Issues: Teething! Looks like there's a tooth appearing on the gumline. She also has what I believe is an Epstein pearl on the side of her gum farther back. Really spooked me because I thought a tooth was coming in all crazy. She has some serious dry skin right now and eczema on her cheeks. 

Sleep:  RnP but in her own room! This time I'm trying a slow transition to her crib. Once she gets used to her own space, away from us, we'll do the crib again. Her pattern has been a little erratic, but overall it's going well. I miss her being in our room and I sleep with one ear open, but I think it will be better for all of us overall. 

Clothes: In both her 0-3 and 3-6 month clothing -- though mostly 3-6 now. She even wore jeans!

Social:
She got to meet her cousins, Chloe and Caden. Also attended her first event for Mommy's work and had a family get together.

Crying:
Teething. Hunger. Overtiredness.

Milestones:  She is loving her new Fisher-Price Discover 'n Grow Kick and Play Piano Gym! There's more for her to grab and see and the music really keeps her entertained. 

Lucy at 16 Weeks

Weight: Guessing around 14 lbs? She's sadly losing those arm rolls I loved so much on her when she was a newborn. 

Medical Issues:  She had snottiness and congestion for over a week, but it's getting better. She has some eczema on her cheeks, and her legs are dry now too. We only bathe her twice a week because of her dry skin (apparently she inherited her dad's sensitive skin and not mine). She's also eating her hands constantly and having some teething pain. 

Sleep:  Still in the RnP in our room. In the past few weeks, she moved her bedtime up from 10 pm to 8:30-9 pm... which means she's now eating around 5 am and then wanting to be up for the day at 6:30 am. I don't mind a middle of the night wakeup, but I really wish she'd make it til 7:30 for her daily wakeup.  She's still a serial catnapper. I bet she only takes the equivalent of 90 minutes naptime a day during the week. Weekends are slightly better. 

Clothes: In both her 0-3 and 3-6 month clothing. I know it's time to pack away a few things she's too long for, but it's so sad to do. She spends her days in one-piece sleepers most of the time as I don't like to deal with socks, and it makes it easier for W to change her for the day. 

Social:
Same old, same old. Tomorrow she gets to meet her cousin and go to her first birthday party!

Crying:
Hunger. And she really hates the nose bulb and NoseFrida. :-/

Milestones:   She is showing an interest in rolling from belly to back. She can't quite figure it out, but it's worrying me (because I still swaddle her at night). She's getting better about grasping things, but it seems like her playmat is boring her now. I just bought the Fisher-Price Discover 'n Grow Kick and Play Piano Gym to help break up her boredom. 

And she had her first Valentine's Day! The wee ones at daycare exchanged valentines. New territory for this new mommy. I wasn't even sure if boxed cards were still "in." I still have many years to do more creative Pinterest-y type stuff. I don't think anyone will judge my three-month old or her mama for not making a big splash. I did, however, do a few V-Day themed photos. :) 

Lucy at 15 Weeks

Weight: Guessing around 14 lbs? 

Medical Issues:  She has a little cold -- well, basically snotty nose and no other symptoms. More teething symptoms and dry skin on her cheeks. 

Sleep:  We tried the crib for five nights. She would wake up about 3-4 hours in, and a insertion of the bink would get her down for another hour or two. But after that, she has hard to get back down (probably because of her nasal congestion). I didn't sleep much those nights between the waking up and racing down the hallway and the heightened awareness of the video monitor. She never lasted a whole night in the crib those five days. Until she's kicked her illness, she's back in the RnP in our room. :-/ 

Clothes: Can fit into 0-3 except for some sleepers which is she too long for, so we've been adding in a lot more 3-6 month things. 

Social:
Dinners out, Target, mall, She gets the occasional visit from a friend or family member. She came to visit Mama at work! 

Crying:
Hunger. And she really hates the nose bulb and NoseFrida. :-/

Milestones:   She attended her first Super Bowl party. She tried her jumperoo for the first time (too little yet!) She is able to grab her rattle and shake it for a bit, so those motor skills are getting stronger and she's making pretty good progress at tummy time. 

Lucy at 14 Weeks

Weight: Guessing around 14 lbs? 

Medical Issues:  Still teething symptoms -- lots of drool and eating her hands. I gave her Sophie and she gnawed it on for a bit but had a hard time keeping it in her mouth because she can't quite figure out those hand motor skills yet. 

Sleep:  Sleep is back to her normal-ish patterns, so we're trying the crib tonight! I think it will be a big flop because the Rock N Play is so different, plus it's in a completely different room. 

Clothes: Can fit into 0-3 except for some sleepers which is she too long for, so we've been adding in a lot more 3-6 month things. 

Social:
Dinners out, Target, mall, She gets the occasional visit from a friend or family member. She came to visit Mama at work! 

Crying:
Just hunger cries. Oh, and tummy time cries.

Milestones:   She's in love with her playmat and is finally able to grasp the toys a bit. She will push her feet against a surface and straighten her legs. She still loves being sung to -- it can ellict the hugest smiles from her. She's overall a pretty happy lady. :)

3 Months

Dear Lucy,
Just when I don't think it's possible, I manage to love you more each day. While I get weepy at the thought of you someday not being my little baby, I know great things are ahead. I can see you grow before my eyes with each day that passes. You get a little taller, you learn a new expression, or you develop a new skill overnight. It's getting harder to remember that warm little newborn lump you once were just weeks ago! I'm sure all mommies think this, but I often want to freeze time. I never want to forget your little tics and sounds. I especially love the scrunchy face you make after eating or waking up where your body arches, your arms fly up by your ears and your eyebrows raise. I hope you always make this face that I can't even put into words -- when you start eating or sucking on your bink, you make this little attack face. I adore the soft little noises you make during our early morning nursing session. I love touching your soft chubby thighs and feeling the strength of those little legs. The way you smile and laugh at me just melts me into a puddle.

Your third month was a big month for us all. You started sleeping mostly through the night just in time for me to return to work. You started afternoon daycare (you're doing great - they all love you and say you're a good, happy baby). You and Daddy have your mornings together. While each week brings a new challenge, we've all settled into a nice little routine rather easily.

You absolutely love being sung to, whether it's old country music or rap or commercial jingles! You are more aware of everything including color and light (which now includes the TV). You do so well when Mommy wants to take photos with your phone or camera. You're a great little traveler, probably because you have no eating or napping schedule -- you just like to snack and catnap all day!

We've had no health issues this month! Your gas issues have pretty much gone away. You mainly cry when you're hungry or overtired. Tummy time is definitely not your favorite.

I wonder constantly when I'll fully believe that you're my daughter. It often seems like you're on loan and that someone will pick you up someday. How is it this amazing little baby belongs to ME?

You're my world, Buggy Lu!!

Love, Mommy