A letter, 3 months:

Posted on | May 22, 2012 | 6 Comments

Sweet baby Hazel,

You are now 3 1/2 months old, my love! I meant to write a 12 week letter to you but you, daddy, and I were in Michigan. I remember writing this letter when you were only 6 weeks old ... boy, how time is flying. And everyday you're changing a little bit!

You're about 13 lbs now - almost double your birth weight, if you can believe that. It makes me the happiest mom in the world knowing my milk has made you so healthy and strong! You're fitting in 3-6 month clothing, and I noticed today that some of your 3 month clothes are a bit snug already! Your mama's nickname at your age was "sumo baby" ... I suppose you take after me, love. All the more kissable!

Flex those muscles!

You're definitely one of the happiest babies I know. When you wake up you're all smiles, and even when you're tired and upset I can still get an occasional smile out of you. I've noticed daddy's songs make you smile more than anything. You also gave us your first BIG laugh last week, about twenty minutes before I left for my first day back at work. You have no idea how much that helped me get through the day! We still haven't quite figured out what really gets you laughing yet - but I can't wait to keep trying!

Your sleeping pretty darn good for a three month old! You usually fall asleep between 9-9:30 and wake up 1-2 times during the night to nurse. Your nursing during the night is very short and sweet, and you usually don't even fully wake up. You sleep about half the night in your 'co-sleeper' bassinet attached to the bed, and the second half you usually want to spend next to me. I swear you have an internal alarm set for 7 am every day, however (ma and dad need to go to bed earlier). You still sleep with your arms straight up, sometimes you look like a little baby model.

Speaking of eating - you are nursing well! You're breastfeeding throughout the day anywhere from every 2-4 hours, and going 5-6 hour stretches at night! Mama went back to work last week and you have been amazing at taking the bottle during the evenings I'm gone. You've still only have mama's milk and it'll stay like that until you're a few months older. I have noticed you staring at our food when we eat, however. You may just be a good eater someday!

I'm adoring your personality and all of the funny faces you make! I already see a lot of both me and your daddy in you - both your looks and your temperament.

You've had a total of four days home without me in the evenings, and luckily daddy has stayed home with you all of those days (and will from now on!). Although I miss you terribly I know you and him are having a wonderful time. Daddy said this past weekend was an incredible bonding experience for the two of you!

You have a good friend named Sawyer - she's only 4 days younger than you! You two are finally starting to notice one another, giving each other smiles and trying to roll to one another. And speaking of rolling - you've just about got it down! You can roll from your back to your stomach but you haven't quite figured out how to move your lower arm out of the way. Keep trying you'll figure it out! You're also loving belly time much more than you used to.

You already had your first big trip and plane ride! Your wonderful great-grandmother unfortunately passed away at the end of April and you traveled with me and papa back to Michigan. It was a very bittersweet visit - all of mama's family LOVED meeting you, but your mama was so very sad you never got to meet your great-grandma Alice. She was such a special woman to your mama, and someday I will have so many stories for you. On a happy note you got to see grandma and meet your Aunt Jamie for the first time! You were a complete gem on all 6 (!!) of the plane rides we took there and back (thank goodness for mamas milk).

Another big first this month was swimming! You loved it - it's heated to 92 degrees and you were so calm and happy the entire time. You had better get used to the water - mama and daddy love the water too! Did you know your middle name (Annan) means 'from the stream'?

Getting toweled off was almost as fun as swimming!

You're starting to notice the animals! You especially like checking out the cats as they rub on our legs or sleep on the couch cushion above you. Eddie has taken a special liking towards you; always rubbing his face on yours when we let him in the room in the morning. I think the dogs are still a bit to fast for you to keep track of, but you are definitely noticing the chickens! I can't wait until you are old enough to play with all of your furry sisters and brothers.

(puppies and chickens hanging in the grass with you!)

(the photo below you were probably only 5 weeks old, with Eddie)

Your hair is getting very long, and wild too! You're even starting to grow shorter dark hair underneath your long hair. You also have a favorite toy at the moment - a giraffe for teething named Sophie. You're holding her and sucking on her constantly these days. I'm thinking teething has begun in the last week or so with how much you want to suck, and you've been slightly fussier than normal. Hopefully it will be an easy transition for you!

I will end this letter by saying how much I love you. You've changed me in so many wonderful ways simply because I am your mother! These have been the most amazing 16 weeks of our lives. Thank you for being our daughter!