3 Months

Baby Nate,

So much has happened in the last 5 weeks.  I've been a busy mama and haven't posted weekly updates on your progress.  Here's the lowdown on what's been going on:

Your first snow!  Daddy & I bundled you up in your snow suit & took you outside while it was snowing.  I have to go ahead and apologize profusely to whomever gave us the snow suit.  I laughed so hard when we first got it and swore up & down that it would never ever get cold enough to use it.  But, here you are.  You were far more interested in attempting to eat it.

Back to the snow.  You weren't a fan.  As soon as those big wet flakes started hitting you in the face, it was all over.  We kept you outside long enough to get a few pictures, but then took you inside as you were screaming your head off. 

After you fell asleep in your swing, Daddy & I went outside and built a snowman.  You can help next year.

You've discovered that hands are tasty.  Your hands, my hands, Daddy's hands.  You're not a picky baby.  After you eat & I sit you up to burp, you maneuver your head so that one or two of my fingers are in your mouth.  When you're just hanging out, if you don't have your pacifier in your mouth, you're going to town on your hands.  You don't seem to have a favorite hand or finger - the more you can fit in your mouth, the happier you are.  We drove all the way to Bible Study this week with the sounds of you happily slurping and sucking away on your fists.  Sometimes you'll spit out the pacifier just so you can stick your hands in your mouth.  Now if only you could prefer your hands over your pacifier in the middle of the night. *sigh*

You tolerate tummy time.  I've started putting you on your tummy for a few minutes after ever diaper change you don't cry through.  Sometimes you push up on your arms a little bit and "talk" to me.  Other times you just lay there and slobber on whatever hand happens to be closest to your mouth.  Just last weekend...

You rolled from your tummy to your back!  You were in your crib and seemed to lose your balance as you were pushing up.  You rolled right over!  I waited until you did twice before I went running into the bedroom to wake up your Daddy so he could come watch.  You did it twice more for him and haven't done it again since.

You love to watch television.  You started this a few weeks ago when Grandmommy & Diane came to visit & I've tried desperately to keep you from it.  The American Academy of Pediatrics says no tv before age 2.  I swore up and down that my child wouldn't watch until then.  One thing you need to learn before you have kids of your own, Nate, is that you shouldn't make proclamations like that.  When your child has been crying non-stop for what seems like hours, you'll do just about anything to get him to be happy for just a little while.  So now you sit in my lap after you eat & turn your head all the way around so you can stare at the tv.  When you're on your playmat or bumbo, you wiggle & scoot & crane your neck until you can see the tv.  I've tried turning it off, but it doesn't seem to matter.... you know that it'll eventually come back on and will stare at the blank screen.  So, you're a tv watching baby.  Here's hoping it doesn't melt your brain.

We're still playing the pacifier game in the middle of the night.  Yes, we've been at this for 5 weeks (see last post).  Last night, for instance, I got up 5 times between 11 & 5:30 to put the pacifier back in your mouth.  That doesn't include the two other times I got up to feed you.  You've been really, really hungry the last couple of days.  I'm hoping this is a growth spurt.  You are, however, getting a lot better with manipulating your hands!  You can sometimes push the pacifier back in your mouth by yourself, especially if you're in the swing.  I've seen you do it a few times in the crib, too.  Keep practicing, baby boy.  Mama's going to celebrate when you can do it by yourself!

You FINALLY got to meet your Grammy & Great-Aunt Kathy.  They've been trying to get down here to meet you since you were born, but somebody was always under the weather.  They finally came to meet you & you fussed almost the whole time they were here, especially when they tried to hold you.  You did the same thing when Grandmommy & Diane came to visit.  I'm afraid you may be getting too used to hanging out with me all day.  Here's hoping the once or twice a week in the church nursery will help with that.

You were left in the care of someone other than family.  I'm doing a Bible Study at church once a week and they offer childcare for the 2 hour session.  This was a bigger deal for me than for you.  I teared up a little as I walked out the door the first time, even though I was just down the hall.  You've been staying with Ms. Whitney in the nursery for a few hours once a week & I'm hoping that will help get you used to other people watching you.  She said you cried less this week than last!  Progress!

You have a stay at home mommy.  My out of the home employment has officially ended and I'm now employed as your mommy & full-time caregiver.  I'm so incredibly blessed to be able to stay home & focus on raising you.  This will be the best job I could ever have and I'm so excited about it!

When we stepped on the scale earlier this week, you weighed just a little over 13 pounds.  I've put away all of your newborn & 0 -3 months clothes.  You're officially in 3 - 6 months outfits now & I'm afraid I'm going to have go buy a few more winter items.  We have some short sleeved summery things that will be perfect in just another few months, but it's simply too cold for them right now.

Every day you get a little bit cuter than the day before.  I look back at some of the older pictures & I'm amazed at how big you've gotten and how much different you look than you did even just a few weeks ago!

I love you, Nathan.

Mama