Happy 3 months, Olive!

Age: 3 months

Weight: 14 lbs. (75th percentile)

Height: ~24 inches long 
Size: 3 & 6 months

Head circumference: 16 1/4 inches (72nd percentile)

Sleeping: She is sleeping 8-9 hours at night, some nights waking once & some nights sleeping until I'm ready to get up.  :)

Eating habits: Nursing and Expressed milk. She is drinking 4-5 oz. of milk from a bottle at night. 

Favorite activity: Eating and being in mama's arms.

Cutest Moment of the Month: Talking

Milestones:

• Begins to bear partial weight on both legs when held in a standing position (Olive has been able to do this for awhile now).
• Able to hold head up when sitting but still bobs forward
• When lying on stomach can raise head and shoulders between 45 and 90 degrees (sometimes)
• Bears weight on forearms
• Grasp reflex absent
• Holds objects but does not reach for them
• Clutches own hands and pulls at blankets and clothes
• Follows objects 180 degrees
• Locates sound by turning head and looking in the same direction
• Squeals, coos, babbles, and chuckles
• "Talks" when spoken to
• Recognizes faces, voices, and objects
• Smiles when she sees familiar people, and engages in play with them
• Shows awareness to strange situations

Firsts: Rolling on side, Teething

Updates: I've recognized that Liv is a "high needs" baby.  She fits every characteristic: Intense, Hyperactive, Draining, Feeds Frequently, Demanding, Awakens Frequently, Unsatisfied, Unpredictable, Super-Sensitive, Can't Put Baby Down, Not a Self-Soother, Separation Sensitive.
"High needs" baby + teething + growth spurts + gas pains = 1 tired mama.  I'm left exhausted by the end of the day.  Some days are better than others.  Lately she has allowed me to get more things done around the house, but I have to be quick.  :)
What this means for the blog?  If not I'm not with baby girl I'll be keeping up with household duties, so blogging will take a backseat for awhile.  (Hey she won't be this clingy forever...I hope).  I'll still update her monthly pics etc. and if I get the extra time I'll be here venting about meddlers. ;)


Other than Liv wearing me out we are truly enjoying our little girl.  She is such a sweet girl.  She makes us smile and laugh.  She is such a joy and brings so much more happiness to our lives. I just love her smile.  It simply lights me up and is contagious.  Every morning I look forward to seeing that gummy smile.  :)

Letter to my Olive

Dear Olive,

You are now just over 2 months old.  My have you changed.  You are talking and smiling a lot.  You recognize our voices and faces now.  I just love the sound of your voice and your beautiful, gummy smile.

Friends always said, "Enjoy this time, they grow up so fast".  I had no idea how true this was until a few days ago.  The first month and a half was really tough with growth spurts, inconsolable crying, wanting to be held constantly and little sleep.  I wanted nothing more than for you to just grow up and get to the "fun" stage of walking, talking and playing.  And now as I watch you grow before my eyes I kind of want to stop time and have you stay this age for a little while longer.  You are so innocent.  Your only needs are to be loved, held, fed and changed.  I'm the only one that can console you when you are upset.  You're my sweet baby girl, but you will not always be as sweet as you are at this moment.  I fear that one day you will break my heart when you yell, "I hate you!".  I hope that never happens.  Those will be the not so "fun" years, but we'll get through it.

I now cherish every single moment you are awake (except when you don't want to go to sleep and it's 11 pm).  I take a lot of pictures and videos because we'll never get this time back and I want to be able to look back and see just how precious this time was for us.

Having you here is the "fun" part.  And although I get a little emotional thinking how all of this will be gone one day I know there are many more amazing days with you to come!

I love you sweet girl.

Mama

Liv talks

Liv has found her voice and I absolutely love it!

She is the most talkative in the morning and at night.

Enjoy!  :)

Liv talking to her mama

Liv talking to her bird friends on her mobile