Three Months

a silly face with a little hand holding

Elizabeth is three months!  Where has the time gone??

I have probably said this before about different ages/stages, but I sort of see the transition to three months as a big one.  For some reason babies just seem to "wake up" from their newborn stupor.  I am looking forward to seeing my little girl develop more social skills and start to become more content (hopefully), but at the same time I know that each new day/week/month is one less day/week/month that I'll be the mom of a baby.  I suppose I'll always see my children as my "babies," but Miss Elizabeth really is a baby who is growing. 

*sigh, sniff, sniff*  Let me take a moment to collect myself.  *sniff, sniff*

Okay, now that I've had that pity party, let me say how much fun it's become even in the last few days with Elizabeth.  She is just becoming her own little person.  She smiles so much more now and can laugh.  I love the big smiles I get from her!  It's amazing how a baby's smile can just make you feel happy!  She has rolled from her back to her tummy (opposite of the usual first rollover!  Is this a sign that she'll make her own path as a 4th kiddo?) but is still struggling with self-soothing and daytime sleep.  I feel like she's eating more/better, and it was good to see she'd gained 2 lb. and 1 inch at her 3 month appointment today.  She gave Dr. Jim a big smile, which was sweet to see.  I just sometimes feel like I'm a first time mom versus the mom of four. (Shouldn't having four kids count for something?  I suppose this is the first time I've been a mom to Elizabeth, though!)

This month I also went back to work.  That was sort of a hard adjustment.  I had dreaded hearing that my baby was a fussy one, and I did hear that a few times.  However, after a few weeks of being there everyone seems to be doing better.  She takes a bottle well, albeit slowly.  I, on the other hand, am having a harder time adjusting.  Being a working (even if it's only part-time!) mom of four is tough! With Caroline I didn't go back until the next school year so she was 7 months.  She had a nap routine and didn't need to be held or set in a swing all of the time.  I went back this early with Grant, but he slept the whole morning.  (That child was--and is--a champion sleeper!)  Only a few more weeks left, not that I'm counting down or anything!

Her siblings still love her, and it is nice to see the novelty hasn't worn off yet!  We shall see how it goes this summer when we are all home together all day.  Yikes!  That makes me a little anxious as I see it written!  I know that all the dread I feel on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights will be traded for more mediation of fights and power struggles.  However, it might be worth it???

Did I mention it's really hard to be a working mom?

The past three months have been fun, and I am excited to see what Miss Elizabeth does this month!

getting some tummy time with Jacques

more of a smile--not sure this really looks like her, but you can sort of see the dimples on the side of Elizabeth's mouth.