three months old

Well, little C is already 3 months old! Guess it's about time for an update and some pictures!

The newborn stage the second time around has been much easier for me. I imagine that is the case for a lot of people. I have more confidence about everything and am not as inclined to take everything as seriously. This is probably because I don't have time to think about everything as much because I am chasing J around the house, but whatever the reason, I am thankful.

C seems to have fallen into a routine much more quickly than J did. Here's some highlights:

December (month 1) - After spending the first week of the month in the NICU we were all so happy to bring little C home. This month C slept pretty much all the time. The first time she cried for more than a second was on Christmas Day and it made Juliet cry! It was so sweet (and kind of funny) at the same time. She was so worried about her little sister and wanted to make sure someone was going to do something to make it better. C's first outing was to Furniture Row to look for new furniture for the house!

Rest of Month One

January (month 2) - This month C started to seem like a real baby. She was just so small before ... so teeny and fragile. She seemed to wake up, i.e. not sleep all the time, right around her due date, just like Juliet did. She started eating better - 5oz about every 4 hours during the day and going the whole night (10 to 6) without eating. She doesn't sleep that whole time, usually waking up between 2:30 and 4. Depending on what time it is (and how tired I am), I either try her pacifier or just put her in bed with me. She has slept through till 5 a few times, but hasn't made a habit of that yet.

February (month 3) - We went for Corinne's 2 month checkup on 5 Feb and she weighed 10lbs 6oz and was 22in long. The doctor was very pleased with her growth as she is now on the growth charts!!

C started smiling this month, which is probably my favorite newborn milestone. She loves to smile and coo when you talk to her and has also taken a liking to the ceiling fan in the living room. She gives that fan the biggest grins! Toward the end of the month she started showing some interest in her floor mat and toy bar on her bouncy seat. Juliet likes to bring toys for me to hang on there for her :)

C is long and lean, even more so than I remember J being. Her hair is definitely coming in lighter (some would say it has a reddish tint) and I think it definitely looks like it is going to be wavy/curly. No birthmarks and no bumps behind her ears like her daddy and sister :) The more she fills out, the less she looks like her daddy. Still has his nose, but I can see more of my sisters and I in her than I could Juliet.

She is a very content and happy baby and doesn't usually cry unless there's something the matter, i.e. hungry, gas, tired. One exception I just thought of - post bath. She always cries after her bath. I don't know if she's angry that the bath is over or just doesn't like me messing with her :) She likes her pacifier, she likes to be swaddled, she likes to sleep upright on your chest. She is doing very well with putting herself to sleep for naps and at night, usually only crying/fussing for a few minutes if at all. Sometimes at night she gets overwhelmed and fussy, but I've found that simply swaddling her and laying her down with her pacifier makes her calm down instantly. She has laid there for 30+ minutes completely happy and calm! When I think back to all the things we used to try to calm Juliet down it makes me laugh ... we were practically putting on a 3 ring circus trying to soothe the kid ... and all this one wants is her own space and some peace and quiet :) What an angel!

Juliet loves to play with Corinne, show her things, have C "sit by J," give her "big hugs," etc, etc. I am pretty sure the feeling is mutual as I can already tell that C likes to watch her sister :) Her preferred nickname is "B," J-speak for baby. It's sort of stuck and I find myself saying it now!