Elijah: 14 Weeks

Weight: Last weigh in was last week when you were 16 pounds.

Height: No update.

Clothes: 3-6 months

Diapers: Nothing new here! 

Sleep: The night before I went back to work, you decided it was time to start waking up again during the night. You still sleep for a long stretch (9/10 to 2/4), but then you want to eat and cuddle with mommy. 

Eating: You let us know when you are hungry right away!

Likes: We can now say that you actually enjoy tummy time! You love naked tummy time! You also love to try to put your whole fist in your mouth. It is a good party trick.

Dislikes: Bottles. You do not want to take any bottles when mommy is at work. You took several bottles throughout the summer begrudgingly. But now you want nothing to do with them. You think it is a terrible idea You also don't like when you think you are alone if we have to run into the other room for something when you are awake.

Health: Nothing new here!

Oh! And this: Daddy stayed home for the first day Mommy had to go back to work. It was a terrible awful morning leaving. I cried. A lot. The meeting was at another school, so he brought you to me for lunch. He's an awesome Daddy. It made the day much more bearable. Grammy had the second day and it wasn't any easier. I just wish I could be at home with you all day every day! I miss you so much during the day.

New Tricks: You have rolled from your tummy onto your back several times during naked tummy time. You always seem a little surprised when you do it.

Elijah: 3 Months

Dear Elijah, 

How did 3 months go by so fast? (Is every letter going to start this way??) You are the light of my life. I have completely loved every single moment I have spent with you over the last 3 months. I am devastated that the school year starts on Thursday and I am going to miss so many precious moments with you. When you look up and see me you give me the biggest smiles imaginable and they completely melt my heart. I would do anything for you. I love to read you the book "I Love You Stinky Face" because that is how I feel! And every time I read you "I Love You Forever", I end up sobbing by the second page. I wish that I didn't have to leave  you and I can only hope that you get enough snuggles and smiles throughout the day that you remember how very loved  you are even when your mommy isn't right there with you. And that when I get home you know that I was thinking about you the whole day and wished I was cuddling with you instead of working. It is so important to me that you feel how amazingly special you are and how incredible our love for you is.

Love, 
Mommy

3 month updates:

Weight: At BF group you were 16 pounds before eating. Big boy! One of the nurses at your appt said you have thunder thighs! Made mama proud!

Height: Mommy measured you at 25 inches the other day!

Clothes: 3-6 months, but some are getting tight.

Diapers: Nothing new here! Sunbabies are our favorite diapers!

Sleep: You continue to be an awesome sleeper, sleeping 8-9 hours most nights. Sometimes you still get fussy between 4:00 and 6:00. Depends on the night if you go back to sleep pretty easily or not. I adore our morning snuggles when you come into bed with me and nurse and curl up next to me for a little more sleep. You continue to sleep in the Woombie and with the sound machine. Naps have been a bit more of a struggle as you fight going to sleep. It takes lots of interventions with the paci and some jiggling and shushing and then you are *out*!

Eating: You love milk!

Likes: Swimming with your Otteroo!! You love, love, love, to swim around the bathtub. You even swim on your belly now! We are pretty amazed by how awesome of a swimmer you are.You also love your lovies, when we talk silly to you and play with you, and being naked! You are suddenly very interested in toys that light up and play music. We only had two, so I had to go out to the store and get 2 more. It is so fun to watch you so interested! We practice saying "more" and then helping you push the button.

Dislikes: Being tired and hungry. You can go from smiles to full on hysterical wailing in an instant when you are hungry or tired.

Health: You had two shots because we are spreading them out. You were a rockstar again! You nursed and two nurses did the two shots at the same time. You stopped and screamed for about 10 seconds and then went right back to nursing and forgot all about it! The only difference you showed that night was going to sleep at 7:00 instead of your normal 9-10.

Oh! And this: Tummy Time is going a little better! You will hold your head up for about 5 minutes and look around and play before starting to get fussy. After that, you can spin yourself 180 degrees while mad! 

New Tricks: You rolled over on your side the other day during naked tummy time! Mommy wanted you to do it again so she could video. But no go! You LOVE to talk to us. There is definitely a back and forth with our conversations. You also have been teasing mommy when you pretend to latch and then look up and smile and do it again. It makes me laugh!!

Elijah: 12 Weeks

Weight: At BF group you were 15 pounds 11 ounces before eating. 

Height: no update

Clothes: 3-6 months, but some are getting tight.

Diapers: No change. But since we switched to some awesome Charcoal Bamboo and Bamboo Blended inserts we haven't had any leaks! Even though you are a heavy wetter during the day, at night we haven't had to double yet. 

Sleep: Suddenly you are an amazing sleeper! You have been sleeping 7-8 hours regularly for your first stretch and even did 10 hours last night! This has been going on for about a week and a half. 8:30-9:30ish you nurse and then fall asleep for the night. We put you in your Woombie and most of the time you are down in just a few minutes. Most nights you wake up around 4:00 am and fuss a bit, but if I give you your paci and lay my hand on your chest, you will go back to a sound sleep in under 20 minutes. You have been taking a great nap most afternoons too. You will sleep at least 2 hours (sometimes 3-4!) if you are put in your Woombie, with the sound machine, and in your bed. Usually you wake up crying once in the middle, but with a little time with the paci, you are back out for an hour or more.

Eating: You seem less ravenous lately. At BF group today you only ate 3.5 ounces in 25+ minutes (on both sides) of what seemed like continuous eating, which is unusual for you. Maybe you ate a lot at your first feeding when you woke up? You are pretty easy going most of the time, until you are tired or hungry. Then we KNOW!

Likes: You love sucking on your hands (drool everywhere!), talking to us, and pulling any fabric over your face, and having a lovie/foof. I have always wondered how kids come to "like" things. I see it really just happens! You started pulling fabric on your face any chance you got. You love when we give you a lovie/foof now!

Dislikes: Tummy time. Though you are doing a little better! You will do it for a few minutes before screaming now. You seem to like it a little better on the exercise ball and across our legs than on the floor. 

Health: The chiropractor says that your head seems really good now and you turn it both ways very well!

Oh! And this: We had VBS last week and you were so good! Grammy wore you most of the time and she loved hanging out with you! One day during the closing Grammy had to leave and I felt pretty awesome wearing you in the Tula while I took care of the closing details with 105 kids and 70 volunteers! I am excited that we have a picture of you in a VBS onesie for your first VBS!

New Tricks: You are so aware of things going on around your now. You love to look at us and talk to us. You have so much to say! The other morning you even laid in your bed for 15 minutes just talking to yourself instead of crying to be picked up right away! Today you were doing Tummy Time and pushed yourself up on your toes like in Downward-Facing Dog because you were so mad! When you are throwing a fit during Tummy Time you can move across the whole mat! Earlier you also were laying back on the nursing pillow and you were trying to sit up and you were getting your head and neck up off of it!

I had a really hard time picking out a picture this month because all of the faces you made were adorable!