Parker's Three Month Update

Dear Parker,

Month three has been full of firsts!  You took your first plane ride, met all of your Arkansas family, went riding on a boat on a lake, started drinking from a bottle regularly, started hitting objects in front of you, started going to daycare and overall just became very aware and curious!

 At three months you:

 

• Drink 4-5 oz of breastmilk from a bottle.
• Started going to daycare when you were 11 weeks and 5 days old so that mom could go back to work.  Mom cried really hard when she first dropped you off and misses spending all of her time with you.  So far, you don't seem to mind daycare.  In fact, the teacher asked me if you were always this calm at home?  Apparently, you can be playing on the mat at daycare and just fall asleep all on your own.  How did I not know you had this capability?!  You've never done that for me!
• Sleep 9-10 hours at night, but now that you go to daycare, we have to wake you up in the morning which kind of breaks my heart!  I'm trying to move your bedtime up some so that you get your needed sleep.  
• Wear size 2 diapers and poop 2-3 times a day, but this week you have had a couple of days with no poop!
• Love bath time and are starting to become more calm after bath time.  I thank the warm towels I give you.
• Smile a lot more
• LOVE to stand!  We practice sitting up and holding your head while mom holds your arms and you will just push yourself to a standing position.  You are so strong!  Of course, once you get standing you are like a load of jelly with your body flailing around.  But, it's so cute!
• Enjoy being in your bouncy seat.  You are still a little small for it, but mom tucks a pillow in the chair with you and puts a pillow at your feet so that you bounce yourself. 
• Are becoming very aware and curious.  You just look around with your pretty, blue eyes and take in your surroundings.  
• Will hit objects with your hands if they are above you.  
• Will hold a ball and stare at it with awe.  Then, you try to put it in your mouth.  It's so fun to watch!
• Spent a week with just mom and Aunt Kate while your dad went to Norway on a business trip.  We wouldn't have survived without Aunt Kate.
• Went to Arkansas to meet all of your family that lives there.  You particularly enjoyed your great grandma Joan.  You were like putty in her hands.
• Flew on a plane to Arkansas and you were a very good traveler!
• Hate riding in the carseat in the car.  I mean, literally, you hate it.  You don't mind it if we are moving too much, but if I so much as hit the brake and start to slow down, you start screaming.  You must be moving.  This makes it hard for mom when she comes home with you because we don't go very fast!
• Caught your very first little cold on your 9th day of day care.  At least you lasted longer than my coworker's baby... hers only lasted 3 days without getting sick.  :-)
• Seem to have found your hands, but not your fingers yet.  You love trying to put your fists all the way into your mouth... that used to be your hunger cue, but now its how you play!

We love you to the moon and back sweet boy.  I look forward to seeing what you learn in month four!

Just hanging out in my bouncy seat.

You love your T-Paw!

Your first day of daycare.

Your "official" three month photo!

 

Our Knight in Shining Armor

No, this post isn't about gladiators and knights.  Nor is it about the mid-evil.  This post is about Aunt Kate, my sister, our knight in shining armor.  I'm not sure our family of three could exist without Aunt Kate.

Aunt Kate is the dreaded middle sister in our family.  Regardless of actuality, it is always the perception that the middle child is in the background.  And some of that is probably true... the first born is busy forging the path and the parents are figuring it all out for the first time and the baby sister gets all the attention because, "she's the last one!"  Fair? Probably not.  True?  Not all the time.

I just want this post to praise my middle sister, someone who probably doesn't always get the praise she deserves out loud.  The young woman who sometimes thinks she blends into the background.  **Several people throughout Parker's existence so far deserve tons of praise and they have my complete gratitude.  ***Nor is this a post excluding my youngest sister, who is every bit an awesome Aunt. 

I was so excited when Kate told me she was moving to Houston.  It was instant relief.  My kid would have someone else besides me and his dad close by.  If there was an emergency and neither myself or Robert could be reached, there would be family in town. 

Well, Aunt Kate has gone above and beyond the call of duty.  She doesn't just play with Parker when she feels like it.  She comes over and helps feed him, bathe him, change his diaper, play with him, bounce him when he's cranky, goes to doctors appointments with me, cries with me, swims with Parker, helps me with household chores and even run some errands for me.  She is AMAZING with Parker.  Parker loves her so much.  I swear, Parker smiled at her before she smiled at me!  She does all of this out of the kindness of her heart.  She doesn't run away when he cries and isn't afraid of a poopy diaper.  She has such a way with him.  What's so amazing is that she has really stepped in to help me while Robert is away.  She is my confidant and Parker's greatest friend.

She truly has a way with kids and our life would not be the same without her.  Thank you Aunt Kate.  You are our knight in shining armor.  Please know how much we love you and how much we need you. 

Parker and his Aunt Kate