3 Months

My sweet "Stinky" boy,

Today marks your 3 month birthday!  Already?? Wow! I can't believe it has already been 3 months, it feels like you were just inside my belly.  I'm also having a very hard time remembering life before you.  You are my WHOLE world, and I'm so happy that my world now has such a sweet face.

                                                    

Seriously, how hilarious is this face? He was obviously over the photo shoot.

You weigh about 12.6 pounds and are growing like a weed! We are still going strong with breastfeeding (via bottle) at about 7 ounces every 6 hours.  You are a BIG eater, but we are still doing what we can to avoid formula.  So far, it is working well.  I hope it continues.

You started sleeping extremely well over the past few weeks.  Most nights, you go to bed about 7:30 and sleep until 7 the next morning! We occasionally have a night that you want to be rocked back to sleep in the middle of the night, but that is rarely difficult to do.  

One of your biggest achievements this month is that you rolled over at 11 weeks!  We were so excited and proud, but had no idea that would interfere with your great naps.  Apparently nap time now means "practice rolling over time" instead.  We finally caught you rolling over on video, even though you seem a bit annoyed in the video.  Daddy and I were rolling you BACK over to your belly in attempt to catch it on video.  You were not amused.  Sorry about that. ;)

Your Seahorse is completely your BFF.  You love to watch him glow and play music as you fall asleep, and we even caught you snuggled up to him once!  Other times we find you far away from him so that you can keep an eye on his glowing belly.  (Please see disclaimer in previous posts about Ethan's sleeping positions.)

                                       

                                                                                        
The outfit your Granny bought the day we discovered you were going to enter our lives finally fits! We intended to bring you home in it, but it was WAY too big, and 3 months later, we can take a few pictures. :)

This month, you attended your first baseball game...

...STILL love your bathtime...

...starting to understand cause and effect (such as pulling on your car seat toy)...

...teethe (Sophie is becoming just as good of a friend as Mr. Seahorse)...

...play with Daddy's old raccoon toy...

...Support the GREATEST team ever (Go Cards!)

...work on your GQ cover...

...and snuggle your cousin Riley.  You are really starting to interact with Riley, which is thrilling her to deal.  Unfortunately you aren't talking quickly enough for her, but I know that she is enjoying watching you grow anyway.  She loves you very much, and really likes that you are cooing for her.
                                                 




You seriously hate the car.  You can be the happiest baby around and if we place you in the car, you scream bloody murder.  You will scream until the car stops and someone gets you out.  Then you resume to being your happy self all over again.  I hate to hear you so upset, but I can't help but laugh when you do it.  I never want to make you angry, but son, you HAVE to ride in the car sometimes.  It's going to be a way of life for you.

You are nothing but joy in our lives.  We are often questioned about our stress level with a new baby, and we can honestly tell them that YOU are the only thing that doesn't stress us out in our lives right now.  I know people don't believe us when we say that, but it's true.  After what we went through to bring you home with us, we are still so thankful for your high-pitched, red faced scream.  In moments of intensity, it has been so easy for us to remember that we almost didn't make it to this point.  As hard as it is to watch you hurt from your teeth, or cry for being gassy, or fuss from being overtired, we never feel overwhelmed or stressed.  Because we know.  We know that we are so very lucky to be getting to hear that sweet (and shrill) sound.  Not everyone in this world is as lucky as we are to have something so wonderful in our lives, and we remember every single day how blessed we are.  Our perspective of your moments, good or bad, is to feel completely grateful for those moments.  I feel so relaxed around you, I love being with you.  I love your crooked little smile.  Most importantly, I love you, and I will always love you.

-Mommy