3 Months

Time really has flown by. I have a picture of Elle on my phone that I snapped when she was 5 weeks old. Doesn't seem that long ago, but it kinda makes me sad to know that she's growing and changing so fast! The good thing about Elle getting older is that she's become a little more predictable. However, every time I think I've got Elle's schedule figured out, she goes and changes again. At the beginning of her second month (8 weeks old) I started a 6pm bedtime. Then shortly after that, naps started to become a little more predictable. Her schedule for the majority of the month was as follows (sorry if this is post is boring, but its mostly so I don't forget!):

7am day begins- eats, cute smiles, hangs out with dad in bed

8am back to sleep (usually in mom and dad's bed, sometimes in car seat- taking dad to the metro, followed by errands/outings with mom and Madi)

9am awake- play, or chill in car seat if we're out and about

10am back to sleep

11am awake, eat, play with mom and Madi

Sometime between 12 and 1pm Home for a nap- in bed

3pm awake, eat, plays in gym, hangs out with mom

4pm back in bed

5pm awake, plays with Madi, tummy time, bath, eats, story

6pm (sometimes before) in bed for the night

Up twice at night to eat:

1) Sometime around midnight

2) Somewhere between 3-4am

But again, as soon as I got used to this schedule she's already begun to change. Good thing, because I'm not a fan of the short, sporadic naps! I'm really looking forward to a good nap in the morning (so that Madi and I can start having our "school time" again), and a solid nap in the afternoon (which thankfully she's already got going)! One thing I'm definitely looking forward to is for Elle to begin sleeping better at night. She's been a lot more difficult to sleep train than I remember Madi being. By 3 months old, Madi had already done 10 1/2 hours straight! Elle usually does 5 hours for her first stretch (sometimes 6 when she goes right to sleep after being layed down), but there are several nights that she's still crying off and on for about an hour in the early evening. Night feedings are no big deal except that I'm trying to stretch them out longer. So when Elle first wakes up, I go in and give her the binky. It usually gives me another hour. I do this several times each night- causing me to get out of bed anywhere between 3-8 times a night. I don't even remember what's it's like to get a solid nights sleep anymore. Sometimes I wonder if it's even possible for me to sleep through all the little noises like I used to.

Aside from not being the greatest sleeper, Elle sure is an easy going baby. Maybe it comes with being a second child, but Elle's just gotten used to chillin. She's pretty patient- only crying when she's tired and/or hungry.

Two big things this month:

1. Gaining enough neck support for sitting in the bumbo.

Doesn't she just look so grown-up here?!

2. Graduating (just this past week) from her cradle to now sleeping in the crib.

Elle is pretty dang excited about it too!

(Big thanks to Grandpa Al and Boppi for the new cute outfit that just arrived in the mail today-what a fun surprise!)

We sure love our Elle Belly!