Three months

Dear Kamelya,

Today you are three months old and I am more in love with you than ever. It's not surprising actually because you are such a sweet cooing smiling little baby these days. I have to be honest with you canim, those first couple months were pretty tough. If you weren't eating or sleeping you were crying most of the time. We felt bad for you because it was plain to see that you were having a rough time adjusting to this crazy, noisy, bright world. The reflux didn't help either, of course. You still get fussy sometimes of course (who doesn't?) but these days you are feeling much better and it shows. 

Two days before Christmas you had your first real laugh! It was your daddy that made you giggle which is no surprise. He's a funny guy that daddy of yours. He even managed to catch some of it on video so I got to see it too. It was a deep low hehe hehe prompted by a few shakes of my vitamin bottle. Shake shake, laugh laugh, shake shake  laugh laugh. Then when you woke up on Christmas morning and saw me you laughed out loud and that was the best Christmas gift ever. Keep those giggles comin' little bear!

So we just got back from Chicago a couple days ago and you were so good on the flights! I was real worried about it but you were a star and hardly made a peep the whole way there and back. Thank you for that. You were pretty content while we were in Chicago too. Your Anneanne and Samu Teyze were falling all over themselves trying to make you happy. They never wanted to see you cry so they danced with you and bounced you and sang to you and held you close. They really love you, you know. You met lots of special friends and everyone was very excited to see you. You were pretty patient with all the kisses and smooshes. You had some especially long naps though - you needed some rest from all the adoration!

Without really meaning to, we have a developed a bit of a routine these days. First you eat, then you are all googly and happy, then you get tired and it's time for a nap. We once heard about some book that suggested a schedule like that called "EASY" (Eat, Activity, Sleep and You time) and I guess we are following it without planning to. We are realizing we need to try to put you down to sleep earlier now, instead of whenever we go to sleep which is what we used to do. It also seems like you can only stay awake about one and a half hours before needing a rest. Your daddy says it is getting much easier to get you to sleep these days. He still swaddles and sways you but sometimes these days you can get to sleep without white noise. It is also definitely easier for you to sleep without being in our arms or laying next to us. You are just so much easier now! Your daddy keeps reminding me how you are a 'new baby'. Sometimes you'll spend a long while just hanging out on our laps or sitting quietly in your bouncy chair and your daddy reminds me what a miracle it is and that we shouldn't take it for granted. He's right of course! 

Every day is something new. You are all drooly now so we have to always have a bib or washcloth nearby. You have also gotten really good at getting your hands in your mouth and spend many hours sucking on your fingers.  You also like to hold my finger with your little hand as much as possible and you give it little squeezes. When you wake in the morning or from a nap you spend a few minutes s t r e t c h i n g with your little arms raised above your head. You still love the sling, bouncing, white noise, and being swaddled but now you really love rattles. They can calm you down almost immediately. For Christmas we got you a little bird rattle with lots of little jingle jangles and it is your number one favorite thing. 

You are such a little communicator already. When we coo at you, you coo right back and we have whole little coo conversations. You love it when your daddy and I talk to you. It makes you smile and giggle and squirm. Sometimes when you are really delighted, you bury your head in my chest and hide. It's all just too funny! 

The twinkly lights on the Christmas tree fascinated and soothed you all month. We spent lots of time circling the tree and looking at all the sparkly ornaments. We spent Christmastime at home, just us, for the first time and it was lovely. You got to open some fun presents that day too - a soft blankie from your Uncle Russ and Aunt Amy, a fun puzzle toy from your Grandpa Pietz, the rattle from us and then got lots more presents when we got to Chicago. You are very very loved baby girl, don't forget that. 

Love,

Anne