ThReE MoNtHs OLD!!!

Miss Hadley is now three months old and continues to change every day! Her unofficial weight this month (per our home scale) is a little over 12 lbs- we'll get official measurements at her 4-month doctor appointment in February. When she is awake during the day, she is such a happy little girl! She still loves laying under her activity mat and stretching out, kicking, and grabbing at different toys - especially her colofrul giraffe. As Mimi pointed out one day, Hadley "greets that Giraffe each morning like an old friend." She also enjoys sitting in her Bumbo seat, especially since she'll now reach for and hold on to different toys, giving her something to do while sitting in her seat. Her latest trick is grabbing at anything in front of her and trying to stuff it in her mouth. If there isn't a toy nearby, she's totally content sucking on her fist or forearm.

Her Johnny Jump-Up is also a new favorite; although, I don't think she's quite figured out that her legs are causing her to bounce up and down and turn in different directions. When she first tried it a month ago after receiving it as a Christmas present, she could barely sit up in it. Now, she is becoming quite the pro at sitting up in it and kicking her legs.

While she is still not a huge fan of "tummy time", she is tolerating it for longer periods of time than she used to. She has come close to rolling over a couple times, but hasn't quite figured out how to get her little arms out of her way! She has mastered pulling her legs up under her stomach though- it looks like she's practicing to crawl more than roll over. I'm convinvced that the first few times she rolls over will be out of complete frustration!

It's amazing to see how her attention span has grown in the past month. She loves reading books and listening to different songs. Sometimes she'll sit on one of our laps and listen to 5-6 different (short!) books in a row. Her whole face lights up when someone sings a song to her, whether it's a classic children's song or the latest chart topper stuck in Mommy or Daddy's head. She seems to especially like "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands..." (complete with the motions, of course!).

She also discovered the dog this week, even though Izzy has obviously been here the whole time! Hadley watches her every move around the family room, especially Izzy's constantly wagging tail. Izzy frequently walks up to her to gently nudge or lick her hand.

The biggest change for us this month is that I have gone back to work full time and started another grad school class. It has definitely been challening as we try to settle into a routine that works for all three of us. We are fortunate to have a family friend who watches Hadley a couple nights a week at our house from when I leave for work around 6ish until Chuck gets home shortly after 11. Because of this, I have been able to continue working nights so that I can be home with her during the day and not have to use daycare for awhile. Going back to work has definitely been difficult- in a number of ways- but it is SOO wonderful to come home each morning to my smiling, baby girl! It has also allowed Chuck and Hadley to have some quality "Daddy/Daughter" bonding moments (like during a 4 or 5am bottle feeding!!). Each night when he gets home from work, her entire face lights up when she sees him- complete with her little scrunched-up nose and crooked, toothless grin.

Here are some recent pictures to enjoy:

Dressed up to go to Parker's 2nd Birthday Party!