3 Months Old!

Sept. 9th marked three months with our little angel. And oh baby girl, what a fun month it's been!

You've grown up so much this month and we've had such a great time getting to know you more. You've become a lot more vocal and love "talking" to us. You have also started making these adorable little shrieks when you are happy. And we know you are too little still to say real words, but both mommy and daddy swear we heard you say "mama" on our way home from the state fair on Sept. 1. Just shy of 12 weeks old.

We also got our very first giggles from you this month (Aug. 27 to be exact). Mommy had just finished changing your diaper and was doing a boo boo boo boo boo tickle on your tummy. She immediately called for Daddy and he came up and heard it too. Cutest thing we've ever heard!

You are still a very happy and smiley girl but have seemed to have found your voice a bit more this month. You don't hesitate to let us know when you are hungry, tired or just fussy. However, you are still easily consolable and once we give you what you want you stop crying really quickly.

You are the cutest little girl in the world and whenever we take you out anywhere people always comment on how beautiful you are and love your big blue eyes. We recently went to one of Aunt Grace's volley ball games and the high school girls went nuts over you. It was so cute, you were more popular than One Direction : )

We've stopped with the 3 hour feedings this month and you've now moved to every 4 hours. That has been so great for Mommy since that extra hour seems like such a long time! You are eating roughly between 7 and 8, 11 and noon, 3 and 4 and 7 and 8. Then it's off to bed around 8 ish.

In other big news, we have officially transitioned you to the crib in the last couple weeks! We've been putting you down in there for naps for awhile but beginning almost at 3 months to the day, Daddy and I began putting you down in the crib at night. At first you seemed to hate it and would wake up every couple of hours, but after a couple of nights you seemed to get the hang of it. You also discovered that you can roll around in there and while you haven't quite rolled over yet, you often move around in circles. Daddy and I love pushing the video monitor button every 5-10 minutes right after you go down for the night and find it hilarious that you are in a different position every time. Your favorite position seems to be what we call "splat" which is arms and legs all spread out : )

Since you've been sleeping in your crib, you've begun to sleep for 8 hours at a time! We are super happy! In your rock n play you'd often do 6+ but we're loving this new sleeping pattern. I suspect you'll be going 10-12 before we know it. After you wake up at 8 hours you often go back to sleep for another 4 or so. Sometimes sleeping in until 10 am! Guess the days of waking up early with you are still ahead of us. Which is fine with mommy and daddy since we are not morning people.

First night sleeping in your crib

Another big development is your love of the Baby Einstein Bouncer. You're still a bit too little for it yet but since you love to sit upright we thought we'd give it a try. We have to stick a blanket behind you so you don't kick yourself back in the seat, but you are so happy when you are in there. You're not quite tall enough to touch the floor but you lean to the side and can get one foot down on the ground to bounce. It's adorable! You've also learned how to push the buttons on the little piano and mommy had gotten many a meal made while you are "bouncing."

Little right foot in position to bounce

Sitting up like such a big girl

You've also started to really like holding your stuffed kitty toy and while you're not grabbing stuff if we put it in front of you, you do grab on when your hand hits toys. We've had a lot more tummy time this month and you're getting so strong!

This month has been much slower paced for you and I as daddy had started back to school and we've been spending a lot of time just you and me. We've gone for lots of walks, hung out with friends and had some great mommy-daughter cuddle time. I'm soaking up every minute of it since I go back to work on Sept. 19 and know that I'm really going to miss being with you all day. Daddy is definitely looking forward to the extra time though.

Stats wise, you weigh about 14 lbs and I suspect are pushing 24 inches now. We recently moved you up to size 2 diapers and into 6 months clothes. However, some of your 3 month stuff still fits and some of your 6 month stuff is already too small. It's very strange how different baby clothes are!

No new nicknames this month, mommy mostly calls you angel and daddy still calls you monkey. Grandpa Rob had the most unique name for you, Brinford.

It's been an awesome month and we are loving every moment with you sweet girl! It's been so fun to see all of your little "firsts" and we look forward to many more. You are changing so much every day and while we wish time would slow down, we are trying to cherish every moment. We love you so much baby girl! You are truly our pride and joy!

And of course, we have LOTS of pics:

Special visit from cousin Shawna and her fiance Flo

You love your play gym

Hanging out in the Bumbo

Cuddling with your toys

Napping with Mommy on a walk

Hanging out with your friend Cooper at the zoo

Mommy and Brinley at the zoo

Holding the rattle

While you do nap in the crib, your favorite nap spot is on Mommy's chest

Grocery shopping with mommy

You also like to hang out in your swing and talk to your friend Ribbit

Cuddles with Grandma Robbin

You love it when mommy and daddy hold your hands while you're sleeping

And my "photo shoot" attempts for the month:

The Gift of Maternity Leave

I'm sitting here exactly one week from my first day back and work and feeling quite peaceful about the whole thing. I know that first day, first week and probably even first month will be really hard, but in my heart of hearts I know that going back is the right thing for me.

Do I love my little girl? Of course I do! Do I want to spend as much time as possible with her? Definitely. So why am I feeling more okay about all of this then I thought I would? A lot of it has to do with these last 3 1/2 months and the wonderful foundation that gotten to build as a family.

I've really realized throughout these last several months what a gift maternity leave is. The fact that an employer says to you that your family is so important that we will hold your job for you, continue to pay you, and have others take on more work so that you can spend time recovering and adjusting to life with your new baby is quite amazing.

Now I know what some of you may be thinking, in Europe people get 6 months paid, up to a year unpaid, we hardly get any time in the U.S. And trust me, before going on leave I used to be one of those people. But I've really come to realize that while 6 months to a year is not the norm in this country, 12 weeks is actually quite a long time. Dare I say it, maybe even enough time for some...

I do think that we as women should have the option to take 6 months to a year and still keep our jobs since in reality, what's a few years total in the span of a 30+ year working career. It's sad that many women are forced to choose to either stay home full time or go back after those 12 weeks, even if they are not ready. I also do believe that we need to include more time for Dad's and allow them more paid and unpaid time to be home as well.

It's a very complex issue and one that I know is very personal to so many, but for me, right now, I'm choosing to feel very grateful to have had the last 14 weeks home with my family and now looking forward to getting back to a job I love with co-workers I enjoy.

And I know that I'm going to miss being with my sweet girl all the time, but I also know that the separation will make my moments with her that much more sweet. I also know that I have it easier than most, since the one who will be caring for her all day while I'm at work will be her Daddy.

I truly know now that we have to experience the downs of life to really appreciate the ups. After 3+ months feeling in many ways like I've been a a perpetual vacation (yes, babies are a ton of work but in all honesty, it's been a pretty relaxing summer for us) I've forgotten the awesome feeling of Friday afternoons, knowing you have the whole weekend ahead of you. Or the relief of coming home after a long days work. Or the satisfaction of completing a project or presentation and having been told it was a "job well done." These are things that I do enjoy and I am looking forward to having back in my life.

Perhaps part of my positive attitude is knowing that I really do have to go back to work, and that this slower pace of life is not something that we can continue as a family right now. Perhaps we can get it back someday, but for now financial obligations and Matt finishing school are causing us to make these choices.

Who knows if I will still have this attitude a few weeks from now, or when my heart is breaking as I walk out the door on that first day and leave my little girl, but for now I am so grateful for this peace. It's like God knew exactly how much time I needed home and is now gently telling me that it's okay to feel ready to go back to work, okay to be excited even. And I know that the big smile I will get from her when I walk back in the door that night as I hold her in my arms, feeling even more grateful for the time with her, will make it all worth it.

Brinley's First State Fair

We were back and forth on whether or not we'd make it out to the State Fair this year. The first week the fair opened we were in the middle of a terrible heat wave and knew that we didn't want to deal with the crowds in 90+ degree temps.

We were also debating until the very last minute on what we were going to do over Labor Day, but a last minute cold for me and the fear of Brinley catching it caused us to stay close to home. And while we really missed going to cabins to see family, we were very excited that we now had the opportunity to go with some friends to the fair!

We went with our good friends Brad and April and their little girl Ali. We had perfect weather, mid seventies, and had a great time eating all of our favorite foods.

Brinny enjoyed taking her morning nap walking around the fair.

Matt and I in one of the animal barn

April and Ali looking at the goats. It was so cute, she wanted to give all of them a big kiss : )

Beautiful girls!

Sweet angel

The classic "thumbs up"

April and Brad had to leave a little early to get Ali home for her nap and Matt and I decided to relax a bit in the coliseum and watch the horse show. We ended up staying there for like 2 1/'2 hours watching all of the different races and events. It was super relaxing since we found a seat way up top and had the whole row to ourselves. I fed Brinley, she took a nap, we just hung out. It was so nice to just relax a bit away from the crowds.

Matt's not a big fan of all of my picture taking and this is the expression he gave me when insisted on one last pic of the two of us as we headed out.

After begging him to smile nice : ) My only regret is that I didn't get a picture of all three of us..

Really fun day with friends and a great ending to the best summer ever!