Alice @ 4 Months Old

I'll start with Alice's four month stats:

Height: 26.5"
Weight: 17lbs 15oz
Head Circumference: 42.5cm

We love you, Alice.  You are such a hoot.  You are big, sweet, funny, cute, cuddly, alert, and... well, just the sweetest baby we've had around here in a while ;)

Did I mention big?  Just like her sister, Alice is proving to be an off-the-charter for both weight and height.  It's the comment we hear most about our dear girl, that's for sure.

Alice is rolling from back to tummy a lot these days.  She hasn't mastered rolling the other direction yet, which is pretty much the most frustrating thing in the world for the poor girl.  She rolls to her tummy and then gets SO PISSED OFF that she can't get back to her back.  We try to tell her that she shouldn't roll to her tummy if she doesn't want to end up on her tummy, but the child just doesn't listen!

Recent favorite hobbies include: grabbing, gnawing, grabbing things, putting things in her mouth, sucking on things, biting down really hard on things she puts into her mouth (including your knuckle, so watch yourself!), rolling to her tummy and then getting really mad about it (see above), laughing at her sister, nursing a lot, sleeping more than her sister ever did, being adorbz.

Sleep: Sleep is okay, actually.  I told a friend the other day that I haven't felt sleep deprived since Alice was born and after the words left my mouth I realized how awesome that is.  She's sleeping as should be expected of a baby her age, in my opinion, so really what more can I ask?  She's waking up a couple times per night, sometimes more and sometimes less.  But, thanks to our sleeping arrangement, I don't really lose much sleep when she wakes up and needs to nurse (cosleeping FTW!).  She's napping throughout the day whenever she needs it, but I don't have any set "nap schedule" or anything.  It's freeing, really, and as long as she's happy and rested, I'll go with it!

A few pictures from the last month:

(To see Eliza's four month post, click here :)

I have a preschooler!

World, meet Eliza Margaret: The Preschooler.  

My big 3.75 year old girl went to her first official “full” day (she’s in a half day program) of preschool today.  This mama is happy and proud, and also *omgterrifiedsadlonelyanxioustearynostalgic*.  But ignore all that, that’s just me being a mama bear who isn’t sure about this whole your-kid-grows-up-and-other-people-interact-with-her-without-you-being-there thing that apparently comes with being a parent. Totally didn’t see this coming.

Anyway.

Eliza attends a wonderful little Montessori school about a mile from our home and we are very excited for her (despite what the above might indicate).  I was a Montessori kid through the eighth grade and I absolutely adored it.  I am SO happy for her to get to have this experience, and I might even be just a little bit jealous ;)  Her classroom is AWESOME!

So, today was day one! It seems that it went well, though I got very little information about her morning when I picked her up.  Here is what she said: “I ate one carrot and one cracker and I drank water out of my mug that Aunt Mary made me, and I polished glass.  I did not go outside but I think I will tomorrow.” Alrighty then!

Here are a few photos of the big morning drop-off…

Sort of a holdie-outie fail, but I still love her smile.

Kissing sister goodbye.

Greeting her teacher.

Big girl walking down to her locker (students greet their teacher in the school lobby and then walk independently to their locker where they put on their school shoes and enter their classroom - no helicopter parents allowed!)

Alice is 3 months old!

Alice you turned 3 months on 8/25/13.  We have loved having you in our family for three whole months.  You are a delightful baby!  You are easy going, you have been since birth.  I've continually waited for this to change - thinking this is just a fleeting babymoon period - but it hasn't so I'm ready to guess that this is just your personality.  Let me tell you, sweet girl, it is lovely.  You are lovely. 

You are still on the go with this crazy family of yours - everywhere we go you go as well and it makes for some busy days!  

Your sister adores you, and wants to "hold and cuddle" you all the time.  Your face lights up when you see her.  It's completely adorable.  

You are still sleeping well and are a nursing champion just like your sister.  Can't wait to find out how much you have grown next month at your 4 month visit.  I think you are on track to follow your sissy's pattern of getting chunky quickly :)

We went to the state fair twice this month and you were a trooper both times.  Sleeping on the go, nursing wherever we could find a bench, and staying out late.  You're my little baby side-kick and you seem to just enjoy taking it all in.

Reaching out and batting/grabbing things is your new favorite thing to do, like most 3 month olds... and that will keep you entertained for a while!

You take a pacifier sometimes - when you feel like it - and just yesterday you happily drank an ounce of mama milk from a bottle that daddy gave you.  Again, you just seem to be easy going and flexible, and for that we are grateful :)

Thank you for sleeping, eating, and just generally being awesome to have around.  You make our family feel complete, Alice Rose!

xo

Mama