3 Months

Benjamin is 3 months old!  I truly can’t believe it!  He looks and acts so much older.  I love to watch him grow and change everyday.   I am so blessed to be able to be at home with him to soak up every precious moment.

Daddy was away in China this past week for a business trip.  It was his first time away from Benjamin, and I could tell he really missed him!  We missed Dad a lot, too.  Benjamin and I stayed over at my parents house for a few days, though, and that was lots of fun!  We took him for walks by the lake, baked some cookies with grandma, and took baths in their awesome bathroom!  His baby tub was in their steam shower, and we wrapped him up in a heated towel from the towel warmer when he was done.  Benjamin was living the life!

He just came down with his first cold this week, too. :( That is why his 3 month picture is a little late; this is technically 3 months and 3 days old!  His first virus was probably harder on me than him.  It was really sad to watch him struggling to breathe, coughing up a storm, and sneezing nonstop.  He was kind of lethargic and just not himself overall.  I am really anxious for him to feel better!  He already seems to be doing much better than he was a few days ago.  Saline spray, the Nosefrida, Baby Vicks, and warm baths really helped!!

One of my best friends, Sara, had a baby this past week!  She is the first of my friends to have a baby since I’ve had Benjamin.  From the moment she told me she was going into the hospital I couldn’t stop thinking about her!  Having just gone through it myself, I was so excited for her to experience the birth of her first child. I teared up when I got her text that their baby girl, Finley Sophia, had finally arrived.  Those first moments are like no other.  It was the most emotional and wonderful day of my entire life.  One that I will never forget, that’s for sure!!

Ok, on to the 3 month stats...

Age : 3 months

Weight : 15 pounds

Clothing and Diaper Size : Size 6-9 month clothes, and size 2 diapers.

Milestones :  Benjamin has started to recognize his mommy and daddy, which is so much fun.  He will still flash his big adorable smile at strangers, but Mom and Dad get the biggest smiles now!  And he will search for me in a room when I am not holding him.  I love it!  I can tell his vision is getting much better because he will stare at me from across the room.  He has started to follow objects more and more.  He grabs at things, too!  When he plays under his activity mat he loves to try to grab the plastic animals that dangle above him.  Benjamin is talking SO much these days, too!  He is making all kinds of new noises.  Sometimes I will talk back to him, and we can go back and forth in our little baby conversation for 10 minutes. So fun!  He avoids tummy time at all costs, but when he does lie on his tummy you can tell he is trying to roll over.  Hasn’t happened again since the one day he did it in his crib, though!  His neck muscles are getting stronger by the day, too.  Such a big boy!

Sleep : Around 10 weeks Benjamin started going to sleep at 10:30pm and only waking up once (around 3 or 4) for a feeding.  Then something magical happened. :) At 12 weeks he slept through the night!  The first time it happened, I opened my eyes to find that it was light in our bedroom and PANICKED!  Why hasn’t he gotten up to eat?!  I was so worried in that initial moment.  Then I looked down at my sweet boy sleeping peacefully in his bassinet, and I was thrilled!  He had slept through the night.  He typically sleeps through the night about 3 or 4 times a week.  There’s still a handful nights each week when he wakes up to eat around 3 or 4am.  I honestly don’t mind, though.  I love those late night feedings now.  It’s so quiet in the house, and he is so snuggly after he finishes eating. :)  Pretty special moments.

Eating : Benjamin was in the 80^th percentile for weight at his last doctors appointment (10 weeks old), and I can see why – this boy loves to eat!  He eats about every 2 ½ hours during the day.  He was eating for a full 20 minutes on BOTH sides (sometimes even 25 minutes!), and I was beginning to wonder if 90% of my life would be spent sitting on the couch breastfeeding!!  Just in the last few days I have noticed him becoming a bit faster, though.  He is satisfied after about 15-18 minutes (still on both sides).  Slowly but surely, we are making progress! 

While we were over at my parents’ house for dinner the other night, Andrea and I went into the foyer (which we have lovingly renamed the lactation room) to feed Tia and Ben.  Andrea fed Tia, burped her, changed her diaper, and did some tummy time with her....and Benjamin was still eating on the first side!  Haha, maybe he’ll get there someday.  Or maybe he’ll just be my slow, dainty little eater – which is just fine. :)

Favorites : Eating, watching the TV (when he can get away with it!), sucking his thumb (aw!), watching his mobile in his crib, mirrors, toys that light up, napping on his tummy in his crib, bath time, heated towels from the towel warmer at Grandma’s, massages after his bath, Daddy making silly noises and faces with him, and his activity mat with the piano that he kicks and “plays” with his feet.

Doesn't like : Being in his Ergo Baby carrier (he used to love it so this makes me sad!), being hungry, tummy time, napping in his car seat, and pacifiers.