12 weeks

On Tuesday, in two days, you officially turn three months old! Life with a 12 week old consists of us making sounds with our tongues and mouths to make you smile, watching you blow bubbles and drool quite a bit, you're attempting to reach at toys in front of you, you suck on your fist constantly, scooting around the floor on your back, having Kayla be your second Mommy, and sitting up in your stroller and bumbo. There's just all sorts of new tricks!

Maternity Leave

It's been quite a thrilling twelve weeks Little Girl! At times it felt like time was standing still and hours felt like days and then at other times, it felt like time was flying by. Now looking back on these days since April 19, I can't believe this time has come and gone already.

I enjoyed our relaxing times sitting outside in a rocking chair by the waterfall soaking up the sun and peaceful breezes, I enjoyed rocking you to sleep each night, I enjoyed cuddling with you as we both took a nap mid-day in your rocking chair. Of course, we'll still have many of these times together! There were times when I got things all wrong and I felt like I would never get it right, and there were times I definately wanted to pull my hair out and there were times I felt like I didn't know how I was going to make it through another day, but... I did make it through. And so did you.

And although I feel like things are great and easy now, I still get things mixed up. Like just last night. I thought for sure you were cranky because you were tired and you cried and cried as I tried to get you to sleep, but it turns out you were happy to be unswaddled lying on the floor kicking and playing for a half hour. How silly of me! How could I not have known that?? At times I still can't figure out your schedule. One day you sleep for four hours. The next day, just one. One day you eat almost nothing, the next day you eat all day long. Some days you fight going to sleep so I have to rock you and walk you around and around; other times you fall asleep quickly on my lap. But still, you are a great baby!

You let us know when you are not getting enough attention. Funny how someone so small can demand so much attention! You let us know when we haven't looked you in the eye enough and haven't talked enough to you. You get bored easily that way. We see your sad face and when we start talking to you, you quickly give us a big smile. You blow bubbles. You are constantly drooling. When we follow the rules of the Happiest Baby on the Block book, you do great - swaddling, sucking, swaying, sush'ing and stomach position. These five "S's" pretty much sum up your life right now!

Your taking a bottle great these days and I look forward to sharing some of the feeding and nightly duties with your Daddy. Daddy likes to keep you entertained although you don't seem to appreciate his calming techniques just quite yet, but you will. He even had the responsibility of getting you dressed one morning while I was out and when I came home you looked so cute in an outfit he put together. It's just that it was on backwards. That's okay, it made me smile and you didn't seem to mind.

In just your short 84 days of life, you have already been on an airplane, visited another state, been in two different time zones, and had several play dates with various friends. We've wrapped a lot into a short amount of time! Can't wait to see you keep growing strong and beautiful, Little Girl!

Fun in Harbor Springs

 You and Sadie Rae, just 11 weeks old. One day soon you will have fun running around playing together, just like all the other older girls.

But for now you both fit your cute little buns in one adirondak chair together!



All the girls

Sadie, Khloe, Katherine (2), Kayla (4), Stella (5) and Mary (4)

(Minus Sophia who was sleeping)

More fun in Harbor Springs...

Hangin' poolside in Harbor Springs

Happy passenger

Just hangin' in the backseat of your ride.

Growing up

I shed a tear (or two) tonight; you moved into your big girl bed! That is, you moved out of our room from the pack-n-play and into your crib in your room. It happened with no advance planning or decision making; we had just gotten home from our family vacation and your pack-n-play bed was not yet made up, but you were ready to be put down to sleep so I laid you in your crib temporarily - or so I thought. I thought for sure you would wake right up. I got your pack-n-play ready for you to move back into, but hours later you were still sound asleep in your crib, falling asleep to the sound of fireworks going on from every corner of the city.

How can this be??? My little girl is growing up! I might just move you back into our room for a night or two... or three... just because... I'm not ready to have you leave my bedside yet. I love having you next to me at night! Having you right beside my bed is MUCH BETTER than having a tiny little video monitor on my nightstand. I have years ahead of me to have a baby monitor next to my ear; I only have weeks to have you in my room next to me!

 The many faces of Khloe @ 10 weeks old

Nashville or Bust!

Our first annual {A Family} vacation

Franklin and Nashville, Tenessee

June 27 - July 3

You flew on an airplane for the very first time! I have to admit, I was quite anxious about how you would do and how things would go. You never know with an infant in confined quarters who needs to be walked, rocked and bounced to be quieted and put to sleep, not to mention the change in pressure on your sensitive little ears. I knew passengers would be giving me the Look of Scorn as I walked down the aisle hoping that "the baby" did not get a seat by them. But all my worries were for nothing because you did great! On both flights you fell asleep 15 minutes prior to boarding and slept the entire flight, oblivious to take-off, turbulance and landing. I was proud of you for flying like an old pro.

The vacation was great - we did A LOT of relaxing. You joined us everyday by the pool for hours. Literally. Its not an understatement to say that you love being outside. I was a little concered about messing up your great nap and sleep schedule by taking you to a different time zone, but it didn't seem to phase you. You adjusted to being in a different place with no effort at all. Here's how you spent your time during your first vacation - as you can see there was a lot of cuddling, swaddling, rocking and sleeping.

Then there was the family wedding to go to for my cousin Laura. For that we moved from our house we rented in Franklin and into a hotel in downtown Nashville.

You and the beautiful and relaxed bride-to-be, Laura, visiting us a few days before her ceremony

The wedding was beautiful and fun. Aunt Amy took control of getting you to sleep admist the loud DJ music, but the most fun was you getting to meet a cousin just your size! Ethan was born just 5 weeks after you, on May 26. Me and Ethan's daddy, Scott, were born just 10 days apart and grew up together. How fun that we now have children only 5 weeks apart that will be able to grow up together too! You two little ones are just too adorable!

Amy & Khloe, and Janelle and Ethan