Three Month Update

Dear Tatum,

It is hard to believe that you are three months old already. Everyday is so exciting for me and I look forward to every minute. We had a rough start given you arrived six and a half weeks before your due date. I am so relieved that you are a strong, healthy and beautiful baby. You are such a strong little girl, you are my little fighter.

You have changed so much and surprise me more and more each day. I thought it would be a good idea to begin a blog as a way to record all of the really cool things you are beginning to do.

Aah...Sleep
Before I get started I would like to say thank you for giving Mommy lots of sleep this week. It has been three months since I have had more than 2-3 hours of sleep at any given time. There were even two days in a row that you wanted to eat every 1-2 hours and I had no sleep at all. We made it though. It has been rough and I have been real crabby at times (ask Daddy). But something changed this week. You suddenly began sleeping 5-7 hours though the night. Not every night, but for at least three nights this week. I checked on you last night when I heard you at 2:30am and you were just playing and making cooing sounds. You then went back to sleep for a few hours.

Exercise/Strength Training
We have lots of fun during the day. We practice laying on your belly and lifting your hands, head and feet. You are getting better at it, however, you don't like this exercise for more than two minutes or so. You also enjoy standing in my lap several times a day. I hold on to you as you bend and straighten your legs. This is definitely your fun time. You smile all the while and look around with your little head. You are really beginning to notice your surroundings.

You absolutely love ceiling fans. You enjoy ours, however, you really enjoy Grandma Vicki's. Her ceiling fan is black on a white ceiling and not as high up as ours. You just ooh and coo every time you are over there for many hours. Daddy said our electric bill was a little high last month and we think a contributing factor is that we have the ceiling fan on for you 24 hours a day.

Finding your voice
You are also making some fun sounds now as well. You have been finding your voice for the last couple of weeks. Lots of cooing and oohing. A couple of times you have even made a sound that sounds like "Ma" when you get bored and want a change of scenery. Your Aunt Jamie witnessed this sound today for herself and was as shocked as I was. We believe it is just a sound and that you are not intentionally calling out to me. Although I can't wait for the day that you do.

Your first reach
While we were visiting Grandma Vicki at work yesterday, your Aunt Randi was holding you so that I could get situated. You drew a small crowd and your cousin Paul came over to have a look at you. He asked me how I have been feeling and as soon as you heard his voice you turned your little head towards in his direction. As shocked as we were, you really shocked us by raising your arms slightly and leaning towards him. You wanted him to hold you. He was a little nervous, but he couldn't resist. You were very content and held on to PY until he had to leave. You amazed us all. You are so smart.

Playthings
You are not interested much in your toys yet. Mommy practices daily by putting toys in your hand to see if you respond and you would rather look around the room. You enjoy your swing now and take a one hour nap each day in it. You like to grab at your binky and have even launched it a significant distance a couple of times. It makes Mommy and Daddy laugh. Mommy reads a book a day to you as well, however, you are not very interested and continue to look around the room.

Today's book: Baby Einstein's "Mamma and Me"

I am really proud of you as you are maturing right before our very eyes. I enjoy every minute of every day with you. You have made my world a beautiful place to exist. This is the world I have always dreamed of. Thank you and I look forward to every minute I spend with you. I'm having so much fun.

Love,
Mommy