The Front Porch Swing: Anna

Anna you are such a joy! This past month was an exciting one for us as we celebrated the Christmas season and your first!

You have discovered your fists more this month. It’s so neat to watch you catch sight of them and then work so hard to bring them to your mouth. You have really mastered this skill now. You also love to bring your blankie to your mouth, as well as anything else that happens to be in your lap.

You are sleeping better now at night. At the beginning of the month we couldn’t get you to go down for the night before 11:30 or 12, but now we’ve inched you up closer to 10pm. But, we’re not complaining because you sleep straight through til about 8. Some nights you still wake up a few times, but I’m able to nurse you quickly back to sleep. You are still sleeping in the bassinet in our room. We are following the principles of the 90 minute sleep solution book. Basically it says that a human’s natural sleep cycle is every 90 minutes. And like clock work 90 minutes after you wake up you get tired, so we swaddle you up, lay you down and you’re out. Miracle. As you get older you’ll start to stay up for two (or more) 90 minute cycles instead of one, but for now you’re pretty consistent with your naps. You usually take 2 or 3 shorter naps and then one longer one throughout the day. In the coming months hopefully you’ll compound your naps to two good naps during the day. We’ll see! Overall you are a great sleeper.

You are eating very well and taking about 4 oz. every 3 hours. Although you just went through a growth spurt right at 3 months and were hungry a lot sooner and would take in more milk than normal. The result of this growth spurt has been excellent sleep! We think you weigh between 12 and 13 pounds. You are still in size 1 diapers and 3 month clothes, although we’ve had to retire a few sleepers that you are too long for.

Is there anything cuter than a baby in a cat hat?!

You have started cooing and talking to us a lot more. You do this cute little purring sound that your mpampa likes to imitate back to you. Precious. We also heard your first laugh this month! Its so stinking cute! You laugh when we surprise you with a smile or when we bounce you on our knee. We captured it on film while you were in the bath one night. It’s the cutest little giggle.

We have had a busy month, but you’ve just gone with the flow. You like riding in the car and just look out the window or at your big brother and then close your eyes and fall asleep when you’re ready. It’s amazing and so unlike your big brother. Haha. The other day in the car you were getting hungry and a little fussy and I asked James to sing to you. So he started singing your favorite song, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” and you quieted right down and listened to him. Melted my mama heart.

It’s been so much fun to have a baby girl. Mama is learning all about tights, and bows, and shoes, and dresses! But, you are learning that its hard being a girl!

You are a beautiful baby girl Anna! Inside and out. The number one comment we receive about you is “look at those lashes!” And its true, they’re very long and even curl up on the ends. So very girly!