Avonlea: 3 Months

Avonlea is 3 months

January 30, 2019

Oh this little girl is full of smiles these days and is growing and learning each day. She has such a round little face and her cheeks are growing by the day! She loves to play with her tongue, it is often going in and out of her mouth. She will play with her sucking pad when it is loose and the skin is about to fall off. She is always kicking her little legs and riding that invisible bicycle. She finds her hands fascinating and will hold her arms in the air and just stare at them. She really enjoys sucking on her fist too. She enjoys a good stretch after a nap or when she is on the changing table. She has the silliest little fake coughs that she does, which we think will turn into her laugh eventually. It cracks us up and it sure is cute. She has been cooing and talking more lately and it sure is sweet to hear. She always coo's after she sneezes too. She gets the hiccups quite often. She enjoys playing on her pay mat and gets ahold of the rings or bats at the animals quite often. She has started to enjoy sitting in the bouncer, which has been nice to have another option to set her down on. She love watching her siblings around her, they are great entertainment. They come and talk to her ofter and she loves face to face interactions and just smiles when you lock eyes. If you hold her up in a mirror, she will find the faces and smile there too. She loves baths and the sound and feel of the water splashing. She has developed quite a rash this month and we don't know from what. It has gotten really bad where her eye lids are red and swollen along with big rough spots on her chest. It happens to flare up after baths, but we don't know the cause of it. I have been putting breastmilk on her face and that has helped clear it up and we have been putting coconut oil or Honest all purpose balm on her chest, shoulders and elbows. It clears up slowly, but over time. I am scared to give her baths now. We hope it will get under control and is just because of the dry air during this cold winter. She still loves being on the changing table, and reacts very positively when she gets a fresh, clean diaper. She seems to enjoy the creams we have been putting on her. She giggles when I put a onesie on her or when I take her jammies off. She likes the crinkle sound of the wipes bag. She likes being in the carrier and will often fall asleep in it, which has been a huge blessing. I will put her in that when we are at stores, since she won't sit nicely in her car seat for very long. She has come to like the pacifier more lately. She will only take the paci for a short time, but when she wants it, it has been a big help.

Avonlea does not like her car seat. She will often cry or scream most of the time she is in it. Thankfully we don't go very often nor is the drive too long, but it is encouraging when she is in the car seat and not screaming. Ryken is my checker to see if her eyes are open or not. She does not like getting boogers out of her nose, she does not like loud or sudden noises that easily scare her. She is not a big fan of the movement she feels when she goes down the stairs while in our arms, she tenses up and usually gives a little squeal. 

She is not a very good sleeper during the day. She naps anywhere from 20-45 minutes, and every once in a blue moon she will sleep 1-2 hours. She is swaddled and at night I do a special swaddle method to keep her arms down good, since she will escape from time to time. She is up in-between naps anywhere from 1 hour and 15 minutes to 2 hours. She usually has 5-6 little naps during the day and goes down to bed around 9:00-9:30, wakes up an hour later for another feed and then goes for good. She usually wakes up once between 4-6 and then sleeps till 8-9am. We are so thankful for her good night sleeping. It has been a huge blessing. She sleeps in our room in the pack n play bassinet. 

She is a good eater. She is gaining weight very well. She eats right when she wakes up and then again before she goes down for each nap. She will eat every 2-3 hours (though closer to 2-2.5 hours usually) and anywhere from 2-5 oz. But average is 3-4oz. She takes the bottle well, but is a messy eater. We have lots of semi wet burp clothes laying around the house. I am pumping every 3 hours during the day at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and then once more before I go to bed. Then I go a longer stretch at night and get up once to pump at 4am and then start it all over at 8am. I pump anywhere from 3-6oz during the day and usually 7-9oz at the 4am session. I am able to freeze several bags a week, which will be nice to use once I am done pumping. I am thankful for the rechargeable pump a friend has lent me, it has made a huge difference and has made the many times of pumping easier.

Avonlea weighs 10lbs 10oz and is 21inches long. She is wearing size 1 diapers and 3 month clothes. She still has blue eyes and one dimple. Her hair is thinning out on the back of her head and it has a hint of red to it. She is a fairly content baby and getting more so. We all love her and the joy she brings to our family.