Three... Four... Five Months!

Dear little Kaelyn,

Almost three months

Can reiterating that time is just FLYING past since you came be an excuse for not getting your monthly letters out on time? Probably not, but time certainly is passing so much more quickly than I could have ever dreamed.

 Four months

You are becoming so very alert all the time, so much more expressive (your gurgly little laugh rings through our home daily and brings much joy to my heart every time) and so active. Starting sometime in month two, you'd have instances where you'd accidentally kick yourself over from tummy to back, but it wasn't intentional enough to really count. At a week shy of five months, you finally managed to get over the hump of your arm and roll from back to front. Once it happened, there was no going back. Self-imposed tummy time is what's in right now, and you love it -- except when you get stuck on your stomach and forget how to get back! I've found that when you hit a milestone like this, you tend to do it constantly for a while and then seem to relapse a little until you rediscover the new activity.

Five months

You're also very aware of your surroundings, including the people around you. Where before you could be passed from person to person without complaint, you now know who Mom and Dad are and will sometimes protest being with anybody but one of us. Speaking of, even though you're home with Mommy all day, you adore your Daddy to no end. Once he comes home, you greet him with the biggest crinkly-eyed smile and a chorus of babbles. Your "big brother dog" Wicket has also caught your eyes: they follow him as he bounces happily around the room, and you giggle when you see his silly toss-and-catch antics with his plush squeaky toys.

Four months came and went in a flash and you had another check up at the doc's. You're growing right at the same percentages as the last appointment... I was so thrilled and proud to know you're thriving and getting enough to eat. Your dreaded second set of shots was administered and this time was a little bit harder than the last, with your poor little thighs, sore to the touch, causing sad faces all around that night... but morning came and you were all smiles again.

Sleep... many people ask us if you're a "good" baby and we've come to learn that this is code for "Does she sleep through the night?" You still aren't quite there yet and wake up anywhere from one to three times a night (ah the dreaded 4:30 AM sleep shift!), but we still would not say you're short of "good" since you are so mild-mannered and happy in general. Usually a short listen to some bubbly white noise will knock you out well enough, or a little rocking if the white noise doesn't quite persuade you to drift off.

These past few months, you've definitely been getting around town. We have become much more adept at packing up all of your stuff and bringing you with us to various places -- the weekly farmer's market, the mall, downtown SF, a one-night Napa/Sonoma visit, the drive-in movie theater (whereupon you found your back-of-the-SUV "bed" between Mommy and Daddy so comfy, you slept through Toy Story 3 like nobody's business!), and, of course, numerous trips to Target! I am now much more comfortable going out alone with you and carrying you in the Baby Bjorn to get groceries, run other errands, stop by the office or meet up with friends.

 

 With Mommy in the back of the SUV at the drive-in... almost movie time!

I can scarcely believe the "big girl" in front of me is the same tiny infant that arrived in January, the same little one who kicked me repeatedly in the ribs all through the holiday season. You're so much more than I ever expected -- more work, time, and sacrifice, yes -- but above all, more rewarding. Even though I find myself grumbling many times about different things that have had to change since you came, I love being your Mommy and I already cannot imagine life without you. Love you, baby girl!