3 Months of Joy

Angel Baby Lena Kate is 3 Months Old Today!

Dearest Lena Kate,

WOW! It has been such a fun month with you. I'm starting to understand what moms mean when they tell me it just gets better, not that every day you've been in our lives hasn't been blissful enough.

Your interaction is amazing. I can't possibly describe the feeling I get when I smile at you and you almost automatically grin back at me as soon as you see my smile. You smile and get this look in your eyes like you know exactly what I'm thinking and that you are just as happy as I am to be in that moment. I want those moments to last forever! Just catching your eye is so much fun. You've even started to giggle a little. Not only do you giggle - you TALK! We don't know what you are saying, but you are definately talking to us. We can even have a conversation answering back and forth. We've decided you are definately going to be like the rest of the women in your family...a big talker.

In the last 2 weeks you've decided that you want to sit up quite often. We put you in one of your chairs and you instantly pull your head forward and pick your legs up trying to sit up. You are much stronger and are doing well with tummy time and holding that nogan up and looking around like the big girl that you are. Standing is also a new trick this month. With a little help for balance you hold yourself up and look all around.

You've also discovered your mouth and your fists. Open mouth, insert fist. This is your favorite game. Then you throw in some jabber and you are a happy girl. Your little nuckles have red spots that are probably the beginning of small calluses from sucking on them when you conveniently chunk your paci and start chewing on your fingers. At night when I'm laying in bed listening to you try to put yourself to sleep I can tell the difference in the sound of sucking on your paci and your fingers. This is my trigger to get up several times and give you back your paci...not sure why I just don't let you chew on your fingers if you are happy. Maybe I will try that.

Kick, boy you can kick. You have this wrestling type move you do when you wake up in the middle of the night to wake me up rather than crying. You pick both of your legs up in the air as high as you can get then and then slam the down as hard as you can! Wham- and the whole pack-n-play shakes. Wham, you do it again and again. I sure hope you don't grow up to be a wresler! You like to lay on the couch next to me and kick me while I'm typing. Those kicks are starting to hurt Momma:)

You attended your first wedding this past month. Uncle Trent finally married Aunt Nancy and we all celebrated! You were all dressed up and such a good little girl. Everybody just passed you around and you loved it all. While the newlyweds were on their honeymoon you babysat the chihuahuas Rita and Ellie. They like to come up and give you kisses on occassion as well as get in pics while Momma was trying to take them.

We are definately still trying to get the nights figured out. You have reverted back to waking up around 1:30 rather than holding out until 3:30. My goal is to get you to sleep until 5 and then I'll give you what you so desperately want-food! This morning after I got up several times to soothe you, you decided that at 4:10 you were serious when it came to wanting to eat. You actually started to fuss rather than just do your wrestler kicks. You take great naps, now we just have to get the night thing down...please.

Your ears are your favorite thing to hold on to especially when you are tired or eating. They are like your security blanket. Have I mentioned how much I love your little ears. I think that was last month's note, but it is worth mentioning again.

When Daddy gets home from work you stare at him and smile when he makes faces at you. I love this moment of every day. Every now and then you still like to scream at Daddy which isn't very nice. He still tries to reason with you to stop crying, but I don't think you understand yet. Usually you have a reason for the crying. Last night you were just hungry. I'm sure you'll grow out of this soon.

As for the bottle, you don't scream anymore, but you still only like it for about 1.5 oz worth...then you are disinterested and fuss. It is a work in progress along with the sleeping.

Your Momma turned 30 this month and got a jogging stroller for you as a birthday present. We go to the park and walk with Aunt Amy and Cousin Charles every morning. You usually sleep the whole time.

We are taking 3 month pictures in your Easter dress today! I'm so excited and hope you are a happy girl and cooperate. You usually do since you are the best baby girl ever:)

Your Momma and Daddy love you with all our hearts. Each and every day I thank God for blessing us with a joyous precious healthy angel baby. Happy 3 months, Lena Kate Bowen

Forever in love,

Momma and Daddy