Charlie | 3 Month Update

It's that long, sought-after three month mark!
We have arrived.

They say it is when the fog lifts. It's when you really start to get into a rhythm. When showering becomes more regular and the house has a visible floor again. They say it's when baby falls into their sleep rhythm... when life is more predictable.

Whoever "they" are. They lie.

We are at 3 months and I have to say... Charlie is giving me a run for my money!
I definitely still feel like it's a bit of a fog. Every day is rather un-predictable. There is no sleep rhythm that I can see. Showers are still hit or miss. My house has yet to be cleaned. My husband has had to re-wear work clothes,  My toddler does a lot of self-entertaining and... well... self-parenting if we're being honest.

So... here's hoping 4 months is that sweet spot. haha because here at 3 months we are still just surviving.

As a friend said: "Don't set the bar too high"

Are you alive? check
Are the kids alive? Check

That's a good day!

But.. its not all fog and dirty laundry
Charlie really is such a sweet, sweet boy! This month has brought just as many joys as it has challenges.

By the grace of God... otherwise this mama may have run for the hills! 

Despite very little sleep, he is pretty content all the time and is so cuddly!!

We had a Hershey Park In the Dark adventure with all of his cousins, which was fun!

A 3 month old at Hershey Park until 10:30 is not something I'll do again anytime soon. Poor guy was so over-stimulated with all the lights, noise and people. But we still managed and we did have a great time!

So let's get right in to the updating on Mr. Charles.

M O N T H

T H R E E

Stats:

I can't really report on his exact stats as he hasn't had a check up.  I weighed him once and he was around 14.5 lbs.

He is definitely much leaner than Lucy was at his age, but just like her the boy is tall! I laugh when I put his pants on because he needs 6 month pants for length, but they basically fall off of his tiny little torso. 

We decided to check out the height difference between him and his BFF Jack who is 3 months older. 

These kids take after their Daddy. 

What's mom gotta do with it? 

E A T I N G

Not much to report. He eats every 3 hours still. Thankfully he has dropped one of his nighttime feedings so we are down to 6 a day total! 5 during the day and one at night around 4 or 5 am! 

Feel free to drop that one any time little buddy!

He's been struggling a bit to nurse lately so I've been pumping and giving him a bottle. Sometimes he will take 7 ounces by bottle!

YIKES

So.. hoping this little nursing strike is just a phase. 

Ya know, all part of that "everything get's figured out by 3 months" business. 

W A K E    T I M E  /  P L A Y

He is so content while awake! Even when he is beyond tired due to not napping he is still content the majority of the time! It's quite wonderful. 

He loves to be talked to and sung to! He loves when you make funny noises. 

He gives us lots of smiles and even started to chuckle for the first time. 

AAAAAADORABLE.

The CHINS!!!

He loves his little play mat and started to swat at and even grab (like once) at the hanging toys.

He has also started to "talk". He gives little coo sounds and looks deep into your eyes like he's telling you something super sweet and nice. It's beyond-words adorable. 

He adores his big sister.

 Usually :)

She is more than happy to make him smile or laugh, even at the expense of his safety! She loves to read to him, try and feed him, tickle him and really she just wants to be wherever he is doing whatever he is doing!

Also... clearly tummy time is going well.

 S L E E P

Yup. There's that word. 

He is doing well at night! For this I am so thankful! For a few weeks he was waking at 11, then 1 then 5. Thankfully we have gotten that pretty consistently down to just the 5:00 hour! So he sleeps pretty solidly from 8-5! 

This would be great... if I went to bed at 8! 

But of course... I do not. 

It's the daytime sleep that we are really struggling with. 

If you remember, Lucy was a huge nap-challenge. But by 3 months with the help of some great sleep pros she got it figured out and started napping great! 

I was hoping Charlie would follow suite. 

He has not. 

I think he is actually getting worse. 

We are stuck with 20 minute naps throughout the day. 

sometimes 10 or 15 minutes. 

I mean.. that ain't no nap. That's like... you were reading and you fell asleep but realized it when your head dropped suddenly and then you woke up. 

No one is rested after that. 

I have tried many a tap dance to get him to extend those... but most of the time, no matter where he sleeps: crib, swing, car, on me, etc. it's 20 maybe 30 minutes and.... UP AND AT 'EM.

Poor kid. 

Poor mom. 

I'll give it another week and then re-assess what we can do to help him get the sleep he needs! 

The lack of naps makes doing anything around the house a pretty big impossibility. So Lucy and I (and daddy) are ready for some consistent routines and sleep during the day! 

R AN D O M N E S S

I love his snuggles. Sometimes, he squeezes my neck like he's giving me a hug! Oh my word it's adorable. 

He loves, I mean LOVES to grip things. He must always have something on his lap that he can clench in his hands. It's the funniest thing. Lucy didn't do that to my recollection. But when I am holding him it is often my hair... which is not as fun. 

ouch. 

He is really starting to look like a little boy. He is losing some of his baby hair... which gives him  nice old-man bald spot in the back of his head. His hair is like an auburn color so I'm really hoping that stays around! 

Not too much else to report on the little guy. But I am eagerly anticipating all the firsts that await us with him: first Thanksgiving, First Christmas, crawling, walking, talking all of it! Having gone through it once I'm not so excited for each new phase. And knowing that he is most likely our last little baby... it makes it all the more precious! 

We love our little Charlie!

T H R E E 

M O N T H

P H O T O

D U M P

 Always reaching for her little brother. 

Always

A look back over the last 3 months: 

ONE

TWO

THREE

Charlie,

  You continue to bring us so much joy! I can't believe we ever did life without you! I am waiting with such anticipation to see how you will develop and grow! We pray for you daily and that your heart would be soft and moldable. We pray that you would hear the Lord and follow Him. We are elated to get a little smile or giggle from you. I am wrapped around your little finger, especially as you just stare at me with those big, blue eyes. I am so thankful that you made me a boy-mom and I praise the Lord with all my heart for how He has blessed us! My dear, sweet, boy: You are loved beyond measure!