PKB: Month 3

Mr. Porter, how is it even possible that a quarter of your first year is gone? You are already 3 months old!

And here's how you've been changing the past several weeks:

So what has been going on in your life this month, Buddy?

• For the past few weeks, you've been fairly consistently sleeping 11-12 hours straight at night.  I can't tell you how thrilled your mommy is about this! Kaiser didn't start sleeping this long until he was 3 1/2 to 4 months old. You eat your last meal of the day at 7pm, and are in bed shortly thereafter, somewhere between 7:30 and 7:45. Then you usually wake up anywhere from 7-7:30am. You also take four naps during the day: one from around 9-10am, one from around 11:30-1pm (this one's the most variable, since it's normally in your car seat while we are out and about), one from around 2-4pm, and a 30-45 minute catnap anywhere in the window of 6-7pm. You are still being wrapped in your SwaddleMe blanket for all naps and overnight, but I think I'll try to wean you from that next month. For the time being, I've been placing a rolled-up towel under your right side, like the doctor suggested, to prop you up and help round out your flat little head.

• Because of your great sleeping, you are now eating just 5 times a day. This seems like not very many meals to me, so I try to get you to nurse for as long as possible to make sure you're getting enough. However, you are definitely a "when I'm done, I'm done" dude. Sometimes when you're not really interested in milk anymore, you will get distracted and "bite" me. Ouch! It's amazing how much pain your gums can cause, even without teeth!

• Your smiles continue to absolutely light up my world. Depending upon the time and situation, sometimes it still takes a little coaxing to get you to crack; other times, you catch me off guard by beaming for seemingly no reason at all. You now love getting clean pants, and are pretty much a constant smile while laying on your changing pad. I especially get a kick out of the grins you give while you're eating. You look up at me with that sweet, happy face, and I like to think that you're saying, "Mommy, thanks for the milk! You're the best!"

• In addition to smiling more often, you have become much more vocal this month. I would love to have more video evidence of your happy little coos and gurgles, but at this point you tend to quiet down once the camera appears. On several occasions Daddy and I have been able to get you to "laugh". I put that in quotes because though I'm not sure it actually counts as a laugh yet, we can tell you're definitely amused when you do it. I can't quite describe the noise, but it is deep, comes from your gut, and sounds kind of like, "HUUUH!"

• You're a bit less fond of tummy time these days. You seem to tolerate it well for a little while, but quickly lose patience once your neck tires out and start to squirm and fuss. I know we need to keep at it, though, so that you can practice head control and at some point learn to roll over!

• While you don't like to work your neck muscles, you love working your leg muscles! Daddy and I get so tickled at how you push yourself up in our laps and kind of wobble back and forth. You get the cutest expression on your face; your mouth forms an "O" and the look in your eyes says, "Can you believe I'm doing this?!?" It's simply precious.

• About three weeks ago you found your hands. Since making this exciting discovery, you've been dedicating a significant amount of time each day to trying to fit those sizable suckers in your mouth. Kaiser has noticed this habit and has started saying, "Porter's eating his hands!" I wonder if you will follow in your big brother's footsteps and do the same with your big toes when you're flexible enough. :)

• Your favorite toy at this point (besides those hands) is by far the musical nursery rhyme book we got you for Christmas. Your eyes widen and you crack a tiny smile as soon as you hear the tunes start to play and see the lights blinking. Often it gets you started talking, too. Kaiser seems to have decided that since you like it so much, he wants to read it whenever you are. Mommy and Daddy explain that he can read it with Baby Brother or wait to look at when you're through.

• You've been spending a lot of time in your Bumbo. You seem to enjoy sitting in it each morning on the kitchen table during Kaiser's breakfast. (Of course, as you can see in the picture below, you eventually tire of watching him eat -- or maybe you're jealous and want yogurt and bananas, too!) I also sometimes put the Bumbo up on the kitchen counter and let you sit and watch me get dinner ready. I like having you up high so that we can chat and sing while Mommy works!

• You are a quickly growing, healthy boy! You are still wearing a size 1 diaper, but I anticipate pulling out the size 1-2 diapers soon. I'm trying to dress you in your 0-3 month clothes as much as possible, because you are on the brink of outgrowing many of them. The other day I put your 3-6 month sleepers and onesies in your dresser, and I have a feeling you'll be sporting them in the next week or so. Just like with your brother, as I pack away so many precious outfits that are now too small,  I find myself wishing for another baby boy to dress them in someday! 

"Bonus shots" from Month 3:

Getting clean never looked so cute.

Mommy just can't get enough kisses!

Munchalata.

Extreme close-up of my handsome boy.

Sporting the adorable sweater knitted by Aunt Kir Kir especially for you.

Love. Love. Love.

(Love.)

Baby Boy, I have a hard time believing another 3-month-old exists as sweet as you! Our home is so much brighter and our family so much better with you in it. I can't wait to continue to watch you grow in the coming months!

XOXO