Mamazen

4 months

Dear Mabel,

You are now 4 months old but only 11 weeks adjusted. It's hard and strange to keep track of two different ages, but until everything lines up, we have to. 

You are *almost* 10 pounds, and you just outgrew all your newborn clothes and diapers. It's quite exciting. In contrast, both your sisters were over 10 lbs/outgrowing newborn stuff by 6-8 weeks. But then again, they started at almost twice your weight, so you are actually kicking ass.

 

You are an incredibly sweet baby. You have entered the phase of freely giving smiles and coos to your loved ones and we LOVE IT. You are just happy and engaging and delightful. 

You are working HARD at tummy time and your neck is clearly benefiting from it. Your torticollis is much better and the little flat spot on your head (plagiocephaly) is also evening out. You see the chiropractor every week, even though that's what mama does for work, she takes you to see a colleague of hers because I just want to be your mama, not your doctor too. 

Your sisters LOVE doing tummy time with you. Ruby pretty much loves EVERYTHING about you. Lucy… well she has her moments where she's not super happy to have a baby sister, but she loves you almost all of the time. 

Ruby loves you so much she doesn't even mind when you spit up. The other day you spit up ON HER FACE and she was equally horrified and thought it was hilarious. Speaking of spit up, you are spitting up less, which means your reflux is finally better (also probably why you like tummy time more). Better means it's not as much, but still enough that I have a LOT of laundry. Good thing I love you tons. 

You are super smiley, and *almost* laughing. Every day I expect the first giggles to start. Your sisters love talking to you, and I can't wait until they can make you laugh, it's going to be the best thing ever. 

You eyes are just starting to turn brown. Not sure if they will be light brown like Ruby's or deep dark brown like Lucy's. Either way, you're a beautiful baby.

This month we went to MAUI! Just you and mama and Lucy (and our friends Ashley and Lainey). You were sick when we got there, and got sicker and I had to take you to the Emergency Room. It was (to be quite frank) terrifying and horrible and I hope to never have to do it again (tho with three kids I think we probably will). By the second day you were on the mend, the only thing still bothering you was a little cough  and I was left with severe anxiety (but enough about me). 

 

 

You weren't very interested in the beach, or the sun, or the water, but you were a good buddy on the trip. You slept, and started really smiling and spit up on stuff. As you do.

Your sisters try to entertain you all the time, even putting on shows for you. It's adorable. 

My sweet sweet Mabel, you are such a perfect addition to our family. You are sweet and funny and lovable. I am so happy you are here and safe and healthy. I love you with so much more of my heart than I could every explain. Thank you for joining us, I can't wait to see what's next!

All my love, Mama

30 months, Two and a half years.

Dear Lucy,

You are now 30 months old (well it was a while ago but I started this one and intend to finish it!). TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD! I know some people call them the terrible twos, but quite frankly, I think you're delightful (although sometimes you are a bit of a fascist and a dictator.) 

This month daddy, grandma and Ruby went to Maui and it was just you and Mabel and mama. We had some good times, and some tough times. 

 

You picked out your own underpants, "ANNA ELSA UNERPANTS! Are dose Ucy's?" Yes, apparently they were

 

 

You have a very cute butt in underpants. You've only had a few accidents and it's usually when you fall asleep in the car or are tired in general. 

We went to visit Auntie Bug and Uncle Jason. You got a manicure and had your hair done. 

And you taught Uncle Jason how to do the marble run. 

And you read stories and played with Kailie. She taught you to do somersaults!

 

You also visited Uncle Jason at the firehouse, but you were sleepy and clingy so you wouldn't get near the firetruck. However since then, every time you pass a fire truck you say "it's Uncle Jason's fire truck!"

Then we went to Nana and Gpa's house. You ate. A LOT 

 

You wore your frog dress and went to the park with Gpa.

 

 

And you read books and played with Nana. A LOT. 

And we took naps. 

 

And you loved on your baby sister. 

 

 

 

 

 

A LOT.

 

Then we met Auntie Bug and Kailie at the AC Gilbert house (which is kind of like OMSI) in Salem.

You made tea and soup for a Panda.

 

He thanked you with kisses. 

 

 

And Auntie Bug taught you how to go down a tiny slide.

You mastered it. 

 

You've discovered bandaids. You like them. A LOT. You also discovered counting. Not just rote counting but 1:1 correspondence counting. It's SO amazing to watch you do it. You're one smart cookie!

 

You're a very fashionable toddler. You love this chicken dress that Nana made for Ruby. Ruby wore it once and it just wasn't her style. You love it. I do too. 

 

 

 

Still with the whiskers and now with ponytails and sunglasses. ADORABLE. 

 

Style: you have it. 

 

You love love love your baby sister Mabel June (Mabel DOON is what you call her). You want to check on her and kiss her and hug her all the time. You also occasionally scratch her, or bite her. I think you're just needing more and more one on one time with mama, and since I can't put the baby down, you get jealous. 

 

So we're working on doing stuff just you and me, and every night no matter what I snuggle you to bed. 

 

You've developed a fondness for babies, and baby wearing. You even kiss her head like mama kisses MJ.

 

You picked out your own backpack for our upcoming trip. It's bigger than you are, and it lights up and annoys the hell out of me, but you love it and take it everywhere filled with all sorts of random things. 

 

 

You've started making silly faces. It's the best thing ever. 

 

You and Ruby have tea parties at least 2-3x a week, it's so much fun!

The guest list is always very diverse. 

My dear sweet Lucy, you are such a delight. You bring joy to me and everyone around you every day. You can be challenging (as all humans can be) but in general you are a pretty sweet kid. You love your family, you love your friends, and you love life. I'm so lucky to get to be your mama. 

All my heart, Mama