Golden Poppy Press: Ethan at Month Three

Our baby is three months old! Here's a look at what we've been up to this last month.

Health Stats

Weight: About 14 lbs. a month ago, so maybe around 16 lbs.?
Height: Probably around 24 inches, he was 23 3/4 inches a month ago.

Why yes, I am cute!

Ethan's been happy and healthy this month. His belly button finally finished healing at the beginning of the month (he had an umbilical granuloma), which was the only tiny thing that we were keeping an eye on. His (adorably chubby) cheeks get dry, so we put lotion on them every morning after bath time. Otherwise, he's happy as a clam, growing and thriving.

Posing with his pillow from GiGi.

Food

Our big boy has gone up to eating 7 ounces at each feeding. How did this happen?! We had to move to the big bottles, and he polishes them off. He eats about every 3 1/2 - 4 hours during the day, and will go a 6-hour stretch over the night.

Milestones

This month we've seen some major accomplishments!

Trying to change this kid's diaper is getting to be a challenge with all of this new rolling over business!

On Super Bowl Sunday Ethan decided to roll over (belly to back) for the first time. I couldn't believe it, so I kept re-positioning him to see if he could do it again, and he did! He rolled over all on his own seven times in a row. Of course, he decided that since then he didn't want to do it anymore, but I still feel like we can count this as him being able to roll over. He's also rolled over back to belly multiple times, although he has trouble with that last push over his arm. We'll keep practicing!

Head control is getting better and better every day. He can now keep his head up during tummy time for a good 5 - 7 minutes straight, and we can sit him up on our laps and he can keep his head up for a few minutes without it wobbling. Good progress!

I'm having fun in my swing!

Oh wait, I'm supposed to be napping?!

Over the past two weeks, he has also been (mostly) sleeping through the night. He goes a good 6 to 6 1/2 hours at a stretch, wakes up to eat, and then goes back to sleep. We've also been getting on a little bit of a schedule for naps, taking a one hour nap around 12:00 noon, and then another nap, usually 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours, around 4:30 pm. This schedule isn't set in stone, but it is regular enough that I'm happy with it and I feel he's getting a good amount of regular sleep throughout the day.

Nah, that's no fun!

Clothing

Most of the clothes he's wearing now are in the 3 - 6 month range. Three month clothes are starting to get small, and 6 month clothes are a little big. Oddly, he's in 6 - 9 month zipper pajamas, and those fit great. Our favorite sweater for him, from Baby Gap, is size 0 - 3 month and still fits him great. Go figure!

Social

Baby boy has been busy this month!

We started going to gym class at Gymboree twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. To say he loves it is an understatement in every sense of the word! His favorite part by far is when they do the social circle and he gets to look at the other babies' faces. We've got a social butterfly on our hands!

Playing at gym class

Touchdown!

In addition to gym class, we've gone out to several ladies' get togethers, at which he has been a total trooper. He will stay in his stroller for about half the time, and then sit on my lap and bounce for the other half. Mike and I go out to eat every week, and he's been great at the restaurants, happy and smiling. Running errands with him continues to be fine, although he sometimes cries in the car to and from whatever store we're going to. My only guess as to why is that the sun gets in his eyes in the car sometimes, which he seems to hate. He loves going to the mall and looking at all of the lights and colors. Usually when I take him on walks he'll fall asleep in the stroller and get a good nap in - the motion soothes him like magic! If he ever does get a bit fussy, sucking on his pacifier calms him down instantly.

We had a small Super Bowl get-together, with about six people and one other baby. Ethan did well, and ended up sleeping the last half of the evening.

We also took Ethan on his first overnight trip, to Lake Tahoe. He was a total superstar on the long drive there and back, and did really well in the unfamiliar environment. His sleep ended up being off the two nights we were gone, with him waking every 3 hours or so, but that is understandable seeing as how he had to sleep in the pack and play instead of his crib. I thought the trip went well, and it was nice practice for our trip across the country coming up next month. Mike and I probably totally overpacked, but we ended up using everything we brought. For being a tiny baby, he sure does require a plethora of items!

Highlights

Ethan has been gracing us with great laughs and giggles, for which we live. They are truly the best thing in the whole world. I also get a big smile every morning when I get him from his crib, which is the best way to start the day.

Daddy, you are so funny!

Laughing away!

Baby Gear

The play mat, bouncer, and swing are still in use every single day. Ethan naps in his swing, and we use the bouncer for him to sit in while we get ready or are upstairs. The play mat is fantastic for playing, kicking, rolling over, and tummy time during the day. We now use the Boppy pillow for tummy time, as well.

Ethan's favorite toys continue to be his bibs, which he loves to hold, and his dragon pacifier. He loves to look in mirrors and to gaze at our ceiling fan, too, which is hilarious. He also likes holding and grasping his O-ball, and can now reach out and grab it with no help from us at all. We got him a small rain-sound cylinder, which he likes the sound of, but makes no attempt to grab or hold. The twilight turtle, used at bedtime, is still a favorite, also.