3 Months with Lyla

Our baby girl is three months old!  

Three months is such a fun age.  Smiles and laughs are practically given away for free these days.  The latest (cutest) thing she does is laugh when you laugh... which of course just makes you (and her!) laugh more. Melts my heart every time.  Lyla is full of expressions, so while we do enjoy lots of happy smiles and giggles, we are also seeing more and more pouty face-- there is no mystery about how the girl is feeling at any particular moment.  And boy is she a Chatty Cathy!  I tease her and say she takes after her Grandma Suzy (hehe).  She will give you all kinds of "oohs" and "aahs" and we're enjoying lots of lengthy conversations these days :).

Lyla loves the shower more than ever and recently started sticking her face in the water voluntarily.  We just signed her up for a Water Babies class in January (and before you go thinking I'm so crazy for signing her up for something five months from now, you should know that there were only three spots left when I registered!).  Lyla is cuddly by nature, but she's been particularly clingy in recent weeks--so we've spent a lot of time wrapped up together (or mama wouldn't get anything done!).

She also recently discovered our dogs.  Folks, it is love.  When they come near her, she beams.  If you take her hand to pet them, she giggles.  Oh my word.  Guido thinks she is just the bees knees; I have to watch him constantly to make sure he doesn't lick her to death.  He follows me into her room whenever I change her, sleeps under her swing when she's in it, and cries when she cries.  Moreover, if you do not immediately pick her up when she cries, he will come to wherever you are, sit right in front of you and cry some more. It is equal parts endearing and annoying.  Stella likes her, too, but pays her less attention.  She shows her love by attacking the ankles of anyone trying to enter our home (seriously).

At this point, Lyla has pretty much mastered rolling over from belly to back.  Honestly, it was a whole lot cuter when it was a new skill.  Now, it's just an annoying thing that wakes her up from her naps (admittedly, the girl is a tummy sleeper).  She rolls herself onto her back all the time and gets so mad because she can't get herself back over.  She is SO close to being able to go from back to belly and is still trying to figure out how to crawl (grrr).  She manages to scoot herself all over the floor--you should see the blanket fuzz she accumulates in her toes while doing it.   It's really fun watching her master new skills so quickly, but I can see the writing on the wall.  The girl is going to be on the move before I know it and I'm just not quite ready for that yet!

In not-so-fun news, Lyla has sadly decided that she hates her car seat.  This was such a bummer of a development.  I used to try and get us out at least once a day on some sort of errand, but that has become so unpleasant that we've spent more time at home than I would have liked.  Another unfortunate development has been Lyla's thinning hair.  About 2-3 weeks ago I noticed she was rubbing off a nice little half circle that stretched from one ear to the other, as well as a bit off the front (which wasn't as prolific to begin with).  Totally normal, but sad for this mama all the same.  I know, it's hair and it will grow back.  Thankfully, the loss seems to have slowed a bit!

I am enjoying my last few days at home with her before I go back to work full-time on Tuesday.  It has been such a gift to spend the last three months at home with my baby girl.  Being away from her 32 hours a week is certainly going to be an adjustment.  Lyla Rose, I am going to miss you so much, sweet pea!

 

Wearing one of mama's lovely 80s frocks (for photos only!) :)