Ava - 3 Months Old

Okay, I'm ready for time to slow down a little now. How is my little newborn baby now three months old? I could cry because she's growing so quickly. I feel like I just have to blink and she's changed a little bit more and it's so bittersweet! As much as you want your row, to bloom and to witness every one of their milestones it's also sad how quickly it all seems to happen. As I type this she is fast asleep in a rugby style hold after having a feed. I'm looking down at her as she makes the sweetest noises in her sleep. There's nothing better than this. Anyway, lets get to it. Here is my sweet Ava's 3 month update.

Character

She is one of the happiest babies I've ever known or come in contact with, I only have to look at her and she coo's and smiles from ear to ear, she's so lovely. She needs constant physical contact, is very social and doesn't like to be on her own for a second. She can go from perfectly happy to screaming in the flick of a switch and that tends to be when she's in the arms of someone else and she realises she wants to be back with her Mummy. She's very much a Mummy's girl and I absolutely love it. 

Size

My little chunky monkey now weighs around 14lb, she's a whole stone in weight! She fits into mainly 3-6 month clothing now but some 0-3 sleep suits still fit her, she's already in size 3 nappies too! I can't believe how big she's gotten in such a short amount of time, maybe being 9lb 4oz at birth gave her that big head start!

Health
Nothing to complain about this time on the health front. She's had the sniffles a few time, caught off her brother but they quickly subsided and didn't bother her at all. She's had no nappy rash, cradle cap or dry skin.

Feeding
We are still breastfeeding and Ava is thriving, I'm so happy. We don't have a feeding schedule or anything, everything is baby led but I do find her wanting a feed at set times every day. I've really enjoyed our breastfeeding journey so far and really hoping we can do it for a long time, till whenever she wants to wean from it. 

Sleep
Ava can be a monkey when it comes to sleep. She won't nap anywhere other than in my arms or in bed with me, the minute I put her down or walk out the room she instantly wakes up and cry's her eyes out. So nap time is very hit and miss, unless I hold her! At bedtime she will stay awake or doze in my arms until I go to bed myself, she then feeds and usually sleeps between 4-5 hours, feeds and then goes back to sleep for another 4-5 hours. Sometimes she has one feed during the night, sometimes two. When Noah was 3 months old he was sleeping through already but he wasn't breastfed so I can't expect that of Ava just yet.

Milestones and new tricks
*Ava had her first holiday, to Marbella with all her family.
* She also giggled for the first time on holiday! At the moment she will only laugh but only when tickled! She isn't laughing socially just yet. 
* Last month she discovered her hands and this month she's discovered her feet! She loves grabbing a hold of them and talks to them too! We are just waiting for her to pop them in her mouth now.
* She's almost rolling over and I think in the next week or two that she'll master it. I think she will be really quick at reaching her milestones, quicker than Noah anyway as he really took his time. 
* She is so good at grabbing things, our faces, hair, her toys.
* She's really interested in her toys and loves to lay on her play mat or activity mat.
* Ava is a lot more vocal now and is using consonant sounds and not just vowels.
* She's very steady when doing tummy time and controlling her head and neck.

Likes and dislikes
Being held, talked to, kissed, cuddled and sung too. Having her hands held or stroked. Sleeping in Mummy's bed. TREES! Mummy and Daddy. Her cuddly toys and play mat. Lamaze toys. When Noah is being silly and performing for her. Baby TV and Peppa Pig. Teethers and anything she can chew on. Feeding. Her snuggly jellycat bunny's. She doesn't like getting dressed, being put down or left alone for two minutes! 

Baby Diary: 3 Months Old

How on earth are you 3 months old already Noah? I can't believe it. You seem to learn a new trick everyday now and you are really coming into your own. You are amazing! 

Character

You are becoming so cheeky and giddy but you also know your own mind and are so strong willed. You have such a big character for someone so little, it's incredible watching your personality develop. You are still a Mummy's boy, which I love. Our bond just seems to grow and grow each day. You love Daddy too and it's so endearing watching you spot him and smile as he comes in from work.

Size

You were weighed last week and was 13lb 11oz! Big boy! You have almost doubled your birth weight and have a healthy and steady weight gain. I can really feel your weight now. Most 0-3 baby grows are too small for you now but 0-3 vests and trousers still fit. The issue with the baby grows are that they just aren't long enough on the arms, legs and feet. So bit of a dilemma at the minute whether just to pack away all your 0-3 and bring out your 3-6 wardrobe which is waiting for you. Or go through all the 0-3 and see which still fits. I don't want to be washing and sorting through two different sizes as although I know which is which Daddy won't when he comes to dress you. I was putting off moving you into 3-6m for as long as possible cause it's a bittersweet feeling. I'm going to have a sort through everything in the next few days. 

Health
Other than the occasional trapped wind and runny nappies you have been great. Recently the trapped wind and belly ache has reared it's ugly head again. You get such bad trapped wind that you end up hysterical but nothing a bit of gripe water, cooled boiled water and a tummy rub doesn't fix. You have been great after all your injections too really. You have been very clingy after them but we have always given you calpol just incase.

Feeding

You still absolutely love your milk! When you are feeding people always comment on how much you are enjoying it and that they have never seen a baby guzzle like it! We did switch onto hungry baby milk and it agreed with you but after a few weeks of consideration we switched back to regular Cow and Gate so we have hungry baby milk to move onto further down the line if you need it. Otherwise we would of had to move onto solids early if milk wasn't satisfying you anymore. You now drink 5oz every 3 hours during the day and have 6oz at bedtime which usually sets you through the night.

Sleep

Your sleep has so improved this month! You still won't settle until late though, sometimes 11pm, sometimes midnight. You now take frequent naps throughout the day which is brilliant because it makes you a much more content baby. You do have the occasional days where you think napping is a waste of time. We have also cracked the moses basket situation and you are more than happy enough to sleep in it through the night. You usually sleep for inbetween 12-14 hours a night. Most of the time without a bottle and most of the time I have to pull you in bed with me in the morning as you do enjoy a cuddle. As you are settling so late on you do sleep until around 11am so we are trying out best to get our times better. It's a work in progress. You are getting better and better though. I think we will be moving you into your cot in the next week or two. 

Milestones

- You are getting there with your head control now. You can be wobbly when you can't be bothered but other than that you are great. 

- You are almost there with laughing. There have been times we have thought was that a laugh!? I think in the next couple of weeks we will have a giggler on our hands. 

- Sleeping through. You now sleep through! Although you don't settle till late on you can go 12 hours without waking for a feed. My little man loves his sleep. 

- Playing with toys. When on your play gym you now reach for the toys. You can grab, pull, twirl, hit at the dangling toys. If you place a toy on your lab you will try to grab it and bring it up to your mouth. It's still hit and miss but more often than not you can get a hold of it. 

- Hands. You have really discovered your hands this month. You are forever chewing on them or have a few fingers in your gob. Which makes you a very dribbly baby. 

- You can grab your dummy and pull it out of your mouth now and you think you are so clever when you do! 

- You have realised that shouting and being vocal gets our attention. If you are led down on your changing mat or play gym and we nip into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee or put a wash on you will shout for us. Literally shout. 

Things you like

- Your dummy. We try to have you without it during the day but whenever you get sleepy or upset you want it. When we put it in your mouth you make an mmm om nom noise like it's the best thing ever. Uh oh. 

- TV. You are even more of a tele addict this month. In the mornings we will sit down together and watch This Morning while I feed you your bottle and I sip on a coffee. Our little morning routine. You often get bored with your play gym and end up watching the TV instead. 

- Going out. You love being out and about getting fresh air. I find if we have a day in the house you tend to be a lot crankier and hard work. Even a quick brisk walk around our area does wonders for you. I hope the weather picks up in the following few weeks so then we can have more walks. 

- Pram. You like laying in your pram and being pushed up and down in the house. Which sometimes works for getting you to nap (which is often difficult.) 

- Logan the Lion. We bought another toy from Lamaze this month and I chose Logan the Lion for you which was a great move by Mummy because Daddy wanted to get you the Robot. You are obsessed with him and love chewing on the purple star that is dangling from his paws. Lamaze is fantastic.

- Snuggling in my arms. I am so happy that you still love being snuggled up. Your favourite place is in my arms with your head snuggled into my chest. I am loving every second while you still like it. 

- Blankets - You love blankets whether they are knitted, fleecey, woolly, muslin. You not only like to snuggle up in one when napping but you like to play with them too. 

- Changing mat. You are so content just laying on it kicking about or watching what Mummy and Daddy are doing.

- Nappy changes. So strange but you love having your nappy changed and often smile and babble all the way through it. 

- Nappy free time. You love having no nappy on and usually wee all over the place which you find highly amusing but we like to give you some time to kick about with no nappy on. 

- Your projector mobile. Your Nanny bought you this for Christmas and you love to lay in your cot watching the mobile spin around. It's not good for nap time though as you usually become so focused on the movement that it ends up waking you up. 

- Being carried. You sometimes get cranky when we are sat down with you and prefer for us to walk you around the house. Which can be difficult because at the moment we are living in a tiny bungalow and with all your bits around it is like an obstacle course. 

Things you don't like

- Tummy time. We try every day but every day you cry and want to be put back on your back.

- Naps. We do occasionally struggle to get you to take naps during the day. You do sleep well through the night so we can't really complain but because you don't like to nap you can become crabby throughout the day. We have to try really hard to get you to nap and then when you do fall asleep you only cat nap for a maximum of 30 minutes. 

- Early mornings. If I try to wake you up as it's getting late you usually whine. You are like a teenager in a babies body! 

- Getting dressed. You still really hate being dressed and normally protest. 

I don't know where the time is going. Before I know it you will be a year old, it's so frightening! We love you so much Noah Nicholas.