Three Months Old

On Saturday I took some photos of you to celebrate turning three months old. It is crazy to think that you are already a quarter of a year old! While in some ways you feel like you are our baby you are growing up fast and in other ways it feels like we have had you for a very long time already. As Daddy and I wake up in the morning we can't wait to be met with your smiley face as you wake up. You are developing your own very cute personality and as you wake up you do a big stretch and are full of smiles seeing the face of Daddy or I over your moses basket. You are becoming more and more inquisitive of the world around you and while you like cuddles in a crowd you also like to be held so that you can see out and what everyone is doing; where those voices are coming from. Yesterday at our antenatal catch up lunch everyone was laughing at how strong you are. You were lying down on the lounge floor with all the other babies but you could hear the voices of many people and wanted to be up seeing what it was all about. So you started to do your sit ups; you pull your feet up and your head and shoulder blades off the ground. It caught the eye of the other parents who were laughing that you were going to be the baby with abs from doing all your sit ups or that you were going to spring up into a sitting position. After we had a bit of a chuckle I sat you up leaning against me and you were happy looking all around. You have also given us some more laughs. It was Daddy who got the first giggles then last Wednesday (August 26) I got to hear it for myself for the first time clearly (it was a little muffled for me standing on the outside of the shower when you gave Daddy your first giggle). You were ready for your food, so I was getting ready to feed you and you started to get grizzly. So I started to sing "I want to scream and shout," this caught your attention and then I began to bounce you on my knee while singing it this sparked a smile that grew and grew and turned into a giggle which was very cute to hear! Since then you have given Daddy more in the shower and we try each day to trigger the giggle. We have been lucky to receive even more presents with Aunty Margaret knitting a cute little cardigan and some booties and hat to grow into and Nicole and William have sent a very cute onesie and book about Spring all the way from Switzerland.

We have recently had some lovely weather which has meant we could go and play outside feeling the sun shine on your face and the blades of grass between your fingers.

Making Daddy's Day

Tonight you really didn't want to go down for one last sleep before bedtime. But after being up for a couple of hours we didn't mind because you made our day with yet another milestone. Your first giggle! While I put dinner in the oven Daddy was holding you and getting you to look at your reflection in the window singing 'How much is that Doggy in the Window.' We headed down to your room, stripping you off ready for your shower with Daddy. Your three favourite things; showers with Daddy, dogs (you have become really intriged by your sister Ava and can't take your eyes off her) and music, you love listening and moving to music couldn't keep a giggle away. Once in the shower Daddy continued singing the song holding you at eye level with him. You had a great big smile on your face and then that smile turned into a little giggle. I was getting your towel from your room and Daddy called out for me to come quickly. On the 'woof woof'' of the song you let out a giggle and you did it several times in a row. Daddy was getting more excited with each giggle and I don't know whose smile was bigger or whose giggle was prouder when you both realised what was happening. With Daddy being at work during the day so that I can stay at home with you it means that he misses capturing some of your little milestones the first time you achieve them. But tonight was his night! You turned your little giggle on for him. There have been mornings where you have hinted that a giggle isn't far away but you kept it hidden until your special time with Daddy and he couldn't have been more excited. Despite standing on the outside of the shower I couldn't help but have a smile from ear to ear and join in, watching you and Daddy. Your smile when it opens up lights up your eyes and is contagious and both Daddy and I look forward to lots more giggles to come.
With Daddy's hydrotherapy class cancelled at the last minute he made a surprise lunchtime visit coming home to spend time with you so not only did he get a lunchtime cuddle but he also got giggles that evening. His day couldn't have got any better!

Starting SPACE and our special visit

On their way home from their honeymoon Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake called in and spent a day and a half with us before heading home. They were so excited to see you and how much you have grown up. You were super cute and even gave them a special treat showing them how you can roll from your tummy to your back all on your own. On Tuesday night we went round to Grandma and Poppa's for dinner with Totty, Uncle Geoff, Caroline and Jack, Colin and Alison and Belinda also being there to catch up with Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake. Once again we were spoilt with more presents Totty and Uncle Geoff brought you a gorgeous Milk and Sugar outfit with frills on the tights and Taylor who I used to teach gave Totty a present to give to us, two lovely stripey tops. Colin and Alison gave you a lovely wool cot blanket, cute pink love heart tights and a photo album. You were very alert and charming everyone, not wanting to miss out on the excitement of a family catch up. After dinner I took you upstairs to Grandma and Poppa's bedroom where your bed was. As I fed you, you were wide awake talking and smiling away wanting to be part of all the action not ready for bed. But being the good girl you are even when I put you to bed wide eyed you didn't cry you must have just drifted to sleep listening to the conversations happening downstairs. Been woken a few hours later to head home you were once again bright eyed and despite not having our normal bedtime routine with an extra feed when we got home you went back to sleep and slept through the night.
A busy day, earlier we attended our first SPACE class with Aunty Courtney coming along. We learnt the welcome and goodbye song, sang some other songs and listened to a cool rhyming story Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose. It was nice to see all our friends from antenatal there as well as meet some new mums and babies. We had our photo taken and you will have a new photo taken each week as a record of your time at SPACE a highlight to our week.
Wednesday Aunty Courtney and Uncle Blake had some more cuddles and Aunty Courtney made some cute origami dresses to hang in your bedroom. Then all to quickly it was time for them to head home and we piled in the car heading up to Auckland. Aunty Courtney sat in the back with you, admiring you as you slept most of the way. Then as you gave them your last cuddle before seeing them next time you started to get upset and it was like you were telling them not to go. We headed home just the two of us and you were perfect sleeping the whole time.
Being 10 weeks old you have now entered the double digits and with visit now was the perfect time for some more photos.

Continuing with our week of new experiences, SPACE going to the airport and seeing airplanes we headed over to Whangamata for your first trip to the beach on Saturday night. Daddy had rugby in Morrinsville so I packed the car and we picked Daddy up on the way. We woke up to the most beautiful day and took you in your pram along the beach to the marina end and back through town. You wanted to see all the new things but the sun was so bright that it meant you were forced to close your eyes but you could smell the sea air and hear the noisy waves crash against the shore. Grandma and Poppa loved being at the beach and it was made even better with you there too.