Three Months

Kate has really changed over the last month, and very recently has started to do a whole bunch of new things.  She ..
- Celebrated her first Christmas
- is wearing 6 month clothes, and is still very long so some 9 month sleepers
- Hates tummy time, but is getting much better at it.  She will now hold herself up for some time before crying about being on her tummy.
- Has started reaching for objects, can hold her ball, teether and some rattles.  She grabbed one of the animals on her play mat today!
- Still loves her play mat, and is content to kick, wiggle and stare at the mirror for a long time!
- Is still waking up once a night to eat, usually her schedule is 10-3, 3:30-7 and then will sleep again until 9 ish.  She has not been as predictable the last couple of nights so we will see what happens, especially with work starting for me her schedule is bound to change.
- She got a pack and play for Christmas to keep here at our house and is now sleeping in that in our room.  We've decided to keep her in with us until she is consistently sleeping through the night, the convenience for nighttime nursing is too hard to give up!  She takes some naps in her crib.
- She takes a long nap in the morning and a longish one in the afternoon, with 30 minute cat naps the rest of the day.
- Still likes her swing, but we are using it less often.
- Has started sucking her thumb!  She still loves the pacifier, but is now pretty consistently self soothing with her thumb.
- Babbles, coos and shrieks a lot!  She is becoming more vocal, and has definitely started to "talk" in response to us talking to her.  She hasn't quite laughed yet, but still smiles all the time and shrieks when she's excited .. I think a laugh is coming soon.
- Is definitely more aware of her surroundings, she now smiles at the dogs and likes to interact with them.  She notices when they come in or leave a room.  She likes the TV and loves to listen to music.  If I turn music on while I'm nursing, she stops to look for the source and becomes so distracted I have to turn it off.

I return to work part time next week, so my maternity leave is officially ending.  I am ready to get back into the routine of working and doing something besides just being mommy, but I have also really enjoyed being home with Kate.  My hope is working part time will be a positive experience and a good balance, but I will definitely miss my sweet little girl.