Tres!

Mabel turned 3 months old on Tuesday the 22nd.  3 months-- where has the time gone?  The funny thing is that I now almost can't remember what life was like when we first brought her home-- which probably means I should have started blogging right away.  Anyway, I barely remember life pre- her smiles and sounds and kicks and punches.  It's hard to believe that for a while she was just a little lump who lay there waiting to be tended to, and needed feedings about every 2.5 hours.  Now we've got a little munchkin who can, for the most part, sleep through the night, and who can sit here on the couch watching "Live with Kelly" with me as I type this.  So cool!  It's truly amazing how fast they grow-- their brains and their bodies.  I brought Mabel into work the other day again because I have got quite a few things to do there; she did splendidly.  Allowing her mom to get work done, she sat in her Bumbo and took up the sights and sounds around here-- she even smiled for some co- workers.  The best part was watching her react to a class full of "big kids."  They were, as most kids are, very excited to meet a baby, but she was silently overwhelmed and just sat in her chair gape- mouthed.  It was hilarious-- and very cute.  Happy 3 months, Mabs!

A snapshot in time

I figured it might make good sense to post a verbal snapshot of Mabel-- a detailed look at what she's up to lately so that I and anyone else might look back at it and smile. Here's a peek at Mabel on a recent given day: - makes her Darth Vader voice when she's busy and breathing fast and she's got a little phlegm stopped up. You can almost hear the deep, dark tones of "Luuuuke, I am your faaather." -kicks fiercely and energetically - grips our hands - smiles at our faces and nearly erupts in giggles - smiles the same way at her reflection in the mirror - smiles at and is completely enamored of panda and Elmo - likes to sit in her Bumbo seat and Boppy - makes a sound that is remarkably similar to the word "okay" - makes a full range of vowel sounds, as well as consonants such as g and k - loves TV (uh oh) - seems to enjoy music videos on MTV - can do long, contented stints in her swing - still loves the outdoors, especially walks - makes saliva bubbles almost constantly - drools like the dog Beethoven - is very curious and alert- loves to watch either one of us do something as mundane as putting away groceries - likes the illustrations in her books: We're Going on a Bear Hunt; The Very Hungry Caterpillar; The Runaway Bunny; My Very First Book of Shapes. It's been pretty dang cool watching her change and grow.

The little things- VERY little things

My mom bought Mabel this little stuffed panda made by Baby Einstein. The books (love how I take everything these "experts" say as Bible truth) claim that babies at this age are particularly intrigued by black and white, hence the panda. Each of his paws has sharp primary colors on them, too, and the paws play music. This toy seems so silly, but Mabel goes crazy for it. It is so, so adorable to see her reaction to this thing. She will spot him from afar and immediately start grinning and opening her eyes wide. When I bring the panda closer, she gets even more excited. Mabel smiles at our faces all the time, but to see her recognize her favorite toy, and treat it like a person, is precious. My heart melts! I guess it truly is the little things.

Maybe hitting the great point?

People have talked a lot about this amazing turning point in an infant's development--- the three- month mark. Supposedly, they go from somewhat needy and a bit fussy to easy, independent, fun, and coo-y. It was, I have to say, a little annoying when folks would say, "hang on, because everything changes at 3 months!" while we were in the midst of a 7pm tantrum over nothing. Three months seemed so far away, first of all, and I just couldn't picture it. Well, Mabel is 11 weeks old, and I think this magical time is indeed upon us. As I write this, she is sitting in her swing, wide awake, entertaining herself with little giggles and coos. She can sit and watch TV on her own (I promise I won't rely on television too much as an entertainer), and is even seeming to self- soothe a little. I'm probably hugely jinxing myself, but, dare I say it, I think the bulk of her evening fussiness- over- nothing is gone. Or it's been minimized anyway. She's no longer a terror at that time. I feel like such a cliche, but I love watching her, with her curious eyes and increasingly mobile little body. She loves to kick at the noise- makers on her baby gym, and congratulates herself with coos and oo's when she does so. Mabel also seems to pay attention to the illustrations in the books I read to her. I'll be sure to update this blog when I need to say I was wrong, that it was just a good week.