Ella at 3 months!

Ella was three months old yesterday! In some ways it feels like just the other day that we packed up our little family of 3 and drove to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning after my water broke. But in other ways, it feels like Ella has been a part of our family forever! Here is what Ella is up to at 3 months.

• You are eating 5 times a day, every 3 hours. You are no longer eating at night!
• You are sleeping through the night, and have been for about 3 weeks now! You are usually down between 7:45 and 8pm, and you wake up usually sometime around 7:30am, give or take. And you always wake up sooooo very happy. I love that. (More on your sleep habits to come in a later post).
• You have started to soothe yourself to sleep by sucking your thumb. I have to say, it's pretty nice for you to be able to put yourself back to sleep if you're ever awakened early from a nap, or when you stir in the middle of the night. Hopefully this doesn't become too bad of a habit though. Not sure how we'll ever break it! But it might be the sweetest thing ever to look on the monitor and see you going to town on your little thumb, and then your eyes slam shut!
• As far as naps go, you usually take on very long nap during the day, then a few other shorter naps. If we stay home in the morning, that is usually when your really long nap is.  But it we are out and about, you just snooze a lot, then take a really good nap for me in the afternoon. I have no complaints in the nap department, for now.
• You love to make eye contact with Mommy & Daddy, and Carter too if he will sit still long enough. I have noticed you starting to smile a lot at Carter. For many months (those also spent in the womb) you have been hearing your brother's voice, and there is no question that you recognize that. But I think you are just now starting to recognize his face. And you always seem pretty pleased when you look at him. I have no doubt you love him as much as he loves you!
• You are sitting up really well in your bumbo, still rolling from tummy to back occasionally, and you are now lifting your legs and swinging them from side to side while you're lying on your back. I remember Carter doing this and was rolling all the way over just a month or so later. You'll be doing that soon, I'm sure!
• You have gotten much better at taking a bottle. We switched from Dr. Brown's to Tommee Tippee bottles, and since then, you have taken a bottle with very little problem. You definitely still prefer to nurse though.
• You are starting to show the first signs of giggles! You are very ticklish on your feet, in your ribs, and on your thighs. If I get you just right, you will give me a very tiny giggle. Also, the other night Carter was in your face doing the usual babble. You started to smile, and then before I knew it you were nearly giggling at him. He got the biggest kick out of it, and so did I. Can't wait to hear more of that!
• You weight about 13 pounds, and are wearing 3-6 month clothes. There are still a few 3 month things you can wear, but I'm sure I'll be packing those away in just a few weeks.

You continue to be the cutest, sweetest, most precious little girl we know, and we just love you to pieces. Happy 3 months, Ella!