Monthly Newsletter: Month Three

(I'm going to start a monthly newsletter to Colin, so I can chronicle his growth for him to read in the future. This is the first of many.)

Dear Coly Bear,

Your dad gave you this nickname, just as a joke, and it stuck. Your mommy and daddy have this thing about putting "bear" at the end of names, i.e. Henry Bear. Your daddy jokes that you are going to be 16 and yelling at us, "STOP CALLING ME COLY BEAR!" lol

You had a really big third month of life. You met your cousin Shane for the first time; you met Gramma and Daddy's co-workers for the first time; you fell in and out of love; you found your hands and more specifically, your thumb; you began smiling a lot more, especially for momma when she makes her "surprised" face, you love that!; you had your first Valentine's day; and you had your first play date.

You definitely know what you like and what you don't. Some of your favorite things include the fox that hangs above your changing pad, burrowing your little face in Momma's shoulder and sleeping, sucking your hand and/or thumb, your swing, your binky, your little red robin that sings to you, bath time, and staring out the window of the car. Things you don't like: your car seat, the sun, and socks!

At the beginning of the month your favorite thing in the world, one of the only things that could make you smile and entertain you for a pretty long period of time was your star on your play mat. You would lay there and smile and coo at it as it blinked and sang to you. But, in the past few days, Momma tries to lay you down to stretch out in the mornings and you almost immediately start to cry. You just want the swing now.

You also like to go for walks, in your stroller or in your sling strapped to Momma. You just look around and absorb everything you see, or you just fall right to sleep!

You've recently started drooling a lot, which momma has been told means you will be teething soon. You've also been a little fussy lately, especially at night right before bed time.

One particularly hard day for us, Daddy came home early from work to help momma out with you. You had just settled down, finally!, after being fussy nearly the whole day. Your daddy was holding you so that you were facing momma. All of a sudden you looked right at me and just gave me the biggest, sweetest smile and a little giggle. Momma's day was completely worth it all at that moment. We proceeded to play for the next 5 minutes and you gave me lots and lots of beautiful smiles.

You've also started what Daddy and I refer to as the "fake cry." Instead of actually crying, you look at us and just say, "Wah."

You are doing really well with holding your head up, a lot of people who have met you are really impressed you are doing so well so young. Momma attributes it to all the tummy time you get, as well as all the time you spend looking over Momma's shoulder, which is one of your favorite spots. You have your days when you just don't want to be put down, so you spend the day in Momma's lap, arms, and propped up on my shoulder.

We've been to two play dates so far and though you are by far the youngest one there, you love to just sit on Momma's lap and watch all the other babies crawling and playing with their toys. You are mesmerized by their faces.

You've also become a talker. You coo at anything and everyone who will listen, including your little red robin. We can't forget the ceiling fan either. You LOVE every ceiling fan you encounter. Just a few days ago, you were sitting in your swing and you looked up all of a sudden and just started laughing and smiling at the ceiling fan!

You are growing up so fast and your Momma and Daddy just marvel at how much you've changed our lives. We didn't think it possible, but with every passing day we love you more and more. It's pretty much impossible not to.

Love,
Momma


Binky


Bath time!


Little pea pod.


Swing time...sleepy time.


Love that hand!


FOX!


The view from Momma's shoulder.


First play date at Bouncing Babies at the library. You were such a good boy!