Happy Halloween! 12 weeks old and learning!

Thursday, November 1, 12

Happy day after Halloween! We didn’t go trick or treating or anything since Maddie is so little.  We decided to skip the costume this year and just put her in a cute little dress with pumpkins for the pockets. It was cold, so we decided to save the trick or treating until next year.  We did get lots of cute little kids coming around with their parents, though, which was nice to see.  They all looked so cute!

Maddie seems to be learning so much recently! We are playing so much and Maddie is cracking up about the things that we do.  She just loves to watch us dance and sing and she loves the little clapping game with play with her: we count to four while clapping and then attack her with kisses.  She now anticipates the kisses when hearing the clapping and counting and starts laughing even before we lunge at her.  It’s adorable.  She kicks and smiles and giggles when playing on the floor in her gym, too.  She is on the verge of being able to grab at toys on her own, which I am so excited for.  She will hold onto them if I put them in her hand, but she hasn’t started to pick them up on her own yet. 

Maddie is also sleeping for 10 hours at night now.  It is nice because it gives me a good idea of when she is going to wake up in the morning so I can get a few things done around the house beforehand.  I’m still trying to get a good naptime schedule together, though.  She has been very clingy this week (growth spurt??) and hasn’t been sleeping in her crib during the day, but she will pass out in my arms.  It makes it tough to get my workout in, but I’ve been able to squeeze little spurts of running or biking in while she snoozes here and there.  I’m hoping this clinginess passes soon, though.

I’m trying to implement more tummy time, too.  Maddie hates it but I know it is so important, so I try to put her on her belly for short periods during the day.  Yesterday, she played on her belly for 10 minutes before crying, so that was a nice long stretch.  I try to have her on my chest and recline, too, so she can work on her neck muscles that way, as well.  She seems so strong, so I’m thinking she’s getting enough.  I’ll still try to increase it a little bit more over time, though. 

Overall, things are good! Phil will say that the evening screaming is just as bad as it has always been, but I think Maddie has quieted down quite a bit.  She seems happy and healthy and is getting bigger before my eyes. She’s not chubby by any means, but she’s got a little fat in those cheeks.  What a cutie!