Dear Josephine and Mable { 3 months }

Dear Josephine and Mable,

Somehow another month has flown by... you're 3 months old. It seems surreal that you two are still here, you've weaved yourselves into our family so well, that it feels like you've always been a part of it.

You two are just about the BEST babies that have ever existed. We are not taking it for granted... and thank you both daily. You two have started to "wake up" more this last month. Watching you interact with us, is so fun. Your personalities are coming out more and more. It's amazing how different you two are... little opposites.

Mommy is still breastfeeding both of you. We've hit a few hiccups this month with you sweet Mable. You started doing these volcanic like puking sessions... and it went on for nearly 2 weeks. Nearly every time you ate for longer than 5 minutes, up it came. When we took you to the doctor today to get weighed (your weight has been the only thing we keep needing to check)... you only gained 1 lb. in a month. The doctor heard what I had shared about your spitting up, and short feeding sessions, and thinks you have reflux. He put you on medicine, which should start to help you out... He'll check your weight again in a week to see how you're doing. Josephine, you are chunking up so nicely. If you asked the doctor who he thought would have a tougher time gaining, he would have thought you, because of your little lip... but that's not stopping you. You are one determined little lady. You nurse like a champ, and are growing so quickly. Mable, you did catch up to Josey in the length department!

Sleep... you two are the queens of sleeping still. I don't want to say it too loudly, because I don't want others to hate me... but you bless me nearly every night with at least a good 6-7 hour stretch. It's a beautiful thing. It totally helps keep the household peaceful... and our spirits up. You have about a good 1-1.5 hour awake times in the morning twice, and in the afternoon and evening. You still nap between 3-4 times a day, for a huge chunk of time.

Josephine... our Jo Jo Bean. You FINALLY decided to grace us with your smiles this last month. You smiled once last month... and then we didn't see it again. For the longest time, we thought you were super serious, and a disgruntled tiny human. Your smiles are quite contagious. That little gummy smile is the sweetest... we hate that it'll change a bit next month after you have surgery... but I'm sure it won't take long for us to love it.

Your surgery is happening on February 24th. We have a few appointments before then, for pre-surgical stuff. Not quite sure what that entails, but it means a couple trips to Seattle. They assured us that the surgery was going to be about a 24 hour turn around... and I sure hope that's the case. Grammie "D" is coming into town to help watch your brother and sisters, and we are so thankful for that. It means we will be able to give you our full attention (along with Mable who will be with us, because she needs Mommy's milk) on the day of surgery and after. We are nervous for the "after"... the thought of it being painful for you, is a little unsettling. Hopefully it won't mess up our rhythm too much.

You love when people talk to you... I'm sure if you could talk, you would say that it's your very favorite thing. It's the sweetest hearing you "talk" back, with your coos... you want to converse so badly. And talking about your coos... they melt our hearts. They're these little squeals of delight.

Mable... our Mable Bable... you are still the easiest baby. Yes, we had our little struggle with your spit ups this month... but hopefully now that we figured it out, we will be on the up and up. Through it all, you never turned into a crank pot... you were still the sweetest, most passive little being, ever.

You love to lay and play... you could play with your little hanging octopus and zebra for a long time. You coo to them, and swat at them... and kick around your feet/legs like nobody's business. You love to roll from side to side. But, you still aren't a huge fan of tummy time. Just like your sister, you enjoy talking with people. After someone says something in a high pitch to you, you often coo back. Your coos are a little more on the lower side, compared to your sister's. Perhaps she'll be the soprano, and you'll be the alto.

Between the two of you, you notice your sister way more than she notices you. When we lay you two side by side, you always turn to look at her... while she stares off looking for Mommy/Daddy. I think you instinctually know you're the baby, and already pay attention to her, like a follower.

Whenever you two are awake, you love following your brother and sisters around with your eyes. You track them in the room, depending on where you hear their little voices. Somehow you don't mind their loudness... in fact, most of the time, you fall right to sleep to it. It's amazing. You tend to need noise, in order to keep sleeping. The moment it becomes silent, that's when it startles both of you.

This month we have ventured out with the both of you more than we have any of the other months. You two sleep through most of church... didn't mind one bit strolling in the BOB... and love a car ride out and about. People stare at us in amazement... especially the post office lady. She thinks Mommy is crazy taking all of you guys out at once to ship off packages. Mommy especially likes to count how many times in a day she hears, "Boy, you sure have your hands full." Once, at Target, she heard it over 13 times. But, it's a great kind of full... we wouldn't have it any other way.

You two, totally complete our family... we love you dearly,

Daddy, Mommy, Charlotte, Marley and Finn.

Take a look at their birth story... their 1 month post... their 2 month post.