19 Weeks old!

Dear Jorie,

Oh man baby girl, this was a busy week! Between your Great-Grandma Ross, your Great Aunt Jean, your Great Uncle Howard, and Your Uncle Chris all coming into town this weekend, and my company having a fall picnic, we were VERY busy.

Your father was sick on Friday, so we really didn't do anything on Friday, But Saturday we made up for it!

Saturday morning we headed out to Long Acre Farms for the TLF Graphics company picnic.  You got to see a lot of the people I work with again, and you gave everyone big smiles. You got to pet a goat, but didn't seem very interested in it. So I pet the goat and held you up so you could look at it. I don't think you were very impressed, since the goat was smaller than our dog.  The owners of the company gave everyone a voucher for a free pumpkin, so after lunch we headed down to pick one out and get some pictures of you with the pumpkins. You were not very amused by the pumpkins, but you sat very nicely long enough for your father and I to snap a couple pictures before we picked a pumpkin and headed home.

Your father and I spent Saturday afternoon, after we got back cleaning up the house so it was in tip top shape for when your Great-Grandma Ross and company showed up to see it. Your Uncle Michael and Aunt Becky showed up too. They all ended up sticking around and having dinner at our house, which your Great-Uncle Howard cooked. I think he used ever dish we own (we really don't have enough dishes for a dinner party!) I don't think everyone left until close to midnight. You were, as always the life of the party. Everyone loves you so much! Your Great-Grandma Ross brought you a couple of new toys, one of which was a rattle with a teether on one end. You were very happy to chew on that for a while.

Sunday we went to brunch with the Ross side of the family at Mario's. It was an amazing buffet, and when you were hungry, they were nice enough to let me nurse you in an office, since they didn't have anywhere else private for me to feed you.

After brunch we headed over to my parents house and you got to meet your Uncle Chris for the first time. He was really excited to meet you, and was a little too boisterous when he first held you. He yelled at one point and you just burst out crying. It's the first time any of us had seen you react like that! Luckily you calmed down really quick and he was careful to be calmer the next time he held you.

Your Uncle Chris lives in Chicago, and is the source of all the Chicago sports stuff you have now. He brought you a giant Bully the bull (the Chicago Bull's mascot), and a Cubs piggy bank. We made sure you were wearing the Bull's outfit he bought for you way back before you were born. The picture of you sitting with the giant puffball of a stuffed animal your Uncle got you is one of my favorite recent pictures of you. 

We also picked up the little crib shoes you're wearing in a few of the pictures this weekend while we were running around getting gifts for people. They were $3 and they're awesome. They stay on your feet (and hold your socks on), and they're made out of a cool oriental silk fabric.

You are sitting up very well lately. Although you still can't get yourself into a sitting position by yourself, you can sit propped up for a long time. You are still enthralled with your feet, and spend a lot of time pulling them up to your face to look at. Enjoy the flexibility while you have it baby girl!

You're rolling around very well now, although you don't actually roll over too often, unless we put you down on your tummy. You're tolerating tummy time a lot better now, but you still get to a point where you just don't want to be on your tummy anymore, and you either roll over or start crying.

When you are on your tummy, you can arch your back up really high so your head is way off the ground and you can look around. You almost got your knees under you while you were doing that the other day, which makes me think you're going to skip all the rolling junk and just move straight to the crawling. I can tell you're anxious to be able to get around on your own, but you have to be patient baby girl, you'll get there soon enough!

Another thing you've been working on is vocalizing. Recently you've started making a loud "Aaaaa!" sound. It's almost an angry sound, but you smile after you make it. You've got quite a range of volumes going on now, and can get very expressive with the sound of your voice. You can most definitely let us know when you are unhappy with us, but my favorite sound is your squeaking laugh. Sometimes you even let off a bit of a snort!

You're working on doing raspberries, although you can't quite figure out how yet. You stick out your tongue, and then open and close your mouth. It's really cute to see you trying, and I know you'll get it soon!

Oh baby girl, don't be in such a hurry to grow up. I know you're impatient with yourself, I can see it in your frustration when you want to do something you can't do yet, but your father and I would be happy if you would slow down and stop getting so big so fast!

It really seems like I blinked and you got bigger. I went to work and came home and you were older. Some days I feel like I'm missing so much of your life, so I try to enjoy all the time I do get with you. I know the days of being able to carry you around and snuggle you while you nap will be over way before I'm ready.

I love you so much Jorie-bear.

4 Months Old!

Dear Jorie,

I can't believe you're four months old already. It seems both like you were just born and like you've always been a part of our lives. You're growing so fast we're having a hard time keeping up with clothes that fit you.

At four months you are rolling over consistently, although you only roll from your front onto your back. When we put you on your tummy, you arch your back waaaaay up so you can look around. You love to grab things and try to put them in your mouth. You grab things almost as much using your feet as with your hands. You can sit up in your little seat for short periods of time, in fact you prefer to be sitting propped up or being held standing up most of the time.

You give big smiles to everyone you see, and love nothing more than getting some face time. One of your favorite places is the changing table, because when you're lying on the changing table, you have our undivided attention, and get tummy raspberries!

You had a bit of a rough time sleeping for a while there, but for the past couple of nights you've let us get full nights of sleep. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it stays this way!

You've also been eating up a storm, so much that I can't keep up with you. I'm trying my best kiddo, but we've had to supplement more than once. You're just so hungry! Your father thinks you're going through a growth spurt.

You're getting so big already, you don't really look like a baby anymore, but more like a very tiny toddler. You've outgrown so many of the clothes we bought you, and even some that were given to us as gifts. It's weird, I know, but I get a little sad each time I try an outfit on you and it no longer fits. I feel like you're growing up so fast and I can't make the time last nearly long enough. Especially with me working full time. I feel sometimes like I'm missing most of your life.

I love you so much baby girl. My big, fourth month old baby girl.

17 weeks old!

Dear Jorie,

As usual, you've continued to grow and change this week. You can sit up while supported very well now, and you are purposefully grabbing toys you want to play with. You found your feet last week, and have spent the time since then playing with them and pulling off your socks. It's getting hard to change you most of the time because as soon as you're on your back, you pull your feet up to your face. Enjoy that flexibility while you can!

Unfortunately you've also decided lately that this time it is sleeping that is for wimps. Recently you've started waking up around 2, 4 and 6 am. We thought it was because you were falling asleep early (usually around 7 pm) so we started keeping you up until 9:30, but last night you still woke up at 2, 4 6 and then were up for good around 8am. And this on the day that I get to sleep in a bit! Give your momma a break please!

You've gotten used to only sleeping while either one of us is holding you, or there is a hand resting on you. It's a habit we need to try to break, baby girl. Your father and I think that part of the problem is that you are teething, but my mother had a good suggestion. We need to establish a bedtime routine for you. Because of the way that our schedule works, you don't go to bed at the same time (or in the same place) every night. My mother suggested creating a bedtime routine that we could do wherever we are to get you to sleep at the same time every night. Something like, feed you, rock you while we read to you, then put you to sleep in the pack'n'play if we're out, or in the bassinet or your crib if we're home.

Last week was a whirlwind week, like most of them are these days. Your father finally got a chance to put your crib together, although neither me nor your father really want to start using it. We've gotten used to you being right beside the bed at night. I think we'll wait a little longer to transition you to your own room, but it's coming soon!

You've been eating up a storm this week as well. You've used up all the stored milk, and you're eating it faster than I can pump it. Your great Aunt had to use formula once to supplement. I'm really unhappy about this, but what can I do? I can only pump so often at work, and I only get so much when I pump. I'm going to try to up my pumping sessions at work for a bit to recover some of the lost ground, hopefully if I pump this weekend too we'll be ready for the next week.

I love you Jorie bear.

16 Weeks old!

Dear Jorie,

Well, this past week has been a doosy. Between me and your father trying to adjust to not having any time to do anything, and you suddenly deciding pooping was for wimps, I'll be happy to leave it behind (even if it does mean you're another week older!)

Around Thursday last week, your father asked me when the last time you pooped was. We realized the last time any of us remembered you pooping was the previous Saturday. Now the books say that babies can go a week without pooping sometimes, so we tried not to panic, but by Monday I was worried, so I called your pediatrician. She gave us a list of things to try, including giving you an oz of apple juice cut with an oz of water. We could up it slowly to 4 oz of each over the week, and if you still hadn't pooped by the weekend you would have had to go see the doctor. You really enjoyed the apple juice, it was your first official food that was not breast milk! And luckily this morning you pooped! I've never been happier to see poop!

This week you also found your feet. You are very amused with them. Your favorite trick is to put them in your mouth. It amazes me that you can even do that! Every week you get more interactive, and assert your personality a little bit more. It's amazing watching you become a little person. My favorite thing in the world is still your laugh. When you get that big smile and just let out one happy squeak of a laugh, I can't help but smile.

You are still acting like your nursing, and we can still feel what we think are teeth in your upper gums, but nothings breaking through yet. You've gotten less fussy, so we think that the teeth just stalled and aren't moving.

Me and your father still haven't gotten the hang of the new schedule. I still feel like the week is a sprint and then we cram everything we can into the weekends. I hope we'll get used to it soon. But in the meantime, we're still trying to find the time to put your crib together!

This Sunday was your Grandpa Ross' 60th birthday, and your Grandma Ross threw a party for him. You were once again the hit of the party, everyone was so happy to see you, and see how big you've gotten. You did get really fussy at one point, but it turned out you were just hungry! After I found a quiet place to feed you, you went right back to being your usual happy self.

On Saturday we were at your Grandma and Grandpa O's and we (the adults) watched the Avengers, while you slept in my lap. Until the Hulk showed up. Every time the Hulk would roar, you would flinch and whimper. It was so cute, mainly because loud noises don't usually bother you.

I love you baby girl. Stop growing up so fast!

15 weeks old

Dear Jorie,

Well, we're halfway through the second full week of me being back at work. We had to change the schedule up a bit (you're at your great aunts three days a week instead of two), but we're surviving. Hopefully in another few weeks this schedule won't feel as punishing as it does now.

This past weekend you met one of my good friends, John, and his mother and girlfriend. As usual you charmed them all. Lately, though, you have a timer. You can only stand sitting still for so long before either me or your father has to walk you around. I know you just can't wait to be able to move yourself around!

Your room in the house is still a mess, but I did use the glider in there this morning when you woke up around 4am, and wouldn't go back to sleep even after a feeding and being changed. I sat down in the glider, turned the twilight turtle on so the room was covered in stars and held you and rocked you for about a half hour before you were sleepy enough to let me go back to bed.

Your great aunt bought a bunch of toys for you this week, so you have plenty of stuff to play with when you're over there. I think she has more toys for you than we do! She even has a stroller so she can take you for walks if the weather is nice.

You're getting so big now, you've definitely lost that 'newborn' look. You look so different now that you did when you were born. You've filled out nicely, although no one can call you chunky! You still have that long and lean look. Your personality is definitely starting to show itself. You're usually a happy baby, but when you're tired or bored, look out! You really know how to let us know when you're not happy!

Every day when I pick you up at your great aunts I just wrap my arms around you and hold you, because I've missed you so much. I miss being near you all the time. I know you're happy, and me working is the best thing for you and for our family, but oh man do I miss you so much.

I love you baby girl.

14 weeks old!

Dear Jorie,

We survived the first week of me being back at work. True it was a short week, but it was a test none the less. It feels like an all out sprint most days, even on the weekend, now. I miss having time to just sit and enjoy being with you.

Your Great Aunt Ruth helped me a lot by posting pictures of you while you were with her. You really seem to enjoy being around all the different people. Everyone says you're such a joy when they watch you. Except your father, he's having a rough time adjusting.

Your father would appreciate it if you would sleep a little more, or at least play quietly. He's having a hard time adjusting to your needs, while getting work done. Hopefully the two of you will work it out soon.

You've also started teething (we think). At three months, teething already! You've been crankier than normal, and chewing on everything. You've also been eating a lot more, so you may be using all that energy to grow teeth, or just to grow in general.

I was sick this weekend with a cold, so we didn't get everything done that we wanted to, but we got some of your room set up. At least, I put things in the dresser, although me and your father disagree on how to organize your clothes. The next big step will be setting your crib up and arranging everything to fit in your room.

This week is our first full week with me back at work. I'm really missing you this week. I'm hoping that it'll get easier as we get used to the routine, but you're growing up so quickly and I'm missing it all.

You rolled over for the first time on Sunday. I'm so glad I was there for it and didn't miss it! We were hanging out in the living room on the floor, and you had rolled over onto your side and were just hanging out, then all of a sudden you just flipped over onto your stomach. Me and your father got really excited and you started smiling and laughing and doing the superman. You seemed really happy until you realized you couldn't see anything or roll back over. Then you got really upset and we had to pick you up off the floor so you could look around.

Oh baby girl, don't grow up so fast!
I love you.

13 Weeks old!

Dear Jorie,

This week you are 13 weeks old. Today is the very last day of my maternity leave. Tomorrow you will go to your Great Aunt's house for the first time, and I will be away from you for a full day. The longest I have been away from you so far has been three or four hours. I am going to miss you so much baby girl.

Right now you are snuggled up in your stroller sleeping quietly, letting mommy get some writing done. You are wearing a big warm hoodie. The hood keeps falling down over your eyes, and it's really really cute. You have your taggie with you, which you absolutely love. I got it on a whim at Tar.get the other day, because it was on sale. Best five bucks I've ever spent. You absolutely adore it, and play with the tags on it constantly. You're favorite trick now is to pull it up over your head so you can sleep when you think it's too bright out.

Yesterday you had a very fussy day. You wanted to eat very frequently, and it seemed like you were either eating, sleeping or crying all day. Then you went to sleep around 10 and slept through the night. You didn't wake up (except for a little fussing in the middle of the night when you lost your binky) until I woke you up to get dressed around 8:45am.

Tomorrow is going to be an adjustment I think. I will have to get up early (around 6 or 6:30) to get up and dressed and have everything ready for you by the time I need to head out at 7:30.  No more leisurely days sleeping in until 8 or 8:30. No more quiet morning feeding while we snuggle on the couch. The new schedule is going to take a while to iron out, I think. Your father is still ironing out the details of staying home with you, but he's really excited about getting to be around you so much.

The weather has been getting colder lately, so you've been wearing a lot of the hoodie that Jan got you. I need to go through your clothes and figure out if you've got any more warm jackets that fit. We bought you a really cute warm hoodie yesterday, it's got bear ears on the hood! It's still a little big for you I think, but by the time the serious cool weather gets here it should fit.

Your room is still a shambles, we haven't really had time to put everything together. We've been focusing on getting the living room and kitchen organized and useable. Your father and I's bedroom is only partly organized, we have our dressers put together, but all of our clothing is still in boxes and laundry baskets. It's starting to drive your father a little crazy. Every now and then he goes on a cleaning rampage and spends a few hours manically organizing things. This is extremely helpful as I, your mother, am organizationally challenged. I'm hoping you get his organization skills.

I hope I'm doing the right thing for you by going back to work. I know there are ways we could make it work with me staying home, but it would be so much harder. I know there are many arguments for why this is a good thing for you and for us. I still worry that I'm going to screw you up by going back to work, that somehow I'm a worse mother for it. I guess the only thing we can do is move forward and see how we all feel in a few months.

One of the things your father is going to do is to try to either get health insurance from his job or to get a raise to cover the amount of money health insurance would cost. Either way, that would take some of the pressure out of our situation, since it would give me some more wiggle room with my job. In my ideal world, I would get to stay home with you part time, and only work part time. If your father can get insurance through his job, then maybe I can drop down to part time at my job, and give up my health insurance, in favor of staying home with you more.

Of course, this schedule might work really well. I might feel differently in a few weeks or months, and not want to change our routine again. Only time will tell.

I love you Baby Girl.