3 Months.

Dear Addy,

Well little girl, we made it.  3 months is always the goal when you have a newborn as you are now, officially, not a newborn anymore, you are a full fledged baby.  Even though I am glad to be through the initial months, I really can't complain too much about what has taken place around here lately.  You are what is known as an angel baby.  You truly are the most content, happiest, most social little girl.  You are sleeping like a champ and giving me 10-11 hours of uninterrupted down time each and every night.  You are super happy in the late evenings sometimes but are getting better at going down each and every night.  I cannot remember the last time I got up with you between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.  You are a sleeper.  Praise the Lord.  This past month, you became even more alert and LOVE to be held outward so you can see the world. You still aren't awake for a whole heck of a lot during the day (or at night for that matter), but for the few moments between eating and going back to bed, you are so much fun to watch.  One of my biggest complaints with your brother at this age was that I felt like he was never happy.  No matter what I tried, I couldn't please him.  You, my sweet girl, are the opposite.  You love your swing (especially now that I have figured out that it can sit even more upright), love your gym, but more than anything, love to just sit in the crack of a couch and take it all in.  You are so strong already and can sit like that for as long as I let you.

You are getting so big.  At the doctor a few weeks ago you came in at 14lbs and 24 inches putting you in the 94th percentile for both.  I think it is clear...your Dad and I do not make small kids.  Thankfully, even though you are a lady tank, you still have a softness to you.  Your features are dainty and your eyes sparkle.  Your hair is crazy and I have no idea what to do with it.  I think at this point, it just has to grow and we'll see where we are in a few months.  I promise that I will introduce you to a hair straightener when it becomes socially acceptable so you can avoid the years of half straight/half curly coifs that I sported for the better part of the 90's.  Your eyes are still so very blue which makes me wonder if they will stay that way.  People say you look like me and I can't help but agree.  I love that.

I have a very long list of wants for you.  More than anything else though, I want you to be a strong woman.  As your Grandpa always said to me "we need more assertive young women in this society."  I want you to strive to be whatever it is you desire.  I want you to be strong in your beliefs, your values and your integrity.  I hope that I can help you establish these things early on so that when the teenage and early adulthood years arrive, you are well versed in them all.  I want you be confident in yourself and be able to solve your own problems.  I want you to face issues head on and not avoid confrontation.  I want you to be able to express your feelings and say what you really mean, no matter what others may think.  I want you to be strong.  I will do what I can to help, and I promise you that I will do anything I can to encourage and support you through tougher times.  When I was growing up and had a problem with someone (usually a friend, teacher or coach), my parents really encouraged me to confront whomever I had the issue with and come to a resolution.  They did not fight my battles for me and in turn really taught me how to deal with people, even difficult ones.  I owe my people skills wholly to them and I will try my best to give you that same gift.  So far, your head strength is your only strength, but you have to start somewhere, right?  At least we're moving in the right direction.

Last weekend, we had your cousins, Cole and Lily here for the weekend as their parents went to an out of town wedding.  For 3 days, I got to experience what it is like to have a 3 year old girl around these parts.  It became very clear, very quickly, the differences between boys and girls as Cole and Colin pretty much did their own thing and Lily, was stuck to me like glue.  There were very few moments over the course of the weekend where I was alone as Lily always wanted to know what was going on, "help", or simply chat about anything and everything.  It reminded me just how much more social girls are and that I should be ready for that to be you in a just a few short years.  While I love Colin's independence, I'm sure I will also love the closeness that you and I will hopefully share.

It is still hard to believe that I have TWO children.  Let's be honest here, it is still hard to believe that I have ONE child.  I have been doing a lot of reading these days about parenthood, and marriage after kids and one line that really resonated with that is if life is like swimming, having kids is simply treading water.  You don't get anywhere for at least the first five years, you are simply trying to stay afloat.  I'm sorry to tell you, especially if you have your own kids one day, but I can't help but agree with this metaphor.  Ever since your brother was born, and magnified even more with you, life has not been...ummm...restful.  Your Dad and I have just been treading water, getting through each and every day and staying on our toes as schedules, temperaments and stages continue to change daily.  As easy as you are, you, like any newborn, come with your challenges and frustrating days.  We are in fact treading, however you, my sweet girl, at least make the water warm.  Your smiles, your laughs, your stories make even the more tiring days feel wonderful.  You are my sweetest girl.

Love you to forever and always x3,

Mama
xoxo