Life:
Well, life has been really rough this week. Wait, let me rephrase that- life at night has been really rough. During the day (and especially late mornings), everything is going fairly smoothly. Harmony and I have our little routine that usually goes something like this: breakfast for Harmony, a bit of playtime for her, shower for me, breakfast for me, short nap for her (and sometimes me too!), playtime for her, bathtime for her (or just a hair wash and wipe down of face and neck) and then we go about our day with different outings or chores at home. But when 7 or 8 pm rolls around we're both different people. She starts getting really really cranky and irritable, I start yelling, and we just fall into a vicious cycle. The more she cries, the more tense I get and the more she cries, etc. This is the time I really wish someone (anyone!) was around to just give me a break, even if it were only taking Harmony for like, an hour! Night-times are also the reason I'm getting more and more bitter towards Harmony's dad, who not only hasn't been around, but hasn't called us in a few weeks (true, I did ask for a break, but how hard would it be to email me and ask "Is your break over?"). I'm trying to be optimistic though- things are getting better, and I hear that at 3 months alot of babies start getting less cranky at night. I wouldn't say she was colicky exactly, because her swing and soother usually calm her down, but I'd say it's borderline colic. On the plus side, I did get a break from her last weekend. On Friday, two of my friends took care of her here (although I wont be letting that happen again for a while- they gave her a bottle of water, thinking it was formula!) On Saturday night, my aunt Norma and uncle Paul took her for a couple hours and I went to dinner with my friends Sarah, Krissie and Rhonda Lee- we'd all managed to get rid of the kids! So it was a nice break, but it still doesn't seem like enough. I'm just glad she's pretty good during the day, those little smiles and coos make it all worthwhile! :)
Harmony's Growth:
It's amazing how quikcly she's growing! I didn't get a chance to weigh her this week, but she's really filling out with tons of baby fat. Her head support continues to improve- she can now hold it up almost continuously while I'm holding her in a sitting position or up on my shoulder. She ocassionaly will get tired and let it drop, and it looks like she's nodding- it's hysterical! :)
A few milestones this week! She's started to discover her hands and will look at them curiously. She can also now get them into her mouth, and likes sucking on them. She'll usually suck on her hands when I'm switching from one breast to the other, especially if some milk has leaked onto her hands- "milk popsicles"! :).
Harmony had her first laugh! Sarah swears that Harmony laughed for her
a couple weeks ago, but I didn't hear it, so it doesn't count. :P Her first
laugh that I heard was while I was getting ready to have a shower. She was
sitting in her carseat on the bathroom floor and seemed to be laughing in
the general direction of my big yellow towel. Since then, she has laughed
a few more times- once more at the towel, a couple times while I was talking
to her, and a few times while I was blowing on her toes- she absolutely
loves that and gets all excited and kicky. :)
Her vocabulary is also improving. She's still working on her "ah-goo" and
has added a few other coo-ing noices. Another new skill in the working
is rolling. She can roll about halfway on her side towards the right.
I've been putting her on her stomach every day so she will get used to it
more and stop freaking out, and so far it's going well. She can only stand
to be face down for 5 minutes or so, but yesterday she lifted her head to
45 degrees for several seconds!
It's so amazing how quickly she's picking things up! I'm glad I don't have
to work or go to school so I can be there for all these new little milestones.
We spend a lot of time together, which means we can fit in a lot of playing
and talking time. Diaper changing time is a great time because I always
kiss and blow on Harmony's toes and talk alot while I'm doing it. She
also now has a new mobile to stare at too. Bath time has gotten a lot better-
I now bathe her in the sink and she almost never cries during bathtime
anymore.