Austin Scott 2-3 Months

With every day that passes, I love this little boy more and more.

At three months, he fits nicely into both 0-3 month clothes and 3-6 month clothes. He is ready for size 2 diapers, but we are trying to push through the last couple packages of size one diapers that we have. He doesn't have a 3 month appointment with the pediatrician, so I don't know how much he weighs - but because he had dropped from the 23rd percentile to the 13th percentile in weight at his 2 month appointment, we'll be going in for a weight check next week to make sure that he is gaining enough weight. 

*Update: We went in for Austin's weight check on December 31st and found that he has dropped down to the 6th percentile. Honestly, I was surprised and I'm more than a little bit worried. He looks like he's doing well, but his growth on the charts doesn't show that. We have another appointment to actually talk to a doctor, because when we went in there was just a nurse doing the weight check. I don't know what they are going to say, but I'm worried. I've wondered if maybe I'm not making enough milk - so I made a trip to the Whole Foods store to get some Fenugreek, Flax seed, and Brewers Yeast. I'm hoping that these things will help my baby boy.*

Some things from this month: 

--He continues to survive Lydia's "loving" and the occasional snowman to the face or accidental stepping on his body. Her hugs are getting more controlled (instead of just laying her whole body on him) and she always asks "Is this a nice hug?" after she hugs him. She asks about him every morning, and always wants to be in the same room as him. She seriously loves him so much, it makes this mama's heart happy. 

--We are still pushing "operation pacifier." It was about 2-3 months that Lydia absolutely refused to take a pacifier ever again so we really tried to stay consistent this month. It is amazing what a miracle worker that pacifier is. For the most part, it can calm him down if he is upset and it helps him fall asleep at naps and bedtime. It makes the process of putting him down so much less stressful. One of my favorite noises that he makes is when he is fussing a little bit and we give him the pacifier. He'll resist it for a minute, then when he starts to give in he'll grunt a bit as he starts sucking. "Uh-uh-uh-muh-muh-mun-num-num-num." By the end he is calm and sucking, but it's like he's saying "I'm upset and even though I'm going to start sucking on this pacifier, I want you to know I'm not happy about it." It's really cute.

-He doesn't love his swing very much. Sometimes he'll tolerate it - but most of the time he'd rather just be held. However, he is getting happier just laying on the ground. He'll lay on his blanket for a while by himself, but after a few minutes he'll fuss until you come and sit with him. I get the biggest smiles from him when he's laying on the ground and I'm leaning over him kissing his tummy or tickling his face with my hair. He also has started to like the play may we have. He'll bat at the little toys and coo along to the music. One day, he was on a blanket on the floor while I was doing the dishes and I was playing and I looked over and saw Lydia putting her little stacking cups on his hands. He was loving it. Oh Austin. We are grateful that you put up with out crazy antics and we hope you know that we love you! 

--When he's laying or sitting he pulls his shoulders up like he's doing little baby crunches. It's so funny. His neck isn't so strong when he's on his tummy, but when he's on his back (or sitting up), he's a rockstar at trying to sit up. 

--He watches Lydia anytime that he can. He just follows her with his eyes and turns his head as far as he can to see her. I think he likes her as much as she likes him. 

--His sleep schedule isn't like this every day, a fairly accurate representation starts at 7 pm when he goes to bed. This is the most consistent time, for sure. We put Lydia down at 7 and he is always ready to go down right after that. I only nurse him about half the time, because the other half the time he is so ready for bed that he just wants to suck his pacifier and fall asleep in his bed. He likes to be swaddled super tight and doesn't sleep well unless he's all wrapped up. However, he's super wiggly and super strong and if he gets his arms out he wakes himself up, so I have to double wrap him (with two blankets). Usually we have to put his pacifier back in several times between 7 and 10ish (sometimes what feels like 700 times), but he sleeps pretty well in-between and will sleep until 12:30ish usually. He'll wake up again around 2:30 when I usually move into the chair and fall asleep with him. Then he wakes up around 4, 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30. Does this sound surprisingly like his 2 month schedule? Not much has changed. I've taken to not even trying to go back to my bed after 4. Instead I put him back in his bed and curl up in my chair with my head on the armrest and my legs on the ottoman. We usually wake up for the day around 8, and he'll go back down for an hour or two nap around nine. The rest of the day is filled with a few more shorter naps, the last one usually around fiveish. Then, again, asleep for the night around 7-7:30. 

--Tummy time. We don't do it often because neither of us like it. 

-His hand eye coordination is improving, and he is starting to focus on things better. He likes to look at himself in the little mirror when he's in the swing (when he puts up with being in the swing) and he watches the mobile go round. 

--He likes when we sing. At night, as part of our bedtime routine we do "scripture, song, prayer". When we sing our little church song, Austin will often sing along with us. It's so sweet.

-For the first couple of months, David and Austin struggled to figure each other out as far as holding/being held goes. It was a bit of a struggle and Austin would grump about unless David was holding him in one particular way, and insisted that he always be standing. However, they've gotten into their groove. Now David can hold him without being so concerned about it being the exact perfect way and can even sit and relax with him, which has been nice for all involved. 

-We left Austin to go on a date for the first time. Cal and Sue came down to our house and watched both Austin and Lydia while David and I went to his work's Christmas Party at the Little America. Previously I've been able to pump about 2 oz at a time and I'd worked to get Austin to take a bottle once a day throughout the week, but by the time Friday rolled around I ended up not being to pump anything. I was so stressed about it, but had about 2.5 oz saved from the day before and ended up just leaving that. (I wanted to leave more - so I was really upset about not being able to pump.) Austin was a champ and did great for his grandma and grandpa and David and I ended up having a really nice time. 

-Doesn't coo very often, just when he's really happy or in a particularly good mood but it's super sweet. Most of the time he just grunts a lot, which is cute in it's own right. 

-I often feel like I'm barely hitting "mediocre mother" level, and although I don't think I'm the worst mom in the world I do wish that I could hit "awesome mom" level more often. 

-He's just so cute when he's sleeping. It's when he's sleeping that I feel like I've got things under control. Ha. 

--My grandparents on my mom's side (Grandma and Grandpa Knowles) were so excited when the found out that Austin was a boy. They have 8 great-granddaughters, but no great-grandsons so they were thrilled at knowing that they would be getting a boy next! They sent this little mustache pacifier because they thought that it was so funny, and Austin finally has gotten big enough to use it. Actually it's still a bit big and he can't keep it in his mouth very well. But come one. You can't look at this picture and not smile. 

--He likes his legs to be bicycled. I'll pump his legs and hold them to his chest. I'll massage them and help stretch them out. He loves it. 

-One of his funniest faces is this one. We call it the "I am not impressed" face. He gives it when you are trying to make him laugh and you are obviously not succeeding. 

-This little boy is so loved.