three months.

Jack,

You are one-fourth of a year old. One-fourth! That is substantial! It's all just going by too fast.

You know who your mom is. You get dreamy, glisten-y eyes and stare at me when someone else holds you. It isn't that you need me to hold you, but you like to know that I am there. You had your first real laugh about a week ago, and you've done it a handful of times since. You are smiling so hard and you suck in your breath and little squeaks comes out. It's the best! It usually happens about 10 minutes after you get up from your nap, which is when you are your happiest. You still sleep really good at night in your bassinet (8-10 hours straight), but your nap time is another story. Getting you down for just an hour is considered a huge success. More often it's 30 to 40 minutes.

After months of being disgusted with your pacifier, you are finally starting to give it a chance. You will take it for up to a minute at a time before you pop it out of your mouth. Progress, son. We also believe you are teething, which causes us all strife. You are drooling all the time, and if we don't wipe your mouth consistently, you will get a v-shaped wet spot on the front of your onesie like you just ran a marathon.

You still suck on your fist, and you still hate tummy time. It's akin to purgatory by the way you act. But we all must endure. You are grabbing things all the time. My hair, my shirt, book pages. When I put a ball in your hand, you bring your other hand to hold it and then shake it. It sounds like a small thing, but I get excited about these small things. That's my right as a mom.

Like most babies, you love your changing table. Unlike most babies, you hate your swing. Dad and I went on a special trip to purchase you a nice swing, but since the day we brought it home, something about it makes you cry and cry and cry. I think you want us to work for your silence. You are by no definition an easy or chill baby. You are lots of work. You always want new things in front of you. You like me to turn pages in your books fast (little whimpers after a few seconds prompt me to turn it...once I do, immediate silence). You loove it outside. If ever you are crying during the day, I just carry you outside and you stop. It makes me happy that soon I'll be able to hang out with you on the grass when it's warmer.

You get really excited to eat now. When I lay you down you start making noises, breathe really heavy, and start kicking. Your eyes always roll back during your first few gulps. Your nickname is cheeks.  You have the fullest, most kissable cheeks. One of my friends at church keeps telling me your cheeks just get bigger every time she sees you.  Oh, those cheeks. I could go on and on.

You have such a big personality already and it's becoming increasingly clear that you are one of a kind. I love you to the moon and back and back again.

Love,
Mom