Little Lucy Meg Peg (incidentally, if I were to write a children's book about her, that would be the character's name!) is four months old today and full of spunk!
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| My big girl! |
Lucy now reaches for toys, her fingers (or ours), and her toes (or ours). Everything she grasps goes directly into her mouth to further explore.
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| Toes make her happy! |
She is talking more and more and exploring lower tones and longer strings of babbling. She blows raspberries constantly and loves to mimic whatever you do with your tongue. The other day she started clucking her tongue in response to daddy clicking his -- pretty cute!
Lucy is getting more and more independent. At night when it's time for bed, I feed her, change her, and swaddle her, then kiss her goodnight and put her in her crib with her paci. She actually gets mad now if I try to rock her or sing to her. It's rather bittersweet for this mama, but she goes to sleep so much more easily! There are still nights that she cries herself to sleep, but they're complimented by nights she goes down without so much as a peep!! She's also very snuggly when she wakes up now!
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| In her Easter finery |
This is a trying age for me. Lucy isn't mobile yet (she still hasn't mastered rolling from back to tummy) and she's more alert and aware of her surroundings than ever. This means she loves stimulation, which translates to face time with mommy whenever she's awake. She's not content to watch me from afar, she wants to be in on the action or else engaging me directly.
She's not snuggly except for a few minutes when she wakes up or after she nurses. I'm learning to cherish these times when she wants to be held and just stop and snuggle her. Other times if she wants to be held, she wants to be doing at the same time. She's easily bored with her toys... It makes for long days when she doesn't nap.
Her cousins have been a huge blessing in providing entertainment for her. Ava, especially, has a knack for reading to Lucy and keeping her engaged! Sarah has been a sounding board for me and a welcome baby-holder when I'm exhausted. I'm so thankful they live close by!
Isaac takes over when he gets home, but he's tired too (my hard working man!) and we're thankful for the loving arms of our MC (Bible study community group) to give us a break on Wednesdays by loving our Lucy so we can eat and have some adult conversation!
This is not to say I don't love her, but it is the hardest month we've had yet, and it's also the most rewarding as she now recognizes us and lights up when we come into the room. She loves to eat (my porky pig!) and she gets excited when she knows she's going to nurse, and often stops to smile up at me as if to say "thanks for the good milk, ma!" She's reaching for toys and exploring her world and mimicking and stealing our hearts more each day! I just want to remember the good and the challenges for next time around and to encourage other mothers who read this that it IS tough, but GOOD, so good!
And now for some gratuitous photos because my baby is the cutest ever:
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| Thanks for the sunglasses, Nana! |
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| This is her sunglasses face. I kid you not! |
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| Visiting with (great, great) cousin Carole and (great, great) Auntie Bea! |
