Three Month Milestones...

We have been told by several people, "Just wait until she gets to Three Months! That's when it gets good." I have to admit that there is something pretty special about the Three Month marker. It's as if Analiese is finally able to take all that she has synthesized & internalized over the past few months and assemble it all interactively. Here are some pictures and videos of the things that have developed just in the last few weeks:

After a couple of months of separation, Analiese wasn't very clear on what role Kevin played in her life. We thought that bottle feeding would serve as a "Power Bonding Tool". So I have started pumping, Kevin has started feeding, and Analiese is learning how to drink from a bottle (and that her mother isn't the only person she depends on around here!).

Analiese is starting to vocalize more and is learning that she can control her own hands to reach for things. (Marshall can't imagine that I would want to video tape or take pictures of anything without him in it...so it's either allow him in frames or spend a video saying, "Marshall!! Move over!!")

With vocalizing comes all sorts of mouth mechanics that need to be learned. What repertoire of mouth sounds would be complete without raspberries? Mimicking is also an important learning tool so Analiese had fun imitating her Aunt Ale using Analiese's new favorite sound.

This is by no means a milestone. Analiese has been falling asleep since Day 1!! But, this is the first time she has ever fallen asleep while sitting up on the couch. I guess all that abdominal exercise involved in the learning process wiped her out.

I think the best thing about the Three Month marker is that it really feels like Analiese is able to communicate with us and that she appreciates being communicated with. It makes parenting even more fulfilling and rewarding. Here is a picture of Analiese smiling into the eyes of her 95-year old Great Nana.