Three Months

At three months, Scarlett has become a creature of habit. She MUST have 3 naps a day. They must begin between noon and 1, between 2 and 3, and between 6 and 7. Each one lasts for exactly one hour 90% of the time. In fact, she is such a creature of habit that it doesn't matter who she is with. When nap time comes, a nap is taken. Scarlett was watched by my friend (who recently moved into my neighborhood) last week and napped like a champ while I got a filling. Then Sunday she was catching up on some much-needed rest from having been sick with a cold and messing up her nighttime routine, so I left her home to sleep in with Texan and went stag to church. When I walked in the door at 12:20, Texan had just come out of her nursery and said, "SHHH, I just laid her down." Uh, preaching to the choir! I'm ALWAYS shooshing him. And it actually felt nice to be on the receiving end. I was very proud of him putting her down for her nap, but he would take no credit. "She wasn't having the swing anymore so I was walking around the house singing to her and then I realized I couldn't see her eye balls anymore!" Later we had lunch at Nanny and Papa's and she napped for the 40-minute drive home then again from 6:30-8. I took part in this nap as well, because I have been low on sleep as of late. I tend to stay up worrying...

Scarlett has found her hands and loudly smacks on them or much of the day, especially while sleeping. I am a fan of thumb sucking as I see it as a self-soothing tactic. She doesn't like pacifiers, which works for me because I was constantly cleaning her pacifier because I didn't like when it would pop out of her mouth and touch a million different surfaces on the way down--but who would? So it was just an inconvenience to my already dry and cracking hands. And she wasn't a fan either. I won't give my speech about why thumb sucking isn't as bad as everyone says...you are welcome.

At three months old Scarlett searches the room when she hears mine or Texan's voice until we lock eyes. Then a great big smile happens. She loves to be sung to and kissed. I find myself singing all day long and the oldest, most random children's songs pop into my head. I had no idea that I knew every word to the Winnie the Pooh theme song. But I do! 

I even changed, "A donkey named Eeyore" to "A baby named Scarlett..."

Today I found Scarlett on her belly, all pressed against the side of her crib! She had rolled from back to belly for the first time! April 16, 2014! She wouldn't do it again an I didn't want to press her because she has a major ear infection, we found out today.

 When her fever spiked to 101 this morning, I called her doctor and we had an appointment 2 hours later. Her diagnosis? "She has a wopper of an ear infection. It really is impressive, remarkably so." Don't curb your surprise on my account. She offered to give Scarlett a shot that would help her feel better faster and wrote a prescription, and as soon as she left the examination room I started crying. I had ear infections my entire childhood and know exactly the pain she feels with ever movement she makes. And on the selfish side, I can't imagine having to watch her go through surgeries the way my mom had to watch me. I pray it doesn't come to that. But if that's the road we have to go down, at least I know having ear issues usually ended up being a point of interesting conversation for me as a kid. I got to miss a lot of school, get new stuffed animals and coloring books and Popsicles when I stayed home, and I that's the part I remember most. So I pray that if Scarlett has the ears I had growing up, that she will remember the positive points, and that I will not cry myself into a puddle as she has to experience frightening trips to smelly, sterile hospital operating rooms without me by her side.

I kept telling her how sorry I was, and thankfully by the time we got home and got some Tylenol in her and a 90 minute nap, you would never be able to tell she was sick, until the Tylenol wore off about 4 hours later.

 I have been pretty weepy ever since the appointment, not being able to make it through the second chorus of our lullaby this evening because I feel so gut wrenched over her pain and so love sick for my precious girl. But she fell asleep soundly in my arms around 10 and now is asleep in her basinet beside me. I need sleep so badly, but wanted to get her three month milestones down and my feelings out. Oh, I have a lot more feelings. But I need to talk to God about those first. 

Waiting to see the doc. My poor girl tried to smile for me but this is all I could get. So glad we are treating her and I got tons of big smiles this evening.

Her new bunny Jammies are a success. She loves those hands!

Before you ever came along, I was living life all wrong. The smartest thing I ever did was make you all mine..."

I love being her mommy. It has only been three months but I feel like I've loved her forever.