manning at 3 months

manning is three months old today!  it has gone by super fast (as i sure will the rest of his first year - and every year after).  and now that he is over the impatient screaming, he is a true delight.  so here is a little bit about manning.

he is by far the easiest sleeper (and that is saying something because they have all been great sleepers).  even now he goes down awake and we most likely won't hear another peep from him until he starts to wake up.  i give him is last nursing of the day starting around 7:15pm.  he usually 'nurses' until close to 8 and usually falls asleep at some point in there.  he sleeps until around 7am and when he does wake up he just sucks his thumb and waits for me.  i can just hear him moving around on the monitor but he never really cries - very different from the other three who always screamed to eat the second they were awake (or at least it seemed that way).  this easy wake up is also nice because it doesn't wake up madelyn.

for naps he takes one or two 30 minutes - 1 hour naps in the morning and then goes down between 1 and 2 for a long (3-4 hours) nap in the afternoon.  he does usually take one more short (30 minutes - 1 hour) nap from about 5:30 - 6:30 (which is great because i get to eat dinner with the family).  this last nap is the only one in the swing.  all of his other sleeping is done in the crib unless we aren't home and his has to sleep in the carrier.  noise does not bother him at all during naps.  maddux can burst into his room screaming and manning sleeps right through it!

he is getting very good at the thumb sucking and can now manage it in the carrier.  he will still take a pacifier but less and less does he need it.

i have no idea how many times a day he nurses but he does cluster feed (two to three feedings close together) in the morning after waking, in the afternoon before his nap and towards his last nap of the day.

"tummy time" is getting more difficult because he seems to like rolling over, but when he stays put he can lift his head well and has even started to push with his arms a little to try and see someone standing next to him.  i have also noticed that he is focusing on items within reach and moving his arms or head towards them (this leads to some of the rolling over). 

manning is also very chatty when he is awake (and full).  i love all of his little noises and we have even heard what sound like clear words!  matt and i both did a double take when he said "ma-ma" clear as a bell.  he hasn't really said it that clearly since but we both heard it (so i am not just hearing things from sleep deprivation - from maddux, not manning).  he also says, "hi" very clearly several times a day too.  i know that these aren't 'words' but i don't remember the others making such short, clear sounds so early.

he is giggling more too (i think you can hear a little in the video) and seems to be pretty ticklish on his belly, under his chin and on the backs of this thighs.  i can't wait for belly laughs!

i got out the 6 month clothes out of storage and some were already too small!  i am going to get the 9 month outfits washed this weekend.  needless to say, he is a pretty big three month old.  i think his build is going to be more like mason's than maddux'.

manning is a joyful completion to our family.  love.