Four Months Old and Starting to Roll Over

My little darling, it is so hard to believe you are four months old today! Deepest winter has turned to blossoming spring and you have grown from a little bundle of joy to a little bundle of curiosity. You love watching the cats play, listening to mommy sing or daddy read to you, being tickled without your clothes on and your toy giraffe, Sophie.

This last Friday I went to get you up from your nap and you were on your back! (I always put you on your stomach.) You looked just as surprised as I did. Later in the weekend, you showed me how you rolled over, craning your neck to see if anyone was around and tipping over. It won't be long now until you are rolling over with ease.

My little love on 5/23/11

Ezzie rolls over 5/24/11

Sleeping Alone

Since the day you were born, you've slept with me. First on my chest and then, when you got too big, you started sleeping right next to me, all cuddled up.

We tried a lot in the first couple weeks after you were born to put you in your bassinet but you wanted to be held and close to us.

We've known for awhile you would need to sleep on your own. We started "bedtime" a couple weeks ago and you've responded very well. We put you to sleep in your bassinet when you get tired in the evening and then we take you into bed with us when we go to bed a couple hours later. I love sleeping with you cuddled up with me, but I know that it cannot last forever and the best time to move you will be before you will miss me as much as I miss you.

So earlier this week when we went to bed one night, you were sleeping very restlessly against me. I was tired and I couldn't fall asleep with your wiggling. So I set you in the bassinet, which is right next to the bed. You stayed asleep! Ever since then, you now sleep alone. I just pick you up and take you into our bed when you are hungry and set you back down after you've eaten. A big milestone for you! Some day we'll move you into your crib in your own room, but not yet.

Mama Loves Magnolias (and taking pictures)

Every year I like to go to the Arboretum and take pictures of the magnolias blooming. This year, I was excited to photograph you with the magnolias! We picked a perfect night (the night before my 30th birthday), the weather was beautiful and the light was great. Here are some photos from your first trip to see the Arboretum magnolias in bloom:

Growling Baby!

For about a week in early May, you growled! It was your new vocal sound and you did it non-stop. It was adorable, although you sounded a little possessed, especially at first when we weren't sure what you were doing. Here's a video I captured of you growling:

Three Months Old and Easter

Your first Easter was the day after you turned 3 months old. I had a little dress I bought you and I was dying to try it on you (your first dress!) and take pictures. You and I spent the day at Grandma and Grandpa Jarvis' with Aunt Amy and Aunt Lydia (your dad had to work until it was time to eat). Your aunts helped me take pictures of you that came out looking amazing. You are laying on Aunt Amy's black fleece blanket, but it could be a professional photography backdrop. Below are some of my favorite pictures from your first Easter.

Crazylegs!

Your first Crazylegs was also my first Crazylegs, but daddy's second. Daddy's work sponsored him and other employees who wanted to run or walk. We walked in the "Walkers with Strollers" group, we were the fastest ones in the group.

 Baby and daddy, ready to go!

 Our family before & after!

First Trip to the Zoo

The same weekend that Lily came to visit, the weather on Sunday was hot and sunny (almost 80 degrees!) We couldn't pass up the opportunity to take you to the zoo for the first time and spend some more time with your great uncle Matt and his little daughters. So to the zoo we went!

This picture was taken by abuela on my cell phone.

Nursing in Public

I don't mind nursing in public. You are a very fast eater and that helps. Your dad took this picture of us nursing at a park on State Street when we went for a walk downtown on a nice early spring evening in April.

I also snapped this shot that evening (you were exactly 10 weeks old). It's one of my favorites!

Meeting Cousin Lily

Your cousin Lilyann (actually she's your dad's cousin, so your 1st cousin once removed) was soooo excited to meet you! She came with her dad, your great grandma Benson and her sister, Juliann, to meet you when you were only 5 days old BUT, unfortunately, both Lily and Juliann were sick and they had to play in the basement so they did not get you sick. You finally met Lily in April when your aunt Eliza was in town for the first time after you were born and we had a big Benson family get together at la casa de Abuela y Abuelo.

Here is Lily proudly holding you at your first meeting.

Two Months Old and Starting Day Care

And then you were two months old! I could hardly believe my little bitty baby was already two months old! I made this picture to share on Facebook the day you were two months old:

Just after you turned two months old, we started doing day care. I had everything ready before you were born, even signed up two babies (E & L) who will be with us as you all grow together. We will soon be joined by T in early June (he'll be the youngest, even younger than you when we started day care).

First Pacifier

I wasn't sure I wanted you to have a pacifier. I didn't want it to interfere with breastfeeding but I also didn't want you to be 2 and still sucking on it. But one night, I gave in. You, however, didn't really like it...go figure! It took a few days, but you did eventually get used to using your pacifier. You only like it when you are going to sleep, and now at almost 4 months you'll take it when you are fussy in the afternoons, in your car seat and sometimes in the stroller. I think that's a good mix! Your first one was so cute! I thought you looked adorable with it and I was sad when it was time to move to a larger size.

In your "pinky" suit, as I call it. A shower gift from your great aunt Mariella and her family.

Milwaukee Public Museum

In early March we took you to the Milwaukee Public Museum. It was our first big trip away from home (Great Grandma Granhold's funeral was later in the month). Daddy and I took turns carrying you in the Moby wrap, you and I worked on nursing in public, and Abuela helped me change your diapers in the museum bathrooms.

Great Grandma Granhold

On February 5th, Great Grandma Granhold turned 90! We went to a party for her on February 12th, where she met you for the first time.

Great Grandma Granhold passed away on March 4th and we took you to her funeral in Chicago later in March. It was your first funeral.

Your First Month

You spent your first month in our arms. We very quickly learned you were not a fan of being put down. But that was OK because we loved you as much as you loved us, so we cuddled you to your hearts content.

 Held by mama

 Held by Greater Grandma Benson

 Held by great aunt Leslie Benson

 

Held by daddy

 

 Held by abuelo y abuela

Meeting the Cats

While it seems silly now, one of the biggest curiosities your dad and I shared prior to your birth was how our cats, Addie and Buster, would react to you. We took the "baby ready" pets class offered by the Humane Society and knew to send something home with your scent. We also played crying baby sounds for them from a CD we received at class. If anything they seemed interested, wandering up to the speakers and sniffing them.

When we arrived at home with you from the hospital, I went in first and gave the cats a treat. Then your dad came in and gave them a treat. Then we brought you inside. They were very curious. I sat down with you on the couch and Addie came over and very gently sniffed you and brushed your head with her paw. Buster is a little more of a scaredy cat and would only sniff you if you were very quiet and preferably not moving.

The day after we brought you home, we decided it was time to get you used to not being held (in the next post I will share how you liked to be held constantly for the first month.) So we set you on the floor as daddy played the piano. The cats came to explore you so I grabbed the video camera we bought to record your life and below is the video I captured:

Your Name

Believe it or not, you did not have a name until you were about 28 hours old. We wanted to wait until we met you to give you a name and the first day of your life was a blur of visitors, not a good time to pick your name. So the morning after you were born, we said, "it's time, let's pick a name."

So we picked Ezmeralda Rose.

We picked Ezmeralda Rose for a number of reasons. Esmeralda is the Spanish world for emerald, which is both daddy and my birthstone. Also, some of the most beautiful emeralds in the world come from Colombia, just like your daddy and your Abuela. We spelled it with a "z" to make it unique. One more reason we picked Ezmeralda is because we both liked names derived from nature, which is also one of the reasons we picked your middle name, Rose, as well. We also picked Rose because it is your Aunt Lydia's midde name. We considered Aunt Amy and Aunt Eliza's middle names as well (Ruth and Ann) but we though Rose went best with Ezmeralda.

Our beautiful little Ezmeralda Rose.

Your Birth

I wish I had thought of this idea sooner, but as you are only (almost) four months old, I haven't missed too much. The first few posts will be catching up with your first months of life.

Your Birth

You were born at exactly 4am on the day the Packers beat the Bears for a trip to the Super Bowl (which they, of course, won). I was in labor for 3.5 hours. The first thing I said when the nurse held you up for me to see was (and I do apologize for this) "Holy Sh*t! It's my baby!" You see, I have wanted you since I was a little girl myself and I was so excited you were finally in my life and soon to be in my arms.

You weighed 7lbs 6oz and were 19inches long. Your eyes were a very dark blue and would watch me and daddy intently from the moment you were born. We held you non-stop in the hospital: myself, daddy and the 17 visitors that came to see you.  Your grandparents were so excited to meet you!

You were beautiful from the moment we first laid eyes on you.