4 Months: Miss Marlo

I'm a bit late in this post because we've just had a fun-filled, busy stretch of traveling with loads of folks meeting Marlo for the first time.  In the past two weeks, we've been "bamping" (camping with babies!), flown to San Diego, and flown to Austin.  All of this travel and exposure to new people has worked wonders for Marlo's stranger danger.  On our trips, she was so much more comfortable around others and it was a big relief for me.  I also learned to wait to have people hold her until she's been around them for a good hour or two.  This paid off and by the end of Austin, we could hand her off to folks within just a few minutes.  She was even cracking up with new folks when before I'd only seen her laugh hard with me or Eric.  And that laugh is what I live for! 

At four months, sweetie is so engaged with the world around her.  She's figuring out how her body works--occasionally rolling and this week she discovered her feet!  She tries to put her pacifier in her mouth using all fingers and putting it in backwards.  She's digging tummy time more and can be on her belly for longer periods of time now.  She likes to pet the kitties by grasping their fur and is just into exploring different textures in general.  She'll scratch her crib sheets, diaper bag, and anything else that has a different feel.  And baby girl just keeps growing and getting bigger and bigger!  She's so long now that her little feet push against the diaper bag when we go for walks in her stroller.  It seems like she's going to outgrow her carseat pretty soon when I thought it would last us least a year.  She's bigger than babes that are twice as old!  People are always shocked when I tell them how old she is.

I swear her pediatrician told us she's as healthy as can be and to just keep feeding her on demand for now.  I'm so grateful, but sometimes I second guess when I see that she's bigger than babies who are walking!   If I can just learn to stop comparing, I think parenting will a whole lot smoother--I need a mantra to repeat to myself every time I'm tempted to compare my baby or myself to others.  :)  I think her doctor's words will do for now, "She's perfect."   

This romper + ankle rolls are my fav

These tiny pink and purple cartoon ponies are too sweet!!  Marlo has her Nonni to thank for a whole batch of new, adorable clothes that came just in time as she's already outgrowing much of her 6 months wardrobe.

Today I woke up with Eric's sore throat so we took it easy.  We did manage to go on a walk for lunch with Papa at Herbivore.  We read some books, did some baby stretches, and walked to the Whole Foods on Haight to track down our favorite summer beer.  I may be imagining this, but I swear Marlo is beginning to turn the pages of her board books for me.  Mama's little reader loves story time and I love it.

Mama pics

I've been a bit camera shy since having the baby, but luckily getting over it.  3 1/2 months out, I've been making it to a few regular yoga classes, the ones I used to go to before being pregnant.  I'm trying to be patient with myself as I slowly regain strength and stamina.  Marlo is such a visceral reminder for me to be kind to myself.  I wouldn't want her to feel bad or self-conscious about her body and I know my own body issues can influence the way she views herself.  So I'm just doing my best to be healthy and keep realistic goals, while appreciating my body for everything it does and can do.  To combat some post partum blues about not fitting into old clothes (sounds so vain, but it has bothered me), I tell myself: I am grateful for my body.

And look at that little baby smile--it's too much! Eric has started reciting the prime numbers in a funny voice to Marlo and she loves it!  He did that in order to get her to smile for the bottom pic.  I love it when he announces, "Fibonacci sequence!" and begins reciting those numbers, as well.  Apparently, prime numbers, the Fibonacci sequence, and all over body kisses are the secrets to cracking baby MJ's smile.

The very darling caterpillar

The interwebz has been cracking us up week with this dance and this cat.

3 Months: Miss Marlo

At three months, Marlo still loves to talk up a storm.  Now it's clear she can imitate sounds we make!  Her thighs are delicious and everyone comments on them.  Poor baby girl, she didn't stand a chance between her mama's and papa's thighs.

My favorite new thing is that baby girl laughs and cracks up!!  She loves to be kissed all over and to be pulled up to stand.  These things make her smile and laugh.  Of course, it's the best laugh I've ever heard.

She's starting to develop a bit of stranger danger.  She used to be fine when different friends held her, but now it often makes her cry.  I wish this weren't the case, but I guess it's completely normal and a necessary phase they go through that could last awhile.  

Her hair is coming back in and it is so silky soft and fine--just like my dad's hair. <3.  

This past month, she's been coming to mama and baby yoga with me.  She likes to look at the ceiling fans and be held by the teachers.  We may try mama and baby Pilates soon.  Just a few days ago, she started grasping things.  Now she grabs her pink monkey rattle doll, Mike (we name toys after the people who gifted them), and puts it in her mouth.  She also likes to swipe at the hanging elephant on her baby play overhang.  She's not a huge fan of tummy time, but tends to do better with papa.

She's changing so quickly and I know she'll have a whole new set of skills by next month.  A few days ago, my old job offered me full-time position teaching 6th or 7th grade English.  I was honored and before Marlo, I would have jumped at this opportunity.  My old school is a great place to work, filled with AMAZING, dedicated, and talented folks.  We thought hard about it, but my gut was telling me that I'd be heart broken to have to miss so much time with Marlo during this first year.  I truly love teaching and it gives me a wonderful high, but I also love being a mother.  I kept thinking about what people say about not getting this time back.  So it's official: I'm going to stay home with Marlo this first year and possibly longer.  I'm VERY grateful that this is option for us and I'm going to make the most of it.  Each day with my sweet baby is a gift. 

Amazing onesie

Friends are awesome! Our friends Scott & Bertina gifted us such a fun, personalized onesie for Marlo.  Eric's last name is Katerman so we used to call the baby our "Katertot" during the pregnancy.

As you can see, the Katertot has a bit of sass to go with her custom outfit.  These red socks were gifted to us from my wonderful sister-in-law, Lisa.  They're made to look like little cowgirl boots!  Marlo was born in SF, but with all of the years Mama and Papa spent in love in Austin, she may be half Texan.

Last, here's another fun onesie gifted to us from my dear old friend Lisa and her fiancé, Marty.  Lisa and I watched many bad  movies together during our year abroad in Venice.  We didn't watch Howard the Duck, although I bet we would have had it been at the rental ATM.  (This is from when Marlo was around 4 wks--before much of her hair fell out, leaving her with her current baby mullet!)

SF Uniform

The hoodie!  This was a great hand-me-down from friends.  Good thing, too, because it was in the 50s this July evening!  Summer in San Francisco is something else, but at least I've stopped wearing ear muffs every time I leave the house.