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.

Full heart

My heart has wanted this for so long.  And she's finally here.

(And I'm so relieved that breastfeeding has stopped being as painful as it was in the beginning!  Luckily, it took about 6 weeks, as most folks said.)  

2 Months: Miss Marlo

Marlo turned 8 weeks old this past Monday evening. Coincidentally, we had good, old friends from Austin over and I made Momofuku's crazy compost cookies using this mix.  The first batch were a bit overdone, but the second batch came out perfect.  Potato chips, pretzels, graham crackers, coffee, and butterscotch + choco chips?  Taste explosion in your mouth and a fine way to celebrate.

At 8 weeks, Marlo is so alert and observant!  She loves to interact, as well. She recently became much more talkative and makes loads of noises.  We have "conversations" with each other and papa, mimicking each others' noises and facial expressions.  Well, we mimic hers at least.  It's hard to tell if she's mimicking us, yet, although sometimes it seems she is.  She's stopped giggling in her sleep, although I hope I'm wrong because I would love to catch it on film!  Sadly, she's also stopped sleeping on our chests.  She still loves her snuggles, but prefers the roller coaster arms on our bed these days.  

People I love with Marlo

Dreamy mornings

I still want adult size matching outfits for much of baby MJ's wardrobe.

We're off to the farmers market at Embarcadero this morning.

Update: Success! The weather was gorgeous, baby was mellow, and burgers were delicious in ma mouf.  We scored boysenberries and white nectarines, too.