Dear Liam: 3 months

Liam Hayes,

You are 3 months old & growing just way too fast!!

Because we don't go to the doctor every month we are just doing our own measurements here. You have gained about a pound in the last month & are weighing in at 13.5 pounds (37th percentile). You are measuring 24.5 inches tall (66th percentile). We have been comparing you to Mason on your height and weight and little one.....you're definitely going to be taller than brother is. 

Just like brother, you're staying pretty steady in the no dairy. Dairy seems to actually bother you a little worse than it did Mason. With Mason I was able to sneak a few things in here or there but not with you little one. We have aslo had to make not just an increase to your reflux medicine but a switch to a stronger medicine. You are now taking 1.5ml of Prevacid twice a day. We also had to change to a different bottle this month. You have a pretty bad lip tie and Dr. Brown's bottles seem to be the easiest for you to latch to. Lots of people have suggested having your lip tie lasered but it is just not a process that Daddy, all 3 of the pediatricians in our office or I are comfortable with, so we are just continuing on with the interventions we are doing. It sounds silly but the 1st time you took a Dr. Brown's bottle I almost cried because it was the 1st time in over 2 months that I saw you actually latch correctly! It also decreased the amount of time it took for you to drink a bottle. It was taking you about an hour to drink 6 ounces & it now only takes about 25 minutes. 

You are still exclusively nursing so I'm not sure how much you get at each feeding. However, if we feed you a bottle during the day you take about 5 ounces. We always gave Mason a nighttime bottle so we have done the same with you. At night you are taking about 6 ounces. You're pretty particular about who feeds you though. You've finally started letting Daddy give you a bottle occasionally still prefer to have Mama give you milk from nursing or a bottle.

Little man, let me just tell you that you have kept us on our toes! We were pretty confident in everything that we knew with Mason, however you've just switched all of us up on that! This started with the switch of the bottles. Then came the swaddle. Mason LOVED to be swaddled and wrapped up TIGHT! You on the other hand absolutely despised it! We started out swaddling you in the Aden & Anais swaddles then we switched to the Velcro swaddles. Those seemed to work for a short time and then you still weren't comfortable so we finally switched to something called a Swaddle Up that allowed you to have your hands next to your face. This seems to be the magic fix for you. 

This month we dabbled in letting you make your own schedule or "eat, play, sleep." This worked ok for a few weeks but your a short napper and I felt like I was CONSTANTLY eating and terrified I was missing a sleep sign or thinking I saw a sleep sign then struggling to get you down. Then I never knew what time bed time was. I felt like we were just constantly flying by the seat of our pants and that just doesn't work out around her. It was just not for me. AT ALL. And it didn't seem to be for you either. Therefore we went back to a schedule and it seemed to work better for you & I both.

4:30/5:00: Eat

6:30ish: Eat

6:45-8:00: Play

8:00-9:00: Sleep

9:45: Eat

10:00: Play

11:00-12:00: Sleep

12:00-1:00: Play

1:00: Eat

1:30: Sleep- this is generally your long nap. You are not a morning napper! You will sleep anywhere between 1.5-3 hours

4:00: Eat 

4:15-5:00: Play

5:00-5:45: Cat Nap

5:45-6:45: Play

6:45: Bath

7:00: Bottle (between 6-8 oz)

7:15: Bed

10:00: Dream feed (4-5oz)

This month we introduced you to your little bulldogs at night. You seem to love them just as much or more as brother as loved his foxes. We also let you arms come out of your swaddle and you are loving it!! I think you're pretty close to being ready to be unswaddled all together. 

You really are just a chill go with the flow boy. You will happily kick your piano or sit in your bouncer and just chill. The only times you really "cry" is if you are hungry or ready to go to sleep. Both of our families comment how they really have never heard you cry and honestly we haven't much either. I definitely think you've got Daddy's chill personality. 

Things that you love this month: 

*The show puppy dog pals

*Chewing on your hands

*Playing the piano

*Sitting up in your bumbo 

*Your daddy...he can get the biggest smiles and laughs out of you

*Your brother.....sometimes you aren't sure about him but for the most part you love how hard he tries to make you smile. 

Exciting things this month: 

*Aunt Lisa got your first belly laugh out of you

*We celebrated the 4th of July

*You went to the church nursery for the 1st time

*You are rolling over occasionally from belly to back

*You are still able to self soothe at nap and nighttime

*Brady came for a playdate 

*Mama discovered matching outfits! 

We love you Liam Hayes!! You are the most calm laid back little guy & we have so much fun watching you grow! I can't wait to see what the next month has in store for you! 

Love, 

Mommy