Sleeping through the night

Oh my sweet boy, I love you more every day. I am exhausted and remember all the sleepless nights of the newborn stage. You however, are sleeping through the night (at 12 weeks) and have been for a few weeks. You go to bed with Madison around 8:30 and wake up for your first feeding around 4 but sometimes really surprise me and sleep even longer.  It's been amazing. The only down side is that you are up for the day at 6 now and by the time you're ready for your morning nap, Madison is just waking up. Which means your parents are up for the day at 6. No naps for the weary. On the nights daddy is home and does not work, he gets up with you any time past 6am and hangs out with you till madi and I wake up. I do all the other feedings throughout the night and have since you came home. It's actually a really good plan. You'll learn when you become a new dad that teamwork will get you really far in life. He sleeps through the night and I get a couple extra hours in the morning as a trade for waking up at night. Daddy isn't much of a morning person but he's learning. 

You aren't much of a napper during the day either, you take a couple 45 minute naps and then if I'm lucky, sometimes take over an hour nap in the late afternoons. Generally during the day you are a pretty happy kid though.

You finally like being swaddled. It took a while for you to get used to it but now you calm down really quick when you're wrapped up in your baby burrito. The bummer part is that soon you won't be allowed to anymore because you'll be able to roll over within the month. You also got kicked out of the bassinet in our room when you were three months. Our apartment is so tiny that it's not a big deal and I can hear every move and watch you on the video monitor. You've just grown so much you don't fit in the bassinet and I think you actually sleep better because you aren't hearing the rest of us roll around all night. Madison ends up on our floor by 2 am most nights and then in our bed by 6am. So really it's like Braden has his own room. 

Man I love those little cheeks. I just kiss them all day long. 

Braden 3 months

Nate and Natalie reception

3 years for my little lady

Happy third birthday, Madison!

You are such a joy in our life! You are a typical moody three year old. One moment you're fine and the next your world is falling apart. You gave up taking naps a year ago, which is part of the cause of this behavior. 

You are still waking up through the night but the last week you have been better about at least going to bed in your room. It was really rough there for a while and every night was a fit. I'm not always the best at keeping my cool either and I can already see what the "fights" will be like when you are a teen. Though I hope they rarely happen. 

You are THE BEST big sister. You are the ultamite protector. I don't know any other three year old that would demand the baby to sleep in their room, then get up with me to feed him at night.  You love your brother more than anything. You love to hold him and talk to him. Always watching out for him and when we tease about giving him food or another big kid activity, you're quick to remind us that he's just a baby. You sing him songs when he's upset. You try to cuddle him all the time and tell him things you will do together when he grows up. It warms my heart how much you care for him. It's not just any baby either, it's just him. Other babies you could care less about. I hope this bond you two have never changes. 

You are kind. You tell me I'm beautiful often. You compliment others on their apperience. You recognize others when they make good choices are are sure to tell them. You are so sweet to your brother when he pulls your hair and you don't get upset... Yet. 

Sometimes I call you my sour patch kid. First you are sour, then you're so sweet. Your moods change with the wind. You are one strong willed child at times; but you soon make up for your behavior by doing something incredibly sweet. 

You are smart. Oh my gosh you're smart! 

I don't know many three year old with the vocabulary you have. You are a sponge and soak in new words every day. You've gone to two days of preschool now, and today you told me what subtraction was and how to do it. You love to learn about animals and their habitats. 

You are creative. Watching you play Zoo animals and the stories you come up with are amazing. You can also "read" books and signs. It's a crack up. Sometimes you know what a book already says and kinda make up the story that is supposed to go there. Other times you read a sign and tell us what you want it to say. "Mom, that sign right there says you can only have one piece of candy because it's ok". 

You are funny. So funny! The other day one of Mimi's dogs barked and you said "woah, that scared the crap out of me." You say things almost daily that crack me up.

Everyone loves you and I mean, how could we not?!