Today I got out a new toy in my constant attempt to find exciting ways to keep you engaged and entertained when you’re awake. The Wiggly Giggler (thanks for the toy, Great Aunt Donna!) fits perfectly in your little hands, and when I placed your hand around the toy, you were able to hold it. You then started moving and shaking it back and forth, at one point even throwing it (well, letting go of it in mid-shake, hence, throwing it). I know this likely isn’t conscious, but it’s the first time you’ve held onto a toy for a long period of time.

What am I supposed to do with this?

Shake it? Like this?

It tastes good too!

You’ve been starting to sleep in longer blocks of time at night, up to seven hours. Although this is to be expected, and quite nice, it’s something my body isn’t used to yet. My internal clock keeps waking me up every three to four hours, as became our pattern over your first month or so. I lie there wide awake questioning whether you’re alright and if you’re hungry yet, and listening to you nibble on your hands. You nibble on them all day and all night. When I pick you up out of bed in the middle of the night your tiny hands are covered in saliva and are freezing. I blow on them to try and warm them up. I try to find onesies with the fabric that I can fold over your hands, but it’s hard to find those in sizes past newborn. I worry that someday I’ll wake up and you’ll be missing a finger, having nibbled it off in the middle of the night.

Sleeping cutie

We celebrated Easter by enjoying a really good Easter Brunch at the hotel. You wore a dress and little ballet slippers your nana bought you and you seemed content just watching all the action around you.

Happy at Easter brunch

Tiny ballet slippers

Towards the end of the meal you got a little fussy and your dad took you out and rocked and held you. You fell asleep in his arms and a lady came over to admire you and said you could be one of the baby models for Anne Geddes!

Relaxing with dad

Sleeping like an Anne Geddes model

You and dad all dressed up (and you giving a thumbs down to something)

Today we went on a long walk along the Eagle River. The weather is really beautiful up here and the winds from yesterday have mostly subsided. We walked for a couple of hours and enjoyed exploring the trail along the Eagle River.

Family hike along the Eagle River

Afterward we went to a couple of breweries, and at Crazy Mountain Brewery your dad and I couldn’t resist buying you this witty little onesie.

A classy, little onesie

We headed up to Beaver Creek today for a fun weekend in the mountains. This was your father’s Valentine’s Day present and we were excited to get away for a little escape. This was your longest road trip and you did great. We stopped halfway there so I could feed you (and shop a little), but you slept most of the way there.

Also during our stop your dad and I grabbed some lunch, and you had on your Cardinals bib. In honor of the beginning of the baseball season, and your cuteness in the bib, I texted the picture to your grandpa Stephans, Uncle Denny, and Katy – all huge Cardinals fans. They loved it!

All smiles for the Cards

Also at lunch you started batting at the little elephant that hangs from your car seat. You hit it a few times and you were so entertained by it. This is the first time you’ve done that.

Playing with the pink elie

We went for a big walk with you and the dogs around the lake in Beaver Creek, and you did great despite the chilly wind. Tonight we went out to dinner tonight at our favorite restaurant and you did amazing, not making one peep the entire time. The waitress loved looking at you and commenting on how cute and good you were. We had such a fun day with you!

You had your two month checkup today and everything looks great. The doctor was really happy with your growth and set my mind at ease about how much weight you’ve been gaining. You were exactly 10 pounds! When I asked her how much weight you should be gaining for the next two months she told me to stop obsessing about your weight and didn’t even give me an answer. She said you’re doing so good and she just wants me to stop being so worried about it. So that is great news and I already feel better and more confident about how much you’re eating and gaining. You’re in about the 25 percentile for weight and head size but about 75 percentile for length; you’re a long, skinny little girl.

You had to get your shots today. This is something I really stressed over and researched a lot about, but in the end we opted to have you get all of the recommended immunizations. So you had to get three shots and one oral vaccine. Your dad held you and you actually handled it really well, crying during the shots but you calmed down before we’d even left the room. I was worried that you’d be fussy the rest of the afternoon, but you fell right asleep and enabled me to run some errands. Tonight, however, you were really really unsettled and unhappy. You were crying and even when you’d nod off you’d continue to sob. This went on for hours. You only had a slight fever, but we didn’t know if we should give you the medicine the doctor recommended or not. I was so scared to give it to you in case you’d have an allergic reaction, and I really just don’t like giving you medicine at all. Anyway, finally we gave it to you and within 15 minutes you settled down and fell asleep. I was worried that when it wore off in 3-4 hours you’d wake up again and be really fussy again, but you slept through the night and woke up your happy, content usual self. Thank goodness! I am not looking forward to all the future immunizations you have to get, but at least for now we know the medicine seems to help take the edge off.

You celebrated your two month birthday with a photo shoot and a visit to the Sun (that was more for your parents to celebrate our survival as parents for two months!). We’re having so much fun with you, watching you grow and change almost every day. You’re really enjoying making new noises, and often ‘talk’ with us or with yourself in your crib. You are smiling much more and you’re getting really good at tracking people or objects.

Two months old!

Smiles for your two month photo

Similar to when you are the most upset, when you are extremely happy you embrace the feeling with your whole body. Your face breaks out into a little smile, and your arms and legs flail about with joy. Your head wobbles back and forth and you can’t sit still with all of the excitement. You do your own version of a happy dance (something I myself do!); you are so cute. You’re also hard to capture in a photograph!

Happy dance

Today was a cold, rainy day and you accompanied me on some errands. We passed a Starbucks and a warm coffee sounded wonderful so we stopped in. I’d planned to just grab a drink to go, but you were sleeping contentedly and I was so drawn in by all of the people lounging around that I thought we’d try it, too. I sat down and read my book and savored my drink, and really enjoyed relaxing with you out of the house.

Keeping me company for coffee

Part of the fun of this grand adventure with you has been watching your dad seamlessly become an amazing father. Throughout the pregnancy he was so confident and excited, a stable source of courage for me when I was scared or uncertain of what lay ahead. But from the minute you were born he has not only been so great with you, but he’s done everything in his power to help me out as much as possible as well. He watches you every evening so I can take a nap (while he is cooking dinner at the same time!), and he continues watching you until 1 am when I takeover. On weekends he’s watched you so that I can get a massage or take a bath, or catch up on some much needed sleep.

Today I played in two soccer games in my attempt to get back into shape relatively quickly. He watched you during the second game and after while I enjoyed a relaxing bath. Afterwards I came out into the living room to find him napping with you and Guinness. So cute!

Nap time

Sleepy dad and daughter

Your dad loves reading to you and hanging out with you, and he even discovered your favorite position to be carried in when you’re in a cranky mood.

Teaching you about beer brewing - you can't start too early!

Having a conversation in Breckenridge

You in your favorite position

But I think one thing that you two have perfected is the art of napping together; you even had it down since your first day!

Napping together on your birthday

Napping buddies