Lunch with Cobb & Catherine!

Monday was a nice relaxing day. We met Cobb and Catherine and their moms for lunch in Bethedsda, then went across the street and painted more pottery! Here we are with our babies!

Alexa gets her first set of keys!

Rainy day! Ugh! Well, we had some errands to run... We headed to Bloomingdales to get Alexa a snowsuit in her size. It's adorable! Stay tuned for some pictures. We then headed to a holiday party with the other couples in my mom's group! It was a nice afternoon and great to see everyone.

Then, when we got home. We lit another candle on our Menorah and Alexa got a little gift from Mommy and Daddy: A set of her very own keys to clutch, eat and drool on! We think she likes them!

Alexa's second night of Hanukkah!

Today was a busy day... We mailed all of our Holiday cards! And we cleaned up the house for our family who will be arriving starting Monday night! We also went downtown for lunch at our favorite Indian food restaurant. Yum!

At sundown, we lit another candle and Alexa opened her Hanukkah presents from Aunt Missy, Uncle Rich and her cousins!

She then tried out the awesome Nod Chair that just arrived from the Levys. Looks like she likes it!

Alexa's first night of Hanukkah!

Today was a big day for us! Alexa and I met some friends for lunch in downtown Washington, D.C. We got all dolled up for the occasion and hit the road.

So here I am, dressed up and pushing a baby stroller, which did not fit into the doorway! We finally got into the restaurant and as I was trying to squeeze through the crowd... Excuse me... Excuse me... Alexa decided it was the perfect time to start SCREAMING at the top of her lungs! Well. That sure got people to move out of my way! Hahahaha. Talk about an entrance!

Once we sat down, and I took her out of her car seat (aka, baby torture device) she settled down and we had a nice lunch! Here we are with Alexa's friend Catherine and some former co-workers of mine. What a nice lunch!

Later that night, we introduced Alexa to Hanukkah. Daddy led us as we lit the candles and said the prayers!

Then Alexa got to open her first night of Hanukkah presents! She got a backpack and book about the Guggenheim from Grandma E. What awesome gifts! Here is Happy Alexa after we opened the gifts!

Another play date with Michaela!

Today was freezing! But it was nice out, so I bundled Alexa up in the most ridiculously adorable outfit and out we went! Here we are... I know, look at that face, she is not sure if her outfit is over the top or not... Yes, it is. Over the top and we love it!

I also put mittens on her and plopped her into her quilted sleeping bag sack in her carseat. She was toasty. After a nice lunch at our favorite organic restaurant, where we ran into the doctor who delivered BOTH Alexa and Michaela (!!!), we headed to Barnes & Noble!

Here is adorable Michaela, taking a crawl break from all her walking!

Michaela with her awesome momma!

Lucky me with BOTH babies! Michaela is almost exactly a year older than Alexa. So she is 15 months to Alexa's 3 months. But she's about double Alexa's size! Alexa is 12 pounds and Michaela is more than 24 pounds! My, how they grow fast...

Alexa is 3 months old!!

Happy Birthday, Alexa! It's hard to believe that she's already 3 months old! Today, we went to the doctor's for a weight check. She has grown! Alexa is now 12 pounds, 3 ounces.

To recap, here is where Alexa is, developmentally:

• She can sit up, supported
• She has amazing head control and can hold her head up when on your shoulder
• When on her tummy, she can hold her neck up
• Also while on her tummy, she is working on straightening her arms (not quite there)
• She can roll onto her side, up on her hips and shoulder!
• She notices mirrors and loves them!
• She also likes to grab onto things, like rings, my finger, my hair, a burp cloth, her Oball
• She can follow us with her gaze
• She startles at loud sounds
• She smiles! Big smiles!
• She talks: Agoo! Ooooh! And she gurgles.
• She has found her hands, and they are always in her mouth!
• Her longest night sleep is 7 hours although she typically does 5-6 hours
• She naps well, including two small naps and one long one each day
• She drinks out of a bottle!
• She sleeps in her crib!

Another mom's group meeting

Today was my weekly mom's group meeting! We meet at a nearby Temple, in a large room with two blankets spread out on the floor. Everyone sits around in a circle and brings their own blankets to put their babies on. Here is Alexa playing with one of her favorite toys!

Today's topic was finding your voice as a parent when you need to act in the best interest of your child... Such as asking friends to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands if they want to hold your baby or deciding not to go to a family gathering due to germs or your baby missing a critical nap. It was definitely stuff that hit close to home!

We also discussed setting limits... Such as what junk food to allow and how to control TV and, when they are older, deal with discipline. A lot of stuff to think about!

After our meeting, a bunch of us went out to lunch, as per our weekly tradition! Next week is our last group session. It's hard to believe it's almost over! Luckily, a bunch of us have signed up for Itsy Bitsy Yoga in January and February. I hope we can stay in touch as our babies grow!

Another play date with Catherine!

We spent the afternoon at my friend Mary Clare's house, where the babies took turns eating, fussing, sleeping and PLAYING! Here they are on Catherine's activity mat!

Sunday in the Snow!

Today, we did what has become somewhat of a Sunday tradition... We walked to a local brewery restaurant and had lunch while watching football! Alexa usually sleeps through the outing. (She didn't this time... Arg!)

But anyway, since we knew the path would be snowy, we broke out our heavy duty stroller with the sturdy tires. Check it out!

Soon, Alexa will be big enough to ride in the stroller without the infant car seat! The seat reclines all the way down and our pediatrician said that if we use a head support cushion, she could ride in it laying down. We just got this insert from JJ Cole (for only $13.99, which is $10 less than retail price!) So we plan to try it out soon!

Also on Sunday, Alexa practiced her head control! Check it out! Click HERE to watch a video.

Alexa's first snowfall!

That's right, it was 60 degrees out on Thursday, but today it snowed! And it stuck... About 3 inches! Here is Alexa checking out the snow this morning with her Daddy...

At mid-day when the snow was still falling, we went out for a short walk - only to the park and back. It was a winter wonderland!

Look at our snowy backyard!

Alexa was all bundled up in her baby snowsuit from her cousin Samantha!

It was so exciting that she fell asleep and took a nice long nap.

My good little sleeper!

Alexa is doing so well with her naps and night sleeping. I am so proud! Here is what my happy baby looks like in her crib when I walk in each morning...

I make sure she gives me a BIG SMILE before I pick her up. I want her to learn that the crib is a happy place and that if she wakes up, she can play on her own and hang out before I come in to get her. I think it's working!

We have been doing the same bedtime routine each night: Bath, put on sleep clothes, book, last feed, then I put on her sound machine of ocean waves (my beach baby!) and put her in her Miracle Blanket in her crib.

If she has fallen asleep at the breast, then she wakes up during the swaddle, so I either pat her while she is laying in her crib in the swaddle until she closes her eyes or walk out and turn the light off and she falls asleep on her own!

Generally, she has been sleeping about 5-6 hours a night. So if we put her down at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., she'll sleep until 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. I'll nurse her and put her down again and she'll sleep for about 2-3 hours on the second put down. If I can get her to sleep that whole time without that 4-5 a.m. feeding, I'd be golden! Then I could gradually move her bedtime earlier...

During the day, we are still doing the E.A.S.Y. (Eat, Awake time, Sleep) routine and it's been wonderful. She'll take a couple naps of 30 minutes to an hour long, then one long nap mid-day or late afternoon that ranges from 2-3 hours. I have been better at predicting that long nap, like I did on Thanksgiving, so that has been great.

Anyway, sleep training is a work in progress but at least I feel like we are on the right track!

In other news, we just found out today that we have a daycare spot as of Jan. 11th... Which is good and bad since I'll be off longer with no pay! Oh well, it's still a spot.

Footprint fun!

We had a great time today with my mom's group at All Fired Up, a store in Bethesda where you can paint pottery and they will fire it!

Here is Colleen and baby Drew making Christmas Tree plates!

Basically, you paint your baby's foot with the (non-toxic) paint and then presto, you have a baby footprint stamp!

You can put it on anything! Alexa didn't like it at first, but then she must have gotten bored because she just fell asleep...

What a fun and artistic day!

Another visit with Miss Kaitlyn!

Alexa made her third trip to Virginia today to visit her friend Kaitlyn! We walked to Old Town and visited Appleseed, a totally adorable baby and maternity store. I got her some adorable little hair clips! I can't wait to try them on her!

Unfortunately, it started raining and so we had to head back. But we had a nice lunch and visit. And I got to give Kaitlyn a bottle! She was a little darling and drank it right down, after a little coaxing. Here are the adorable little babies asleep in their matching car seats...

Kaitlyn is 5 weeks today and Alexa is 12 weeks today. Hard to believe that Alexa used to be that small!

In other news, as of today, Alexa now has a college savings plan! Her daddy set up a 529 account. Let us know if anyone wants to contribute!

Our first trip to the grocery store!

After my mom's group meeting, I went out to lunch with some other moms in Silver Spring. Afterward, since Alexa was still sleeping, I decided to duck into Whole Foods for cereal. Well, one thing led to another and soon I had a whole basket of food!

It was a bit difficult shopping with a stroller... I have heard from other moms that it's easier to shop with the baby in a sling until they are old enough to sit up in the cart. Speaking of, I think we'll need to get one of those cart covers to protect her from germs... Like this one? Or this one?

In other news, I just found out that I can extend my job-protected leave until Feb. 24th! I spoke with my manager today and I'm all set to take another couple months off. Yay! More time to play with Alexa!