Saturday, August 29, 2015

Month Four

   Lillian started off her fourth month of life by celebrating Easter! We read the Easter story in the Bible stories book that Mamaw gave her. That evening we went over to Jason's co-workers house for a yummy Easter dinner. All the ladies loved meeting L for the first time and cuddling with her. Unfortunately, she didn't want to take the bottle, so she got a bit fussy, but no one seemed to care as she was happy walking around in anyone's arms!
   She loved to try to eat my arm or clothes while I try to change her diaper. She is also sleeping up to 5.5 hours at a time at night, but only about 30-40 minute naps during the day. We met a few new friends at the Bumps and Babes play group this month, which is every Tuesday at Cafe Arabia. It is good to catch up with other moms and compare stories (and learn from all the ones with older babies). Lillian sat in her Bumbo chair without support for the first time and her neck is starting to get a lot stronger. On April 12th, we went swimming in our pool upstairs for the first time. She really had no reaction as I dipped her toes in and gradually went deeper with her in my arms. She loved looking at the bubbles in the Jacuzzi and was happy as long as she was in my arms and holding on tight! The water was so warm that it's easy to get used to. She continues to get super fussy around 7 at night as she gets tired and just wants to be held.  She started laughing more this month, like when I kiss her arms and put her feet in her mouth. She started having signs of teething (drooling, gnawing on everything, etc.) but now I know that it was only the start of a very long process to wait for her teethies to come in!  
   We went to have some drinks with friends on the patio at a local hotel on a Friday afternoon. It was so fun to enjoy the weather and a small band that was playing, while Lillian was so happy sitting on laps, eating her bottles, and napping in the stroller. She also had a 2 hour nap in her swing before we went (of course, only when we are waiting on her to get up so we can go somewhere) so that helped her enjoy her time awake as well. Luckily, she easily falls asleep in my arms with her paci and a little swinging, even when we are in public. She had a couple of 7 hour sleeps at night this month (which were amazing) and some times where she slept another 2 hours or so after just putting the paci in her mouth when she woke up in the middle of the night. However, there are still nights when she wakes up every 3 hours, so we are hoping that we can both sleep through the night very soon!!
   We explored the new Mushrif Central Park with our friends, Kate and Peyton, on April 27th. Unfortunately, it is now getting too hot during the day to be outside much as it is around 106* by mid-day. She started crying when in her car seat almost everytime now as she just doesn't like to be strapped in when she is used to sitting in her big stroller now. I started taking her to the gym in our building while she is sleeping in the stroller so I can run on the elliptical machine for a bit. She just watches me when she wakes up and is so calm just observing the movement and wondering what is going on! 
   At her 4 month checkup with Dr. Fani, she weighed 7.32 kg (93%) and was 64cm long (85%).

back in AD in time for Easter

my precious Easter bunny
started putting everything in her mouth!

everything!

loving her selfies!

the smiles just kept coming this month

began sitting in her Bumbo chair like a big girl

my little water baby loves our pool days!

haha Mama, I tricked you into sleeping on your lap

one of the last Fridays enjoying the good weather

happy hour on the balcony

loving cuddles with Daddy when he gets home from work

excited for a walk outside

showing JJ around the Abu Dhabi parks

her new jumper

a fancy dinner out with friends

enjoying her shopping cart ride at Lulu's

sleepy lovebug!
happy girl

hanging at the St. Regis pool with Mariana and Daryl

bath time fun

our nightly bedtime story

at our 4 month appointment

4 month photoshoot

all smiles

sleepy girl watching me work out

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Month Three

  We started off the month with a Sip N See baby shower to meet all of my best friends. It was great to get together for everyone to love on Lillian. I also got to enjoy a fun girls night out after as I had my Mamaw, Mom and sister to babysit Lil. It was definitely the longest I had been away from her, but I had no worries as I knew she would get plenty of attention and love while I was having fun. Lillian started to sleep a little longer in Houston, for about 4 hour stretches at night. She also did great sleeping in her car seat while I did a lot of shopping and errand running.
  On March 9th, we traveled to Kentucky to meet all of Jason's family and Lillian got to see some snow that was piled up at the Louisville airport. We had a great time meeting all her great aunts and uncles as well as her grandpa and more great grandmas. We also met some of Jason's friends and their kids for the first time. I flew back to Houston with her by myself for the first time, but she did wonderful sleeping the entire flight in my arms and waking up in the airport bright eyed and happy instead of hungry as I expected. We enjoyed brunch with our old Nigeria friends and their kiddos on March 14th. It was one of many Mexican food meals that I enjoyed while in Houston.
  On March 17th, we drove to Waco to see Mimi, Papa, Mamaw, Grandma Rendon, and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Mimi hosted a mini baby shower at George's with all of her friends to meet Lillian and she got so many cute outfits! On the way home, we stopped by Vanessa's house to play with her 3 boys as well as Jessica's 2 kiddos. Then off to visit Kelly Kirby in her new home. After a long day on the road, we arrived home to visit with the Piatt's that had come down from Dallas. Taylor and Amber were so excited to meet their baby cousin, as there has not been a baby in the family for a very long time!
  This month Lil started grasping more things with her hands, like the blankets, clothes and a few small toys. She also likes "talking" to her toys that dangle from her crib and stroller. She started taking the pacifier for Missy and Mimi. She loves to kick her feet all the time and still hates to be dressed. She also discovered her hands, and will stare at them for a bit trying to get them in her mouth. The night before we left Houston, Aunt Missy got Lillian to laugh while tickling and talking to her. It was so cute and so I am glad that Missy got to experience that with me.
  Lil was such a great sleeper on the plane ride home to Abu Dhabi. I was super worried since it was just me this trip, but she slept in the bassinet the majority of the flight. Her clock was off for the next week in AD, so sleeping at night was a bit of a struggle.
  On April 3rd, we went to Dubai to spend the weekend. Lillian got to meet some of Jason's old co-workers from Nigeria and their kids. We then spent some time at the beach bar people watching and enjoying the good weather. She slept through our dinner at the hotel that night, thankfully, but was wide awake back in the hotel room. So we had a little dance party with Daddy, which she loved, as well as making a lot of funny noises. We spent the next day at the pool, where the water was too chilly to get in but we did dip her in the ocean for the first time.
  At 3 months, Lily likes to make all kinds of noises trying to talk. She loves smiling, especially in the morning. She has started putting everything in her mouth as well. She throws her feet down as hard as she can in the crib and makes a loud noise, which is not fun to wake up to in the middle of the night. Her eyes are getting lighter blue and her dark hair is falling out with blonde hair coming in. She sleeps about every 2 hours, when she starts to get fussy and rub her eyes. She still likes to take naps in the swing or stroller, snoozing with her paci to the movement. She sleeps up to 5 hours at a time at night (still in our room), and eats about every 3 hours during the day (still only breastmilk). She loves to look at screens (phone, computer, TV) so we are constantly moving them to avoid this. She also still hates tummy time.
 Although we didn't have a 3 month appointment, we weighed Lillian on April 10th and she was at 15 pounds! She also measured at 62cm (24.5 inches). She is getting big way too fast! She also is trending right where Jason was at this age. For a girl, that is 95% in weight and 90% in height, so my little chunky baby.
reading books in bed
meeting Mamaw, who sang Lil to sleep

getting ready for our big party
the hostesses with me and Lil

Lil's first time in snow (she was so excited, haha!)

meeting Mamaw and giving her funny faces

bundled up for the cold with Daddy

making faces at Grandma Crowe

meeting Grandma Rendon

laughing at Aunt Pat

first trip to Baylor
meeting Angela, Colby and Ava

trying out Blake and Brody's Bumbo chair

cuddle with big cousin Amber

kisses from Aunt Amy
excited to go see the Easter bunny

surprisngly not scared of the bunny!

all smiles before getting on the plane back home

loving the comfy baby carts at Lulu's hypermarket
on our balcony at the Le Meridien in Dubai Marina

sporting our shades for the first time

pool time
just too cute in her swim gear
3 months old!!