12 weeks

Annabelle is 12 weeks old today. Wow. I like that she is getting bigger since I am not a huge fan the newborn stage, but since she is most likely my last baby (God willing) it is a little bitter sweet.

Baby Belle is growing well, she nurses fine with lots of wet diapers and is much happier if I avoid all dairy. She smiles and "talks" when she is awake, loves to lay on a blanket with toys and has started to roll. Baths calm her down and wiping drool off her chin makes her smile. Almost giggles. At night she will often go for 4-5 hours between feedings and has even done a 7 hour stretch. During the day she wants to eat every 2-3 hours. She looks like her sisters, chicken legs and all.

According to the March of Dimes, by the end of their third month, most babies:

Raise head and chest when lying on stomach (head yes, chest not quite)
Support upper body with arms when lying on stomach (starting to do this)
Stretch legs out and kick when lying on stomach or back (yup)
Push down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface (yup, supports her own weight)
Open and shut hands (check!)
Bring hands to mouth (and drools all over them)
Grab and shake hand toys (bats at toys but can't grab them yet)
Follow moving object with eyes (loves to watch her sisters)
Watch faces closely (yup)
Recognize familiar objects and people at a distance (yup)
Start using hands and eyes in coordination (see above, trys to bat at things)
Begin to babble and to imitate some sounds (I swear she says "hi")
Smile at the sound of parents' voices (loves to be talked to)
Enjoy playing with other people (any time she is the center of attention she is all smiles)
May cry when playing stops (or when you stop looking at her)

At 3 months:
Annabelle is 11.8 pounds, and that is
at the 24th percentile for weight.
She is 24 inches, and that is
at the 58th percentile for height.
She has a head circumference of 16 inches, and that is
at the 55th percentile for head circumference.

I have learned in the past few years of being a parent that I tend to march to the beat of my own drummer. No shocker there. Lately I have been struggling with the whole doctor thing. We have insurance but still have to pay a $25 dollar co-pay. At our well baby appointments they weigh and measure, I fill in a questionnaire about what she can do, the doctor checks her reflexes and asks if I have any questions. I know my daughter, I spend every day with her. Why would I pay someone who spends 10 minutes with her every 8 weeks to tell me she is ok? I decided that I am comfortable taking her to the doctor every 3 months, unless she is sick or I am worried about something.

I tried to take a cute picture of her today, but she wasn't having it. Oh well.