4 Months!

Dear Linnea,
The months are just flying faster and faster, and we are trying to soak up every second with you!! I can't believe you are 4 months old today! As I was getting you ready for the day, I told you the story of your birth day...what a good day it was! We can't believe that it's already been 4 months since that day. You've grown and changed SO much, and have already brought us such joy. We have to pinch ourselves sometimes, realizing that you are ours, and that there is so much more in store for us!! It brings tears to my eyes...life with you just keeps getting better! We've had another great month. Here are some highlights...

You celebrated Thanksgiving...

The "holiday season" is officially underway, and we loved having you a part of our Thanksgiving. We didn't have to think hard to think about what we are most thankful for...YOU!! We had a great time celebrating with you! The three of us went over to Grammy and Grampy's for the day. We had a wonderful time! The dress code was stretchy pants, which we happily went along with! The weather was gorgeous, so we were able to take you out geocaching with Auntie Gracia and Ty. We didn't even wear coats! We spent the rest of the day feasting and watching the Packers win yet another game...woo hoo!! At dinner time, you were literally the centerpiece of our dinner. We put you in your Bumbo seat and set you in the middle of the table. You smiled and gabbed and enjoyed watching the rest of us eat. What a great day!

You had some Christmas/holiday fun...
We have an annual tradition with Mom's side of the family (specifically the Brostes) of making lefse sometime around Thanksgiving/Christmas. This year you got to join in the fun! It was just you, me, daddy, and Grandma and Grandpa, but it was lots of fun. You enjoyed swinging in your swing while we rolled, and cooked the lefse. While we were making the lefse, the first snow of the season fell. You loved looking out the window and the snow falling and looked genuinely bewildered at what you saw. Too cute.

Another special tradition with Mom's family is our annual trip to the tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree. I (Mom) did it every year growing up, even when I was as young as you! It was perfect this year...we had a picturesque snowfall the night before, making it feel very much like Christmas time. We have been going to the same tree farm for the last few years. It's a great little place. One of the best parts is that Santa is there! You met Santa and sat on his lap. You didn't last too long before crying, but it sure was cute. Then, we bundled you in your little bear suit, put you in the Baby Bjorn, and set out for the fields. We tromped through the fields to find a perfect tree. You had so much fun you fell asleep...right there in the Bjorn out in the cold and snow! It was so sweet.

We also got the chance to go to the Macy's 8th floor display, that is a special tradition for your daddy and I. This year we went with your Auntie Jackie and Uncle Tom, and Gavin. You slept through the whole thing, but we were glad we could bring you anyways. We had a good time hanging out and drinking coffee afterwards. We can't wait for the rest of our Christmas fun coming up!

You rolled over...
Near the end of November, you started rolling over! Daddy saw you go both ways...first tummy to back, and then back to tummy. Unfortunately, I missed the first couple times, as I was on my way from work, but I eventually saw you. Just this week, you've been hitting a huge growth spurt, and along with it came TONS of rolling. We can hardly keep you on your back now! Such a big girl!!

You were a rockstar at daycare...
As I said last month, I headed back to work and you headed to daycare. It took a little bit for all of us to adjust, but now you are doing such a great job. We can't tell you how proud we are when we get the daily report from Magna and it says you were happy, content, and had a perfect day. It's so reassuring to know that you are doing so well there. :-)

You've grown and changed a lot too...
You are changing by leaps and bounds! It feels like every week you have a new trick you've learned. What fun!

You continue to be SUPER alert and interactive. You love to "talk" back and forth and are almost constantly on the move. You kick your legs and wave your arms around, and squeal with delight.

You have your 4th month doctors appointment soon. We are eager to see how big you've grown, and what the doctor has to say. I think you must weigh around 15 pounds? You are definitely a lot longer, as the length is always how you grow out of clothes first. You have lots of 0-3 months pants have become highwaters...practically overnight!

You aren't wearing many 0-3 month clothes these days. There are still some 3 month clothes you wear, but mostly 3-6 month and 6 month. I think we are always surprised to take out 6 month clothes and realize they really do fit...a little bit still, but they fit. You've been in size 2 diapers for a couple weeks. It's crazy to think back to your tiny little newborn diapers. How much you have grown already!

You continue to love sucking on your hands and fingers. You also have discovered a love of faces and hair. You love grabbing our faces, and you often find my hair, pulling on it and twirling it around in your hand.

Your new sound as of late is growling. It's this cute little low growly, smiley sound. You will have "conversations" with people back and forth when they growl or coo at you. This is a favorite of grandpa's!

It's been another great month, watching you grow and develop by leaps and bounds. We look very much forward to the Christmas season approaching to our first Christmas as a family of three!

We love you, Linnea Beth!
Mom and Dad

3 Months!

Dear Linnea,

You are three months old, sweet girl! And what a month you've had! You are growing by leaps and bounds, and we can hardly believe that the big, alert, active little girl in our arms is the same one that we nervously brought home from the hospital just 3 months earlier. We can't imagine life without you now!! We've had such a great month. Here are just some of the highlights:

You were baptized...
What a special day!! We have been looking forward to your baptism day for a long time! We actually started planning it before you were born. When we told Grandma and Grandpa that you were on your way, we took out the calendar to see when you might be baptized. Much to our joyful surprise, we found that Grandma's birthday was on a Sunday this year...and on a Sunday that there would be baptisms! Awesome! When you were born, the plan was finalized...Grandma would baptize you on November 13th - her birthday and your 3-month birthday! In addition, you got to wear the baptismal dress that I (Mom) wore, Grandma wore, and your angel Auntie Beth wore. How cool!! I (Mom) was worried that you would be fussy during the service, but you were perfect! You fell asleep right before the baptism. You startled when Grandma poured the water on your head, but didn't wake up. The service was pretty emotional. Grandma and Mom both cried. I think there were lots of tears in the congregation too!

You woke up when Grandma showed you around to the congregation, but you were quiet. You looked around happily at all your new brothers and sisters in Christ. You were pretty happy for the rest of the service. You looked so cute in your dress with your damp little head. We had a party at church after the service. So many people joined us for the celebration! You are so loved, my dear! Guests included: all your grandparents, your Great-Grandma Broste, and Great-Grandpa and Grandma Carlson, some aunts and uncles, your WOWZaunties, our Faith Group friends, and your godparents, T.J. and Sarah and their girls (there were even more guests, but too many to list here).

You started sleeping through the night...
You slowly but surely started moving yourself to earlier bed times. Starting the middle or so of October, you started pretty consistently going to bed around 7:00. This was really weird for us! We were used to having you up until closer to 10:00. We hardly knew what to do with ourselves when you were down for the night around 7:00. Shortly after earlier bedtimes, it was clear it was time for you to move to your own room. You were outgrowing the cradle you had been sleeping in since you were born. We moved you down the last weekend of October. The second night you were in your room you slept from 7:30-6:45! WOW! You have been consistently sleeping for 10-12 hours each night in your crib for about 3 weeks now. We've just had a couple nights where you've woken up in the middle of the night...and those times have been just to eat quick, and then go back to bed. You are such an awesome little sleeper!

You started daycare...
The beginning of November marked Mom's return to work, and your start of daycare. You go to Magna's house Mondays-Thursdays, and then are with Grandma and Grandpa on Fridays. You've been doing really well! I (Mom) have had a hard time letting go of being in charge all the time, but you seem to be doing really great with Magna. Daddy brings you there every morning but Thursdays (I take you those days because I work late), and picks you up each day. You get to have some good daddy-daughter time until I get home at 5:30. We've started a notebook with Magna that goes back and forth each day. We love reading Magna's notes about how you are doing. Typically you eat three times at daycare (5 oz. each time). You're napping pretty well for her, and starting to nap for longer stretches, and then be awake for longer stretches. Magna does tummy time with you - although reports you don't like it much! We find the same, but we're working on it. I'm still getting used to not getting to spend all my days with you, but it's getting a little easier. We soak up our time with you during the weekends!! We are super excited to watch all that you learn, and how much you grow in Magna's care.

You took part in our new hobby...
During your 2nd month, Daddy and I got into a new hobby... geocaching! It's a fun, worldwide scavenger hunt that you do by using a GPS. Your Great-Uncle Jeff got us into it. It took a while for us to get the hang of it, but once we did we were hooked! We have loved taking you with us! You ride along in your stroller or in your Baby Bjorn. You love being outside, and we do too! We've really loved how it has helped get us outside, active, and having fun as a family of three! Unfortunately, with daylight savings time, and colder weather, we have had to take a break for the most part. Come Spring we will definitely be back out again. You even have a nice new stroller that we'll be able to break in. We look forward to the day when you're a little older and can help find the caches. We think you'll really get into it! Until then, you seem to really like coming along for the ride with Mom and Dad. :-)

You celebrated your first holiday...Halloween!
We had a great Halloween with you! Grammy and Grampy found an adorable little "Sweet Pea" costume for you - how fitting! We had Faith Group on the 30th, and all the kids dressed up! Then, on Halloween we gathered with our Amma friends to have a little party as well. There's not much cuter than a cute baby in costume! You looked adorable. You were pretty much sleeping by the time trick or treaters came around. It won't be long before you're out there too! We are so looking forward to the rest of the holidays with you this year...Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming soon!!

You've grown and changed a lot too...
We can't believe how much you've changed. You are so alert, strong, and interactive. People oftentimes think you are older than you are. I think it's because you love to sit up, you are strong, and you are so attentive.

We haven't had you weighed or measured since your 2 month appointment. I'm guessing you are 14 pounds or so...and definitely a lot longer! Clothes fit one day, and then are too small the next!

There are very few 0-3 month clothes you are wearing. There are a good handful of 3 month clothes you wear, but also some 3-6 month, and even some 6 month clothes! You are teetering on the edge of size 1 and size 2 diapers. It won't be long I'm sure until you are firmly in size 2.

You have found your hands, and love to have them in your mouth. You have also started to drool A LOT, which makes for wet hands, clothes, face, Mommy and Daddy's shoulders, etc. :-) You smile a ton, coo, and have started to make a funny squawk sound too. Daddy teases that you are calling the storks back. You love to move and shimmy, and "smile with your whole body" as Grandma says. You have become quite the content girl...mostly just crying for a reason, and then settling back down.

What a wonderful month we've had!! We love you so much, Sweet Pea!

Love, Mommy and Daddy