13 Weeks/ 3 Months

It seems absolutely unreal that it's been 3 months since Val arrived pissing and screaming into this world. Since then, everything has changed for us. We sleep less, we talk about Val more. Way more. I'm a lot more forceful when people make dumb comments. Andrea has proved herself to be the kind of amazing parent I knew she would be.

Unfortunately, I'm realizing that I'm really not cut out to be a stay-at-home mom. Part-time, yes, that would rule. But it's getting to the point where filling my days is something of a challenge (it's not you, Val, it's me). I'm doing my best to cherish the few weeks I have left at home with her, because I won't get this time again unless we win the lottery or sell our house and move to Ohio. Or the South.

Val's accomplishments for the week include rolling from both front to back and back to front. She startles herself (and us) every time she does it. Today, she started to push herself up when lying on her tummy, looking very much like the line drawing of the baby in the development books.

There's also a lot more drool in our lives. Everything goes into her mouth, then comes out a bit moister than it went in. I'm pretty sure this means a tooth is on it's way.

She's also become the master of reaching for and holding things. We have to pay attention to what's around her, lest it be caught in her strong but small grasp.

Her laugh has gone from a very unique squeak to a more grownup laugh. She's getting better and better at going to sleep fast, it just takes a little coaxing with a pacifier and some rocking. Most of the time, she goes out like a light when we do this. Usually when she's fussy, it means she's ready for this. This simple fact makes our lives about a million times easier. And hers too, I imagine.

Being her mom is everything I dreamed of and more. To those who still seem surprised to see me with a stroller or talking like an idiot to my beautiful baby girl, I say pbbbt. And I ask how many times you'd really expect me to reach into the deepest place in my heart and pull out my most faraway dream and share it, just like that.

Which brings me to Val. She's everything I held in that faraway place, all I'd hoped for every time I tried to picture being a mom. And every day, it's just moreso.

I cannot wait to see what she does next.