Dear Lucy,

You are 12 weeks old today, an ancient three months. It’s been such a short time, but the day you were born seems so long ago because you — and we — have changed so much.

You used to be wee. You were a skinny, pocket-sized baby. Now you are 14 lbs. and almost 25 inches long. You have outgrown all your newborn clothes, and did so in length long before they became too tight. We had to enlongate the straps of your carseat weeks ago.

We call you Jabba after Jabba the Hut because of your double chin. You are also Monkey Doo, Baby Doo, Goosey Goo and most recently, Lu-Lu.

Just yesterday you became very interested in objects. I held your stuffed octopus (we call it a pentapus because it only has five legs) in front of you while in your bouncy chair, and you stared it down as I moved it from side to side. You were in your car seat and we pulled your vibrating bug and your eyes practially jumped out of your head while it buzzed. This was the coolest thing to you, and your reaction made us cry from laughing so hard.

You squeal now. Your voice becomes almost raspy as it hits a high octave and ends in a laugh: ahh-eeeeee-ahhhhh! You do this in your crib, while we change you, and in your bouncy chair. You save your best smiles and laughs for your Daddy.

You almost have full control of your head. We joke you don’t quite have the strength yet because your face is so chubby.

You love shadows on the wall and new faces. You’ve just started to grab at things, but would much rather stick your hands in your mouth. You do this more often when you’re tired.

You hate having your hands covered. We wrap you up in your car seat, and your hands pop out within seconds. We put you down at night and your arms immediately fling above your head.

You still sleep a lot.

Sometimes you are exasperating beyond words. You are impatient (you get that from me), and if my milk is coming too slow or too fast you whimper, turn red and scream and scream and scream until you’re sweating and frothing at the mouth. You do this if you are overtired, too.

Three months old and you’re already throwing tantrums. I said to your Daddy, “Just wait until she’s 2.” This is scary, but I love that you know what you want and aren’t afraid to ask for it (you also get this from me). I just wish you could tell us in a more sane, less Lucifer-like way.

It’s amazing how you have brought our families even closer. We’ve seen your Gramie more in the past three months than almost all of last year. Your Nana comes to visit every week, and her and Grandpa even came to babysit you on the Friday of the long weekend so your Daddy and I could go out for dinner.

You are funny and frustrating and a joy and a challenge. But there is nothing better in the world than you thumping your legs and smiling with glee in your bouncy chair or drifting off to sleep in my arms while I kiss the Bunny Spot between your eyes.

Love Mummy

Possibly related posts:

1. Less chubby, more changes: Six months
2. A day in the life of us
3. Two weeks
4. I think you’ve changed more this month than any other: Nine months
5. The Change