Three Months of GLO and counting

Well, our Glo-girl was 3 months old last Tuesday.  It’s hard to believe how the time has flown and it’s such a joy to see her little personality come out.  I think I am enjoying her babyhood so much, maybe even more than the other two, as I know how fleeting it is, AND mothering a baby is just so fun and easy.  Well, easy compared to mothering our older two.

When I found out I was pregnant with Gloria, I really questioned the Lord’s timing in giving us our third child.  With a move and entirely new stage of life looming, not to mention two still-very-young other children, I had a hard time trusting that a third baby wouldn’t send me over the deep end.  Well, as always, hindsight is 20/20 and I see so clearly how the Lord knew exactly what he was doing.  In the day-to-day gruel of training and caring for my toddler and preschooler (it’s wonderful, but grueling in many ways), He knew how these sweet baby coos, cuddles, and smiles would delight me and brighten even my toughest days as a mom.

He knew that sometimes I would need to see Martha’s kind concern when her baby sister cries and Noa’s gentle baby-talk as she tries to get Gloria to smile to remind me that He is working in their little hearts even at a young age.

He knew I would need the moments to just sit and enjoy my kids, whether with a book or a song, and often, stopping what I am doing to nurse the baby affords a perfect opportunity.

He also knew he needed to keep me humble and desperate for him.  Granted, I felt pretty hopeless and needy much of the time with only two kids.  Still, in these 3 months of learning to love well our three daughters I have found myself crying out to the Lord more than ever in my life and finding Him to be sufficient. His mercies are new every morning, his grace abounds, and he is trsutworthy and faithful!   How I praise him that, through Gloria, he has already brought  much glory for himself in our family.  He has also brought about so much good and joy for us. I can’t wait to see how He continues to do this!

At three months, Gloria is a great eater! She is only nursing 4 times a day (sometimes 5 when she wakes up early) but she is growing like crazy.  At her 2 month check-up she was 13lb6oz and has gotten even heftier since then.  She’s long too, or at least I think she seems so long. She’s not a tiny baby anymore at all, and may even be bigger than her sisters were at this age.

She is sleeping pretty well, going to bed around 7:30 or 8:00 and waking up around 8 or 9.  Since we’ve been home, she’s been waking up in the wee hours of the morning, usually at least once.  I try to nurse her but usually the only thing she wants is to cuddle with us and so she spends the rest of those nights in our bed.  It’s not ideal and I am determined to break the habbit once Sachiko leaves (in only 9 days    )and her crying won’t disturb anyone.  For now, I enjoy the snuggles with my sweet-smelling sleeping babe.

She takes 2 long naps in the morning and afternoon and sometimes one late-afternoon catnap. She has gotten very good at going down and hasn’t needed to be held or rocked to sleep for a while now.

She loves her paci (nor surprise there) but also likes to suck and play with her hands.  And as soon as someone’s face comes into view, the paci is outta there and the smiles/giggles/cooing gets going.  She is always ready for a little chat with anyone who will listen, even if it’s the animals hanging on her baby gym that she just started grabbing this week.

She’s continued to roll from her belly to her back and is so close to going from her back to her belly. She has also started to scoot on her back with all the kicking she does.

She has started to sit in the high chair at meals with us and seems to really enjoy being part of the family in that way.  She loves being able to see faces.  She still loves being held and doesn’t mind helping Daddy with his Hebrew as long as he holds her like a football and doesn’t mind some drool on his shirt.

She really is thriving, for which we are so grateful.  Praise God! And we are just loving every moment with our Glo-girl.