A letter to my Nan Louise at 5 months

 

Nanny Lou,

You, my dear, are a gift to this family. You light up when you hear our voices, even if you don't see us. You are so incredibly sweet. I can't quite pinpoint why, but you just exude sweetness.

 You are pretty content. You have discovered your hands and love to chew on them. You reach for toys and grab onto them. You just started rolling over and start to holler for me when you find yourself stuck in a corner!

 You are loved very intensely by your big sisters. Sometimes you holler when they come around because you know you're about to be mauled. Sorry about that. You have a sweet little raspy voice and I can't wait until you start saying words and we can hear what it really sounds like.

 You go back and forth with being a great night sleeper. For the most part you do a great job, and other nights we have to give you your paci a few times, but that's not so bad. I'll take it :).

 When I hold you and smell your little fuzzy head, I can't believe I ever even wrestled with the whether or not we should try to have another baby in our family. Now I can't even imagine it any other way.

 Nan, you have stolen our hearts. Your dad said to me the other day, "I have fallen in love and grown attached to Nan the fastest of any of the girls, I think." I think so too. You're just so easy to love, little lady.

 Yes, our lives are busier. Loading the van to go somewhere is harder. Bedtime is much more complicated. Keeping track of all the fingernails and toenails that need to be clipped is nearly impossible. BUT. My heart has expanded in ways it couldn't have without you. God has sustained me and grown me in ways I couldn't have without you.

 Our laps are fuller. Our days jammed pack with noise and crazy chaos. But Nan Louise, I'm so thankful for you. We love you so much.

ps. a photo session with a five month old is not the easiest when your only help is a two year old. ;)

3 months of Nan Louise

 Nan's Birth Story

Story behind her name

 Yes, I have been doing monthly pictures of Nan. I just figured I would post them every three months, and here we are...well into her third month of life!

Month ONE

Our biggest baby, Nan seemed to quickly outgrow newborn clothes and stretch out. She loved being held or otherwise entertained [read: eating], and never went longer than 2 to 2 and a half hours between feedings.

Month TWO

  

She started to figure out longer naps, and started stretching her feedings out a little bit. She began smiling and cooing a bit, and sleeping through the night some. At your two month check up your heart murmur that they heard at birth was gone!

 

  

Month THREE

Month three has been a fun one, now that Nan is laughing and cooing like crazy. [We tried really hard to get her to smile during these pictures...to no avail]. She talks more than Blythe or Becks ever did at this point, which is a bit terrifying for me ;). Sleeping through the night is hit or miss, so we're going to break the swaddle and do a bit of sleep training soon [this is when we did this with older two and they became THE BEST sleepers. Saying our prayers it works as well with this little pistol]. 

Nan, your sisters are SO in love with you. They smother you and I tell them a million times a day, "give her space...give her space..."

  

I'm enjoying you so much. Your smells. Your sounds. You're just so sweet. You are a fast nurser and a good nurser which is such a blessing. Like your sister's before you, you don't poop, but luckily I know what to do for you now to keep you from too much discomfort! 

 

 You're hair is still RED! You still have the cutest freckle on top of your head [I'll be sad when your hair covers it up...but at the rate your hair is now that could be awhile ;)]. Your eyebrows are so light. Papa came over one day and said maybe he'd just draw them on for you! 

 

Nan Louise, we love you SO much. We are so thankful you're a part of our family. Three months have gone so quickly, and we know you'll be crawling and walking and going to kindergarten before we know it! 

 And here are the other two little ladies in our house: