Three Months

3 Months

• We celebrated your first Christmas. We didn't need much, so we kept it simple. You got that onesies you are wearing in the picture, a JoJo book, and pacifier clips. You took a lot of naps. Next year will be more eventful. We headed to Utah for New Years, and you were the best travel baby. You slept well in the car, did well sleeping in different cribs, and loved all the attention that you got. Grandma Matthews kept taking you from me, which I was totally fine with. 
• While in Utah, we took you swimming for the first time. You seemed to like it, or at least tolerated it. 
• You are sitting up a lot better this month. We have had you sitting in the bumbo a bit. I like having you on the counter while we are eating a snack. The other day, Millie wanted to do a tea party with you, so I put you in the gumbo next to her while she pretended to cook for you. At one point, I found the food basket on your head so we had to stop the party at that point.
• You are laughing! Your first chuckle was for dad on Christmas Day. I did get a video of you laughing really well. You don't do it often, but I love hearing it when you do. You are so smiley though. Many people comment on how smiley you are.
• You are sort of our sour patch kid. You will be so happy and smiley and then suddenly, you will start crying. It is pretty night and day. 
• You still have the mark on your cheek this month. We have tried to so many different creams. It is just a crazy ring worm that is holding on tight.

Two Months

2 Months

• Look at that smile!!! I love how you learned how to smile this month (at 5 weeks old). You use your whole body to smile. And those cheeks!! You have gotten so chubby. It is so adorable. I just want to eat those cheeks off your face.
• This month, we went to Oregon for Thanksgiving. All your cousins and aunties and uncles were so excited to see you for the first time. Uncle Joe was a baby stealer and literally would grab you from others arms. But to his credit, he was able to calm you down every time he held you. We joked that he was going to come home with me to become your nanny. It was a bit of a rougher week for you. I don't think that you were able to nap well during the day, so it led to lots of crying. We were able to bless you while there. I was pretty stressed out that you were going to cry during the whole blessing and I wasn't going to be able to hear it, but you were clam for that brief moment, so all was well.
• When we got back home, I was able to get you to nap in your crib more regular which has made a big difference.  
• You have been cooing. Sam loves to think that you are saying actually words, so he will run up to me and tell me that you said your first word "agg". You are more happy to just lay down on the blanket, so the big kids will come lay next to you and try to get you to smile or coo.
• Maggie loves being a little mother to you. One Saturday, I was still sleeping when she heard you start waking up. She got you out of the crib, brought you into the living room and changed your diaper. Then she brought you to me to feed. 
• At your 2 month appointment, you were 13lbs and 8 oz!! We are needing to move up to size 2 diapers because of your chunkiness.

One Month

1 Month

• Oh my goodness, how are you already a month old? It has gone by so fast. You have had grandparents here for the first 2 1/2 weeks, which has helped out a lot. I don't think you laid down on your own during the day much during that time. Everyone loves you so much and are constantly wanting to hold you. 
• You are an amazing eater, super fast, and like your brother and sisters, you are packing on the chubs fast. You take the bottle really well, which is nice because then your dad gets the chance to feed you, which he loves.
• Sleeping is good. To be honest, you are not the best baby when it comes to sleep, but you are still a really good sleeper. The mornings tends to be your needy time. You have a harder time staying asleep on your own or when you are awake, you are not content to just lay on a blanket next to me while I am folding laundry or something. So I end up holding you all morning long and don't get much done, or I put you in the carrier and go for a walk. The afternoon is full of naps. In fact, I wish you were awake a bit more in the afternoon so you will get a full feeding. But night time, you are pretty good about going to sleep right away after feeding. 
• It took us a while to realize that you don't whimper when you stir at night. You let out a loud cry and then go back to sleep. So it is hard to tell if you are actually awake or not. In the morning, you will wake up an hour after your last feeding and I will send your dad into rock you wince you are crying loud enough to wake us both us. But by the time he goes to the bathroom real fast and walk in the room, you are already asleep. 

Baby Blessing

We were able to bless you in Oregon (Canby 2nd Ward of the the Oregon City Stake) Sunday, December 1, 2019. Those in the circle were your father, Grandpa Price, Uncle Joe, and Uncle Dusty.

Heavenly Father, with the authority of the Mel priesthood which we hold, we bring this infant in our arms to give her a name and a blessing. Her name which she will be known by throughout her mortal life is Joanna Bennett Matthews. Joanna, the lord has great things for you to do in this life. And being such He has many gifts that you will develop throughout your life time. We bless you with the gift of intelligence and with the gift of wisdom.We bless you with a cheerful countenance, and those around you will come to you and flock to you because of this countenance, because of the happiness and the love of Christ that you will show to the world. We bless you with friendship with those in need and with the ability to discern and recognize those who need this gift and all the other gifts that you have been given. We bless you with love for those around you. And these things we bless you Joanna in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

It was really sweet to share this moment with family. After church, we all meet up back at Grandma's house where we had pulled pork sandwiches, Cole slaw, fall harvest spinach salad, and chocolate chip cookies.