Sunshine!

During Stella's particularly difficult (lots of crying & fussing) 12th week, I found out about 'Wonder Weeks' and 'Sunshine Weeks' from my kind acquaintances on the Baby Center Community and here. An excerpt to describe what's going on during these times:

Recent research has shown that there are predictable times during the first few years of a child's life when the child may be more demanding (fussier) than usual. These fussy times have been called the 'Wonder weeks' by some writers, because it is during these more difficult weeks that babies are making big steps forward in their development.
Once they have taken one of these big steps in their development, they may have times when they are less demanding. These times have been called  'sunny' times. [...]
Reminder: Even though 'wonder' weeks can seem like difficult times when babies are clingy and unhappy, they are very special weeks because the babies are making a new big step forward.

In the first year of life, the stormy times seem to happen around

• 5 weeks
• 8 weeks
• 12 weeks
• 17 weeks
• 26 weeks (6 months)
• 36 weeks
• 44 weeks
• 53 weeks (around 12 months).

The 'sunny' weeks can also be more or less predictable. The 'sunniest' weeks tend to happen around

• 6 weeks
• 10 weeks
• 13 weeks (around 3 months)
• 21 weeks
• 31 weeks
• 39 weeks
• 49 weeks
• 58 weeks.

 She is now 3 months old and half way through her 13th week... She seems to be trying to put everything she can into her mouth & I suspect she may be showing the early signs of teething. I love her little gums without teeth in them & Geoff and I both wish we could slow time down considerably so we can keep her just as she is for a little longer!

Our happy little Baba

We've had some lovely Summer sunshine.... but Summer does not want to stay! We had a massive rain storm & it's gone frezing cold (heater is back on in Stella's room) on the 14th of December!!! Come on Summer: Stella has pretty outfits I want to dress her in! {*example above}

We've been visiting a lot at the shop again this past week... Stella seems to love all the busy bustling around her & meeting all the people that come and go. Everybody thinks she's gorgeous & the comment I hear most is 'she looks just like a doll!' :) It is strange to me that some people will speak to her and completely ignore the fact that I am there....it is bizarre!

Stella is making lots of sounds & had long sound conversations with us. She often 'says' something that sounds like 'hoooh yeahh' (oh yeah) and 'heeeeh loow' (hello)

I feel my heart constantly expanding with love for our little girl & am amazed that there is always more room for more and more love. It is truly amazing to be a mother... our child is amazing... Geoff is an incredible father and husband. I feel so abundantly blessed.

Stella & Daddy at work

Anja gave Stella these beautiful silk crochet booties ♥

We are doing lots of nice walks down to the vlei!

Geoff showed Stella her first Christmas tree
(2 December 2011)

Stella's new 'trick' is to get her legs up to the cross bars
where they stay for a little while until she flops back down :)
*see pic above for 'flopping'

Stella LOVES her texture-block! She brings it up to her face
with her hands as well as with her feet!
{here she is in her car seat with it &
she has her foot caught in the flower rattle bit}

Here Stella is with her block at home - balanced between
the couch & cushions, she's trying to sit
(but she's still a bit flopsy!)

Happy happy on her changing mat at T'Neal's house

Our beautiful baby girl x x x