...and everything nice: Month 3

We have a 3-month-old now and she’s growing and learning new things like crazy. Esme is reaching for toys and grabbing onto anything and everything (toys, blankets, our clothes, mommy’s hair). Whatever she grabs merits a full inspection, of course, which means she now puts everything in her mouth as well. The slobbery, drooling phase has officially begun, and now that she fully appreciates her hands, she’s chewing on them all the time, too. In the gross motor department, Esme is spending a lot more time on her tummy and actually enjoying it. With the support of a rolled up blanket under her chest, she’s started rolling over from her tummy onto her back. She loves it! Makes her smile every time. She’s also figured out how to scoot around on her back, using her legs to push herself.

she's become quite fond of her pink mouse

As far as communication goes, she’s started cooing up a storm lately. When we put her in her car seat to go anywhere, she usually “talks” to herself for several minutes at the beginning of the car ride. Her parents are very entertained listening to her. We’re happy to say that we've finally managed to establish a bedtime routine and stick with it. She goes to bed around 7:30pm with only one nighttime feeding (yay for more sleep!). She loves her naps, but has become quite the escape artist - her days of swaddling are numbered.

she loves drying off in her monkey towel after her bath

Ryan’s mom, Nadine, brother, Brandon, and his girlfriend, Sarah came to meet Esme for the first time in the middle of June. We explored Manhattan and Brooklyn for three days and Esme was a marvelous tour guide the entire time. She even amazed us with her first real laugh on the train ride home one night, which we’ve heard a couple times since. We were SO excited. I can’t imagine how we’ll react when she says her first word!

we were way more excited about this than she was

Brandon held her like a sack of flour at first, but he was a pro by the end of the trip

resting our feet at the High Line

you know you're in Times Square when Sponge Bob walks by

some nice old man saw Ryan taking pictures of us and said, "One with papa!" so he took a family shot

Sarah very thoughtfully got Esme a much needed summer bonnet at a boutique called Giggle (the pictures are priceless!), and Brandon gave her a new favorite toy for her car seat, which she LOVES.

cute picture that Sarah took at a great restaurant in Little Italy

some killer karaoke in Chinatown

walking the Brooklyn Bridge

Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn Bridge

proud uncle

happy grandma

smiling mama

CUTE baby!

the new World Trade Center building (scheduled for completion by 2014)

on the sightseeing boat ride around Manhattan

Esme relaxing with her thoughts at Battery Park after a long day in the city

Esme got to see new parts of the city, go on a boat ride around the southern tip of Manhattan, and experience the true beauty of Coney Island in the summer time (old men without shirts, loud music, crowds of sweaty people dancing on the boardwalk, long lines at the hot dog stand) …it was fun for everyone.