04 Nov 3 Months with Maverik

How is he already 3 months old?! Whaaaaat?! I don’t see wrinkles on his legs and arms anymore—those tiny wrinkles are all filled in with fat now, and he has the cutest squishy rolls! Aren’t baby rolls the most precious thing on this earth? I seriously can’t get enough of them—they all look so delicious!! He’s been getting lots of hugs, cuddles, and kisses from me lately.

We did an unofficial weigh-in at home, and he came in at about 14 lbs! I love my 14-lb, Idaho-grown potato boy! We don’t have a baby scale, so I weighed myself with and without Maverik and did some math to figure it out. He is definitely getting heavy—my arms start shaking if I hold him for more than 5 minutes. Carrying him is basically my workout these days.

Maverik hitting 3 months also means something very sad for me—I have to go back to work. I honestly can’t imagine going back right now, as my days are constantly filled with feeding, diaper changes, and soothing him. How am I supposed to fit work in between all of that?! On top of that, I need to make sure I squeeze in at least four pumping sessions a day into my busy schedule. It’s not just about fitting a whole baby—who is so dependent on us—into a work schedule, but the mental part is tough too. My brain still feels foggy, and I’m very much in my sweet baby bubble. I worry about how I’m going to remember all my work tasks and whether I’ll still perform well at work. Bursting my baby bubble is definitely contributing to my sadness. Since I’m going back to work in just a few days and the countdown has already started, I’m anxiously waiting and find myself in total denial.

I’ve done this before with Katerina, so I know I can adjust to the new reality. With her, I had 12 weeks off, and this time I got almost 14 weeks, so that’s slightly better. Still, I really hope the U.S. gives us at least 6 months of mandatory leave in the future so moms and dads can have more precious bonding time with their babies.

This month was a big one for us—Maverik had a couple of firsts! He had his first giggle with me on October 27th while I was changing his diaper and said something silly. At first, it was one of those “almost there” giggles, and I thought, Did I really just hear that? So I kept making silly faces and noises, each one bigger than the last—and then he finally giggled! Aww, it completely melted my heart. I immediately told Erik that he giggled, but he was in denial because he wasn’t the first to hear it lol.  It’s not a competition, Erik!

He also had his first Halloween. I dressed him up in a couple of different outfits, and one of them was a potato. I had to do a potato outfit because he’s the only family member born in Idaho, so he has to proudly represent. Plus, his round little body shape was just perfect for it!  Thinking about baby Halloween outfits is so fun! There are millions of creative ideas for babies who can’t sit up on their own yet. I love watching everyone get creative online. I shared Halloween pictures in a couple of previous blog posts, so be sure to check them out and tell me which one is your favorite!

Another big first was his first airplane ride. My sister-in-law was getting married in Monterey, California, and we traveled there for the wedding. Erik had to go to California for work, so he left earlier, and later I traveled with both Katya and Maverik. I had three suitcases, a car seat, a stroller, and other things like diaper bags—so yes, it was pretty overwhelming. But I’m happy to report that I survived, and it was actually pretty successful! Maverik only got fussy once on the plane and calmed down quickly. He slept a little during the flight, and when he was awake, he was very chill. I’m so glad it went well and gave me more confidence to travel with both kids.

I check the CDC milestone app to track his development, and here are the things he achieved this month:

• Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh
• Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
• Turns head towards the sound of your voice
• Holds head steady without support when you are holding him
• Brings hands to mouth
• Laughs

I’m so excited to see what he does next in the upcoming month. My boy is growing fiercely!

P.S. Maverik’s outfit is from Petite Plume. I first learned about this brand from Prince George’s bathrobe. I originally ordered the PJs for Maverik thinking of using them for his birth announcement—they were too big at the time, but now they fit him perfectly. I also got a matching bathrobe! The design, fabric, and practicality are all amazing and totally worth the price. I can’t wait to explore the brand more! (His PJs — exact ones here)

To Maverik,

Fatima