What I've Learned...

... in the past 3 months.

-Babies are not made of glass and although they should be handled with care, they are pretty resilient
-There's no reason to be afraid of putting the baby in the car seat or the car
-Nicknames are fun and come about pretty easily (Peanut, Pumpkin, Dumplin, Pudding Pop, Sweet Potato, Cupcake, Lil Stinker, Sweetie Pie, Plumpy, etc.)
-ALWAYS change a baby on a changing pad regardless of gender (they can still make a mess on the couch)
-Bath times can be fun
-Bath times can also be more messy than clean
-Baby's first giggle really does melt your heart
-Nasal aspirators are not fun
-They grow out of clothing very quickly
-Diaper blow outs will happen, keep a towel under the baby when on the couch
-Babies are most likely to spit up when a) in a cute new outfit and b) when on the way out the door
-Baby farts are the funniest thing ever
-A baby smiling at Daddy makes Mommy all mushy
-Having a baby who started sleeping through the night by one month is beyond amazing
-Having a baby with red hair and blue/gray eyes is a mystery
-Baby sneezes are the cutest
-Watching a baby learn new skills is so rewarding
-Being a stay at home mom is awesome (even if only for 12 weeks)
-Going back to work isn't so hard when you know you have the best moms watching your sweetie
-A new mom NEEDS a support network of other moms (for advice, a listening ear, coupons...)
-Getting out of the house with the baby is a must
-Having a baby in the summer is the way to go, it makes for a lovely maternity leave
-Cutting baby finger nails is nearly impossible
-Being a mom is the best job I've ever had
-The strength of a mother's love is surprising and incredible

Happy 3 month birthday to our sweet Carina!