How to Grow a Schneider: The Dondi & Matt Way: Oh Wait - You like to be on a schedule? ME TOO! We were meant to be together!

As Jack turns 3 months old (WHAT?! where did my mini baby go?) and weighs in at over 13 lbs, we've come to realize that he loves his schedule - and it should NOT be messed with. He's up around 7 am and passed out by 7:30 pm with a couple of naps in between. He's almost like clock work...and that's a good thing, because this little momma is all about the schedules and the checklists!

Our Big Boy!

As I worry less about if he's eating enough (um, duh.) and sleeping enough (finally!), I find myself finding new things to obsess over....

1. Making Baby Food. I can barely make food edible enough for Matt and I. Poor Jack!

2. High Chairs. I hate them all. They all look silly and plasticy and like a lot to clean up after a feeding frenzy gone bad.

3. Wipes. We used to use about 10/diaper change. Well, we got better at that, but now we use about 100/day wiping down toys and his hands and Lucky's mouth. Ok, not really wiping Lucky's mouth, but close.

4. Pacifiers. Wait? I thought you only like soothies! I bought a million of them and now you like this other kind? Good grief.

5. Milk. What if I don't have enough milk stock piled in the freezer for when I go back to work?!

6. Milestones. What if I am not doing enough with him each day to teach him things? He already rolled over (you knew this already because I told EVERYONE!), but he doesn't like to grab onto things much (I thought all men were grabby?)...although I read that's a 3-4 month thing, so we'll see how it goes. He HAS found a fondness for my shirt, my necklace and Matt's chest hair, though - LOL!

7. Swim Lessons. We've signed him up for swim lessons, which are less "swim" lessons and more about "water survival." They basically teach the babies how to survive should they fall in a pool....by rolling over on their backs and holding their heads up. I AM NERVOUS, but it's a parent/tot class, so Matt or I will be right there with him. (and the other will DEFINITELY be videoing!)

8. Lucky's Balls. No not THOSE kind (he doesn't have those kind anymore!)....but his tennis balls. They are icky...and I just know Jack is going to want to play with them. I wonder if I can sanitize them without killing the dog.

9. Swaddling. Every book says something different, but most say to stop around 3-4 months. Well, we'd love to stop except that when he's NOT swaddled, he attacks his face with his hands and it wakes him up. So, we swaddle or we don't sleep.

10. What if Jack forgets who I am when I go back to work? (April 18) I won't be able to handle it because my heart simply bursts with love every time I see/think of/hold this kid....and if he decides that he doesn't like me that much.... I. Will. Die.

All in all, month 3 brought all good stuff.....and less confusion. We were also able to schedule his Baptism to be on his 1/2 birthday (6/23), since our boy is a Christmas baby!

We did a whirlwind maternity leave tour in FL...visiting Becky and Jimmy in Jacksonville, my parents and Jaime in Pensacola and our St. Pete crew for KB/Emmalee's wedding.

Meme getting her time in with sweet Jack.

Granddaddy Bullard getting in his time with Jack too!

He rolled over for the first time at my mom's house:

We even hit up Jack's first baseball game with his buddy Liam (our friend's Katie and Bill's baby boy who is two weeks older thank Jack):

Our Tiny Little Yankee Fan

This is Jack's friend Liam:

As Liam looks down at Jack laying in my lap, he's like "Holy Crap! There's another little dude like me!"

Jack even had his first slumber party - sans momma! - at the Bells' house. He loved watching their three kids and the chaotic bliss that comes with a big household. And no one is a better momma than Amy, so he was in great hands! (He even wanted to come back to us the next day, so it was a successful night away from us!)

We've also started the "Your Baby Can Read" program....and I know there are a lot of mixed reviews out there. We just wanted to try it to see how Jack reacted to it - and he absolutely loves it! I love doing this program with him to see his reactions. It makes him so happy and gigglyl...which makes us happy!

Someone asked me recently: "What has changed the most?"

The only answer that I could think of was "EVERYTHING" .... every cliche about having children is true.

A baby changes everything....and you won't believe to what extent until you have one. And I don't mean the small stuff like, not going out to dinner on Friday/Saturday nights or rearranging your entire life....I mean, it changes you in ways that you didn't think you could change. Like, I have more patience now than when I didn't have a child. How is this even possible? Screaming children don't bother me anymore - in fact - I always think "I wonder if they could use an extra hand to help whatever is ailing that baby at the moment"

Matt is still a germ-o-phobe, but really has no issue wiping spit up off his face with his bare hand....nor does he mind catching poop/pee/puke with his bare hands.

Most of all, I didn't know I had this much love to give another person, least of all one that pukes on me on a fairly consistent basis.

I just hope he likes me as much as I like him.