December Citrus Lane review (3-month-old box)

       My December Citrus Lane box for Graham came early this month, which was great because I was really hoping to get it before Christmas. It normally arrives anywhere between the 17th and 22nd of the month, and I think they are getting faster now that they are shipping with FedEx instead of their previous shipping partner. 
       I always look forward to the December edition of my Citrus Lane box because I figure they will do something extra special for the holidays. I was really pleased with Graham's box. This month's Citrus Lane boxes contained great brands like Pearhead, North American Bear Co., Melissa and Doug, Barefoot Books, HABA, and Episencial.  

           Here are the details on what we received in our box for our three-month-old son:

• Cozie from North American Bear Co. ($10.00): This super soft lovey is so cute. I don't know if Graham will become attached to a lovey because Owen never did so we'll have to see. I really like this one though and think its really adorable and perfectly sized for my little guy. It's also machine washable which is great since I'm sure it will get chewed on and dirty. I got the Flatocow version, but there are tons more on their website where they sell them as two-packs for $20. 

• Rira Clutching Toy from HABA ($9.49): I really like the HABA brand and this toy is no exception. I love that it is wooden and colorful and unlike any other baby toy that we have. This will definitely be going in Graham's stocking this year. HABA is a German company that makes wooden toys out of reforested timber. The wood is stained instead of painted so it won't flake off and is nontoxic for babies who teethe on them. 

• Handprint Keepsake from Pearhead ($14.95): I think that Citrus Lane sent these out last year to the under one age group too. I am really happy to get it this year because I have been the typical parent of a second child who does way less with the second kid than the first. We have tons of keepsakes from Owen's first Christmas, but haven't done much of anything with Graham. He is at a different age from Owen so he can't do as much, but I really wanted to do some type of handprint or footprint artwork with him. The homemade ornament similar to this that I did with Owen when he was a baby didn't work very well and one of them broke so I'm happy to have a foolproof kit to make the process easier this time. 

• Snuggly Lotion from Episencial ($4): I really like this brand and am always happy to see it in my Citrus Lane box. I really love the cherry scent and knowing that the lotion is organic and contains nourishing and hydrating ingredients like borage seed oil, avocado, flax oil, and primrose oil. 

       The retail value of this box is $38.44, which is more than $15 over what I paid for it since I subscribe for six months at a time and get these boxes monthly for $21 rather than the $25 if you pay monthly. It also came with a discounted offer to become a Barefoot Books member who can sell them. 
       If you are interested in signing up for Citrus Lane, you can use this LINK to get $10 when you start a subscription. It's my favorite subscription box for babies and toddlers from newborns to age 5. They have introduced us to a lot of great brands and products and are a fun treat to get in the mail each month. 

Graham is three months old!

     I'm late in posting this again, but we have had a really busy month with illness and visiting family and life with two kids in general.

        At three months old, Graham weighs about 13 pounds (nothing exact since we didn't have a doctor's appointment this month). This is more than Owen at that age. This past month Graham was also diagnosed with pertussis (aka whooping cough). This has made our boy pretty fussy as his cough wakes him frequently and we're not getting much sleep. He still has a little bit of a cough especially at night. I think for this reason, he will be later than his brother in starting to sleep through the night. Here is some other news on the Graham front:

Eating: 

       Graham still eats every 2.5 to three hours like clockwork. He eats four to five ounces at every feeding. He gets really mad if you try to burp him before he's had a couple ounces as if we regularly starve him. I have tried integrating some dairy back into my diet, but I think that is causing Graham to be fussier and spit up more so I think I'm going to have to cut it out completely again. 

       I am still pumping breastmilk for him and haven't had to supplement with formula. I pump about four times a day now and am still storing milk in the freezer. 

Sleeping: 

Graham is a pretty good sleeper for a sick baby. He is getting to be on a schedule now and will go down for naps about an hour and a half after we wakes to eat. This is helping in getting him to fall asleep faster and without all the drama. At night he generally falls asleep sometime around eight and then we try to feed him once more before we go to bed. He typically wakes up about twice during the night and early morning. He is still sleeping swaddled. 

Other Things I Want to Remember: 

      Graham  wears size 0-3 month clothing. He is about to be in size 3-6 months. He size one diapers when he isn't in cloth. We are pretty much in cloth full time now which I enjoy. 

      He has a pretty good amount of hair still, though it is rubbing thin on the back on his head (see photo below). His eyes are still blue, but if he is like Owen, they will begin to change sometime in the next month. 

       I am still amazed at how talkative Graham is. He coos a lot and "talks" to us. He is for sure really smiling now and is really close to laughing. I can't wait! 

       Another milestone reached is the ability to roll from his tummy to his back. He did this on Halloween. He had done it a couple times in the first few weeks after he was born, but I didn't really count it. 

       Graham also found his hands this month and loves putting them in his mouth.

      He enjoys music and really loves when I sing to him.

      He likes being on his playmat for limited amounts of time and enjoys looking at the toys hanging overhead and in the mirror. He does well at tummy time and can hold his head up really well. He has started reaching for and grabbing things like the little toys that hang from the playmat's arches. His favorite is the giraffe. 

       He is super strong and can hold his head up and look around. He hates laying flat now and fusses until we sit him up in our laps or stand him up. 

      Car rides are calming and he typically falls asleep in his carseat. We made the drive to Georgia for Thanksgiving and he did really well in the car again. 

       He loves being in the Moby Wrap and the Beco carrier. 

       He likes bathtime a lot more now. I tend to bathe him in the kitchen sink because it's a good level for me and it makes it easier. Bathtime tends to be quick before he gets upset.

       Graham thinks his big brother is awesome and loves looking around for him when he hears his voice.