Happy 3 months, Anna!

Our baby is growing up! These first three months have passed so fast and we have seen such a change in our little beauty. Not only has she doubled in size, but she is also getting a little personality. Anna is a precious baby and we look forward to the month ahead.

Diaper: size 2
Clothing: 3 and 6 months

Likes: baths, being on her back on the play mat, being swaddled, bouncing on a knee
Dislikes: gas, being squished

Eating: Anna continues to be a great nurser . . . and a terrible bottle taker. But we are working on it!

Sleep: Anna usually wakes once at night and has even slept through the night a few times. She is a great sleeper! I can tell she is ready for longer wake times during the day as she becomes more interested in her (chaotic) surroundings.

Schedule: Routine is so good for us and seems to work well for Anna too. We are out and about several days a week, but a normal day at home would look somethings like this:

7:30 First feeding of the day
8:30 Nap
11:00 Wake and nurse
12:00 Nap
2:30 Wake and nurse
3:30 Nap
5:30-6:30 Wake and nurse
7:00ish Nap (she doesn't nap regularly during this time of the day, but thankfully it doesn't tend to be a fussy wakefulness)
9:00-10:00 Nurse and back to bed for the night

Physically: Anna has earned a bald spot on the back of her head. Otherwise, she has a nice head of hair! She hasn't rolled over, but has thrown her head back like she she knows the motion. She smiles more now and I love the way her cheeks lift up when she gets tickled. We've also gotten to know a really cute frown when that bottom lip comes out. Anna has found her voice and uses it mostly to protest (as opposed to a real cry) when something isn't going her way.

Next appointment: Friday, October 28, 2016 at 10:00am

Her first time keeping the paci in. It didn't last long :)

Sarah dressed for the occasion when we all went to Anna's two month well visit. 

When the doctor is called away, the Cooks play!

Josiah left a picture he made for Anna :)

Making the most of an early morning.

Sweet cheeks!

Anna was not impressed with my resale find.
I guess we will have to stick to putting diapers in the diaper bag :)

Sweet sleeping girl.

Our Dear Anna Caroline

This is the letter we penned for Anna on the day of her birth, reminding her of the reason behind her name. 


Our Dear Anna Caroline,

Welcome to a family of singers. We don't always sound so good, but we are always singing. And soon you'll get to join us when we dance around our living room strumming Daddy's "ba-tahg," singing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," and "I love you in joy, I love you in sorrow; you can always come home to me." From what I've heard of your little lungs so far, you'll fit in quite well.

Our story is mostly a happy one, but our carols remind me of someone who had to wait a long time for a happy ending. Losing her husband after only seven years, just as long as your mom and I have had each other, Anna spent most of her life waiting. For years and years she waited in the house of God, worshiping with fasting and prayer day and night. It wasn't until she was eighty-four that the redemption and consolation of Israel finally came. Anna was one of the first people to see Him.

Her name, which means "grace," is now yours too. As you spend your first day in our arms, we pray you'll know that same grace and be as full of His song as she was. And, though your story will probably be very different, we pray it will end the same way hers did, your eyes adoring the face of Jesus Christ.

That face is the reason we sing in our house. He is the reason we'll sing quietly when we change your diaper in the middle of the night and the reason we'll sing loudly on Sundays. Nothing quite frees the tongue like knowing grace. Neither can anything else can sustain a song through all seasons of life.

As you walk through your own life, may you know God's unfathomable grace every step of the way. And may that grace make you faithful, and patient, and full of song.

Your loving parents,
David and Emily Cook
June 28, 2016