Hannah: 3 Months

I am extremely late in writing this post, but this month has been crazy. Hannah turned 3 months old on December 10, which sadly was the same day we had Sidney put to sleep. Since then life has been pretty non-stop. I don't want anymore time to get away from me before I get this post done, especially since it's almost time for her 4 month post!

We didn't have a doctors visit so these stats aren't exact, but I think she was about 23-24 inches and weighee in around 14 pounds!


Dear Baby Hannah,

This month we spent a lot of time relaxing at home and getting used to working around your schedule. Some days you cooperate really well, some days you don't. On the days you don't want to sit quietly (or loudly) by yourself I do most of my work in the evenings after Dad gets home. You are getting better at letting me work during the day though, which I am thankful for. There are still pleny of emails going out at 12 am, but I think that's ok.

We did a good bit of shopping this month in anticipation for Christmas. Thankfully you slept through most of it! About 97% of the time we put you in the car seat and go somewhere you fall asleep. The car seat is about the only place you will nap for longer than 30 minutes. You're definitely a cat napper when we're at home.

We took a couple of trips to the office to visit with coworkers and everyone just loves you. Especially Aunt Shelly and Aunt Teresa! You sure do have a lot of people that love you.

This month you celebrated your first Thanksgiving and you were the cutest little turkey. You got to meet a lot of family members from Daddy's side like Uncle Matthew, Aunt Emily and Uncle Matt, lots of cousins and some of Nana's relatives like Aunt Chrissy, Uncle Steve and your Great grandfather. I caught a cold from all the fun and visiting but thankfully you never got it.

You've developed a case of positional plagiocephaly (Flat Head Syndrome) from always laying with your head turned to the left (which has flattened the right side of your head). Your neck is a little stiff on the right side and you have always favored your left. Well, all those hours you spend sleeping with your head in the same position have given you a flat little head on one side. We tease you about it but of course we love you all the same. We bought a couple of things to help it and I can't really tell that any of them have helped (Tortle, Noggin Nest). We try to position you differently so you aren't laying in the same spot all the time but you always turn right back to it. I guess it's most comfortable for you, but it's making the flat spot worse. You started holding your head up (with some bobbles) on Dec 22, which technically will be in next months post, but we are hoping this new ability will help even out your pretty little head. From all my research this is very common and not much cause for concern as it's mostly aesthetic.

At the end of month 2 Sidney started getting sick. She was pretty pitiful with a few different symptoms so we took her to the vet and after a few days and lots of tests we found out she was very sick. I'm sad to say we decided to end her suffering and sickness on your 3 month birthday. She wasn't around for much of your life but she sure did care for you while you were here. We say she had to make sure you made it into the world safely and make sure you were accepted and adjusted in our pack before she got sick. We thought she would be your best friend growing up, but that wasn't in the cards for us. We remember our sweet girl fondly and you'll know about her too, when you're older.

Baby Hannah (as Mabry and Harlee call you) you are such a sweet, smiley, talkative girl! You are so happy in the mornings when you first wake up, you hate taking naps, but go down for bed easily pretty much every night. You are such a joy to us Hannah Claire!

love,
Mommy

I'm sad to say we have failed miserably at taking your weekly pictures. It seems like it should be so easy, but we have totally slacked on it. 

Week one of your 3rd month

The tortle. One attempt at fixing your flat head. You hated this and only wore it a couple of times.

Big sister kept close watch over you

2 days old vs 3 months old. You look so different!!

You're 3 months old baby!!!

Our sweet little Turkey

Thanksgiving lunch

The full family from Thanksgiving at Nana's

Kids and our kids

Sidney's Story

Sidney Lou Boggan

2011-2014

It's been almost 2 weeks since our sweet Sidney passed. We are adjusting to life without a dog underfoot and a kind soul looking for head scratches. We miss her every day, but hold close our memories of her. Because her sickness came on so quickly and progressed so rapidly it was quite a shock. It's still hard to believe she isn't here. I want to share her story, both for anyone who cares to read it and for myself. She was only in our lives for 3 short years, but she made a world of difference.

Sidney was born in August 2011 and I adopted her in October of that year. This was before Andrew and I were together so she came into a one parent family. She helped me through a transitional time in my life and brought a smile to my face when I arrived home to an empty house. She was round and pudgy and had a pointy little head.

Andrew and I were friends for years before we considered becoming more. We were hesitant for a few reasons, but what made me fall for him was Sidney. Yes, the dog. Seeing Andrew with her and how involved he became warmed my heart. He had no need to walk her, take part in her training, clean up after her. But he did all of those things because he loved her. I thought if he could care for my dog so unselfishly, he would make a great father. Many people say dogs are like trial children and they are right. Sidney is what made me begin to fall in love with Andrew. I have no doubt I would have still loved him without her, but she played an integral role in our coming together.

 

When we rescued a kitten she was so interested she ended up almost raising it herself. In many ways Rico is more dog than cat. He loved her so much and always followed her and laid on her whenever possible.

 

She was the most beautiful girl and got compliments every where she went.

 


And boy was she silly!!

Boxers are known for being family dogs and good with children, which is part of the reason I chose the breed. I'm glad to say she did not disappoint. Throughout my pregnancy, bed rest and time off she was by my side and watching over me. If I slept in so did she. If I tried to do some work around the house, she still slept but stayed close. After Hannah came home she was so interested. Sidney stood watch, came by when Hannah cried, licked the baby's head as she walked through the house. She was never far away.

We don't know why Sidney got so sick at such a young age, and we can't change the way it went. Be we can remember her happily. She brought us together, was our baby until the real one arrived, and made sure Hannah got settled into our pack. While she won't be here to grow up with Hannah, I'm glad she was a part of Hannah's life, even for a short period.