Almost 2 months

What you're up to

You like to try and push up on your feet when we hold you.  When I nurse you, you do the cutest thing where you move your hand across my chest.  You can sometimes be very wiggly while I am nursing you.  I wonder if it is because you are not getting enough.  I am totally fine nursing you twice a day. You eat about 6 times a day at this point. So I would like to nurse you at least three of those times so that you are getting 1/2 of your food from me.

You have had a rash on your face for a few weeks now.  It sometimes makes your skin quite red.  Now the redness has subsided for the most part, but your skin on your face is very dry and rough.  We put Aquaphor on your face once a day.  You started developing cradle cap earlier this week.  Your Auntie and Uncle came to take care of you Thursday and they bathed you and tried baby oil.  I used Coconut oil based on Dr. Stone (the chripractor)'s suggestion that baby oil could not be absorbed by the skin.  It is looking much better now.

You are awake quite a bit more during the day.  You were quite fussy during the day for a few weeks.  You had your first full chiropractic adjustment on Friday.  On Saturday during the day you were quite a bit more content.  You have also started making sweet baby noises and talking to us.  You will often look people in the eyes when they hold you and talk to you.  You like to stare at our fans.  I am not sure you can see that far away though.  I joke that you are staring at your guardian angel.

What you like

You still love to be bounced.  That is often what you want when you cry.  Sometimes you just want to be held.  Sometimes you are content to be awake in the swing.  It sometimes helps you get to sleep.  You love your soothie pacifier.  It will often halt your crying unless you are very hungry.  You also like vibrating.

Sleeping

We try to give you your last feed around 10 pm.  You usually will go until around 4 am if it is a bottle feeding.  Last night I nursed you, so you only made it to 2 am.  On a normal night you will then go from 4 am until 8 am or so.  I am supposed to get up at 7 am to go with our schedule (7am, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, 7pm, 10 pm, and as long as possible at night).

Since Joshy's mom stayed with us for a few weeks, you have been sleeping in bed with us.  She had you sleep up high on her pillow next to her head.  I had a hard time with that because you would slide down or roll a bit.  I have had you sleeping in the brown boppee pillow.  It works quite well.

Medicine

You have been taking your Xantac now for a few weeks.  I have noticed your reflux doing better, especially at night.  We give you your Xantac before bed.  We had been just putting it into your mouth.  But it tastes and smells bad.  Your Noni had a good idea to put it in 1 ounce of formula, so we have been doing that since Christmas Eve.  It has been working well.

After going to KC for Christmas you started developing some congestion. I have done steaming with you a few times.  That is from my Natural Remedies book.  It involves boiling water and adding tea tree oil, peppermint, and eucalyptis.  I put the towel over the two of us for a bit.  I have also put you in your bouncy seat next to the stove so you breathe in the steam for a bit. This seems to have helped some.  We also have been using a humidifier in our room at night.

eating and pooping

You usually have 1 poop a day.  You will often blow out you outfit if we do not catch it quickly.  You had been eating 3 oz at each feed.  In the last day or two we have gone up to 3.5 or 4 oz at a feed.

My Health

I gained about 1 pound over the Christmas holidays due to the tasty Christmas cookies etc.  So I was 134.4 when I weighed myself the other day.  I am now officially back to Weight Watchers Points Plus! We will see how it goes.  I was able to work out last night, and once earlier this week.  It is a bit harder with you around. I hope to lose 10 - 15 pounds.

I am quite healed otherwise.  I feel like myself, aside from my tummy area.  There is still a bit of extra skin and fat.

Here are a few cute pics of you lately!

This was your first time wearing a bow!

Christmas

Kansas City

My Cousin Kelli and her daugther Kami have been living with your Noni and Grandpa.  Kami was a bit sick so  I was afraid of us staying there.  Your grandpa has also been sick with bronchitis.  They assured me that the house had been well cleaned.  So, we went down there on Friday December 20th.  You only woke up 1 time on the trip.  Your grandpa took some pictures of you.

We had Christmas with my Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Royce, and Aunt Cindy, Kelli, Kami, and Noni and grandpa on Saturday morning.  We then had food and hung out the rest of the day.  There was some ice coming down.  We had thought about taking you to see the plaza lights.

On Sunday morning we went to my grandma's church and met her friends.  We then went to her house for some lunch.  We had very tasty brisket and ham.  Then we went to my dad Phil's house for you to meet him, Maribeth, and my little sisters Nicole and Natalie.  You also met my Aunt Ceci.  They all spoiled you with presents. You were very good on our drive home and did not wake up at all! You did have a blow out though, so I gave you a bath as soon as we got home.

Nebraska

We came home on Sunday December 22nd because your Daddy was off.  We spent some time with him on Monday and Tuesday.  Your Noni and Grandpa came up for Christmas on Christmas Eve.  We went to our church St. Joseph's on Christmas eve for the 4:30 service.  We got there at 3:45 and the the place was packed! We had to sit in the hallway area where they had set up chairs.  We may have to get there at 3:30 next year.  Your Auntie Daisy and Uncle Kevin went to mass with us too.  We then came home to a Christmas dinner of tasty soups, sweet potatoes, and ham.  Your daddy opened presents because had to go to work at 4 am on Christmas day.

On Christmas Day we got up early and made breakfast for your Noni and Grandpa.  We watched some Christmas movies.  We finally got around to presents in the afternoon . We ate lots of Christmas cookies! That is why I am on a diet now :).

What a great first Christmas with you!  You were a very good traveler.

1 month

I can't believe you're one month old now! We are about 1/2 breastfeeding, 1/2 formula.  For some reason I have not been able to pump.  I don't seem to be able to "let down" for the pump.  We have been giving you 3 oz of formula at a time.  We are trying to do a schedule of every 3 hours during the day and 4 at night (or as long as you will sleep :)).  You have had some "reflux" issues where it sounds like you are spitting up, but you swallow it again.  Apparently we were feeding you too much!  The doctor does think you might have some reflux so we are going to give you some medications.  Hopefully we will only have to give it to you until you are 4 months old and can start having rice cereal and pureed big people foods.

You will usually sleep for usually at least one 4 - 5 hour stretch a night now.  Luckily your ummuchi has been in town to watch you during the week until daycare starts.  She has even taken the nights during the week! So, I am pretty well rested right now.

We took you to the doctor today.  You are 10 pounds 5.5 ounces.  You are 22 inches long.  You are in the 87% percentile for your height and weight! You're a pretty healthy baby girl.  You are able to hold your head up for longer periods of time.  You can turn your head from side to side when you do tummy time.

You really love bath time! You don't cry at all during the bath...just afterwards when we have to dry you have.  You just started into your size 1 diapers too!

Thanksgiving and Week 4

I can't believe you're already 3 weeks old plus baby Rose! Your reflux seems to be getting a bit better.  We have been trying to keep you close to 2 ounces when we feed you formula. Breast feeding is going well.  It is still a bit painful at times.  As of now we are doing at least half of your feedings as breast feedings.  I still have not been able to get the breast pump to work.

But, my nipples are in good shape.  You are still a bit fussy in the mornings.  You are still sleeping most of the time.  Yesterday you had your first bout with baby acne! I think it might have had something to do with the chrism oil they used at your baptism.

You got to meet your daddy's parents! They were so excited to meet you.

Thanksgiving

My grandparents, your Noni and Grandpa, cousin Kelli and Kami all came to stay with us from Thanksgiving through your baptism which was on Sunday 12-1.  We had a great time bonding.  Everyone loved holding you and taking care of you.  It was so nice having everyone in the house all together.  Your Ummuchi and Uppachen also came into town last Wednesday, as well as Auntie Dainy.  All of your dad's family came over to the house most of the 4 days too.  So we had a full house! We really enjoyed it though.

Fitness and Health

I was down to 135 pounds as of before Thanksgiving.  I am not sure what it is now! There was a lot of good food over Thanksgiving.  I was able to walk 3 miles before all of the family came.  I have not walked any since then though.  I have been trying to sit up straight and do some ab tightening.  My abs, and especially my lower abs, have so much more flabbiness now!  It is all worth it to have you ;).  But I do wonder if my abs will ever look the same.  Not that they were wonderful before, but I would like to get some of this flab gone.  It is not healthy to have fat there.  I came across an interesting article about fitness.  I need to be sure to teach you that it is good to be strong and healthy.  Working out should be fun.  Part of the goal should be health at least.

Work

It has been a bit tough to not have real maternity leave.  I had to get an item on file the day we came home from the hospital with you! I have had a few actual work days now for meetings.  I am heading back to BNI next week.  I do miss you while I am away from you. But, I find that I enjoy my work and my professional relationships.  My work helps me treasure and enjoy the time that we do have together.