One of the things I am noticing about baby girl is that she is constantly in motion. Either she is kicking her legs, her arms are flailing, she is turning her head to look at something and body follows shortly thereafter, she is pulling her legs up to chew on her feet, she is looking intently at her hands--while moving them around, chewing on her fingers....the list goes on and on.
In addition to the movement, there is usually noise.....blowing bubbles w/ spit, whining w/ the little grunting noise over and over and over...she moves her lips when she does this too, babbling, shrieking, whining some more.....giggling, full on crying in meltdown mode--she turns all red, gets sweaty, and wails, "talks" w/ me, squeals in delight, the list goes on and on.
But one of my most favorite times is when she is still. And this usually only occurs when she is awake while I am giving her a bottle. I will lay her in my left arm, put her head in the crook of my arm (and turn her head so her ear isn't bent). Once she settles into the bottle her body just starts to relax....we kind of stare at one another and she will look at my facial features while I look at hers.....and sometimes what she will do is pull her left arm out and find my hands with her fingertips.....and she lightly brushes my hand w/ her fingers.....such a light, soft, amazing touch. It is just so sweet and tender.
I've been meaning to write about this so that I can always remember how it feels to hold her (since she's not an overly cuddly baby).....because soon she will grow so big. She is already almost 17 lbs, and 27". Both on track so she has caught up just fine. She technically turned 7 months i.e. 28 weeks....but her real 7 months in in March.
And she's getting more curls...I just love 'em.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Sprouting
Someone is starting to sprout some.........
I had a feeling she would since her donor father has wavy brown hair. And since she looks just like him, might as well throw the hair in there too!
Here's another.
If she could talk she'd be saying, "Seriously get that thing out of my face".
CURLS!
Here's another.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentines Slacker
So, I'm feeling a bit like a slacker today. First thing this morning my nanny comes in w/ a present for baby girl. A happy valentine bib. It was really cute. Then I get a text from my sister Happy V-day......then later today I got another one from a friend......then I get a few calls from friends saying Happy V-day.
I didn't even say happy valentines to my baby or even think to get her a present. I didn't return my sister's text message. I didn't wear red today. My only saving grace is that instead of Xmas picture cards (totally missed that), we did Valentines Day picture cards....a friend took them at one of our parks and I used a website to make some cute cards. I got them mailed on Monday in the hopes that some would get before today.
I am actually truly feeling exhausted. This week has been hectic/stressful at work. I have this inner fatigue that I can't shake....so tonight when I got home from work when baby girl started fussing fussing we did bath early, fed her the bottle, and put her in her cradle at 6pm (about an hour to 2 hours early). But, she fell asleep. So, I took advantage--turned off all the lights and laid on the couch and rested too. She woke up here and there but went back to sleep and didn't wake fully until 9pm to get her nighttime bottle.
And here I sit in the recliner.
I think this is one of the first times I am feeling the effects of single motherhood i.e. exhausting. Normally I feel like I handle it pretty well, feel it's not overly difficult...it really hasn't been for me because I truly enjoy my time w/ my baby....but this week. Ahhh.....I wish I could crawl in a hole and sleep for a few days.
Hopefully this will not last long and I'll bounce back. I know I'm tired when last weekend I just laid on the floor next to baby and just kept holding up toys for her....it's all I could muster.
I can at least say it here.....Happy Valentines Day.
I didn't even say happy valentines to my baby or even think to get her a present. I didn't return my sister's text message. I didn't wear red today. My only saving grace is that instead of Xmas picture cards (totally missed that), we did Valentines Day picture cards....a friend took them at one of our parks and I used a website to make some cute cards. I got them mailed on Monday in the hopes that some would get before today.
I am actually truly feeling exhausted. This week has been hectic/stressful at work. I have this inner fatigue that I can't shake....so tonight when I got home from work when baby girl started fussing fussing we did bath early, fed her the bottle, and put her in her cradle at 6pm (about an hour to 2 hours early). But, she fell asleep. So, I took advantage--turned off all the lights and laid on the couch and rested too. She woke up here and there but went back to sleep and didn't wake fully until 9pm to get her nighttime bottle.
And here I sit in the recliner.
I think this is one of the first times I am feeling the effects of single motherhood i.e. exhausting. Normally I feel like I handle it pretty well, feel it's not overly difficult...it really hasn't been for me because I truly enjoy my time w/ my baby....but this week. Ahhh.....I wish I could crawl in a hole and sleep for a few days.
Hopefully this will not last long and I'll bounce back. I know I'm tired when last weekend I just laid on the floor next to baby and just kept holding up toys for her....it's all I could muster.
I can at least say it here.....Happy Valentines Day.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Delay
I have been much delayed in posting. The funny thing is I usually have a variety of posts swimming around in my head, but actually taking the time to sit and write is something I haven't done recently.
Let's just start with some updates.....baby girl is 26 1/2 weeks old--6 1/2 months...getting close to 7 months!! It's always confusing to me about when to say she is 6 or 7 months old because if she was born in August, she would be 7 months old in March. But since some months have more than 4 weeks, she will technically turn 7 months in February.....so, I usually go by the month anniversary rather than the weeks. In any event she is getting so BIG! Actually so looooong. She is wearing 12 mo clothes and some 18 month pants fit her. She is also starting to get heavy. We are going to get her 6 month shots next week, so will see how big she's gotten....definitely over 15 lbs.
The things we are working on: cereal and sleep. She wasn't a fan of cereal when I first tried w/ her several weeks ago. She spit most out, gagged, and frankly didn't like it in her mouth. The nanny has been giving her cereal regularly and she now does better w/ actually opening her mouth for it....but still spits most of it out. I just keep feeding her the same spoonful. We try for about 10 minutes (okay maybe 5 if she keeps turning her head), so I just don't want to force it. When she wants more, she'll eat more. We are also wanting to give her 6 ounces instead of 4. I got the next level up nipple and that seems to help her being able to drink more before falling asleep.....although sometimes she still only eats 4.
The reason for all of this??????? will hopefully help the sleep situation. Up until a few nights ago, baby girl has still been waking up hungry like a newborn every 2.5 to 3 hours every night....9pm, 12, 3am, and 6am approximately. If she didn't finish her bottles I would try something else, but she truly has been hungry--and honestly only eating 4 oz at a time, I would expect her to be hungry.
However, just the past two nights she sleep through one bottle feeding. Last night she fell asleep at 7pm.....woke up at 9:00pm to eat, then didn't wake up until 2:30 am (normally would be midnight), then not again until 7:30am!! 2 five hour stretches...!! WOOP WOOP. However, since I am used to her waking up it was not restful for me at all. See, once I feed her I know she is good and content, so I truly relax and sleep as deeply as my body lets me. But when she didn't wake up on time, I kept waking up looking at her to see if she was waking up too. It's funny, but I have internally switched to her schedule as well because my body wakes up same as hers.
Needless to say mama is dang tired. AND, once we get a better sleep pattern then next thing I want to work on is transitioning her to the crib. She has yet to sleep any time in her crib since being a newborn. Mostly because of her bad reflux I've kept her in the rocky play thing that keeps her at a 45 degree angle--especially because she eats so much at night. She has now become SO used to sleeping/napping in it that I worry about having her sleep flat--especially after a bottle. She'll play like that, but sleep....ah,....we'll have to see.
It will be necessary soon because she is starting to arch her back and kick her feet and has scooted herself close to being half out of it when she is fussing. Also, it kind of stresses me out having her in there all scrunched up for long periods of time...since she can't kick her legs out straight....kind of weird it stresses me, but that's how it always has been.
As for the work situation, I am definitely on the hunt for a new job. I have a new boss as of January and while she is nice, she is a bit more 'involved' in what I am doing, and in many areas I really don't need her to be. I've been a professional for over 10 years now. I have just started reaching out in my network and I am going to let that play out. I have targeted certain companies and will see how goes.
The other thing I did recently was start a weight program. It was time. We get it free at work, but you have to check in w a nurse once a month and walk 35000 steps a week. I've been bombing on both--so I can do the program for 3 months until they stop paying. Yes, I could just start doing the 35000 steps.
The weight has an online program as well as a mobile app and I really like it. I was doing quite well for 2 1/2 weeks. Then Friday started a downwards spiral. I had mexican for lunch, then coffeecake at work. And then another piece and then another piece. I said okay, back on track tomorrow, or saturday. Well....I don't have ANY groceries...have been planning to go to store for 5 days now and just haven't made it there--anyway, that has lead to a weekend spiral, instead of just a day. Yesterday I ordered take out veitnamese noodles/egg rolls...not terrible, but volume was big. Then tonight I was so hungry I ordered pizza and a dessert pizza. Tonight was the binge...I ate the whole dessert pizza except for one piece---and 3 1/2 pieces of pizza.
I'm disappointed I crashed and burned, but I realized how important it is for me to keep the fridge stocked and keep making food. Remember I mentioned my biggest trigger is eating out and not cooking?
I will get back on track tomorrow. I was down 7 lbs and feeling pretty good about it. The other thing I need to work on is I started drinking diet soda here and there again. I haven't had soda regularly in over a year. But, I swear the caffeine/drink is crack. I crave it when I drink it. It is soooo easy to slip back into drinking it, even though caffeine is the worst thing for me to drink as I don't sleep well as it is.
We had a rough weekend. She was fussy most of Saturday and pretty fussy after 2:30pm tonight. It stresses me a bit and I eat when I am stressed. I am also super tired. Today I literally laid on the floor w/ her and just kept giving her toys because that's about how much energy I had....nada.
It's after weekends like this that I wonder how I would manage w/ a baby and a toddler. I have found that while she has fussy spells, and it is tiring, it is still just her and I. How would I manage fussy along w/ a toddler running around....and I only have two hands. Two hands is not enough w/ her sometimes. I was quite firm on wanting another one lately.....but I still think twice sometimes when we have tough days.
Think that's enough for now. I still keep reading all of my blogs in my blogroll and enjoy staying caught up w/ everyone. Even though I hardly comment, I still read almost every day.
Let's just start with some updates.....baby girl is 26 1/2 weeks old--6 1/2 months...getting close to 7 months!! It's always confusing to me about when to say she is 6 or 7 months old because if she was born in August, she would be 7 months old in March. But since some months have more than 4 weeks, she will technically turn 7 months in February.....so, I usually go by the month anniversary rather than the weeks. In any event she is getting so BIG! Actually so looooong. She is wearing 12 mo clothes and some 18 month pants fit her. She is also starting to get heavy. We are going to get her 6 month shots next week, so will see how big she's gotten....definitely over 15 lbs.
The things we are working on: cereal and sleep. She wasn't a fan of cereal when I first tried w/ her several weeks ago. She spit most out, gagged, and frankly didn't like it in her mouth. The nanny has been giving her cereal regularly and she now does better w/ actually opening her mouth for it....but still spits most of it out. I just keep feeding her the same spoonful. We try for about 10 minutes (okay maybe 5 if she keeps turning her head), so I just don't want to force it. When she wants more, she'll eat more. We are also wanting to give her 6 ounces instead of 4. I got the next level up nipple and that seems to help her being able to drink more before falling asleep.....although sometimes she still only eats 4.
The reason for all of this??????? will hopefully help the sleep situation. Up until a few nights ago, baby girl has still been waking up hungry like a newborn every 2.5 to 3 hours every night....9pm, 12, 3am, and 6am approximately. If she didn't finish her bottles I would try something else, but she truly has been hungry--and honestly only eating 4 oz at a time, I would expect her to be hungry.
However, just the past two nights she sleep through one bottle feeding. Last night she fell asleep at 7pm.....woke up at 9:00pm to eat, then didn't wake up until 2:30 am (normally would be midnight), then not again until 7:30am!! 2 five hour stretches...!! WOOP WOOP. However, since I am used to her waking up it was not restful for me at all. See, once I feed her I know she is good and content, so I truly relax and sleep as deeply as my body lets me. But when she didn't wake up on time, I kept waking up looking at her to see if she was waking up too. It's funny, but I have internally switched to her schedule as well because my body wakes up same as hers.
Needless to say mama is dang tired. AND, once we get a better sleep pattern then next thing I want to work on is transitioning her to the crib. She has yet to sleep any time in her crib since being a newborn. Mostly because of her bad reflux I've kept her in the rocky play thing that keeps her at a 45 degree angle--especially because she eats so much at night. She has now become SO used to sleeping/napping in it that I worry about having her sleep flat--especially after a bottle. She'll play like that, but sleep....ah,....we'll have to see.
It will be necessary soon because she is starting to arch her back and kick her feet and has scooted herself close to being half out of it when she is fussing. Also, it kind of stresses me out having her in there all scrunched up for long periods of time...since she can't kick her legs out straight....kind of weird it stresses me, but that's how it always has been.
As for the work situation, I am definitely on the hunt for a new job. I have a new boss as of January and while she is nice, she is a bit more 'involved' in what I am doing, and in many areas I really don't need her to be. I've been a professional for over 10 years now. I have just started reaching out in my network and I am going to let that play out. I have targeted certain companies and will see how goes.
The other thing I did recently was start a weight program. It was time. We get it free at work, but you have to check in w a nurse once a month and walk 35000 steps a week. I've been bombing on both--so I can do the program for 3 months until they stop paying. Yes, I could just start doing the 35000 steps.
The weight has an online program as well as a mobile app and I really like it. I was doing quite well for 2 1/2 weeks. Then Friday started a downwards spiral. I had mexican for lunch, then coffeecake at work. And then another piece and then another piece. I said okay, back on track tomorrow, or saturday. Well....I don't have ANY groceries...have been planning to go to store for 5 days now and just haven't made it there--anyway, that has lead to a weekend spiral, instead of just a day. Yesterday I ordered take out veitnamese noodles/egg rolls...not terrible, but volume was big. Then tonight I was so hungry I ordered pizza and a dessert pizza. Tonight was the binge...I ate the whole dessert pizza except for one piece---and 3 1/2 pieces of pizza.
I'm disappointed I crashed and burned, but I realized how important it is for me to keep the fridge stocked and keep making food. Remember I mentioned my biggest trigger is eating out and not cooking?
I will get back on track tomorrow. I was down 7 lbs and feeling pretty good about it. The other thing I need to work on is I started drinking diet soda here and there again. I haven't had soda regularly in over a year. But, I swear the caffeine/drink is crack. I crave it when I drink it. It is soooo easy to slip back into drinking it, even though caffeine is the worst thing for me to drink as I don't sleep well as it is.
We had a rough weekend. She was fussy most of Saturday and pretty fussy after 2:30pm tonight. It stresses me a bit and I eat when I am stressed. I am also super tired. Today I literally laid on the floor w/ her and just kept giving her toys because that's about how much energy I had....nada.
It's after weekends like this that I wonder how I would manage w/ a baby and a toddler. I have found that while she has fussy spells, and it is tiring, it is still just her and I. How would I manage fussy along w/ a toddler running around....and I only have two hands. Two hands is not enough w/ her sometimes. I was quite firm on wanting another one lately.....but I still think twice sometimes when we have tough days.
Think that's enough for now. I still keep reading all of my blogs in my blogroll and enjoy staying caught up w/ everyone. Even though I hardly comment, I still read almost every day.
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