Emma: Week 10

Emma's Highlights:
* Size 1 diapers and 0 - 3 month clothes
* Size 3 month sleepers are becoming too short and Emma has no room to stretch; we are going to try the 6 month sleepers.
* Improving at daytime naps; she likes a good nap around lunchtime and will sleep a few 30 minute naps throughout the day.
* Has started to love the activity mat and will stare at and bat at the toys.
* Enjoys the musical rattler too. 
* Still cooing and smiling a lot; Emma will occasionally break in with a loud coo...her vocals are working!
* Likes tummy-time on her diaper changing station; I think it's because she's higher up and has a better view of everything.
* Took Emma to the dentist for my semi-annual cleaning. The front desk staff offered to watch her; she was awake, looking around, when I went to the back. 20 minutes later, I found Emma in the receptionist's arms, fast asleep. She did great!
* Breastfeeding update: I went to the lactation consultant due to pain while feeding Emma and was diagnosed with a cracked nipple (ouch!) and thrush. I have taken an antibiotic to fight the yeast infection and am feeding Emma in different positions to heal the crack. I can't save my pumped milk during this time so hopefully this infection will heal quickly!! I am continuing to breastfeed through all of this.
* Had dinner at the Smith's this weekend; Mary Kate is 2 months older than Emma. There seems to be a big difference in age at this point, probably because they are growing/learning so quickly! Emma and Mary Kate didn't have much to do with each other. 

Emma: Week 9

Highlights:

* Size 1 diapers and 0 - 3 mth clothes
* Takes 3 x 1 hour naps throughout the day
* Still sleeps about 4 - 5 hours through one stretch at night
* Usually wakes up smiling and cooing (love this!)
* Doesn't enjoy tummy-time but I constantly tell her that it's for her own good
* Hands are still in fists most of the time; she is starting to relax them a little bit more
* Hair is thicker and longer
* Smiles constantly
* Can fit several fingers in her mouth at one time; whenever we see her fingers in her mouth, Greg and I try to replace it with her pacifier.
* Feeds every 2 - 2.5 hours during the day and this will continue until she gets solids at 6 months. (We do demand feeding and I feed Emma when she's hungry, not necessarily on any schedule.)
* Very good at following me and Greg around the room with her eyes. 

From 2 month check-up:

Weight: 10 lbs 15 oz (50th percentile), Height: 23.5 in (90th percentile), Head circumference: 38 cm (25th percentile). We saw the nurse practitioner for the first time. She said that Emma looked great. Emma had 3 vaccine shots and 1 oral vaccine: DTaP, Hep B, Hib, Polio, Rotavirus, Pneumococcal. Poor thing screamed after the first shot and was sleepy/fussy for the following two days. She goes back for her 4 month check-up. We also discovered that she has a nursing blister on her lips but it doesn't seem to bother Emma.

Emma enjoyed having Mimi and Grandpa  (? Dad's still unsure what he wants to be called.) and Robin & Lesley Pett visit over the weekend. We went to the G-Day game and Emma did great! We were in the shade and she was awake for the majority of the game, looking around.

Happy Easter!

Emma sat on the Easter Bunny's lap on Saturday; below are the results. She didn't cry, just stared at us. Finally, we got this big, gummy grin.

Also, here is Emma with her first Easter basket; she got a few toys and bubbles:

 

Greg was playing with Emma, showing off her new toys. The barnyard animals make sounds (moo, quack, oink and cock-a-doodle-doo.) She's a little young for the pink, round toy, but she should love it over the summer.

Emma: Week 8

Emma's Highlights:

+ Very fascinated by light fixtures: lamps, chandeliers and fans. The light doesn't need to be turned on for Emma to stare at it.
- More tummy-time. She does great when she's propped against the bobby but I want her to do more tummy-time from a flat surface. Emma does the best when she's very frustrated.

+ Most vocal when she's on the diaper changer or laying on the master bed.

- I talk to her non-stop because this is the best way for Emma to learn to pronounce and talk. I'm teaching her the alphabet, numbers, our address and cell phone numbers - she does pay attention but I don't think she'll be repeating what I say anytime soon.
+ Two nights in a row of 6+ hours of uninterrupted sleep
- Going to try to only give her the pacifier at night. She's not too attached but she does like it when she's tired/cranky.
+ Size 1 diapers and 3 month clothes.
- Feeds every 2 - 2.5 hours during the day and 4 - 6 hours at night.
+ Big news: Emma fits in the bumbo and she likes the baby bjorn as well!

She's growing up way too fast!

 I love that Emma likes routine and I bet that most babies are the same. She likes to sleep in the mornings. Our days are usually like this: 10PM: Feed. 10:30: Bed. 2AM: Feed then sleep. 6AM: Feed then sleep. 8AM: Feed then sleep. 10AM: Feed then change clothes and we are ready to start the day. During the day, we usually stick to this routine: Feed, Play on back, Tummy-time, Play so more, then time to eat again! Sometimes there will be a 1/2 hour nap but usually no longer than that throughout the day. I'm wondering when she'll start to stretch out the feedings.

Sleeping on Daddy - Nighttime ritual

Emma: Week 7

Smiles are hard to capture on camera!

This has been a great week for us! We have started to get a little bit on a schedule - the most important thing that I did was placing Emma in her crib during her naps so I can get things done and relax. She did great and I'm so excited!

My postpartum visit when well. I'm 6 lbs below my starting pregnancy weight and I fit into all of my clothes, yay! (This must be due to my pregnancy belly was all baby and breastfeeding is great exercise.) The episiotomy was still a little red, so the doctor said to take it easy for a few more weeks. Emma was well behaved and slept the entire time; there was a screaming baby in the waiting room that tried to wake Emma up. Since I had my pap, I don't have to return until next year, although the doctor did mention that maybe we should have another baby right away since Emma is such a good baby --- i don't think so, we can wait a few years for baby # 2!

 

Emma's highlights:
+ sleeping great: 4 - 6 hours. I feed her at 10pm, putting her down to sleep around 10:30. She wakes up in the 2am and 6 am hour on a regular basis.

Giving something the stare.

- Sleepy in the mornings; Emma will take a few good naps in the morning until around lunchtime.
+ Afternoons are filled with playtime, tummytime and being alert.
- She loves her bouncer; I usually put Emma in this while cooking and she will look around in the kitchen, allowing me to be hands-free to cook.
+ Size 1 diapers; 0 - 3 months clothes. The clothes fit great and we have retired the NB clothes.
- Will reach for & grasp onto things, including clothing, hair, toys.
+ Follows us with her eyes around the room, making sure we aren't too far away.
- Will take a pacifier but isn't too attached to it.

Tummy time!

+ Has crazy wild hair in the back, that will spring up after brushed down.
- She talks a lot, especially when you start talking to her. Emma will listen to what you have to say, then give her own opinion on the matter. She is saying more & more consonant sounds: GU, KAH. Her volume has also increased!
+ We bought her more clothes this week; she has to be well dressed!
- Feeding every 2 - 2.5 hours during the day; I'll have to ask the doctor when she'll start to spread this out.
+ Smiles a lot and it's not when she's pooping! Emma has a serious face when she goes to the bathroom.
- I did notice this week that her head is much steady during tummy-time and doesn't "rock" back & forth. She seems to have good head control. 

I love being with Emma all day, although I'm usually exhausted by the end of the day.

Emma: Week 6

Emma's Highlights:

- Still wearing size 1 diapers and 0 - 3 months clothes.
+ I quit my job this week and will be staying home with Emma, at least for a little while. I'm excited!
- Mostly Emma has been saying vowel sounds only but she has said "GU" to both myself and Greg.
+ Emma and I went grocery shopping by ourselves this week; let's just say that I was hurrying through to avoid an upset baby.
- Greg gave Emma her first bottle; she loved it and gulped down 4.5 ounces very quickly.
+ Emma is sleeping great at night and will sleep 3 - 5 hours at a time at night.
- Mornings are her sleepy time, she is very active in the afternoons/evenings until about 8pm, when things start to wind down.
+ Nighttime is daddy time; she likes to like face down on Daddy.

Starting next week, Emma and I are going to start a daily routine throughout the day. Emma will be going with me to my 6 week postpartum visit.

Emma: Week 5

 Emma turned one month this week. She has been so much fun! Emma loves playtime; she has just started to grasp and reach for things: our fingers, pacifier, toys. She also seems to be more attentive and will give us smiles when she sees us. Emma "talks" all the time and will have conversations with us. Tummy-time is going great; she doesn't enjoy it for long, but she lifts her head like a pro!

We went to Savannah for St. Patrick's Day and Emma was awesome at the parade. She slept pretty much the entire time. I'm not going to lie - I was extremely nervous and thought that we would have to leave early. Emma had a mini-meltdown on the way home; we were stopped in Dublin for gas, food, and feeding her. It lasted 1.5 hours. I will mention that this is the first time that Emma spent the night in the same room with us - we are happy in the decision that she has slept in her crib from day 1 because she is not a restful sleeper. Emma was moving and talking in her sleep the entire night; Greg and I just looked at each other and started laughing.

Emma now wears size 1 diapers and 0 - 3 months clothes. She is still sleeping great - usually up to feed around 2 AM and 6 AM.