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Friday, June 21, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Letter to Baby
Dear Avonlea,
You are two months old. Really? I can't believe how quickly two months has gone by. It's funny--there are times when I feel like it is the fastest two months ever recorded, and there are times when I feel like they are the slowest two months.
You are getting so big. We go to the doctor on Friday for your 2 month appointment to find out your official measurements, but I measured you with my measuring tape the other day, and you were between 23 and 24 inches long. Wow! I don't know how much you weigh yet, but I know you're chunking up a little--your cheeks are plumper and your thighs are getting chunky. I am ecstatic, because I LOVE chunky thighs!
You are 90% off of the nipple shield. I don't use it at all during the day. It still hurts when you latch on, because you tend to not open your mouth enough, but I try to grit my teeth through it, and it hurts less as the feeding continues. We use the shield during the overnight feedings because I am usually so full that it's hard for you to eat.
I am full because you are a great sleeper! You've been sleeping about 6 1/2 hours during the first stretch, then waking up to eat, and then sleeping another 3-4 hours. Your naps during the day have gotten shorter, but you're still sleeping every 3 hours or so.
You love looking around at your toys. There's a Baby Einstein toy that you are fascinated with--the blinking lights make your eyes open really wide. We read your first book together, too. You sat on my lap as we read "Go, Dog, Go" together. You stared at the pictures as I read the story. Every day we read "The Jesus Storybook Bible" together, too, but you don't look at the pictures--you usually fall asleep! That's my girl...falling asleep in church already. :)
Speaking of church, we have gone every week the past month. You do a great job. You like listening to the music. We usually don't sit in for the whole service because you get hungry. Last week, you went into the nursery for the first time. Miss Hannah said you did a great job, and only fussed right at the end. Everyone loved the pretty outfit that Bonnie got for you.
We have started physical therapy for your neck. You really don't like the exercises we have to do! I can already tell that your neck is turning better, though, so we will keep working on them!
You still love to be outside. If you are crying, you will instantly stop once we get outside. I have been running in the mornings, and you like to be with me in the stroller. You usually fall asleep by the end of my run.
I love spending my day with you. I love seeing how you are learning and growing right before my eyes. There are things that I see you figuring out, and it is amazing to see you change and mature so quickly. I thank God every day for the gift that is you.
I love you,
Mommy
You are two months old. Really? I can't believe how quickly two months has gone by. It's funny--there are times when I feel like it is the fastest two months ever recorded, and there are times when I feel like they are the slowest two months.
You are getting so big. We go to the doctor on Friday for your 2 month appointment to find out your official measurements, but I measured you with my measuring tape the other day, and you were between 23 and 24 inches long. Wow! I don't know how much you weigh yet, but I know you're chunking up a little--your cheeks are plumper and your thighs are getting chunky. I am ecstatic, because I LOVE chunky thighs!
You are 90% off of the nipple shield. I don't use it at all during the day. It still hurts when you latch on, because you tend to not open your mouth enough, but I try to grit my teeth through it, and it hurts less as the feeding continues. We use the shield during the overnight feedings because I am usually so full that it's hard for you to eat.
I am full because you are a great sleeper! You've been sleeping about 6 1/2 hours during the first stretch, then waking up to eat, and then sleeping another 3-4 hours. Your naps during the day have gotten shorter, but you're still sleeping every 3 hours or so.
You love looking around at your toys. There's a Baby Einstein toy that you are fascinated with--the blinking lights make your eyes open really wide. We read your first book together, too. You sat on my lap as we read "Go, Dog, Go" together. You stared at the pictures as I read the story. Every day we read "The Jesus Storybook Bible" together, too, but you don't look at the pictures--you usually fall asleep! That's my girl...falling asleep in church already. :)
Speaking of church, we have gone every week the past month. You do a great job. You like listening to the music. We usually don't sit in for the whole service because you get hungry. Last week, you went into the nursery for the first time. Miss Hannah said you did a great job, and only fussed right at the end. Everyone loved the pretty outfit that Bonnie got for you.
We have started physical therapy for your neck. You really don't like the exercises we have to do! I can already tell that your neck is turning better, though, so we will keep working on them!
You still love to be outside. If you are crying, you will instantly stop once we get outside. I have been running in the mornings, and you like to be with me in the stroller. You usually fall asleep by the end of my run.
I love spending my day with you. I love seeing how you are learning and growing right before my eyes. There are things that I see you figuring out, and it is amazing to see you change and mature so quickly. I thank God every day for the gift that is you.
I love you,
Mommy
Monday, June 10, 2013
Glimpses of Wonder
"Woven into all of the difficult moments (or hours... or days) of parenting are these glimpses of wonder that I find in each of them." - Michelle CooperToday was another hard day. First day of physical therapy for Avonlea's neck. She has torticollis, so we go to the doctor once a week, and have exercises to do every day. They aren't comfortable for her, and she spent most of the appointment between fussing and screaming.
She doesn't have a lot of peaceful time during the day, and now I am filling it with exercises that make her scream. Yay.
"Woven into all of the difficult moments (or hours... or days) of parenting are these glimpses of wonder that I find in each of them." - Michelle Cooper
She's also been spitting up. A lot. I mean, every single meal, during feedings, after feedings, spitting up. Tonight Nick said it was at least an ounce and a half that she spit up. She's screaming at an hour and a half to eat...no eating between 2 and 3 hours for her.
I've cut out dairy, broccoli, garlic. I was off caffeine a while, too, but I'm going back off of it again, which means no Mt. Dew. It really makes me so sad. But I can't think of anything else to do. She's SO fussy, and I'm terrified of being on the plane with her in 10 days. After all, if a baby is crying on the plane, no one looks at the baby. They all look at the mom.
"Woven into all of the difficult moments (or hours... or days) of parenting are these glimpses of wonder that I find in each of them." - Michelle Cooper
Yes, I know I wrote the same quotation (by my former principal's wife) 3 times. But for me, I need the constant reminder that no matter how hard the day is, there are still amazing moments with Avonlea that I get to share. She gets this huge, goofy grin on her face when I blow on her toes. She looks with wonder at the mobile above her changing table. She gets instantly quiet when I shush in her ear. These little moments are full of wonder for me, and I need to remember them when things get tough.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
I'm Coming Home...
We are going back to Ohio!
It was ridiculous. I looked at tickets all week, and they were hanging around the (usual) $315/ea. mark. Thursday night, Nick said for me to go ahead and book the tickets the next day. Well, Friday morning, they had jumped up to $500/ea or more! We waited until Tuesday, hoping the price would go down, but it didn't, so we just booked it. After all, Avonlea isn't getting any younger, I'm tired of fielding the "when are you coming home?" question, and we don't know what's going to happen in the future.
So...we're coming home!
We leave Thursday at 11:30pm, arriving in Dayton on Friday morning at 8am. We'll stay for 2 weekends, and then leave on Tuesday the 2nd of July at 6am.
My little girl gets to meet her family!!! Nick's mom is planning on coming into town (I feel bad that we can't go to Chicago area as well, but there just isn't time), and we'll take Avonlea to meet my grandparents and aunts and uncles, and the 2nd weekend we'll drive down to Lexington to stay with Brandon and Ashley for the weekend.
My Dad will actually get to meet her sooner. He is actually flying in on Father's Day, and will stay with us that week and fly back to Ohio on the same flight as us. This is a blessing, because it means I won't have to breastfeed in between two strangers. Yay!
As for the flight, I am admittedly very nervous. The reason I didn't fly to Ohio in May is because Avonlea was a very fussy infant. She cried a lot, and I didn't want to take that onto a plane and risk ticking off a plane full of people. Well, she still cries a lot. It is better than it was, she's not full-blown nuclear crying all the time now, but she is definitely fussy. She likes to be upright, and walking around our house--and on the flight she's going to be stuck in the same seat with me for a 4-hour flight, and an hour flight (we have a layover in Chicago).
I'm hoping that the red-eye flight will help, that she'll sleep well on the flight. But she doesn't sleep in my arms EVER, so it could be interesting.
I think we just need prayer. I don't want my little Fuss Face to ruin the flight for others (and us, as well). I'm already planning on making the little airline kits for our flight neighbors (saw them on Pinterest), but there's only so much I can do. I've been praying, and I will continue to pray that something miraculous will happen, and that Avonlea will become this champion sleeper (or just the happiest baby on earth) on our flights.
Please, Jesus.
It was ridiculous. I looked at tickets all week, and they were hanging around the (usual) $315/ea. mark. Thursday night, Nick said for me to go ahead and book the tickets the next day. Well, Friday morning, they had jumped up to $500/ea or more! We waited until Tuesday, hoping the price would go down, but it didn't, so we just booked it. After all, Avonlea isn't getting any younger, I'm tired of fielding the "when are you coming home?" question, and we don't know what's going to happen in the future.
So...we're coming home!
We leave Thursday at 11:30pm, arriving in Dayton on Friday morning at 8am. We'll stay for 2 weekends, and then leave on Tuesday the 2nd of July at 6am.
My little girl gets to meet her family!!! Nick's mom is planning on coming into town (I feel bad that we can't go to Chicago area as well, but there just isn't time), and we'll take Avonlea to meet my grandparents and aunts and uncles, and the 2nd weekend we'll drive down to Lexington to stay with Brandon and Ashley for the weekend.
My Dad will actually get to meet her sooner. He is actually flying in on Father's Day, and will stay with us that week and fly back to Ohio on the same flight as us. This is a blessing, because it means I won't have to breastfeed in between two strangers. Yay!
As for the flight, I am admittedly very nervous. The reason I didn't fly to Ohio in May is because Avonlea was a very fussy infant. She cried a lot, and I didn't want to take that onto a plane and risk ticking off a plane full of people. Well, she still cries a lot. It is better than it was, she's not full-blown nuclear crying all the time now, but she is definitely fussy. She likes to be upright, and walking around our house--and on the flight she's going to be stuck in the same seat with me for a 4-hour flight, and an hour flight (we have a layover in Chicago).
I'm hoping that the red-eye flight will help, that she'll sleep well on the flight. But she doesn't sleep in my arms EVER, so it could be interesting.
I think we just need prayer. I don't want my little Fuss Face to ruin the flight for others (and us, as well). I'm already planning on making the little airline kits for our flight neighbors (saw them on Pinterest), but there's only so much I can do. I've been praying, and I will continue to pray that something miraculous will happen, and that Avonlea will become this champion sleeper (or just the happiest baby on earth) on our flights.
Please, Jesus.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
New Post!
It seems like there's so much to write about, I can't think of anything to write.
Bullet points seem to serve me well, even though they're not much fun to read.
The other day, I went into our room while Avonlea was sleeping (she sleeps in the pack-n-play in our room), and I just stared at her and cried. Because with all of the craziness that we have endured, we have come out the other side in a better place. Though I know we'll have hard days (the previous entry is proof of that), I am crazy in love with my daughter. I kiss her sweet head and snuggle her close on my shoulder (since she doesn't like snuggling on my chest), and inhale her sweet scent. She makes me laugh with her funny faces, and I look at her in wonder when she is discovering the world for the first time.
She's still fussy a lot. It's not during a consistent time of the day, so I'm thinking it's diet-related. She is still 100% breastmilk--yay! She eats with the nipple shield, which I think is adding more air into her system, so I'm working on weaning her off it. It's hard, though, with her eating off of the shield for 2/3 of her life! Today she has eaten half of her meals off of the shield, so I think we'll get there. Also, in the last few weeks I added dairy back into my diet, but I think it's messing with her stomach. I bought some of the "Little Tummys" drops, and they seem to help, but I'm also going to go back to no dairy to see if it improves her mood.
She continues to be a great sleeper. She'll sleep 4-5 hours during the day (either 2 "shorter" naps, or 1 long nap). She'll go to bed between 9 and 10pm, get up around 3am to eat, and then get up between 7 and 8am. She has gone as long as 7.5 hours once (and my boobs were READY for her to eat that time!), but usually she'll have a longer stretch (like, from 9:30 to 3:30), then a shorter stretch (from 4:15 to 7). But again, NO COMPLAINTS from me, as I know a lot of babies don't sleep at all. But I remember praying that she would sleep well because I don't do well on little sleep.
Here's her evening sleep setup:
Swaddled, spit-up rag under her, covered with a quilt from Aunt Sharon (we sleep with the windows open, and it can get chilly), iPad playing white noise.
Nick's friends from high school were here last weekend. I took Avonlea with us to Rodeo Drive and the Santa Monica Pier. Here are Avonlea and I at the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way. Appropriate, right? :)
Avonlea has become a fan of the Moby wrap. The only problem with it is that it is so THICK and HOT! I swear my body temperature has been permanently screwed up. I get so hot all the time. I think I'm going to make my own Moby wrap out of linen--I found a tutorial on Pinterest. I'd love to do a ring sling, but they are more complicated to make--and I can't afford to buy one!
Bullet points seem to serve me well, even though they're not much fun to read.
The other day, I went into our room while Avonlea was sleeping (she sleeps in the pack-n-play in our room), and I just stared at her and cried. Because with all of the craziness that we have endured, we have come out the other side in a better place. Though I know we'll have hard days (the previous entry is proof of that), I am crazy in love with my daughter. I kiss her sweet head and snuggle her close on my shoulder (since she doesn't like snuggling on my chest), and inhale her sweet scent. She makes me laugh with her funny faces, and I look at her in wonder when she is discovering the world for the first time.
She's still fussy a lot. It's not during a consistent time of the day, so I'm thinking it's diet-related. She is still 100% breastmilk--yay! She eats with the nipple shield, which I think is adding more air into her system, so I'm working on weaning her off it. It's hard, though, with her eating off of the shield for 2/3 of her life! Today she has eaten half of her meals off of the shield, so I think we'll get there. Also, in the last few weeks I added dairy back into my diet, but I think it's messing with her stomach. I bought some of the "Little Tummys" drops, and they seem to help, but I'm also going to go back to no dairy to see if it improves her mood.
She continues to be a great sleeper. She'll sleep 4-5 hours during the day (either 2 "shorter" naps, or 1 long nap). She'll go to bed between 9 and 10pm, get up around 3am to eat, and then get up between 7 and 8am. She has gone as long as 7.5 hours once (and my boobs were READY for her to eat that time!), but usually she'll have a longer stretch (like, from 9:30 to 3:30), then a shorter stretch (from 4:15 to 7). But again, NO COMPLAINTS from me, as I know a lot of babies don't sleep at all. But I remember praying that she would sleep well because I don't do well on little sleep.
Here's her evening sleep setup:
Swaddled, spit-up rag under her, covered with a quilt from Aunt Sharon (we sleep with the windows open, and it can get chilly), iPad playing white noise.
Nick's friends from high school were here last weekend. I took Avonlea with us to Rodeo Drive and the Santa Monica Pier. Here are Avonlea and I at the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way. Appropriate, right? :)
Avonlea has become a fan of the Moby wrap. The only problem with it is that it is so THICK and HOT! I swear my body temperature has been permanently screwed up. I get so hot all the time. I think I'm going to make my own Moby wrap out of linen--I found a tutorial on Pinterest. I'd love to do a ring sling, but they are more complicated to make--and I can't afford to buy one!
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