Two Months
9:34 AM
Month two felt so much longer than her first month, but I think it might be because she changed SO much this month. Its amazing to see her begin to interact with the world around her, so observe people in the room, to react to sounds, smells, and lights. I really love how awake she is now. I find myself too distracted for laundry or chores, I just want to sit and play with her during those awake stretches. I always thought parents were so obnoxious when they say they could watch their babies all day, but its true. I could sit there and let her laugh and coo at me for HOURS.
Likes:
Her play mat, especially the mirror. She loves to lay there and chat with herself.
Eating... girl hasn't slowed down one little bit!
The Lillebaby carrier and the Moby carrier. So glad she enjoys being worn.
Sleeping with her arms up like a touchdown. No swaddles will contain this little girl.
Rock n Play- still her favorite napping spot.
MAM brand pacifiers.
Eating... girl hasn't slowed down one little bit!
The Lillebaby carrier and the Moby carrier. So glad she enjoys being worn.
Sleeping with her arms up like a touchdown. No swaddles will contain this little girl.
Rock n Play- still her favorite napping spot.
MAM brand pacifiers.
Dislikes:
She's still not a huge outfit change fan. We try to make them as fun as possible, but she just doesn't care for being naked, especially when she's hungry or tired.
Waiting for food, of course.
Honestly, she's pretty chill. If she isn't hungry, gassy, or have a full diaper... she is pretty happy!
Waiting for food, of course.
Honestly, she's pretty chill. If she isn't hungry, gassy, or have a full diaper... she is pretty happy!
Schedule:
We wake up between 6 and 7 every morning and eat. After that, I put her on her play mat and head downstairs to grab coffee and a bit of breakfast for myself. We hang out upstairs and play for about an hour, sometime's she'll be so happy and content, I can even get some laundry folded or grab a shower. After that, we eat one more time around 9 or 10 (usually just a little bit) and she goes down for a long nap around noon-ish. I try and schedule appointments and errands during this time, because she will be out for a while. She wakes up again around 2 and she eats a big lunch. The rest of the day is up to her, but we do try and get her into jammies by 10. One last night feed, and then we're settled in for sleep/diaper/feed cycles at 1 and 4 am.
There have been a few days and nights where she deviated from this... especially one stretch of four days where she barely slept at night around 6 weeks. But for the most part, this is how our days go!
Daniel's going to have to take this part over for me next month. He's the stay-at-home parent now!
There have been a few days and nights where she deviated from this... especially one stretch of four days where she barely slept at night around 6 weeks. But for the most part, this is how our days go!
Daniel's going to have to take this part over for me next month. He's the stay-at-home parent now!
Features:
We've got a little double chin! I've been working hard on my milk production and we've occasionally supplemented with formula (see "challenges" section), and little girl is well over 9 lbs now. She's starting to gain those arm and thigh rolls, and I'm proud of my little girl's growth. We've moved into size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothes, and I cried as I packed up her newborn clothing. Her legs are so long, I know that is one feature that didn't come from this 5'2 momma. She also has big feet for her size... she fills out the feet in her footie pajamas already! Her brown hair is thinning a little, but I'm starting to see some wave in the texture when its freshly washed. No color change yet in the eyes. Still slate gray with hints of brown. Last but not least, she is a chatty baby! She is constantly making squeaks and grunts and just chatting, whether awake or asleep. I have a feeling the crib transition might start sooner rather than later... mama needs some sleep!
Milestones:
First social smile
First giggle
Holds head up for longer periods while being held vertical
Hands out of swaddle at night
Rolls from front to back during tummy time (not a fluke, either... she does it almost every day. 😳), rolls onto side while sleeping
First giggle
Holds head up for longer periods while being held vertical
Hands out of swaddle at night
Rolls from front to back during tummy time (not a fluke, either... she does it almost every day. 😳), rolls onto side while sleeping
Firsts:
Visit with Aunt Laurel and Uncle David
Story hour at Drag Queen Story Hour
St. Patrick's Day (and street festival!)
Voting in municipal elections
Car accident (we're totally fine and were not at fault)
Story hour at Drag Queen Story Hour
St. Patrick's Day (and street festival!)
Voting in municipal elections
Car accident (we're totally fine and were not at fault)
Challenges:
Right around Frankie's 5th week, I started having some weird anxiety about my breast milk and being the sole source of nutrients for her. One night, Daniel had come home from work and had gone straight to his Dungeons and Dragons meet up. I'd spent pretty much the whole day on the couch feeding Frankie and I felt like she didn't stop eating for more than an hour at a time. I found myself crying from this panic that my milk was not enough for her. The next day, I talked to the pediatrician about my concerns and she told me that they were not unusual and were a part of postpartum anxiety for many women. She told me that if Frankie cluster fed like that, stop and give her a bottle of pumped milk or, if I felt comfortable, a little top-off of 2 oz formula. At first, I felt like a failure for wanting to give her formula, even though we have over 60 oz in the freezer for when I go back to work. But when she took to the formula just fine, a huge weight was also lifted off my shoulders. I felt like if something happened to me and I was unable to pump or breastfeed, her other caregivers would not have to deal with the challenge of getting her to eat formula, too. She has one formula bottle almost every day and I don't feel guilty. Bottom line, she is gaining weight properly, I feel better emotionally, and more people have the ability to feed her now.
Thoughts:
As I type this, I'm at my first day back at work. Daniel has quit his full time job and will become Frankie's primary care giver at home, with Grandma Susan and Aunt Grace filling in gaps while Daniel starts his own woodworking business. I am definitely excited to get back into a routine and to go back to working with my team, but I know I will miss her fiercely. It will make my time at home even more sweet, however, and I am beyond grateful for a position that pays well enough that Daniel can stay home with her.
I'm also so excited to see the relationship between Daniel and Frankie grow. She is already so enthralled with him, I just love that he will get the opportunity to spend so much time with her and be here for so many of her milestones. We are feeling very lucky this month.
I'm also so excited to see the relationship between Daniel and Frankie grow. She is already so enthralled with him, I just love that he will get the opportunity to spend so much time with her and be here for so many of her milestones. We are feeling very lucky this month.
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