In many ways, this month has flown by. Likely because there are two older siblings to help life stay busy! In other ways, this month has been slow. Likely because Mommy doesn't get much sleep ;). But I have learned that life will return to "normal" (a new normal, of course, which includes you), and as I look at Corbin and Lynnaea, I am reminded that you will grow up all too quickly. And so I am trying to enjoy these moments.
Mommy is crazy. And can't remember a lot from when Lynnaea and Corbin were babies. As a result, I was trying to introduce you to the idea of a schedule after 2 weeks. You pretty much put me in my place with your absolute refusal to be scheduled. Ha! So I looked back over the posts I wrote like this for your big brother and big sister and was reminded that you're still too young. You are, however, pretty willing to go with the sleep-wake-eat-play-sleep schedule, so that's great. It helps me know why you might be fussy at a given time.
Speaking of fussing, the truth is you're a pretty mellow baby. You do fuss, but you're usually pretty easy to calm, and it's usually only because you are hungry or tired. Or if you aren't being held and want to be (which is most of the time, though you are getting more tolerant of sleeping in your swing for a couple of naps each day). And, like Corbin, you can certainly wind up with your screaming when you are upset and we don't fix it right away. Oh how that kind of crying stresses Mommy out. I try to keep those times to a minimum, but with an older brother and sister, there have been times where you've just had to cry while I tended to other issues. Boo.
As there always seem to be with me, we had some struggles with breast-feeding. But this time, they were different struggles: you decided you didn't want to latch after realizing the bottle nipples were so much easier. So I spent most of the month pumping to keep up my supply (and I sure dislike pumping!) and then feeding you breast-milk in the bottle. But with some extra coaxing, this past weekend, we successfully got you to latch every feeding, and now you're a nursing pro! Well, almost. Sometimes it takes a few tries to latch correctly. But we do it! And I can pack away that breast pump. Hooray! I'm glad for the bonding time and closeness nursing provides. I was actually really sad to not share that with you. And I'm glad we have it back. You're a trooper, my little miss.
We spend every night together in the computer room in the recliner. We watch movies like Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and 13 Going on 30 and Pride and Prejudice; and TV shows like Frasier. And you are getting that same heat rash on your face that Corbin did as a result of sleeping skin to skin with me for hours every night. Though you started out completely unpredictable (as newborns do), you are getting slightly more predictable: you will usually sleep a 4 hour stretch from midnight to 4, and then another 2.5 to 3 hour stretch to about 7. This is awesome, in my opinion. Part of me is looking forward to full nights of uninterrupted sleep in my own bed; but there is still that part that is cherishing these nights of you sleeping on me. They will become practically non-existent in the months and years ahead (I know from experience), so I'm trying not to rush it too much. It's a strange feeling to be so torn about these things.
Like your big brother, you like baths. You are a little unsure still, probably because you're so "free" without clothes on. But you don't cry or fuss. You just sit there while I bathe you. You also are like both Lynnaea and Corbin in that you are a champ at holding up your head!! And, interesting tidbit: your umbilical cord stub took almost 3 weeks to fall off! It was a healthy cord!
And unlike your siblings, you seem to enjoy helping us go through 2 to 3 diapers per diaper change (because you are notorious already for peeing and pooping mid-diaper change). We go through lots of diapers this way. You haven't had any blow-outs so far (that was Lynnaea's specialty, I guess ;)), but one thing we are learning is you have very sensitive skin. You had a bad diaper rash/burn at 3 1/2 weeks old, and I was so sad and felt like such a failure as a result. But we've got you healed up and use diaper cream every single time now, because I tried skipping it once you were clear-skinned again, and almost immediately you got red again (but not really bad like before). And that's with diaper changes every feeding! So yep, you are our sensitive-skinned girl.
You are starting to smile. You gave me one of your precious open-mouthed squinty-eyed smiles about a week ago. And just today you've been practicing more and more with those smiles. It's adorable. You're awake more and more, and you're learning to tolerate (which will one day be enjoyment) your older siblings and the constant attention they want to shower on you. They really do love you.
Well, my precious girl, I'm thankful for you. I love you. That's the one thing I want my babies to know the most, and I hope I tell them enough and SHOW them even more. You are precious to me, my sweet girl. And I'm looking so forward to watching you grow and learn, even if a part of my heart wants you to be little forever.
Love Always,
Mommy
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