Ava smiles! It happened for the first time on Thursday, 1/21, while I had her on my lap and was talking\cooing at her, but knowing that's it's early yet for a social smile, I assumed that maybe she had some internal yummy turmoil that I couldn't hear. Then, the next day, she did it again in the same situation. TWICE!
D hadn't had a chance to see it, and seemed pretty skeptical when I told him about it, so yesterday morning when she woke up I put her in bed with us to snuggle, and started talking to her while I had her attention, and though brief this time, she did it! Too bad D had shut his eyes! We'll try yet again I suppose when she's done nursing, but I am 100% confident saying that Ava has smiled her first (several) of many, many smiles to come!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Ode to D
A couple of weeks before Ava was born, D mentioned to me that he had never held a baby. Whaaaaat?! I guess it shouldn't have come as a huge shock, considering men don't exactly spring at the chance to hold other people's babies, but still, I was slightly in awe.
Flash forward to the current, and D has held our baby day and night since her arrival. He changes diapers like a pro, and feeds her the bottle a day the pediatrician suggested we introduce since I'm heading back to work so soon like he's been doing it his whole life. I've worked in a lot of households and observed a lot of fathers, and never have I seen one more actively involved with his newborn. He absolutely adores her, and for that, I can honestly say I have never loved him more.
We've never been one of those couples that put on embarassing public displays of affection, or that play the, "No, I love YOU more" game while on the phone. We're a little more low-key than all that, and besides, isn't the affection and love implied? But since Ava was born, D really stepped up to the plate (especially when I couldn't get out of bed initially), and for that, and for giving me this amazing little mini-us, I just want to shout my love for him from the rooftops. I have heard that having a baby can really challenge a marriage/relationship, but so far, all I have found is that I am in complete and utter awe of how he has settled into his new role as father, and how wonderfully loving and helpful he has been in the process.
So here it is, my version of shouting my love from the rooftops: I thought it impossible, but everytime I see you with our daughter, I can honestly say I have never loved you more, and that feeling continues to grow daily. Thank you for this amazing blessing, and for going on this journey with me!
Flash forward to the current, and D has held our baby day and night since her arrival. He changes diapers like a pro, and feeds her the bottle a day the pediatrician suggested we introduce since I'm heading back to work so soon like he's been doing it his whole life. I've worked in a lot of households and observed a lot of fathers, and never have I seen one more actively involved with his newborn. He absolutely adores her, and for that, I can honestly say I have never loved him more.
We've never been one of those couples that put on embarassing public displays of affection, or that play the, "No, I love YOU more" game while on the phone. We're a little more low-key than all that, and besides, isn't the affection and love implied? But since Ava was born, D really stepped up to the plate (especially when I couldn't get out of bed initially), and for that, and for giving me this amazing little mini-us, I just want to shout my love for him from the rooftops. I have heard that having a baby can really challenge a marriage/relationship, but so far, all I have found is that I am in complete and utter awe of how he has settled into his new role as father, and how wonderfully loving and helpful he has been in the process.
So here it is, my version of shouting my love from the rooftops: I thought it impossible, but everytime I see you with our daughter, I can honestly say I have never loved you more, and that feeling continues to grow daily. Thank you for this amazing blessing, and for going on this journey with me!
Reflux?
I am starting to suspect that Ava is experiencing reflux.
She has started to spit up frequently, sometimes directly after eating (in which case it's just like regular liquid-y baby spit up), and sometimes hours later (in which case it is thicker with what seems like teeny chunks of curdled milk). From what I have read, the latter is milk that has been sitting in her stomach and started the digestion process. Poor thing!
We have an appointment scheduled for a 4-week well check & weigh-in on Monday, but I may see if we can bump it up to tomorrow. I have noticed she is slightly fussy before and after the spit up, and have even seen her appear to be gasping for air a couple of times (talk about scaring me to death!) before spitting, so I figure the sooner we address it, the better.
Anyone else having reflux or spit-up issues?
She has started to spit up frequently, sometimes directly after eating (in which case it's just like regular liquid-y baby spit up), and sometimes hours later (in which case it is thicker with what seems like teeny chunks of curdled milk). From what I have read, the latter is milk that has been sitting in her stomach and started the digestion process. Poor thing!
We have an appointment scheduled for a 4-week well check & weigh-in on Monday, but I may see if we can bump it up to tomorrow. I have noticed she is slightly fussy before and after the spit up, and have even seen her appear to be gasping for air a couple of times (talk about scaring me to death!) before spitting, so I figure the sooner we address it, the better.
Anyone else having reflux or spit-up issues?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Where Am I?
Earlier this week, I was watching Ellen (welcome to what I do while on maternity leave and nursing Ava through a growth spurt!) and she was comparing animal and human intelligence. She was saying that dolphins can find their way to each other from such and such a distance, while humans frequently ask themselves, 'Why did I walk into the kitchen again?!' And now this brings me to my "new life"....
I, for the life of me, cannot keep things straight. My to do list frequently includes such items as 'find previous to-do list' and 'shave left leg since you forgot this morning after you shaved the right'. I consider myself a very organized person, but while at both Target and Walmart (ick!) today, I muttered things like, 'Why is mommy at Walmart?' and, 'What did we need at Target (besides a latte!)?' And yes, I chat with my baby. All day long. Do I look like a nut while strolling down the street talking to the baby about the unseasonably warm weather and how no one will ever replace Bob Barker, least of which Drew Carey (again, what I do on my maternity leave...)? Yes. Am I also fostering early language development and an increased vocabulary? Heck yeah. Totally worth it.
Anyhow...wait, what was I saying again? :)
I, for the life of me, cannot keep things straight. My to do list frequently includes such items as 'find previous to-do list' and 'shave left leg since you forgot this morning after you shaved the right'. I consider myself a very organized person, but while at both Target and Walmart (ick!) today, I muttered things like, 'Why is mommy at Walmart?' and, 'What did we need at Target (besides a latte!)?' And yes, I chat with my baby. All day long. Do I look like a nut while strolling down the street talking to the baby about the unseasonably warm weather and how no one will ever replace Bob Barker, least of which Drew Carey (again, what I do on my maternity leave...)? Yes. Am I also fostering early language development and an increased vocabulary? Heck yeah. Totally worth it.
Anyhow...wait, what was I saying again? :)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
First Solo Outing!
Yesterday was my first solo outing with Ava. I took this extra week off knowing that I wouldn't want to have my first solo outing coincide with my first day of work, so I decided it was time to brave leaving her in the backseat by herself, and get back behind the wheel.
First stop - weight check with the lactation consultant. All the steps I have taken to increase my milk supply must be working, since little A is up to 8lbs, 8ozs. Score! This makes me so happy! Especially given that if she hadn't gained weight still by yesterday, I wouldve had to start supplementing with formula, which I really didn't want to do. Yay success! That makes all the pumping and supplements entirely worthwhile.
After that we met D for pizza rolls at Doubledave's, through which little miss Ava slept the entire time! She had no clue we had lunch with dad.
Then came the best decision I have made for my sanity as a mother: I picked up the Bebesounds Angelcare sound and movement monitor. This thing is amazing! While I wouldve said it was entirely over the top before Ava was born, knowing how much sleep I lose watching and waking up to check if she's breathing, I am now 100% behind this monitor. How it works is you place the movement sensor pad under the mattress and then set the handset units up just like you would a normal monitor, connecting the movement sensor to the nursery handset. The sensor is sensitive enough to detect the rise and fall of baby's chest, as well as his/her larger movements of course, and if at anytime it goes 20 seconds without sensing movement, an alarm goes off, prompting both the baby to move/breathe, and the parents to wake up to check on and possibly take revival efforts for baby. It literally saves lives. Best money I have ever spent.
Despite this new monitor, I slept like utter crap last night. Ava was on a sleep strike, and didn't fall asleep and STAY asleep until 2:45. Holy crapballs. That being said, I'm exhausted. Back to bed!
First stop - weight check with the lactation consultant. All the steps I have taken to increase my milk supply must be working, since little A is up to 8lbs, 8ozs. Score! This makes me so happy! Especially given that if she hadn't gained weight still by yesterday, I wouldve had to start supplementing with formula, which I really didn't want to do. Yay success! That makes all the pumping and supplements entirely worthwhile.
After that we met D for pizza rolls at Doubledave's, through which little miss Ava slept the entire time! She had no clue we had lunch with dad.
Then came the best decision I have made for my sanity as a mother: I picked up the Bebesounds Angelcare sound and movement monitor. This thing is amazing! While I wouldve said it was entirely over the top before Ava was born, knowing how much sleep I lose watching and waking up to check if she's breathing, I am now 100% behind this monitor. How it works is you place the movement sensor pad under the mattress and then set the handset units up just like you would a normal monitor, connecting the movement sensor to the nursery handset. The sensor is sensitive enough to detect the rise and fall of baby's chest, as well as his/her larger movements of course, and if at anytime it goes 20 seconds without sensing movement, an alarm goes off, prompting both the baby to move/breathe, and the parents to wake up to check on and possibly take revival efforts for baby. It literally saves lives. Best money I have ever spent.
Despite this new monitor, I slept like utter crap last night. Ava was on a sleep strike, and didn't fall asleep and STAY asleep until 2:45. Holy crapballs. That being said, I'm exhausted. Back to bed!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
What I've Learned in the Past Three Weeks.
That as much as I thought I knew about love, I knew nothing about the love you can feel for your children.
That even though I swore I wouldn't be a nervous new mother, I still stay up staring at her while she sleeps to make sure she's breathing, and say a prayer every night for God to keep her safe and breathing through the night.
In fact, many things I said I wouldn't do, I've done. She sleeps in our room, though at least not in our bed. I have yet to be anywhere without her and have no intention of leaving her side anytime soon. There are so many other things, far too many to specifically name.
I enjoy breastfeeding far more than I could have imagined. It relaxes me while nourishing her. How awesome is that. It also doesn't hurt that it's free - no complaints there!
That I could worry so much about everything going into and coming out of her tiny little body, and what those things mean for her weight gain. I never imagined I could care more about someone elses weight than my own!
Speaking of, I've learned that I will be able to regain my body. Big relief there!
That baby poo, farts and burps are FAR more adorable than their grown-up counterparts!
That baby noises are the cutest sounds on Earth!
That even though I worry nonstop about countless things, I feel more confident than ever that I already am, and will continue to be, a good mother, and that's all that matters, isn't it?
Happy three week birthday, Ava!
That even though I swore I wouldn't be a nervous new mother, I still stay up staring at her while she sleeps to make sure she's breathing, and say a prayer every night for God to keep her safe and breathing through the night.
In fact, many things I said I wouldn't do, I've done. She sleeps in our room, though at least not in our bed. I have yet to be anywhere without her and have no intention of leaving her side anytime soon. There are so many other things, far too many to specifically name.
I enjoy breastfeeding far more than I could have imagined. It relaxes me while nourishing her. How awesome is that. It also doesn't hurt that it's free - no complaints there!
That I could worry so much about everything going into and coming out of her tiny little body, and what those things mean for her weight gain. I never imagined I could care more about someone elses weight than my own!
Speaking of, I've learned that I will be able to regain my body. Big relief there!
That baby poo, farts and burps are FAR more adorable than their grown-up counterparts!
That baby noises are the cutest sounds on Earth!
That even though I worry nonstop about countless things, I feel more confident than ever that I already am, and will continue to be, a good mother, and that's all that matters, isn't it?
Happy three week birthday, Ava!
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