10 Months Old (A day late)

I don't quite know how to start this post, as I don't want to say all those cliches of "how is it 10 months?", "Our baby is almost a year old!", etc etc....but everyone is true. There is no baby anymore...there's a very independent little girl, who knows exactly what she wants. I'm excited to see who she's going to become, but I miss the baby she was. Everyday I'm just completely awed by some new thing she suddenly does or some little thing I notice.

*You have 2 3/4 teeth now. The top 2 broke through, but only one of them is actually the slightest bit visible without looking.
*You give the most absolute and bestest hugs! You've done this for a while, at bed time, but now you'll just climb in our lap and put your head on our shoulders and your arms around our neck and squeeze...it's heaven!
*You'll sit in our lap while we read a book to you...and actually pay attention to what we're reading.
*Your hair is just getting longer and longer, it's to your shoulder blades when it's wet
*You're standing on your own, but you get over excited and end up throwing yourself off balance.
*You've started walking...so far the most you've taken is 5 steps...but I don't think it will be long now.
*You've climbed the entire flight of stairs...just like a big girl (with mommy right behind you and daddy at the top).
*You growl at everyone and will get into growling matches with people.
*This weekend we're going on our first family "vacation" (just an overnight to Hersh.ey Park).
*You love playing with other kids and think it's tons of fun.
*"da-da" and you know who that is :)
*ETA: First broken bone...your left clavicle...yay! (*note sarcasm*)

Ave, it's hard to believe that in 2 months you're going to be 1...I won't lie...that makes me beyond sad, but you are such an amazing person, and becoming more wonderful and loving every day as your personality comes out and asserts its self. We love you!

(You can see that she's holding that left arm right down by her side and not moving it...that's the injured one).

9 Months

NINE MONTHS! Seriously?! Today we had our 9 month well baby visit with our pediatrician. Avelyn is doing well and was given a clean bill of health...no sign even of her slight heart murmur from before: YAY!

Let's recap the conclusion of your 9 month
*You went from army crawling to full out on your hands and knees crawling
*Cruising is your preferred mode of transportation...you get really annoyed if you get cornered and can't go on cruising
*You now make this really cute noise, where you raspberry your lips and hum at the same time
*You've loved having swimming lessons
*There's only a few people that you won't go to, but if there are too many people around you get over excited and won't nap and become a monster
*You love your bedtime bunny
*You occasionally will give hugs and sometimes even kisses, which are the sloppiest most wonderful things
*It looks like you have at least FOUR teeth coming in at once...which explains the misery of sleep for the past month
*You have 1 or 2 good nights, then a slew of bad ones
*You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE animals...it doesn't matter what kind

Ave, you're the light of the world! We love you so very, very much!

8 months old

Four months....that's how far away from a year....that's it!

Avelyn is growing in to an amazing little person! She's so adventurous and crazy...I just know she'll be the one instigating whatever trouble she manages to get into. There is no making this girl do anything...she has a mind of her own.

*You're standing up in your crib
*You're pulling yourself up on whatever is nearby (couch, furniture, toys, people)
*You're slowly starting to cruise the furniture
*Still army crawling, but occasionally you'll get up on your hands and knees
*You're a natural at yoga: Downward facing dog anyone?
*You love making growling and screeching noises, and have been nicknamed Baby-Zilla
*You love boys (already!)...you just are entranced by the guys who work in our store
*Your face just lights up a room when you see someone you love...whether it's mommy or daddy, or Grandma or Grandpa, or Oma or Opa
*You've got a smile for anyone
*You love clicking your tongue and making smacking sounds with your mouth

We love you so very, very much Ave. We're so blessed to get to be your parents and watch you learn and grow first hand.

7 Months

I know everyone says it, but I honestly don't know where the past 7 months have gone. It seems like Avelyn has always been a part of our life, but that it was just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital.

May was an extraordinary month for Ave. I don't think it is possible for their to have been more first in such a short time!
*First and second tooth
*First and second visit with my friend, Sadie, and her twins
*Started "crawling"
*Started pulling yourself up on things (particularly people and the sides of your crib)
*We've had to drop the mattress in your crib
*First time swimming
*First time having fruits

Ave, every day you're growing bigger and it's more and more fun to see what new things you'll discover each day. Even when you're miserable and not sleeping you're still a wonder to behold and more joy than we could ever have hoped for. It's an adventure and I'm so excited for every day. I love you sweet girl!

6 Months Old

We have a 6 month old :-( Every day now is closer to a year than it is to a newborn. In honor of Avelyn's 6 month birthday she decided to start sprouting her first tooth. I noticed a line on her gums on Friday morning, and it's sloooowwwllly poking through. There's something about that first tooth....they go from gummy babies to kids with that tooth.

*You've outgrown even most of your 6 months clothes, and are into 9/12 months in 1 piece outfits
*Your first tooth is coming in
*We started your vegetables on 4/26: So far you've had sweet potatoes, peas (which you don't like), lettuce, and carrots...you're always so excited to be in the high chair and getting food!
*You sit up by yourself now, and even correct yourself if you lean too far over
*The scale at the store says you're 17lbs and your measuring approximately27" tall

Here's a recap of Avelyn: 5 minutes to 6 months







Official doctor's report:

5 Months Old

This kid is C - R - A - Z - Y! Her favorite thing: Being held upside down. If you're not holding her upside down she's bending her back trying to make herself be upside down. I keep wondering if she's going to break her back, but so far she hasn't.

*You've outgrown all of your 3-6 months clothing...and even 6 months in your footed one-pieces. It's scary to see the size on your clothes creeping closer and closer to 12 months.
*You can now tripod, but we have to be right there to catch you if you lean back.
*You got your first "cold" on your 5 month birthday!
*Boy do you have a temper! If you can't get whatever it is that you want you screech! ( I have since ordered this book)
*You love bath time....even getting the water in your face doesn't phase you.
*Bath times will very soon be getting moved to the bathtub as you love to splash and inevitably flood the kitchen.
*You love to drink out of mommy's glasses of water...and would rather do that than a sippy cup.
*You love to sit outside and watch everything that's going on: It doesn't matter if you're on someone's lap or in your stroller....you just watch.
*You had your first taste of sweet potato and weren't completely opposed to it.
*You're starting to recognize your name.
We weighed A at the store last week and minus diaper and clothes she's right around 15 1/2-15 3/4lbs...measuring right around 27" long.

Here are more pictures:-)

4 Month Well-Baby Visit

Today we had Avelyn's 4 month visit, here's those stats:

She's growing well and the doctor had no concerns. Last time he had found a slight heart murmur and said he wanted to watch it, he wasn't sure if it would be serious or not. This time he didn't think it was serious at all and sounded like it was closing up on it's own: Yay!

She had shots again today...boy she doesn't like them. Matt didn't go with me last time, he did today and I thought HE was going to lose it when she got her shots. I hate it and have to control myself from crying when she's hysterical, but him...he started coughing, I think he was seriously getting choked up.

Other things: I've tried to start working with A at self-soothing at night. On Saturday night we started a firm routine (bath, if needed, books, bottle, prayers, down). I stay in the room with her until she's asleep, but I don't pick her up. I basically put her in the crib awake...she kicks around a bit looks at her sound/light machine on the ceiling, and slowly goes out. It takes about 5-10 minutes until she's asleep.

Every night that I've done this she's slept from 7:30/8:00 until midnight, then down until 4:30/5:00 and out again until 7:00am. Definitely better....I just need to figure out how to get rid of the midnight wake up...it doesn't help me to fall asleep for only an hour, before she wakes up...I might try adding in a dream feeding again.

The other interesting thing is our doctor doesn't see any point in starting solids (even rice cereal) until 6months. I don't feel so strongly either way about starting the solids, so we'll just wait and see. Other than that...he's pleased with how she's growing and says everything looks good.

Now hopefully her sleep routine doesn't get screwed up by her shots...

4 Months Old

We're a 1/3 of the way to One! I honestly couldn't tell you where the past 4 months have gone...it feels like it was just recently that we were wondering if we'd ever be blessed with children. Avelyn you are the BIGGEST source of joy (worry and stress...but all worth it) in our life. We can't imagine how we ever existed before you were born; you are our sunshine and our life. We love you more than we ever thought it was possible to love someone.

This past month...
*You sat in a high chair during dinner for the first time (at Grandma and Grandpa's)
*You rolled over from your belly to your back, and from back to your belly
*You grab at your feet and put them in your mouth (more so when you don't have a diaper on)
*You had your first taste of rice cereal
*You LOVE sleeping on your side (and this is how I always find you)
*You still haven't slept through the night more than twice
*You love playing with your toys, it doesn't matter if it's your exersaucer, your exercise mat, or your stuffed animals
*You love putting EVERYTHING in your mouth: Toys, fingers, hands, anything
*You can stand on your own, just holding on to someone's fingers
*You some how manage to move yourself ALL OVER your crib...you're never in the position that I left you in
*You take anywhere from 4-8ozs at a time
*Sometimes you think the middle of the night is the perfect play time and can't figure out why mommy sits in the rocking chair half-asleep watching you
*You are such a happy baby
*You've started giving the sweetest hugs and hold on tight to mommy and daddy
*You're starting to associate your name with you
*You'll play by yourself on your exercise mat for 45 minutes at a time
*You're still having a bit of a mommy-obsession, but you're getting better at going to other people
*You're ticklish on your feet, sides, and tummy
*You love your bath time and kick your feet with such ferocity (I can't wait until the bathroom is done, so you stop soaking the kitchen!)
*You have one of the biggest and best smiles in the world
*You're officially wearing 3-6 months clothing
*You're almost as big as your cousin C, and she's 3 months older than you (your feet are the same size)
*I actually have to start brushing your hair in the morning, otherwise it gets all knotty
*You've started grabbing at EVERYTHING and pulling on it as hard as you can (especially hair)
*You can also scream like it's nobody's business...especially when you want something NOW!
*You're very interested in whatever it is that Mommy and Daddy are eating
*There is no better sound in the world than that of your talking and laughter

You have changed so much in this past month, it's astounding! Mommy and Daddy love you so very, very much!



Here's the pictures!

3 MONTHS (13 weeks + 1 day)

THREE MONTHS?! THREE MONTHS! SERIOUSLY HOW HAS IT ALREADY BEEN THREE MONTHS?!

Last night lying in bed, I realized something...One year ago (Jan 31) we had our IUI, it was my first day "pregnant" with Avelyn. Wow! I was blown away by that thought. A year ago we'd pretty much given up hope, had received the paperwork to start the adoption process, we'd already discredited the IUI..."knowing" it hadn't worked. And, now here we are a year later....I have a 3 month old swinging in my kitchen, taking a nap.

Here's her stats:
Weight: (correction) right around 13 1/2lbs
Length: just under 25"

Yesterday was also the first time we've taken A out in the snow (it was sunny and 30*) and to meet the chickens. The snow didn't phase her, but the chickens....oh my the chickens. She just starred and starred at them...I think what they were and the sounds were completely enthralling for her. Here are more pictures!

We spent quite a bit of time putzing around with pictures today, in honor of 3 months (about 3 hours on and off, with about 4 or 5 outfit changes). Some of them I even have A in my christening gown.

I was christened at 2 months old and A will certainly not fit into my gown at 5 months (when she's christened) so I just had to take some pictures of her in it. I'm actually thinking of having MIL take the train from my wedding dress to make A's christening gown. I know other people do this, and honestly, the train is the only part of my dress I'm attached to. The rest of it will probably be for dress up....so why not turn it into an heirloom...I'm sure A isn't going to want to wear my dress when she gets married.

Ok, a couple of new things she's doing: Drooling like a faucet, blowing raspberries, sitting upright in her bumbo for 10+ minutes at a time, sitting up in my lap with little to no support, eating (and gagging on) her hands, talking up a storm, and down-right giggling at things.

I've been holding off on doing one of these, but I think I can manage now...a side by side comparison of me at 13 weeks and A at 13 weeks. I definitely think she's the cuter of the two of us.


And here's the link to SOME of the pictures I took of her today (there were 347 total).

12 Weeks!

It's kind of sad, that after this, her 12th week, we'll start saying her age in months :-( It's going WAAAAY too fast! People keep asking if we're ready for the next one...um YES!

I mentioned in last weeks post that Avelyn has done two new things: Pulling "George" out of her mouth and putting him back in and moving her spoon from one hand to another (which hasn't happened again since). The one thing that she did start doing toward the end of the week is reach and grabbing at toys...namely those on her gym-mat-thingy or ones we're holding. It doesn't happen all the time, but she does do it on occasion. And, speaking of her exercise mat, she's also figured out if she kicks it that it makes noise. Oh, and her favorite thing is when I read "Red Fish, Blue Fish"....loves that book!

This past week, while we didn't have many new developments it was a week of fun toys! Grandma picked up a cash register for A, too keep at the store. Targ.et had it clearance, it was regularly $30 (which is WAY too much for the thing), but Grandma got it for $7.00...definitely a more acceptable price.

The other BIG buy was a splurge on the Baby Einstein "Around the World" Discovery Center at $90. I did NOT want to spend that much on an exersaucer, but it really was the most entertaining one out there and I figure if we break that out to a per child cost, it isn't that bad. A is definitely a little small for the exersaucer, but she LOVES the lion puppet that's on there and all the other noises that the thing makes.

The other thing that we're dealing with is A's obsession with me: That's right at 11/12 weeks she is having stranger issues and mommy attachment. I won't lie, it's wonderful to know that I am the ONLY one who can calm her down (for the past 2 1/2 weeks) but it gets exhausting to never have your arms to yourself. She screams bloody murder until she get's me.

Last night however, Matt and I went to see Sherlock Holmes (good movie) and Matt's sister came and stayed with her (knowing that she could very well scream the entire time). Yesterday seemed to be better though...she let Matt hold her for over an hour yesterday afternoon and actually didn't scream the entire time we were out. Hopefully we're turning a new leaf.

Here's the link to her 12 week pictures and a video of her on her exercise mat.



Oh, and on the DL: Someone has STTN TWICE this past week (1o:30p - 6:30a). I hope just didn't jinx it!

11 weeks and New Developments!

We've had 2 new and exciting developments in the White House.

Avelyn's been pulling her pacifier, "George", out of her mouth and dropping him, for the past 2 weeks or so...well on Thursday she decided to take him out of her mouth and put him back in, repeatedly. The best was when she took him out of her mouth, was holding him, and didn't realize she was holding him, then started crying because she wanted George back.

Yesterday my sister was over and we were playing with Avelyn and gave her a plastic spoon to hold. I looked away for a SECOND, and my sister goes, "She just changed hands while holding the spoon!". Sure enough the spoon had been in her left hand and she had switched it to the right!

On Sunday night we headed up to my parents house to have dinner with them and some friends: It was really great to get together with everyone. Avelyn even got to meet another little friend, Sebastian, who is 17 months. He was so much fun! (Here's the pictures)

(Here's the pictures)


Avelyn's 11 week pictures!


Oh, and yesterday I crocheted a hat for A: It's the first thing I've crocheted since 2000.

10 weeks

Yesterday A was 10 weeks...how are we already in the double digits. I actually got really sad thinking that this is the last time she'll hit double digits for anything until she's 10 years old...then I realized...DUH! 10 months :-) and that made me feel better.

Three different things this week:

MIL bought a bumbo thingy (it's a knock off) for A...and she LOVES it! We set her in it for a few minutes at the store and she just loves looking around at everything. She's actually getting to the point now that she doesn't like laying down, because she wants to see what's going on. The only thing she doesn't like about it is the having to bend at the waist thing...doesn't like that.

She's become fascinated with staring at her hands...she just looks at them all intent and cross-eyed...too funny.

Sleep...not only are we back on our old sleep schedule (down at 10pm, up at 3:30, then down 4:00-7am)...but she did one better last night. Down at 8:30pm and out until 5:00am. HOLY MOLY! She's also slept the past 2 nights in her room (with a heater)...she's in the bassinet, but she's sleeping in a different room from us. It's hard..I don't like it, but I know she's sleeping better because it's warmer in there. Eventually we'll have to move her to the crib, but for right now...I think it's too big for her and she feels lost in it.

I think that's all for 10 weeks :-(

(psst...this is my new favorite picture of A...she's looking so grown up)

2 Months - Well Baby Check-up

Today we had Avelyn's 2 month check up: She's doing well!

She weighed in at 11lbs 9.9oz and 23.6" long (she was squirming though; we measured her last night and she was a touch over 24"). He did detect a slight heart murmur, but he said it wasn't something he felt strongly enough about to send us to the cardiologist. We're going to play the "watch and wait" game on it. He said that if she wasn't thriving he would be more quick to send her.

I also asked him about something else that Matt and I noticed: A's pupils are not centered to the rest of the colored part of her eye...only by mere fractions, but enough that we notice it. He wasn't sure if it was an issue or not so we now have to go to a pediatric ophthalmologist (YAY!).

And the most dreaded part of the entire visit: SHOTS! Ave had to have 3 shots and an oral. The oral was ok, the first shot was done before she noticed, but the 2nd and 3rd sent her into the stratosphere...poor baby...I was doing my best to keep it together. She was hysterical...I have NEVER seen her cry that hard.

We're home now and she's sleeping. I'm hoping and praying that she doesn't have any issues from the shots.

9 weeks ~ Sleep Baby, Sleep

I think hitting 2 months flipped a switch. A used to do pretty good napping in the swing during the day, but now OY! The kid just wants to be awake and I can tell she's over tired and miserable because of it. We've tried everything the past few days....from swaddling (which we stopped doing at 3 weeks because she hated it), the bouncer, the swing, to putting her in her crib or in her bassinet, the only thing that works is if we lay on the couch with her on our chest...then she'll nap.

As wonderful as it is to hold her while she sleeps I have to get things done around here! And I'm paranoid about creating bad sleep habits that are going to be murderous to break down the road. She needs to sleep during the day, but doesn't.

She does OK at night. She's back to her earlier routine and she does the big chunk of that (10-3:30 or so) in her bassinet, but she has to be on my chest or Matt's to fall asleep. I have yet to put her down while she is drowsy and have her actually go to sleep on her own. I'm at a loss for what to do. I started reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child", but I feel like all it does is tell me HOW she should be sleeping, not WHAT we need to do for that to happen.

I hate just letting her cry. She doesn't wind down and just becomes more and more hysterical...especially if her pacifier (aka George) pops out. I just don't know what to do....

We want to start transitioning her to her room, for at least the bigger sleep session at night, but even that...I can put her down in there sound asleep, but she wakes up after 15 minutes and then cries...I go in soothe her (not taking her out of the crib) and she's ok, then cries again...this went on the other night for 3 hours until I gave up.

She'll sleep in her bassinet, next to me, fine for her big stretch. When she wakes up at 3:30am if her hands and cheeks are cool (if they're not I leave her in the bassinet) I bring her in bed with us, because the house does not stay warm (especially when it's -15 with the windchill and no heat upstairs). We want to transition her to her crib only because we can turn a heater on in there and get it a lot warmer.

I know what I want...good nap sessions during the day, preferably in her crib so nothing disturbs her and sleeping in her crib at night, but how can I do that when it doesn't matter where she sleeps. She won't fall asleep unless on us and then doesn't stay asleep depending on where we put her :-(

I plan on talking to the pedi tomorrow about it....oh yeah...tomorrow we have SHOTS! YAY! :-(

(As down and as desperate as I sound, I'm more just concerned about her getting into bad habits. We're all getting good sleep at night...even if it is with her on my chest.)

8 Weeks

Today Avelyn is 8 weeks, which means in only a few short days she'll be 2 months old :-(

Here she is at 4 weeks

and now at 8 weeks (yea, she is slouching a bit in the chair)She's almost as big as her bunny! Where is our little baby girl going?! I keep meaning to update her Baby's First Year calendar with all of the stickers, but it hasn't happened yet...probably because I can't remember the exact "first time" for things, but as of now, Ave can:
*Hold her head up
*Sucks her thumb
*Roll from back to side
*Smile at everything
*Laugh
*Grasp objects (especially candy canes ;-)
*Sleeps [almost] through the night (usually goes down at 10pm, up at 3:30 for bottle/diaper, back down 'til 7am, another bottle/diaper, and out until 10:30-11:00am)
*Fitting into some 3-6 months clothes, and all 3 month clothes

I'm sure there is more, but I just can't think of it right now.

7 Weeks

Not too much to report here for Avelyn. She's 7 weeks and growing like a weed...she's actually fitting into some 3-6 month clothes....which makes me really sad. We had our second roadtrip yesterday and it went better than the trip home from NH.

We finally got the bottle situation taken care of: We stopped at BRU on the way home and got the right nipples for the right bottles and we no longer have any leaking or screaming! It's awesome!

6 weeks

Today, my baby is 6 weeks...that's sounding so old already. She's doing a lot better with the next level nipple (unless it's breast milk...which is thinner...she needs the level 1 for that). Her smiles are amazing!

Smiles are one of those things that people have a difference of opinion on: Some feel that the smiles in the beginning are gas related. A's weren't: She was smiling, in response to something, at 2 weeks...not all the time though. Now her smiles are almost constantly...she's always giggling about something or other...especially when she's just woken up or has a full tummy and is content.

She's also started to "squeak" more in the past 2 weeks. It used to be every once in a while, but now she's really starting to "talk" and I love it! We pretend that we're carrying on a conversation.

Every day I love this little girl more and more and fall more in love with her. While I am so excited to watch her grow and learn, there's another part of me that is so sad to see this time slip by.

ETA: Grandma measured A on 12/15 and she was 23" long and I weighed her at the store and she was 11lbs clothed and diapered, so about 10lbs 12oz.

Happy 1 Month Birthday Avelyn!

I'm sad: She's 1 month old...no longer weeks, but a month.

Today we had her doctor's appointment. I think they were confused about why we were there. The nurse took us in the room (first off, why have a 10:50am appt if they're not taking you into a room until 11:20am?!?!) and did her temperature, then asked if I had any questions/concerns today for the doctor. I told her I just wanted to ask about the redness on her eyelids (figured it to be birth trauma/stork bite).

We sat in the room for another 10 minutes and another nurse comes in and says undress A and we'll weigh her (she's 9lbs 10.6oz - just what I had figured based on the scale at the store). That nurse says the doctor will be right with us. Finally at 11:45 (almost an hour after our appt) the doctor walks in and asks "who's sick?" (my sister had gone with me and she's a patient of this doctor's). I told her that no one is sick, that A is here for her 1 month check up.

The doctor mentions the note on the chart about a "recheck" on her eyelids. I tell the doctor that this is the first time I'm asking about her eyelids. She checks A out very quickly, tells me the eyelids are stork bite, comments on the cloth diapers and A having sensistive skin (which she doesn't - she had a bit of redness around the legs of her diapers...same as any would have), tells me she'll see us again in 2 weeks for her 1 month appt. At this point I'm really confused and stressed at the fact that this appt took so long and I have another appt in 5 minutes on the other side of town.

We go to leave and I mention to the receptionist, that I think Dr. K meant in 4 weeks for her 2 month appt...she agrees...then tells me my copay is $30 (I'm thinking that there shouldn't be any copay since it's a "well-baby" visit. I hand her my discover card (because I'm in a rush and want to get out of there), and she says they don't accept discover...I don't have cash on me...I didn't even bring a wallet in.

My sister is scrounging through her wallet and comes up with $27. At this point a different receptionist walks over and takes over the other lady's job...she looks at the screen and tells me "Ok, you're all set then". I ask about the copay..."It's a well-baby visit, you don't have a co-pay"....thought so...just call to schedule the 2 month appt.

I don't know who got their lions crossed but someone certainly did.

Bottom line: A is looking good, weighing in at 9lbs 10.6 oz, they didn't measure her, but I did and think she's just over 21 1/2" long.

Four weeks!

:-( FOUR WEEKS! Where did four weeks go? I'm really not looking forward to December (one month old). We weighed A and her cousin at the store yesterday: A was 10.25 lbs (clothed and diapered) and C (who's 4 months today) was 14lbs.

We're having a bit of an issue with bed time: A seems to think that 10:30pm-1:30am is party time, but even she is too tired to party and just whinges and cries. She settles down, I put her in the bassinet, she's ok, I turn off the light and within seconds of that WAAAAAA! The kid hates it when I turn off the light...she's busy being nosy and looking at everything.

I'm a bad mother, don't tell the parent-police...we usually end up with A in bed with us, her sleeping on one of our chests. It is, quite honestly, the only way she will actually sleep some nights and when I can barely stay awake it works. The whole fussy thing is weird....because once she passes out from exhaustion she'll sleep a good 4-5 hours. We have had a couple of nights if 10:30-2:30, up for an hour (diaper, bottle etc) then down from 3:30-7:30: Those are the nights I wished would repeat frequently.

All of this said, I wouldn't exchange it for the world or wish it to get over with quickly. Seeing our niece, C, at 4 months scares the poop out of me. She's no longer a baby...she's holding up her head....wanting to do her own thing. I don't want A to grow up, at all, I'll take the fussing and crying if it means that she'll slow down and not grow up so quickly.

Breastfeeding: I think it's on the way out...not because I want, or am ready for, it to be. I'm actually kind of really sad and wish that I would have tried harder...even though, with our schedule, I don't think it would have been possible to try harder. Most days I'm in the store (with A) for 6+ hours...I don't have time to pump or even think about it.

I usually pump in the morning (I'm not waking up leaking anymore) and I always pump just before bed. What's odd is that I went from last Wednesday getting 2ozs total, to Friday only getting an 1oz. I'm not sure if it's lack of drinking, pumping or what.

I will honestly say, once we had the kinks worked out, I enjoyed breastfeeding. It really was a bonding time with Miss A. I think part of our dilemma is that A is a VIOLENT feeder...she's like a rottweiler with a T-bone steak. She doesn't sit still and quite frankly the boob will only go so far from my body. At first I thought it was just her frustration with not getting enough, but she does it with the bottle too.

So, yes I am sad, yes I wish I would have tried harder at it, but there's nothing to be gained by beating myself up about it. I do plan on continuing to pump/express as much as I can, for as long as I can. I did stop using the supplementer, but I think I'm going to pull it back out and try doing that, just to keep my supply up as much as possible.

Ok, on to the fun stuff! We had a lot of firsts this past week:

First Thanksgiving


First time meeting her cousin (C) and her aunt and uncle (BIL and PP)
First time going to church (no pictures)
First Christmas tree outing
First baby shower (no pictures): Yes, I took her to a baby shower...in spite of my proclamation against people doing that. I knew there would be no potential infertiles at this shower and knew I was only going to be staying for a little while and I knew there would probably be no one there who knew me. Matt wanted to get some things done outside so I A went along. She was very well behaved and I'm glad I brought her because it took away some of the awkwardness of not knowing anyone.

All in all we've been busy. We go to the pediatrician on Tuesday for another check up and then she's a month old..... :'( WAAAAAHHHH!!!

Three Weeks!

How is it possible that she's already three weeks old...next week she'll be a month old, a 1/12 of the way to one :'( I really can't believe that it's already been 3 weeks. I can already see the changes in her...while she never looked like a "newborn" she's already lost some of her "newborn-ish-ness". Sometimes I look at her and I don't see a baby...I see a little girl (which scares the bejeezers out of me!).

A's head control is phenomenal. I timed her...the other day she was sitting in my lap and held her head up for almost a minute straight before she "dropped" it. When she's on her tummy she holds her head up too. It's crazy!

Smiling: A smiles. I don't care what the "experts" say, but these are not gas smiles...these are really, honest-to-goodness smiles in response to something....whether it's the light coming through the window (loves that) or the silly faces and sounds we make. She definitely smiles...and let me tell you...those smiles are one of the most wonderful things in the world.

A loves, LOVES her FP Jungle exercise mat: I can put her on that and play the music and she squeels and kicks her legs, wiggles her arms and giggles the whole time. There are definitely some things which make awesome gifts, and that is one of them.

Music is another thing A loves. Matt and I are both big music people...we listen to a lot of different kinds of music, but we do enjoy listening to classical music around the house (it provides good background sounds). It doesn't matter if I turn on her bouncer, the stereo or whatever...this kid will completely settle down (for the most part) when music starts playing.

Today we took her to the Thanksgiving "dinner" (more on this later) at my parents' church...it was the first time we had people actually ask to hold her. Of course, I hadn't prepared for this, but I came up with the response "we're not letting anyone hold her because once 1 person does, then everyone will want to"...people were ok with that (as if they had a choice).

The pooping issue is no longer an issue...we now have what I call "POOP-SPLOSIONS!" Thankfully they only happen about every 36-48 hours. This afternoon's resulted in A being washed in the bathroom sink from the waist down, because there weren't enough wipes in the world to deal with THAT! :-)

We recently switched from S.imilac Advance to Earth's Be.st Organic formula...I don't think that has anything to do with the pooping. I was concerned that switching would cause some pooping issues, but those concerns were obviously unfounded.

I had a thought the other night: That A is going to grow up, that's she's not going to stay this precious baby forever, that someday Mom is going to suck and Dad won't know a thing. That day isn't today, thank God. But then I thought further, beyond those years...to the people A will meet, to her life as an adult, and I realized that I have a whole lot of praying to do. Praying that she meets more people who are kind than hurtful, people who will love and support her the way we do/will, people who will see (and appreciate) her for what a wonder she is.

One person in particulary popped into my head while having these thoughts: Her future husband (should she marry). That there is another little person out there (or maybe not yet) that will love my daughter and care for her and treat her with the respect she deserves. I figure I better get crackin' on prayers for that one, because if A is anything like me....He's going to need them.

(Before A was born I had every intention of taking pictures of her every week with a teddy bear or something next to her to mark her growth...that obviously hasn't happened...and I have no excuse for it. We're going to attempt that now).

Avelyn at 3 weeks