My new fashion

My new ambition is to figure out how to be a "baby wearing momma." Some moms make it look so easy and it definitely has an appeal for convenience.

My first attempts this weekend were somewhat successful. We first tried the sling. I swear that it doesn't fit and it perplexes me. I saw the swing in TX (with my SIL) and we both liked it. I bought one and it appears to be a one size fits thing (which is weird but I triple checked and there is no mention of size anywhere on the box, manual, or site.) When I saw it in TX the lady wearing it was much bigger than me so I have no idea what's going on. I tend to blame the "girls" for getting in the way as it doesn't seem to lay correctly across the chest area.

We thought it was going to be successful as when we first put in Kenley she looked like this...
Yes she is up a little high but we moved her down in the sling and then tried to put it on... The scene quickly turned for the worse and this is what we got...
I will have to figure out this thing. My SIL has one too and gave me a few pointers to try. I will be sure to update on "take 2."

With the unsuccessful attempt abandoned we decided to try the carrier. We had a bit more success as the position for this carrier mirrors one of her favorite cuddle/sleeping positions that we have come to call "monkey baby" given she looks like a little monkey clinging on to our chest.
She took a nice nap hanging out in front of me. It will take some time and practice to get used to wearing a baby and trying to use both hands to accomplish anything but it was a successful first try. (Please disregard her little acne...poor thing! It bothers me a lot but people keep saying its completely normal and yes she pulled her hands through later but she likes to have her hands by her face when she sleeps.)

I may try to use one of these this week when home alone but we will have to see how things go. I'll be a baby wearing momma in no time.

Daddy's lap

Seems to be a popular place.... Miss Kenley doesn't mind sharing.

Growing Bigs!

We went to the doctor today for our 1 month Well-baby check-up.

Here are our stats:
Weight: 10lbs 6 ounces (We've been gaining about 1.5 ounces a day)
Length: 22.25 inches (long long legs)
Head: 14.5 inches

Our weight and our length are both in the 75th percentile and our weight to length ratio is normal. Our head is in the 50th percentile so right in the middle, not a big head or a little one. Right on!

Clay and I had a ton of "first time parent" questions but Dr. Kane handles them all in stride and makes us feel better about it all. She is definitely a great doctor and we are pleased with our decision to use her.

We need to call our insurance carrier to make sure vaccines are covered because the next time we go for our 2 month check-up (which happens to be scheduled for the afternoon of my 30th birthday) we will be getting shots. OUCH!

Until then we will hang out at home with the occasional field trip and keep on growing bigs!

Good or Bad?

Here we are sleeping on the couch and cuddling this morning and here is the story behind it...

We gave her a bottle and then she cuddled with Clay for a bit while he watched the State of the Union address. After that we gave her a bath and put on her PJs. She was content (GOOD) so I had some cuddle time for a few minutes the it was time to eat. She didn't eat super long but she never does at night as she tends to cluster eat before bed (eating often but in short bursts).

Then she remained content (GOOD) and we rocked a bit. This was between 10 and 1030pm. About 11 or a little after she wanted to eat again so we did (GOOD). Then she did fall asleep around 1145ish (GOOD). I was very pleased with how the night was going. I rock her a few minutes past the time I think she is asleep with her little eyes staying closed. I then put her in her bed and headed to bed myself (GOOD). However within 10 minutes she was fussy again so I went to check on her and she was wide awake (BAD). I picked her up and we rocked some more. Within I swear 2 minutes she was asleep again (GOOD) but alas when I laid her back down she woke up (BAD). We repeated this asleep/awake pattern a few times and before I knew it, it was 1230. I thought she was finally asleep again (this time with a pacifier to keep her distracted.) I put her down and made it back to bed (GOOD). However 15 minutes later...well we were awake again. Off to the living room to try the swing... and she was still fussy but would calm and close her eyes the SECOND I picked her up. So I gave in (or cooperated with her plan if you want to put a positive spin on it) and settled on the couch. She was OUT (GOOD) so I shimmed up against the pillows and propped my head with a blanket. Before I knew it I too was asleep (GOOD) but on the couch and not my bed (BAD). It was right around 1am.

I next woke up at almost 3 and she was still sound asleep (GOOD) but I was uncomfortable so I debated what to do. Taking the lazy option (BAD) I decided just to readjust on the couch and let the sleeping baby sleep (usually a GOOD). Next thing I knew... well it was 555am and she was just starting to wake up. WHAT?

She hadn't eaten since 11pm (so almost 6 am would be 7 hours... is that a GOOD or a BAD?) We had been sleeping for 5 hours straight (I consider that a GOOD) but again it was on the couch and needing to be held (I consider that a BAD). We got up and changed her diaper which I swear was DRY (but poopy). I don't know how that could be possible but whatever I won't worry now.
She ate and then took her morning siesta (as did I.)

Now I have had 7 hours of sleep (darn right GREAT) and I'm left her wondering why she needed to be held to sleep last night and what I can try differently so I don't end up sleeping on the couch full-time.

So I can't decide if last night was a GOOD night or a BAD one. With those facts, what do you think? Good, Bad, or perhaps a bit of both?

Either way, I'll take it. I think the good outweighs the bad of needing to be held.

One Month

It is so hard to believe that our little girl came one month ago today. ONE MONTH! Really? It seems like yesterday in some aspects but like an eternity in others. It's so hard to explain.

We don't go to the doctor for our 1 month check up until Friday so we will have our "stats" then but for now I do know this:

• We (okay she) is growing like a weed. I estimate she is close (if not over) 10lbs now. I'm curious to see what the scale says on Friday.
  
• She wears 0-3 month clothes and is quickly filling them out especially the length. She has long long legs like her daddy.
  
• We changed to size 1 diapers earlier this week. We probably could have done it sooner but I was leery since they looked so big. However the newborn ones were looking super tight on the chunky thighs.
  
• She is up to 3 fat rolls on each leg. The first and biggest one is so cute. This is the age it's cute to have fat thighs I guess.
  
• She has done much better with the recent baths. We made the water a little warmer than recommended. She must like warm water like her mom.
  
• There are good sleep nights and there are bad ones. While I prefer the good ones obviously, I try my hardest not to get frustrated with the bad ones. I have lots of wonderful readers to give me encouragement that the frustrations will soon be forgotten.
  
• She has accepted the pacifier a few times. She isn't quite sure about it (and truthfully neither am I) but we will continue to try occasionally to see what happens. Here is what we look like when we get the hang of it. Looks so big on her little face.
• 
• We have made a few field trips out. We went to visit Tori one afternoon and then went to see my work friends yesterday. Other than that and the doctor's visits, we have hibernated inside where it is warm and dry (aka NO SNOW).
• She seems not to like to poo. When she is working a good one out, she gets very fussy and very red. This is one of the few times (other than diaper changes) that you will hear her work her lungs. She can really wail until you feel the vibrations blow out the bottom.
  
• Diaper changes (as mentioned above) are not her favorite. You would think no one would like to sit in their own poo and pee but she doesn't seem to mind. Huh?
• She doesn't usually cry to wake us up when she is hungry ready to eat. Instead she will do what my mom termed "the whimper." It's a few small grunts here and there with a little whimper mixed in. I get up to go check on her and often she is still sleeping but then 20 min later when she starts again and I check, her eyes are wide open and she's ready to eat.
• Within the past few days, we have developed baby acne and it drives me nuts. I know the poor girl will have to fight with her skin her whole life I don't want it to start this early. However I also know that baby acne is normal. We will be asking the doctor on Friday what we should do to help prevent it. It seems to be spreading and it bothers me.
  
• She still gets the hiccups a lot. Again they supposedly don't bother her but they drive me nuts. They drive me the most nuts given they usually come right as she falls asleep during her late or overnight feedings and then they wake her back up. She will have them for what feels like an ETERNITY but really is 20-25 minutes (which still is a long time) and then finally they will disappear as quickly as they came. It seems she likes to try to eat when she has them which makes the sound even better.
  

In another big step, we gave her her first bottle tonight. (Yes it was the aforementioned rematch between the Brockmans and the bottle and why does it look so funny to say her her in a row like that?) Here are a few pictures to document the process.
She wasn't quite sure at first as you can see. I thought this was a funny picture. But eventually she settled in...
And daddy really enjoyed it. He said it was fun. He said she was a good "sucker" and I told him I already knew that ;o) Here is a picture of daddy and Kenley bonding.
We won't do too many bottles. Just 1 or 2 a week to keep "bottle practice." Daddy will enjoy the time and mommy will too (even though I pumped tonight while she ate. ) Maybe we can have a grandma come and babysit so we can go to dinner or a movie. That may be fun!

So that recaps a bit of our month. Life with a 1 month old keeps us on our toes! She has grown so much and I can't imaging how fast she will continue to grow this next month.

So in closing, here is a little comparison of how our Little Bean is growing from birth
to now at 1 month old ;o)
Now bring on Month 2!!!

Bottle Boo Boo

Okay so we were going to give Kenley her first bottle yesterday. I had pumped about 3 1/2 ounces. I decided to use on of the Playtex Ventaire bottles. I got it out of the cabinet and got it "ready" or so I thought.

I have 2 different Ventaire bottles and apparently (unknown to me) I had the wrong pieces with the wrong bottle so the bottle I was about to poor the milk in and place in the bottle warmer would be leaking. OOPS!

We had some milk boiling in the bottle warmer with the water we used so it had to be cleaned and I had to be assured we could put the milk back in the fridge and try again today. I washed all the bottles and called it a night.

Bottles are a bit more high tech these days. Different nipples and flow features. Different shapes, sizes and brands. It's a bit confusing to a first time parent. So, the next time Miss Kenley wakes up tonight, we will try round two, hoping to even the score with the bottle and bottle warmer.

Clay will be giving her the bottle and I know he is a bit nervous, wondering how to tell if it's the right temp, how to hold her, how to make sure he is doing it "right." We both are wondering how she will do and hoping that she will eat like a big girl for daddy but yet still eat good the next time mommy feeds her naturally.

Keep your fingers crossed ladies and gents, we're off on our next parenting adventure... BOTTLE Time!