And finally, with much dedication (and continued hovering) I was able to capture a smile on film. Behold!!
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| Pippa at seven weeks - smiling!!! |
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Victory...with a Smile
At last! Tuesday night, Pippa became a bit drowsy at 9pm. I rocked her for a bit then took her to her crib for the swaddle around 9:30pm. She was down and out for the count. I did not have to go back in to check on her or anything! What time did she wake up this morning? 6:00am! That's a full 8.5 hours of sleep for baby (about 7.5 for me)! Woot!!!
And finally, with much dedication (and continued hovering) I was able to capture a smile on film. Behold!!
And finally, with much dedication (and continued hovering) I was able to capture a smile on film. Behold!!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Seven Weeks
Pippa is seven weeks old today! I still need to post six week pictures. We have been very busy.
Our weekend at the beach went great! She is really becoming more alert and pays attention to everything. She ate good and traveled well.
This week has been a bit, um, rough. While we have been practicing our eat, activity, sleep method, there are times where she just wants to eat then sleep. Is that okay? Right now for example; she was pretty fussy this morning before I fed her then she passed out. I tried to wake her but she was having none of that so I swaddled her and put her in her crib. She's been sleeping for almost two hours now. That means when she gets up it will be time to eat again. It seems to me that if she's that tired, it's okay to skip the "activity" portion however at night, she wants to skip the "sleep" cycle. Around 7 or 8pm, she becomes wide awake and wants to not sleep. Usually we have been taking a stroll outside and that seems to at least keep her calm. Since she stays up during that cycle, I usually put her down right after her 9 or 9:30 feeding, she will fuss a bit (until around 10) then she's out for the night.
Pippa has been a lot more fussy during the day and in the evening as well. For the first 5 weeks she hardly cried, now it seems like some days I can't make her happy no matter what. Or she will sit in her chair, give a chuckle, smile, then start crying. I keep telling myself that everything is a phase. The younger they are, the faster they grow out of whatever the phase is. Things typically don't last more than a couple weeks. If I can tough it out, it will get better.
This morning we had to wake up early to drive my hubby to the airport. He is in Pennsylvania for training until Saturday afternoon. It's going to be an interesting week. Today is my last PTA meeting for the school year, Liam starts a cooking class tonight and is still finishing up his Tuesday pottery classes. I have my final (I hope) doctor check up on Wednesday and Liam has early release that day too! Thursday and Friday are surprisingly open...so far. If my appointment goes well, I should be headed back to work part-time. I'm actually looking forward to a little time away from baby and the ability to workout again. I'll be super close to the gym so I can pop over after work. I'm alternating between my maternity clothes and my "fat" clothes. It's frustrating just wearing sweats most of the time. I know that by losing just a couple of pounds I will be able to fit into some of my regular clothes soon. I lost 30-ish pounds right away but have been holding steady since then. I still have around 20 more to lose.
That's about it for us. Although a little fussy, Pippa has been smiling more and laughing a bit. She is finally enjoying the vibrating bouncy chair (we still don't own a swing) and again, she's become very alert and likes to be where the action is (in the kitchen during dinner, outside in nice weather etc.). I'm looking forward to what the next couple of weeks holds for us.
Our weekend at the beach went great! She is really becoming more alert and pays attention to everything. She ate good and traveled well.
This week has been a bit, um, rough. While we have been practicing our eat, activity, sleep method, there are times where she just wants to eat then sleep. Is that okay? Right now for example; she was pretty fussy this morning before I fed her then she passed out. I tried to wake her but she was having none of that so I swaddled her and put her in her crib. She's been sleeping for almost two hours now. That means when she gets up it will be time to eat again. It seems to me that if she's that tired, it's okay to skip the "activity" portion however at night, she wants to skip the "sleep" cycle. Around 7 or 8pm, she becomes wide awake and wants to not sleep. Usually we have been taking a stroll outside and that seems to at least keep her calm. Since she stays up during that cycle, I usually put her down right after her 9 or 9:30 feeding, she will fuss a bit (until around 10) then she's out for the night.
Pippa has been a lot more fussy during the day and in the evening as well. For the first 5 weeks she hardly cried, now it seems like some days I can't make her happy no matter what. Or she will sit in her chair, give a chuckle, smile, then start crying. I keep telling myself that everything is a phase. The younger they are, the faster they grow out of whatever the phase is. Things typically don't last more than a couple weeks. If I can tough it out, it will get better.
This morning we had to wake up early to drive my hubby to the airport. He is in Pennsylvania for training until Saturday afternoon. It's going to be an interesting week. Today is my last PTA meeting for the school year, Liam starts a cooking class tonight and is still finishing up his Tuesday pottery classes. I have my final (I hope) doctor check up on Wednesday and Liam has early release that day too! Thursday and Friday are surprisingly open...so far. If my appointment goes well, I should be headed back to work part-time. I'm actually looking forward to a little time away from baby and the ability to workout again. I'll be super close to the gym so I can pop over after work. I'm alternating between my maternity clothes and my "fat" clothes. It's frustrating just wearing sweats most of the time. I know that by losing just a couple of pounds I will be able to fit into some of my regular clothes soon. I lost 30-ish pounds right away but have been holding steady since then. I still have around 20 more to lose.
That's about it for us. Although a little fussy, Pippa has been smiling more and laughing a bit. She is finally enjoying the vibrating bouncy chair (we still don't own a swing) and again, she's become very alert and likes to be where the action is (in the kitchen during dinner, outside in nice weather etc.). I'm looking forward to what the next couple of weeks holds for us.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Two More Weeks
My post-partum check-up didn't go as well as planned. That's a good and a bad thing. The doctor has given me two more weeks off from work (sick leave) because my c-section scar has not completely healed. Although it looks closed, there's still a bit of pain and some fluid. The good news is that it's two more weeks with Pippa, bad news is that I still cannot workout other than walking.
This week, Pippa is cooing and talking more than ever! She has started smiling at people and is content to just lay on the floor doing arm circles and leg kicks. I began reading a book called "The Baby Whisperer" to help get her more into a routine. Lately, she will eat, then stay up to play for a while before sleeping. This is different than when she would fall asleep eating and nap for hours. While this is the order the book recommends (E.A.S.Y. = eat, activity, sleep, you time), it's difficult for tired mom and dad to feed her at 10pm only to have her stay up until 2am playing before drifting off to sleep. My hope is that we can get her schedule adjusted a little more so she goes down around 11pm. We will see what the week brings, I need to finish the book first.
This will be Pippa's first Memorial Day Weekend! We plan to drive to Puyallup today for a friend's son's first birthday party. On Sunday I am taking Liam and Pippa to the beach for some Grandma time. Dan will stay at home since he is working Sunday and Monday night. I hope that he is able to get lots of sleep as well. Today will be our first long road trip with Pippa and tomorrow will be our first over-nighter. I'm sure she will do well and adapt like she always does, we just need to make sure her routine is not disturbed too much.
We hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday weekend!
This week, Pippa is cooing and talking more than ever! She has started smiling at people and is content to just lay on the floor doing arm circles and leg kicks. I began reading a book called "The Baby Whisperer" to help get her more into a routine. Lately, she will eat, then stay up to play for a while before sleeping. This is different than when she would fall asleep eating and nap for hours. While this is the order the book recommends (E.A.S.Y. = eat, activity, sleep, you time), it's difficult for tired mom and dad to feed her at 10pm only to have her stay up until 2am playing before drifting off to sleep. My hope is that we can get her schedule adjusted a little more so she goes down around 11pm. We will see what the week brings, I need to finish the book first.
This will be Pippa's first Memorial Day Weekend! We plan to drive to Puyallup today for a friend's son's first birthday party. On Sunday I am taking Liam and Pippa to the beach for some Grandma time. Dan will stay at home since he is working Sunday and Monday night. I hope that he is able to get lots of sleep as well. Today will be our first long road trip with Pippa and tomorrow will be our first over-nighter. I'm sure she will do well and adapt like she always does, we just need to make sure her routine is not disturbed too much.
We hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday weekend!
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| Five weeks old |
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| It took some effort... |
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| but her fist was able to fit into her mouth! |
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Better Late Than Never
Yes, I've been insanely busy. About the time I heat up some food, Pippa is awake and ready to eat. It took me over an hour to get to my quickie microwave meal at lunch today. Most days I can't even check my e-mail. It took all day to sweep the floor yesterday. I told Dan that "if I slept when the baby sleeps, nothing would get done around here."
Anyway, last night was our first night totally alone. Dan is back to work full-time and Liam is with his father this weekend. It seemed to go okay. Pippa was in bed by 10:30. She woke up around 2am to feed and again at 5:30am. I got about 6 hours of sleep. That's not enough for me but I usually do take a nap during the day. Housework tends to happen late at night when baby is sleeping. I plan to go for another walk today.
My follow up doctor appointment is coming up this Wednesday so hopefully I will be cleared to do more exercise.
So, within the last couple of weeks, we have seen some more rollovers. She smiled while awake for the first time on 05/20/11 and I've only seen one or two since then, but they are coming. She has started to coo a lot! It's funny to watch her flail her arms and legs and put so much effort into one little noise. My grandmother/grandfather Stram gave her this little lion that plays a very short (5 second) tune when you press it's paw. Pippa is fascinated by this toy and will spend up to an hour at a time staring at it and talking/cooing to it. Of course, you have to keep pressing the paw for it to "talk" back but she LOVES it!
That's about all that's been happening, she turns 5 weeks old tomorrow! It's ironic how slow the last month of pregnancy goes but how fast the first month of mommyhood is...
Anyway, last night was our first night totally alone. Dan is back to work full-time and Liam is with his father this weekend. It seemed to go okay. Pippa was in bed by 10:30. She woke up around 2am to feed and again at 5:30am. I got about 6 hours of sleep. That's not enough for me but I usually do take a nap during the day. Housework tends to happen late at night when baby is sleeping. I plan to go for another walk today.
My follow up doctor appointment is coming up this Wednesday so hopefully I will be cleared to do more exercise.
So, within the last couple of weeks, we have seen some more rollovers. She smiled while awake for the first time on 05/20/11 and I've only seen one or two since then, but they are coming. She has started to coo a lot! It's funny to watch her flail her arms and legs and put so much effort into one little noise. My grandmother/grandfather Stram gave her this little lion that plays a very short (5 second) tune when you press it's paw. Pippa is fascinated by this toy and will spend up to an hour at a time staring at it and talking/cooing to it. Of course, you have to keep pressing the paw for it to "talk" back but she LOVES it!
That's about all that's been happening, she turns 5 weeks old tomorrow! It's ironic how slow the last month of pregnancy goes but how fast the first month of mommyhood is...
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| Pippa and Bella (sticking her tongue out!) |
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| 05/09/11 - three weeks old |
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| 05/16/2011 - four weeks old! |
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!
My husband was generous enough to stay up with Pippa all night and bottle feed her so that I slept a glorious and full eight hours! Unfortunately I woke up a bit, um, full...but I was able to pump enough for storage and another bottle tonight. Pippa doesn't eat a lot but I produce a lot so in the mornings she nurses one side and I pump the other side, this gives Dan enough milk to feed her at night. We have not had to use any formula at all!
Anyway, I took my extra morning time to make myself breakfast and take a long shower, it was fantastic! Pippa is sleeping now (again) and I'm almost done with laundry and getting ready to make some lunch. Yum!
Coming up this week:
Pippa turns 3 weeks old tomorrow
Liam starts his first pottery class on Tuesday
I have a doctor check up for my incision
Grandma Margaret comes to visit from Florida
PTA activities galore at school (book fair and spring BBQ)
I cannot believe how fast these last three weeks have gone. I have three more weeks then I head back to work part time for another six weeks. I'm enjoying my time at home so much I don't want to go back!
I started back on my nutrition plan yesterday and I should be cleared for exercise in several more weeks. I have been walking as much as I can but the weather has been horrible. Hopefully it will get better soon. I also received the baby announcements yesterday so I need to get those addressed and in the mail. It will be a busy week! Have a great one all!
Below are some pictures from our photo shoot in the hospital room. She was one day old in these photos.
My husband was generous enough to stay up with Pippa all night and bottle feed her so that I slept a glorious and full eight hours! Unfortunately I woke up a bit, um, full...but I was able to pump enough for storage and another bottle tonight. Pippa doesn't eat a lot but I produce a lot so in the mornings she nurses one side and I pump the other side, this gives Dan enough milk to feed her at night. We have not had to use any formula at all!
Anyway, I took my extra morning time to make myself breakfast and take a long shower, it was fantastic! Pippa is sleeping now (again) and I'm almost done with laundry and getting ready to make some lunch. Yum!
Coming up this week:
Pippa turns 3 weeks old tomorrow
Liam starts his first pottery class on Tuesday
I have a doctor check up for my incision
Grandma Margaret comes to visit from Florida
PTA activities galore at school (book fair and spring BBQ)
I cannot believe how fast these last three weeks have gone. I have three more weeks then I head back to work part time for another six weeks. I'm enjoying my time at home so much I don't want to go back!
I started back on my nutrition plan yesterday and I should be cleared for exercise in several more weeks. I have been walking as much as I can but the weather has been horrible. Hopefully it will get better soon. I also received the baby announcements yesterday so I need to get those addressed and in the mail. It will be a busy week! Have a great one all!
Below are some pictures from our photo shoot in the hospital room. She was one day old in these photos.
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| Looking a bit unhappy |
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| My favorite |
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| Daddy and his little girl |
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| Almost an Easter baby |
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Two Weeks and First Doctor Visit
Pippa turned two weeks old on Monday. Our week has been filled with late nights, visits from friends and family, lots of poopie diapers and many loads of spit-up or poop stained laundry. She is smiling with some effort now and has rolled over from front to back several times already. On Monday, she also began crying tears; this makes it harder to put her down.
We had our first doctor appointment with our pediatrician, Dr. Black, today. He is also Liam's pediatrician and I think he is amazing. He said all the crazy things she is experiencing (green poop, lots of explosions in the diaper, spit up by the gallons etc.) are all normal.
We are looking forward to some "alone" time. We have one more family visit then we can start getting into a schedule and hopefully sleeping more. Our birth announcements have been ordered and will be on their way to some lucky people shortly! Thanks everyone for your continued thoughts and well wishes.
We had our first doctor appointment with our pediatrician, Dr. Black, today. He is also Liam's pediatrician and I think he is amazing. He said all the crazy things she is experiencing (green poop, lots of explosions in the diaper, spit up by the gallons etc.) are all normal.
We are looking forward to some "alone" time. We have one more family visit then we can start getting into a schedule and hopefully sleeping more. Our birth announcements have been ordered and will be on their way to some lucky people shortly! Thanks everyone for your continued thoughts and well wishes.
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| Baby Pippa at two weeks |
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