Today marks Claire's 6 week milestone. Where on earth did that time go? Surely I'd like to know.
I don't really feel like we've made a whole lot of progress from my 5 week update. We did try to put her in the crib last Friday night and that sorta failed. I think I just need to re-adjust because it is so much easier with her in the bassinet. Sometimes I wonder how we did that with Lily, but then I remember that she was sleeping 6 hours at a time at night at this point, where with Claire, On a good night, I'm lucky if I can get her to go 4 hours. It still baffles me how completely different two babies can really be. Claire gives us a run for our money that is for sure.
Today is my last day alone with her since Lily is at daycare. Monday they both go back full time...well 4 days a week anyway. I'm both dreading AND looking forward to getting back to work for different reasons. Claire really is the most pleasant during the day and I am going to miss that. Evenings are still tough around here. Gradually getting better but still not great.
She is still eating about 2 ounces every 2 hours. Occasionally she'll go 3 hours on her own during the day and I'm going to try to increase that. Hopefully having her in daycare will help with that. Otherwise, we are still just taking things one day at a time around here. Still getting used to this confusing little person. But I think we're doing ok.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Stay home or work update.
Many of you may remember THIS post. It's where I laid out my options and struggled to come to a decision about going back to work, staying home, or staying home and finding some work to do.
It's not over, in fact, it's FAR from over. It's still a struggle. There are still days where I want to stay home...and there are still days when I can't wait to go back to work.
For the most part, now that Claire is becoming more human and less devil, I feel like I would still want to stay home with the girls. I think I'd be really good at it and it would be good for our family. However finances tell us another story. A sad story where Adam's pay is just a smidge short of our living expenses, not to mention there would be no room for savings or doing ANYTHING fun. So Back to work I go. For now anyway. It's definitely not a closed option down the road if something came up. But for now we do what we have to do for our family.
Only a little over a week before I go back. Which bums me out as I spent most of my maternity leave struggling with the adjustment and learning the ins and outs of the baby, and now it's time to go back to work when I feel like I'm really getting used to it and getting used to the new routine of things. I would like more time. More time to really feel things out and figure out what is best. What the best choice would be. Sadly that's just not going to happen.
Hopefully I can get this thing figured out sooner rather than later.
It's not over, in fact, it's FAR from over. It's still a struggle. There are still days where I want to stay home...and there are still days when I can't wait to go back to work.
For the most part, now that Claire is becoming more human and less devil, I feel like I would still want to stay home with the girls. I think I'd be really good at it and it would be good for our family. However finances tell us another story. A sad story where Adam's pay is just a smidge short of our living expenses, not to mention there would be no room for savings or doing ANYTHING fun. So Back to work I go. For now anyway. It's definitely not a closed option down the road if something came up. But for now we do what we have to do for our family.
Only a little over a week before I go back. Which bums me out as I spent most of my maternity leave struggling with the adjustment and learning the ins and outs of the baby, and now it's time to go back to work when I feel like I'm really getting used to it and getting used to the new routine of things. I would like more time. More time to really feel things out and figure out what is best. What the best choice would be. Sadly that's just not going to happen.
Hopefully I can get this thing figured out sooner rather than later.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
5 Week update.
Claire is 5 weeks old today.
Some highlights.
She SMILES. Real lovely, beautiful Smiles. And she means it.
She is slowly starting to sleep longer stretches now so that's a nice development. My goal is to get her to go 5 hours at night in a row and then move her into her room with Lily. I'm hoping this happens sooner rather than later.
Lily STILL adores her baby sister. No hint of jealousy. I'm really hoping that this keeps up. I'm liking it a lot.
Her thrush is completely gone. In fact I attribute that to her better mood overall lately.
She had a Dr. Appt on Monday and she is back up past her birth weight at 9 lbs 4 ounces. Of course the Dr. wasn't happy with the thrush progress so we got a new med for her, hence the reason it's finally gone.
We are starting to settle into our new routine at night with the girls. Lily likes us to read her a story with Claire in their room and I'm definitely liking that routine. It's a little more complicated with both girls but we'll work the kinks out as we go.
I honestly can't believe how different Lily and Claire are as babies. Even the way we do things with Claire is so different. We use different bottles....burp her differently....calm her differently. She sleeps in our room with us, which I never wanted but sometimes it's the best option. In fact there is a part of me that doesn't want to move her to the crib even because it's so much easier to grab her and feed her and stuff out of the bassinet and not have to get up. But I know it's gotta be done....for all of our sanity.
I think that's it.
We'll keep her I think.
Some highlights.
She SMILES. Real lovely, beautiful Smiles. And she means it.
She is slowly starting to sleep longer stretches now so that's a nice development. My goal is to get her to go 5 hours at night in a row and then move her into her room with Lily. I'm hoping this happens sooner rather than later.
Lily STILL adores her baby sister. No hint of jealousy. I'm really hoping that this keeps up. I'm liking it a lot.
Her thrush is completely gone. In fact I attribute that to her better mood overall lately.
She had a Dr. Appt on Monday and she is back up past her birth weight at 9 lbs 4 ounces. Of course the Dr. wasn't happy with the thrush progress so we got a new med for her, hence the reason it's finally gone.
We are starting to settle into our new routine at night with the girls. Lily likes us to read her a story with Claire in their room and I'm definitely liking that routine. It's a little more complicated with both girls but we'll work the kinks out as we go.
I honestly can't believe how different Lily and Claire are as babies. Even the way we do things with Claire is so different. We use different bottles....burp her differently....calm her differently. She sleeps in our room with us, which I never wanted but sometimes it's the best option. In fact there is a part of me that doesn't want to move her to the crib even because it's so much easier to grab her and feed her and stuff out of the bassinet and not have to get up. But I know it's gotta be done....for all of our sanity.
I think that's it.
We'll keep her I think.
Monday, January 3, 2011
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Claire, then and now comparison.
Lily and Claire one month comparison.
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Years Resolutions?
Do you make New Years Resolutions?
I normally don't. I hardly ever follow through on them when I do make them and so it's sorta like making a to do list that is way too long and you really know you won't finish it all in the time you have but you make it anyway and are super bummed with yourself when you don't finish it up. That's how New Years Resolutions are for me. I make them sometimes and then I can't follow through and I end up feeling depressed about it. It's a fun time.
But this year I'm thinking about making some. Of course making them realistic and something I can follow through on without disappointing myself. But this will take some time. Some time to figure out exactly what I can handle right now and how well I know myself in order to keep them.
1. I will put me first sometimes. I am notoriously terrible about making me a priority, as I think a lot of women/wives/mothers do. But this year I won't feel bad if I just wanna go shopping alone or take a nice long bubble bath alone, or spend a smidgen extra money on the healthy food I need to fuel my mind and body the right way.
2. I will love my family always and make a major effort to be patient even when I am running low on sleep.
You know what? I think that's it for me. I could make a ton more but my chances of keeping them would be small. So we'll stick with those to and focus my efforts.
Good Luck with yours!
I normally don't. I hardly ever follow through on them when I do make them and so it's sorta like making a to do list that is way too long and you really know you won't finish it all in the time you have but you make it anyway and are super bummed with yourself when you don't finish it up. That's how New Years Resolutions are for me. I make them sometimes and then I can't follow through and I end up feeling depressed about it. It's a fun time.
But this year I'm thinking about making some. Of course making them realistic and something I can follow through on without disappointing myself. But this will take some time. Some time to figure out exactly what I can handle right now and how well I know myself in order to keep them.
1. I will put me first sometimes. I am notoriously terrible about making me a priority, as I think a lot of women/wives/mothers do. But this year I won't feel bad if I just wanna go shopping alone or take a nice long bubble bath alone, or spend a smidgen extra money on the healthy food I need to fuel my mind and body the right way.
2. I will love my family always and make a major effort to be patient even when I am running low on sleep.
You know what? I think that's it for me. I could make a ton more but my chances of keeping them would be small. So we'll stick with those to and focus my efforts.
Good Luck with yours!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
4 week update.
So Claire is 4 WEEKS old. How on earth have I managed to survive 4 whole weeks? Only 2 weeks til I go back to work. I really can't believe it.
Some updates.
She is getting better about sleeping at night. She still wakes up every 2-3 hours for food but she goes back down pretty easy at least.
She still is super fussy from about 7-10ish or so at night. She wants to be held and bounced. We oblige her but it does get old.
Adam and I are not sleeping in the same room. I take baby duty at night in the bed and he sleeps on the couch. When I go back to work, this arrangement will end.
On a brighter note....she occasionally smiles now....I'm sure that she still has no clue what she's doing but I soak it in in hopes that she will genuinely smile at me one of these days. *heart melt*
She is starting to find her voice. She occasionally lets out a coo here and there and it seems to surprise her.
The girl loves to lay on her tummy, something Lily never liked to do. So this is nice. Hopefully her head will stay this nice round shape that way.
Lily is still madly in love with her little sister. She hugs her and kisses her and helps me with her. And as of now I have yet to see an inkling of jealousy from her....she even shares her "B" with her.
She has Thrush. Which is weird...I never even knew bottle fed babies could get thrush. So it goes. We went to the Dr. on Monday and she got a prescription for it. She is also finally back up to her birth weight.
I'm definitely starting to like her more and more every day. Her scream is easier for me to tolerate...since I'm sure I'm getting used to it.
I think I'll keep her and see what the next 4 weeks brings.
Some updates.
She is getting better about sleeping at night. She still wakes up every 2-3 hours for food but she goes back down pretty easy at least.
She still is super fussy from about 7-10ish or so at night. She wants to be held and bounced. We oblige her but it does get old.
Adam and I are not sleeping in the same room. I take baby duty at night in the bed and he sleeps on the couch. When I go back to work, this arrangement will end.
On a brighter note....she occasionally smiles now....I'm sure that she still has no clue what she's doing but I soak it in in hopes that she will genuinely smile at me one of these days. *heart melt*
She is starting to find her voice. She occasionally lets out a coo here and there and it seems to surprise her.
The girl loves to lay on her tummy, something Lily never liked to do. So this is nice. Hopefully her head will stay this nice round shape that way.
Lily is still madly in love with her little sister. She hugs her and kisses her and helps me with her. And as of now I have yet to see an inkling of jealousy from her....she even shares her "B" with her.
She has Thrush. Which is weird...I never even knew bottle fed babies could get thrush. So it goes. We went to the Dr. on Monday and she got a prescription for it. She is also finally back up to her birth weight.
I'm definitely starting to like her more and more every day. Her scream is easier for me to tolerate...since I'm sure I'm getting used to it.
I think I'll keep her and see what the next 4 weeks brings.
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