Monday, December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas….we have much to be thankful for this year. 


Our 2013 Christmas card/birth announcement….front...


and back...




Many blessings to you all. 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

One Month

We have successfully made it through the first month. I think we are moving in the right direction with sleep. She's now going down around 11-11:30 at night and sleeping through until around 5-6 am. The most frustrating is that she can go to sleep and seem like she is dead to the world and then suddenly be wide awake! It seems like it takes her a long time to go down. I'm
still struggling with swaddling as she still is getting really fussy around 6 pm and can last until she goes down for good at 11 pm. I'm not sure swaddling is our answer but I press on. Nathan has taken to wearing his Bose noise reduction headphones while she's screaming and unconsolable.


We are also still struggling with nursing. She's just not an aggressive eater and nursing still remains the best way to get her to sleep. She is probably getting half breast milk and half formula through the day…so I guess I'll take it. I despise pumping but such is life. She was 8 pounds and 5.5 oz yesterday at the breast feeding support group. (I laugh every time I tell someone about this group…lol!) 

I haven't made the jump to cloth diapers yet. And I'm not really looking forward to it….I have spoiled myself. But, I already bought some cloth diapers before she was born so I'm going to try it out!! 

We are getting better with venturing out of the house. I still have not taken her to Target or the grocery store. The weather hasn't been horrible but the cold weather keeps us inside most of the time. We've ventured to the mall a few times and it makes me wish I could have always shopped with a stroller! How convenient to not have to carry everything!! She does well in the car seat. As much as this kid loves to be held-miraculously she doesn't seem to mind the car seat and usually falls asleep.

She really enjoys bath time and it remains one of my favorite times with her as well. I love washing her hair. It gets kinda greasy throughout the day cause I'm always petting her. She can get pretty crazy bed head- especially if it doesn't dry right. I hope she will end up liking water as much as I do! I'm anxious to see how she does in the red neck pool this summer.



She is still able to wear her newborn clothes (but I fear not for very much longer!). She is definitely starting to fill out. Her cheeks have plumped up and she is resembling my newborn photo more! She is awake more during the day- I don't have great set nap times yet. She still prefers to be held, which can be frustrating. She doesn't really like the swing or her bouncy seat (she will tolerate each for only 15 minutes or so). She doesn't really like tummy time- I keep trying but each session only lasts about 30 seconds before she voices her protest. She really likes to sit up and she has pretty good control of her head and neck. She is pretty good about taking a pacifier and will go to town on it for a few minutes and then abruptly spit it out. She's found her thumb a few times, but sucks on her hands and fingers mainly when she is hungry. 

She's still sleeping in her rock and play (Nathan has still not wanted to put her in her crib as he thinks she's still too little). We have at least graduated to all of us sleeping in our bedroom, so I'm not banished to the guest bedroom with her anymore. 




I had my 6 week check up yesterday and so here she is with Dr. P since we forgot to take a pic at the hospital. 


Friday, December 6, 2013

Newborn photos


Here's a few of Vivian's newborn photos. We were so happy with how they turned out. She was so good for them! Nathan's sweater may still be at the cleaners…during their photos together- she was diaperless- she let it loose on him! Lucky for him he's a veterinarian and good with poop :)














…and here's a picture from Thanksgiving…with her three Great Grandmothers.