You're not surprising anyone, sweetie.

Clingy girl

For the past three days (assuming the rest of today will be like the firt hour), Kate has been clingy. She isn't happy hanging out on her own like she was for her first few weeks. Instead, she fusses unless she's with me. With me, as in On Me. In my lap, being held, in the sling or wrap. And Dad isn't good enough, must be Mum. I don't mind, since I can do things while wearing her, but it was a bit tiring last night when I wanted to go to bed before she was totally asleep.

It will probably change tomorrow, since our patterns around here seem to last three days or so.

A good day, a bad night

Today was a fun day. After sleeping til about 10, we all (Kate, Westley and I) headed off to Central Market. Of course, since we got up at 10, we didn't really head out until noon, because nothing happens quickly around here these days when you have to feed everyone, and one of those people takes about an hour to eat. Anyway, we walked to CM, I picked up a few groceries, and then we headed for a shady picnic table. Westley wandered around and chased the squirrels, Kate nursed, and I ate take out sushi. It was very lovely. It's too bad Graeme didn't play hooky and come with us.

Then this afternoon, Kate and I went to our first post-natal yoga class. I didn't do much yoga, since she decided to nurse through most of the class, or if she wasn't nursing, she insisted on being held. But it was great to be back to yoga and we'll go again next week.

That good day followed a pretty shitty night. Kate had terrible gas and screamed for what seemed like hours (it was really onely one hour). I don't think it's related to milk anymore, since her good and bad days seem totally random. We'll keep trying things, but I don't think it's the milk. Hopefully tonight goes better.

I'll try to get some new pictures up tomorrow.

Sleep and dairy update

Last night was good - one middle of the night feeding (and one late night, and one early morning but those don't disturb sleep as much as those middle of the night ones do) and long stretches of sleep in between. It didn't quite make up for the night before, which was bad.

I had a bowl of cereal before going to bed. With milk, because it's my favourite snack late at night. I had been eating minimal dairy for 4 or 5 days. Kate had horrible, painful gas in the middle of the night and slept for shorter stretches. I was cursing that cereal. To find out if that was really the cause, I'm back to minimal dairy, and in a few days, I'll have another bowl of cereal before bed to see if that was the culprit, or if it was just the variability of life with a wee one.

Introducing the bottle

Yesterday, we gave Kate a bottle for the first time, and she had another one today. She didn't seem to mind it at all, in fact she sucked it down. But both times, even though she had enough to eat to be full, she wanted the boob afterwards. I think it might be awhile before she's satisfied with just the bottle. It will be nice when I can be gone a bit longer and Graeme can feed her, but right now I'm ok with her wanting me for now. She'll learn how to be soothed without the boob soon enough.

One month

Kate,
On Thursday, you turned one month old. It's been a big month of changes for all of us. You are stronger and more alert every day, and we're amazed at how you can seemingly (or maybe, actually?) grow every day. You have lots of baby fat now, and we love your pudginess.


We can still just watch you, and I'm not sure if that will change any time soon. You make great faces, and you're smiling more often, even though it's still accidental. And the other day, you giggled after farting. I wish I could bottle that sound.


You had a lot of visitors this first month, including extended visits from your Aunt Karen, cousin Hope and your Oma. They were all quite taken with you, not least of all your cousin, who poked you whenever she got a chance. I'm looking forward to the two of your playing at the cottage in the coming years. I think you'll be best of friends.


You love to be carried in the sling or wrap, and generally like to be snuggled close. You're also a champion farter, and I have to admit that you got that from me. It pains me when you're suffering from gas, since you are clearly uncomfortable and I wish I could make it better. Your dad commented the other day that he was amazed how patient I am with you when you're fussy, since I'm not known to be a patient person. I said, how could I not be? You can't control your reactions, you're only one month old. You're teaching me a lot, and I expect that you will continue to do so for the rest of my life.


Today, you had breast milk from a bottle for the first time, and it made me a bit sad to already see some independence from me, even though the milk came from me. Can you slow down a bit so I can catch up? It's been a whirlwind month, and I just need it to slow down so I can absorb it a bit.


I love you Sweet Pea.

-Mummy

Bye, Oma

Graeme's mum left yesterday afternoon after her week long visit. It was great - my house has never been cleaner. Honestly. She cleaned underneath the clawfoot tubs, which I've never done (at least, not all the way to the wall) and they weren't even clean when we moved in. So, truely, cleaner than it's ever been. She also further filled the freezer with delicious food for the coming months. And, she was great with Kate. A bit of a baby whisperer. Kate would fall dead asleep while cuddling with Oma.

It will be interesting to see how things go now that we're without help for awhile. At least I know we'll be eating well.

Thanks, Oma!

The witching hour

Last night, Kate was awake and fussy from 10 til midnight. Those are her witching hours. The night before we seemed to avoid it, but most nights for the past week, she is fussy at that time. I suppose we shouldn't complain, better then than at 3 or 4 am. And once she finally succummed, she only had one middle of the night feeding - at 4 - and then didn't wake up again until 8:30 this morning. That means I got 7 hours of sleep last night.

I'm going to cut out dairy for a few days to see if it reduces her gas, which is often what keeps her awake. We'll see what happens.

Four weeks

Kate is four weeks old today. We had another long stretch of sleep last night - 5.5 hours between feedings. So, maybe we'll have the same experience as Sharon and Nick with Selah (see comment below). We'll see if the trend continues tonight.

Today, Kate went for a walk in her new stroller with Oma. Photos to come tomorrow when she downloads them off her camera. Instead, some photos from the past week:

Oh, sweet sleep

Kate eats every three hours, on average. It can be up to four hours, and sometimes as little as two. That's from the start of one feeding to the start of the next. A feeding takes about 45 minutes, total with diaper changes and falling to sleep. So, there is about two hours of sleep for me between feedings. Last night, she fought falling asleep for quite awhile (Graeme got her to sleep (yay!) without resorting to the boob!) and then slept for four hours. FOUR HOURS. SIX hours between feedings. I know it's just an anomoly, but man, it was great. I woke up at 4 am because I had to pee. I checked her, amazed she was still sleeping. I went back to sleep until 5, when the very very full boobs which were leaking all over woke me up. She was starting to stir, so I woke her up to nurse. She ate from one boob and was totally full. I had to pump the other to relieve the engorgement.

So, it was great that she went so long between feedings, but boy, my boobs didn't like it at all.

Due Date!

Today was Kate's estimated due date. Obviously, she's an overachiever, haha. I'm glad she came early, because it means I've already gotten to spend 3.5 weeks with her and she's my favourite person in the whole world.

Three weeks

Today, Kate is three weeks old. Wow. How did that happen so quickly? I guess that can happen when you haven't slept more than 2.5 hours at a time for three weeks.

Each day she is a bit bigger, a bit more alert and a bit stronger. It's really amazing to see.

My computer died yesterday, so no new picture. This is one Karen took last week while she was here.

Pudgier

Two weeks

Yesterday, Kate reached the two week mark, although still ten days shy of her estimated due date. This morning we had our two week check up. We were all sure she was over her birth weight of 7 lb 0 oz, but weren't sure by how much. She weighed in at 8 lbs 0 oz! Yep, she's a very good nurser. All her other checks were good too - temperature, heart and lung sounds. I got checked too - blood pressure, temperature and my tear were all checked. I'm totally healed, but my temperature was a bit up. I've been feeling lightheaded and a bit nausous the past few days, so we think I'm fighting off a bug of some sort. I'm being sure to sleep more today and really rest, since the lack of sleep certainly isn't helping. We have our last appointment with the midwives in 4 weeks, although Roswitha said I can come back whenever I want (to have another. ha!)

Kate at the two week mark:


Officially endorsed by the U.S. government:


Hope, riding the moose:

The weekend

Some pictures from the last few days:

Kates first time wearing something on her feet:


They only stayed on for a few hours.


Daddy and daughter time this morning:


Look at Kate's arms folded under her chin: