Adventures in Mommyhood: Month One

Our little girl is a month old......well, she's older than that now, but she was a month old when I started this post! It sure has been an adjustment, having two kids. There are days we really feel sorry for Declan, his world has changed so drastically, and he had no idea it would. But he has actually been pretty good considering. He may get in trouble more these days, but that's more his age than Abby's presence. Really the only difference is that he gets away with more, as I am pinned to the couch several times a day. :) He REALLY loves his sister. He wants to be as close to her as humanly possible whenever we let him......and even when we don't! He has only gotten jealous a few times, mostly when he's already cranky, and he just wants to be held instead of Abby. And pretty much anytime my dad holds her, he says "No, my Grandpa!!" To which we explain that he's her Grandpa too! I know this may not last, his love for her that is, but I'll enjoy it while I can!

Breastfeeding: not as easy the second time as I thought it would. But, I had practically weekly Lactation appointments in her first month, so that already made it easier! She was born at 7lbs 5oz, but was 7lbs 3 days later, and did go down to 6lbs 9oz. If she had lost any less, they would have been quite worried. But, ever so slowly, her weight went up. The lac lady said that Abs was a poky eater, so she wouldn't try hard enough and not take as much milk from me. Basically, she's lazy. Which isn't a big shocker, she is my daughter you know! :) Hopefully, this gets better....it already has a little.

As for sleeping......well at a month, she was still going to bed late and getting up early. But it has been a bit easier to handle this time. I do let Trevor sleep more, he does have to go to work, but also so that he has more energy to help with BOTH kids. Goodness, you never realize how easy one kid is until you have two!! I think what made it "easier" was that I kinda knew what to expect. Oh I was (am) still exhausted, but I was (am) able to cope better.

Well, I'll let the pictures tell you more how the month went. And since I'm posting this after she has turned two months old, you can expect "Month Two"......in another month! :)

2 Days old:

Arriving home

And your life as a pack mule begins......

He loves her. He really really does.

Uncle Chris and Abs

My dad was trying to capture a sweet moment of my bro and sis-in-law loving on Abby while I gazed sweetly in the background. I was having fun. :)

Dec "holding" Abby for the first time.

"What happens if I poke her?"

She hits back! :)

We put on Backyardigans so that he would be slightly distracted and not try too hard to poke her eyes.

Abs with Auntie Lala

Abs and Nana

First bath at home. She loves them now.

"Save me Daddy!!!"

"What. Did you just put me through?!"

3 days old:

Meeting Quincy

Possible suitor? :)

5 days old:

Great Grandma Spice and Abs

(In the beginning, I was too wary to cut her fingernails, so I would put socks on her hands. I was going to get mittens, but the practical side of me thought "socks work just as good and I don't have to buy those now!")

Kisses from Brother

Daddy feeding Abs for the first time

6 days old:

Side sleeper like her brother

9 days old:

Someone LOOOOOVES to cuddle! Seriously, the closer the better.

Ok.....I can't believe I'm posting this next picture. Not just because the hat part looks so dorky, but my face is just.....hmm. Anyway, let me explain. (For those who don't want to hear about breastfeeding or my boobs, feel free to skip this.) In the beginning, I had a hard time with breastfeeding. Both my kids struggled, but this time, I got in to see a lactation consultant almost immediately. Things are way better now, but it took a good month (or more really) to get things going well. Part of the problem is that, like I said, she is a reeeeeeeeeeeallllllllyyy ssssssllllllooooooooooooooooowwwwww eater. She wasn't gaining weight fast enough, so they wanted me to supplement with pumped milk or formula. However there was a process to supplementing that included a small tube and medical tape. If you really care to hear what the whole set-up was, leave a comment...I'll e-mail you. Basically because of physics and my daughter.....I looked like this every 3 hours:

20 days old:

Sucking her two fingers just like her mama did.

3 weeks old:

Super sad face.

Our future model: I saw a post on facebook that a friend of a friend who is a talent agent for kids was looking for newborns under 9 pounds for a role on a soap opera. Abby was still 7lbs at the time, so I thought "Why not! She's 3 weeks old, she needs to pull her own weight in this family." :) I sent an e-mail to the agent, and received a phone call within 20 min! All I needed to do was get a work permit for her and head to LA for the "audition". However, to get the permit, I needed her dr. to sign off that she was healthy enough. Well, because of her weight gain issues, the doc wouldn't sign. And to this day she still won't sign. And the talent agent called again asking for Abby. I may need to find a new doctor! :) These are the quick pictures I took to send to the agent. Of course, Mel's pictures are WAAAAAAAAY better, but I didn't have them in my possession at the time so my measly pictures had to do.