2 weeks old!

Gemma turned 2 weeks old on 6/23/12. Again, I took several pictures with our big camera, but accessing those pictures right now just isn't something I can squeeze in. Showers and feeding myself come first!


Here are my quick notes:
0-3 month clothes fitting very well.  Some are starting to look like 3/4 length sleeves, even though they are supposed to be long sleeved.  I've pulled out all the 3-6 month stuff to sort through, wash and have at the ready.  Newborn dipes are still fitting...for a little longer.  She seems to be filling them up pretty fast, so I think we'll be switching to size 1 diapers soon, particularly for overnight.

Gemma is sleeping pretty well.  At her best, she'll sleep for six hours overnight.  This has happened once.  Friday night 6/23/12, she went to bed at 10:30pm.  She slept until 1am.  She was up at 1am, 2:15, 2:45, 3:30, 5:30 and 6:15.  Then she slept until 9am.  So did I.  That was our second worst night close behind the second night in the hospital when she didn't sleep at all and neither did I.  From my reading, it appears typical newborn development to have a big growth spurt between 2-3 weeks where newborns demand to eat more often.  I made John get on the scale with and without her.  Our rough estimate puts her weight at 9.4 lbs.  I'll take it because it shows her bigger than before, which is what I need to hear right now.

We are starting to see some awake time for about 25-45 minutes in the mornings between 7 and 9am.  There really isn't any other pattern my tired little brain can pick out in her behavior.

Tummy time is going well - she likes being on her tummy.  I think this is because the newborn startle reflex doesn't startle her as completely in this position as her arm/legs are under her and don't jerk outward in this position.

Feeding is going pretty well - or I'm trusting it is going well.  She is pooping almost constantly and has a lot of wet diapers throughout the day.

Her siblings still adore her.  Every time she sneezes, coughs or hiccups, they ooh and ahh in adoration.  They have deemed her the cutest baby ever.  No one around here is arguing!

Tball time!

William is playing t ball again this year! He has shown huge improvement already! He now remembers to touch home plate instead of just running to the bench from third base. He also spends a bigger percent of the time facing the play of the game and running after the ball instead of playing in the dirt! I'm sure he would show more improvement if we could find time to work with him outside of the once a week t ball slot :(. I guess it is just hard to find time for things like that when there is a new baby in the house....

Proud brother and sister too!

A hard life...

Isn't it, when you get to sleep all day?

Happy birthday John! (father's day too)

John's birthday is now the day after Gemma's on our family calendar. I knew there was a strong possibility we would have a new baby right around the time his birthday rolled around (and Father's Day 1 week later).

I racked my brain for something just right for the occasion. Something that would be something he would be excited about and make up for the little attention the two occasions were going to get.

Luckily, while discussing the problem with my sister in law, Kendra, (here visiting over Memorial Day Weekend) she had a brilliant idea: an IPad.

John has been eyeing the tablets for a long time. The reality is when you have three kids, cars, a house, and a spouse who works part time for very little money, you have to be a grown up about where your money goes. Stinks being a grown up sometimes :). But, I counted up my pennies and made it happen with a little help. Of course, the local version of the big store didn't have any in stock.. Nor did the other three locations within driving distance. Luckily, there was one in Rochester, MN and my mom was able to pick it up and bring it with when they came to help.

So, I got him an iPad. With some help. He was pretty happy- which made me happy.

Awwww...

Gemma lost the bulk of her cord stump today 6/22/12. I'm too lazy to look it up exactly, but I'm certain this is the earliest any of our kids have lost their cord by at least a week. There is still a small amount remaining behind. Without the cord stump, it also appears her button has either a small hernia or will be an outie. It is a little foggy, but I'm almost certain that our dr said this wasn't of concern now. Will have to consult notes .... Or maybe John will remember .

Maybe later. They look pretty cozy!

I'm tired or my brain is on overload

And it is pretty funny, so enjoy!

1. I carefully packed my hospital bag at about 37 weeks after a few hours of irregular and almost painless contractions. It seemed like a good warning sign to get a move on, even though it was clearly not time. Being my third time around, I felt practically an expert. I did not consult the Internet or book. I did not call my mother. I just packed my bag. I was so proud to finally "know" what I would need- I had significantly less than our other 2 hospital stays.

I checked the bag again the Wednesday before I went into labor and found everything ready.

We had everything we needed at the hospital. That is until it was time to go home. I had packed 3 shirt options so I could choose on what felt good that day. However....no pants. No bottoms at all. Oops. I ended up wearing John's pajama bottoms home with my cute top.

2. John came in from the mailbox laughing when Gemma was 6 days old. In his hand, he had 2 envelopes that were stamped and had return addresses on them... And nothing else. Totally blank. The post office had helpfully cancelled the stamps and then returned to me.

Several of our fathers's day cards were late this year- I addressed, restamped, and mailed for a second time.

Next up: Gemma's birth announcement...what kinds of fun will that hold?

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