1 month...growing baby!

It's been 1 whole month already! The days and nights have all blurred together...mainly because there is no rules in the newborn world involving what happens in the days and nights. Sleep? So overrated...not really. The whole hospital experience is still a very surreal dream according to both Bryan and I. Every time I think about it, it literally feels like some weird, chaotic dream...but makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy at the same time.

The first couple weeks were definitely rough. Not going to lie about that at all. Breast feeding was difficult and painful and I remember vaguely thinking this one night (groggy headed from severe lack of sleep) "how am I possibly going to keep this up?" The formula answer popped in my head for a millisecond but then I squashed that quick...but the pain was starting to get so bad that every time it was time for her to eat, I almost wanted to shed an "ouch it hurts so bad" tear. Top that off with only sleeping 1-2 hours at a time back to back (to back)...and you have yourself classic new mom syndrome...mopey-ness, loss of appetite, disheveled look, the exhausted "distant stare"...

BUT, then we started evolving...getting into an erratic routine (oxymoron?? jumbo shrimp?). Ok not so much routine, but just getting used to each other and what we needed each person to do. She needed to eat, sleep and get her diaper changed...and I needed to provide all of those things. I'd like to say that now at this point of my baby being 1 month old, I am getting way more sleep, interpreting her cries and occasionally doing personal things (i.e. writing a new post in my blog). Daddy has been helping out when he can. He is a hard working man, providing for his family you know..but he has definitely done his share of poppy diapers.

The breast feeding perseverance paid off. At her 1 month check up she has grown 2 inches (now 22 1/2 inches long; in the 90th percentile...maybe basketball or volleyball?) and she is now 9lbs 13 oz! That is compared to 7lbs 4 oz at birth...thicky-thick girl. She is definitely starting to fill out in a cute chubby baby way. Not Michelin Man style...yet...but rolling that way. She has done a couple 5 hr sleep sessions (YAY!) and is starting to be content laying down by herself (while still awake)...although I have noticed that she likes to be with somebody more than being on her own. It really melts my heart when I can tell that she recognizes me. I don't exactly know how to describe it, but her caressing my arm when I'm holding her as she tries to go to sleep or when she buries her face in my chest and holds on to me tight. Maybe thats just regular newborn mannerisms, but it still feels good.


"WHERE'S THE MILK MAMA?!"

We've done a few outings and she has done great for the most part. I definitely chalk it up to being prepared...so, go me. We had our first successful trip to the grocery store which I think is a major accomplishment...and I'm not talking little dinky Fresh and Easy, few item trip. I'm talking full blown Safeway $100+ big grocery, almost every isle, extravaganza! I purchased a Moby Wrap (a sling thing) that she seems to love. I just wrap her up in that, sling her on the front of me, and I go hands free grocery shopping (or whatever). Great hippy invention.

Before we know it she will be 2 months, and then 6 months...and then 18 years. Time has been flying by which everyone says happens. I'm glad we are in the technological time when I can snap a pic on my phone and download it to the internet in minutes...never to be lost or forgotten again.