2 Month Summary (weeks 10-13)

I haven’t written at all since I started back to work L I have been so tired!  I will try to remember all that I can and include it here…

Personality
Oh my goodness- her personality is SO cute!  I am just more and more in love with her every day! She laughs and smiles at us now.  REAL laughs- with sound! It is so cute!  The first time was around 11 weeks, October 16^th.  Joe was laying on his back and holding Addison on his knees up in the air.  He would take her hands and swing htem in front of her face and say weeee and she would just laugh and laugh.  Love it! She is also full of energy, smiles, and laughs while we change her diaper.  She loves being naked, haha.

She loves to be held facing out so that she can watch what it going on.  She enjoys going and doing more than being at home.  She is very content when we are out and about.  Very willing to let others hold her, and smiles at them pretty easily. 

Nursing.
Nursing is going well.  I got worried for a while that I wasn’t going to be able to pump enough to keep up with her for a while.  I think my frozen supply had dropped down to only 7 bags at one time.  I started really stressing out, but now we are doing well.  It’s hard to get it done like I need to at work, but I am making it work.  For several weeks in this time, she would sleep at my breast regardless of what I did to try to rouse her.  This week, she all of the sudden started staying awake to eat aain. 

Waketime Length
It is so hard to be consistent with this considering I keep her on the weekends, Carla keeps her three days, and Joe keeps her two days.  It’s between an hour and an hour and a half for the first two to three cycles of the day, then at night, she is awake and hanging with us most of the time until we start the bed time routine- so about 3-4 hours awake.

Nighttime Length
Well… she went for some time sleeping through the night, then during week 12 (Wonder Week and close to three months which is a growth spurt) she was waking around 12:30 and again around 3:30-5:30) Friday night, I had the football game, so When I fed her at 7:40 and he put her down around 8:30, she woke up around 9:30… he shh’ed her to sleep, and she stayed asleep.  Then, she woke up twice more in the night and he was able to do the same.  She woke up at 5, I fed her and put her back down, and we woke up at 8.  So- that definitely counts as sleeping through the night.  Then last night, she went down at 8:30 and slept until 6:30 this morning.  So, we are back on track with sleeping through the night. 

Growth
She sure does feel heavier!  We don’t have any official stats to report, though.  Wearing 3-6 month clothes comfortably with a little room to grow. 

Swaddling
It’s back.  After having lunch with Julie a couple of weeks ago, I told her that thought it was too late to go back to the swaddle, but I did sorta think we needed it.  She encouraged me to try it again, so I stopped by Toys R Us and got one of those Velcro Swaddlers… amazing!  (but I will say that we like the organic cotton one better than the other one we bought to go to Carla’s). 
Wonder Week
Week 12…. SUCKED.  There is no better way to say it.  She was a PILL!  Week 12 is noticing gradual changes, like light to dim and high to low, etc.  Between that and the pending growth spurt- we had a hard time week 12 and some of the days on either side of it. 

Our Schedule
Is a little crazy- again because she is with three different people during the day… but here is a sample on a good day, and what Joe and I are working towards…

6:30 Wake, Eat, Get Ready

7:00 Leave for sitter

9:30/10 Eat

12:30/1 Eat

3:30/4 Eat

7 Eat

8:00 bath and bed

Outings/Events
The weekend of 12/13 we went to Nanna and Pappa’s house to get a swing.  She made the trip to two away games this month and did great.  She has now been to three cheerleading competitions.  Her cheerleading buddy is Kristi Smallwood.  She’s helped me so much so Joe can have a break on Saturdays.  Halloween is today… but we didn’t dress her up.  Does that make me a bad Mommy?  She isn’t going to remember it- I am on duty tonight, and last night we were exhausted from the cheerleading competition… I am sure next year it will be fun!

Helpful Books or Websites
I got a book last weekend called Your Baby’s First Year Week by Week.  I like having it better than the websites that we have been visiting, it has some neat resources in it and gives us a game to play and exercises to do each week J

10-5-10

1:30 woke up and wouldn’t settle.  Joe tried for some time (maybe an hour)  to get her to calm down.  He finally put her down to CIO.  After a few minutes, I went in to give her paci again.  This time, she wimpered once more and fell asleep- I don’t think I did anything special, just happened to be the one to go in at the right time.  (I talked to Caren today and was telling her about last night and Sunday night.  She said that since we are not feeding her at these middle of the night awakenings, Addi will likely wean herself off of them rather than us having to do so for her- that was encouraging.  I’d really like her to wean herself off rather than us having to move towards CIO in the middle of the night)

6:30ish (this time is always a little fuzzy for me!) fed her and tried to keep her awake.  Kept her up for a little while and then she went right back down to sleep.

8:45 woke and fed. Slept while at my breast, and I admit- I slept too!  We dozed on the couch with her latched and eating for about an hour.  I then made us get up and change clothes to be able to really wake up.  I put her in the swing while I ate.  Then, I let her play on the blanket with her play yard on the floor for quite a while.  She was very content.  I put her down close to 11:00.  She slept soundly until I woke her at 12.

12:00 I had to wake her up, and she fed.  Afterwards, I put her in the bouncy seat- which she has hardly used to date.  It was nice to carry it from room to room while I sorted laundry and did the dishes.  I didn’t feel confined, and didn’t feel as though I was leaving her on the blanket in the dining room ALL the time! Around 12:55, she started to get fussy, so I kicked it into high gear and we headed out to run errands.  We went to TJ Maxx for me to find some jeans to wear to the Fair tonight, and we went to the grocery store.  She was an angel!  Fell asleep as I was in the fitting room at TJ Maxx and stayed asleep through our entire time at Kroger.  Came home and I put her in the swing to finish her rest/sleep time. 

3:00 fed her (awake this time), then got ready for fair. Took her to practice with me until Joe got home.  He got her around 4:45.  She had a 15 minute cat nap while at Cheerleading, so he let her fall back asleep in his arms. 

6:00 feeding, then happy for a short amount of time- blanket time with Joe, then fussy.  He said her gas was really bad.  This seems to be common at this time of day.  Very frustrating to know that soon this will be our only family time and she is always in pain and fussy around this time of day L Didn’t get any restful sleep this cycle. 

8:30 I came home and made Joe some dinner, and we decided to let her go until 9 with that nap since it had been so poor. 

9:00 I pretty much dream fed her.  She would barely wake for burping.  When I put her completely upright on my shoulder/chest, she woke.  I changed her diaper and she was happy as a clam!  We made the executive decision not to do bath time tonight since we were getting started at 9 rather than 8:30.  I sang to her and she was asleep again in my arms.  When I put her down in the crib and sang the last verse- she was about out.  However, we did hear her grunting and squirming some, but no crying at all.

I go back to work tomorrow… I am nervous for me and nervous for she and Joe.  He is keeping her all day.  It will be nearly 12 hours of just Addi and Daddy! Praying all goes well. 

9 week Summary

Personality
This is a new one I am adding- I think it will be neat to look back and see how her personality has developed.  This week, she has been laughing so hard that she turns her head from side to side.  It is precious!  She has also started SCREAMING when we change her clothes.  I can tell winter is going to be so much fun!

Nursing
Continues to go well.  She is falling asleep during the first nurse of the day- but then again... so am I, haha.

Waketime Length
I am still playing with this, but I would say that her average in the mornings is about 50 minutes while her average in the afternoons is about an hour and a half.

Nighttime Length
She was getting a dream feed, then waking up around 4 and then I was waking her around 6.  BUT- Friday of this week she SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT for the first time!!! She went from 9:30 to 5:15!!! Thank you Caren for pushing me to do this!

Growth
She had a doctors appointment this wekk and we found out that she is still a little big for her age :) Not quite as advanced in her height, but more in her weight than before.
Height: 23 inches (90th percentile)
Weight: 12 lbs. 12 oz!!!  (90th percentile)
Since I wasnt keeping up this blog at two weeks... the last time we went to the doc, she was about 8 and a half pounds and 21 inches.  This was 97th percentile in weight and about 75th percentile in height.

Swaddling
Out of the swaddle.  I still tuck a blanket around her waist and legs when she needs some cover on her.  Serves two purposes- I dont have to keep coming back in to re cover and it gives her that snugness that swaddling gave. 

Wonder Week
not one that I know of.

Our Schedule
I changed it part way through the week.  She was still waking up an hour into her nap, so I didn't think that the shorter waketimes were cutting it. After talking to Caren, I am moving towards a straight three hour schedule.  Having a feeding at 9pm keeps me from doing the dreamfeed- and what do ya know... it ended up helping her sleep through the night.

Outings/Events
No big outings, but Grammie K and Chelsea came for a visit this weekend. 

Helpful Books or Websites
trying to figure out where Carrie got the Cloth Diapering trial kit from.  Will let you know if I find it and if they are still offering it.

10-4-10

Not quite as lucky last night.  Glad I haven’t started advertising her sleeping through the night yet…

2:30 woke up.  Joe went in to console her.  She was really yelling off and on and nothing he did seemed to make her feel better- even tried to change diaper. 

3:00 I got up and rocked her and sang As the Deer to remind her that it was bedtime.  Finally fell asleep in my arms around 3:20.  I put her in the crib at 3:30.  She of course woke up, I sang one more verse to her and walked away L She CIO-ed for 30 minutes, was finally back asleep by 4.

6:30 she was still asleep and of course I was exhausted so I had not gotten her up at 6 as I am supposed to.  I was debating whether or not to get her then or be bad… she answered that for me- woke up.   I fed her and tried to keep her awake for a little while to play.  Put her back down right around 7:10.  CIO for about 5-10 minutes, I think (its all running together)

9:05 woke to eat, played well for a little while.  I dressed her in pink cordouroy overalls- she looked like such a BIG GIRL all day long!!! I can’t handle it! 10:12 put her down CIO for ten minutes.  But, didn’t sleep all the way through this nap.  Woke around 11:05.  I was in shower, Joe tried to let her CIO, then tried to console- finally put her in swing.  She stared off into space (typical) for a while.  Finally fell asleep but only for a short time, woke back up.

11:45 feeding, wake time. 1:00 put her down and she CIO for only a few minutes. Woke a few times, but went back to sleep

3:00 wimpered, but I went ahead and got her up since it was time to eat. She slept while feeding- a no no, but I was talking to Ashley planning for cheer, so I let her. Then, stayed awake and content for a while at home.  At 4:00, we headed down to cheerleading.  She was happy in stroller, then I picked her up around 4:15.  Joe came and got her from me around 4:30. He walked her for a few minutes and she stayed awake, then he came home and rocked for a VERY short amount of time and she fell asleep.  He laid her down, and she stayed asleep!

5:40 woke up MAD.  We tried to prolong the feeding, but as soon as the bottle was warm, Joe fed her a bottle whle I went back down to run with the cheerleaders.  Ate and then fell asleep on his chest at about 6:45.  Stayed asleep that way on him or me until the next feeding, even thought that one should just be a cat nap.  Must have been tired.

8:15 woke up ready to eat.  I had planned to feed her at 8:30, but since she ate before 6, I figured she could eat before 8:30… might as well bump it all back.  Again she was falling asleep while eating… recurring theme today…  bath for play, then bedtime routine.  CIO for one minute, stop, one minute, stop for ten minutes.  Then, out.

Praying that she doesn’t get in the habit of waking at 2:30!  If it happens tonight or really the rest of this week- we will likely console like last night.  I don’t think I’ll have the heart to make her CIO in the MOTN knowing that I am also going back to work Wednesday. L

10-3-10

Hit the jackpot again- STTN!

5:40 woke up happy, ate, and played with us in the bed.

8:00ish woke up again- Joe held her and got her back to sleep, then laid her in the bed beside me to finish off her first nap of the day .

9:00 woke up happy again, ate, played with Grammie K, then she rocker her to sleep.,

11:45 woke a little fussy, ate, played.  12:55 laid down and CIO for 40 minutes

2:10 woke up crying with eyes closed for five minutes, then opened them. I comforted here and she began to CIO from 2:15-2:25., then I couldn’t take it anymore. I put her in the swing.  She eventually fell asleep (close to the next feedint time- OF COURSE) maybe 2:45?

3:10 I woke her up, she ate, and played very well on the blanket, then I tried to put her in the play yard with the dangly things.  She really seemed to like it this time.  I laid beside her and sorted coupons.  When she began to get fussy, I kicked it in high gear and we headed out to grocery shop and go to the fair grounds.  Fell asleep on the way to the natural foods store (4:00 ish), and slept while there, then on the way to Walmart.  Woke up in walmart happy as a clam.  Talked to herself the whole time.   I had a cold bottle with me, so I went by Starbucks and got a Carmel Apple Spice for me and a Venti Hot Water for her J

5:55 Feed at the Fairgrounds while Cheerleaders warmed up. Awake and Alert.  Let a couple of the girls and moms hold her.  Fell asleep with Jody Hurley holding her, then stayed asleep while being laid down in stroller when time to go (7:00).  Not very happy with getting transferred to Car Seat (7:30 ish).  Woke up when we got home, Joe held her til next feeding time

8:30 feed, bath with soap, bedtime routine, CIO not long.

10-2-10

Exhausted, so this isnt going to be as detailed as normal...

SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!! (Hereafter referred to as STTN)

At first I set an alarm to dream feed her at 1:30 so that she would sleep til 6, when she is supposed to eat.  But, I decided I wanted to see how long she would go...
5:15 awake to a very happy mommy and daddy.  We even had some happy wake time, put her back down- fussed a little, but not bad.

I left at 8:10 for Pepperell competition, so the next couple are estimates...
8:45/9- ate, back down CIO slept and cried off and on through most of nap- maybe one 30 minute stretch of good sleep.
11:30ish- ate, CIO for a little while, Grammie K and Aunt Chelsea to the rescue- rocked her.
According to Joe, GK and AC, Addison was fussy throughout the afternoon.

2:30- mommy home just as she was waking up.  Fed her (but I had pumped recently, so she got one supplemental ounce from a bottle), bad diapers :) went on a walk with Grammie K and Daddy, came back and fell asleep in Joe's arms around 4:05, at 5, he put her down in the bassinet, slept til about 6

6:00 feeding, awake and happy, went to Moes, fell asleep in carrier there.  Cat napped. 

8:45 feeding, bath/water play, bedtime routine.
9:30 I walked out of the bedroom.  She fought sleep for about thirty minutes, so she was truly asleep by 10:00.

Crossing our fingers and saying a prayer for a similar night to last night!

10-1-10

2:30 MOTN feeding, wide awake because diaper had to be changed, cio’ed for 10-15 minutes (I was dozing… not 100% sure of the time)

6:05 First Feed, did NOT want to wake up.  After 20 mins of stretching and grunting, I let her go back down.  No crying, just a little more grunting and right back to sleep.

8:45 Feeding, good wake time, nap at 9:35 CIO for 20 mins, woke up at 11:10- I went in to comfort but seemed to make it worse.  CIO and Sleep off and on for the next thirty minutes

11:48 Feeding, good wake time, down at 12:28 CIO until 12:43 quiet, 12:45 wimpering, then asleep, 1:30 began to cry in her sleep.  I observed from the doorway and she had her eyes closed the whole time.  I think she was just in a light phase of sleep.  Asleep again in 5 minutes, but then did the same off and on for the next… 30-45 minutes.

2:45 I got her up when she started to wimper again.  I entertained until closer to 3.

3:00 feeding, walked to Post office to get mail, then to cheerleading.  I kept her seet inclined in the stroller for the first time.  This seemed to keep her from going to sleep- which I was aiming for.

We then went to cheerleading practice where she was alert, awake, and happy for a while.  Kristi Smallwood held her and played with her, then she went to sleep in her arms.

At about 4:45, MS was dong practicing, so Kristi left.  I took Addison and held her through the rest of Varsity practice- she was awake. 

After practice while I was talking to Ashley, I swayed back and forth and she went to sleep.  I passed her off to Joe at 5:30 and I went to meet friends.

She stayed asleep for another 5 or so minutes, then fussed. 

6:00 feeding from bottle, fusssyyyyy

7:00 Joe put her down, but she screamed the whole time, he picked her up after thirty minutes, but she was still crying when I came home at 5 til 8

I swayed and got her to go to sleep at 8:15 and let her cat nap until 8:45.  She then woke up on her own in my arms

8:45 feeding, bath, bedtime routine

Went down with NO CRYING at all. She was exhausted! I feel terrible that I messed with her schedule this afternoon/evening when I know that we are trying to train her L

I am sure tomorrow will be rough- I wont be home from 8:00-probably 2:00 or 3:00.  Hopefully Kathy, Chelsea, and Joe can hold each other accountable and not pick her up when she cries.