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Friday, July 30, 2010

Exhaustion!

Being new parents, we've had to adjust to a few things, and lack of sleep would be one of them. Since the beginning, she has been pretty consistent with her sleeping at night. She usually goes down anywhere between 7 and 8, then wakes for a snack around 11, then again at 3, and then is up between 7 and 8. We were happy about this, it allowed us enough sleep in the breaks to function.

Within the last couple weeks, things have changed. We still put her down around the same time but some nights she refuses to sleep. She cries, and cries, and cries her pretty little eyes out until she stops and you're sure she can't cry anymore...then cries so more! I dread putting her to bed at night now, it just isn't a good experience for either of us. She fights sleep when I know she wishes she was fast asleep in her crib, she cries when I know all she wants is to be dreaming, I am not sure what to do. A couple of times she has not gone down til midnight...that makes for a very long stretch of awake time.

And if that wasn't bad enough, she also wakes to snack at 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am and then is up for the day at 6. I need my sleep, I need it to keep my sanity, this isn't working. I am hoping she is going through the 4 month wakeful early? I really hope that is what it is, at least then that means there will be an end in sight.

Her naps during the day have dwindled as well. She used to be an awesome napper. I would place her in her swing when she started fussing, usually every 3-4 hours, then she would sleep in there for a good hour or two, sometimes three. It allowed me to get so much done around the house, prepare meals, have some 'me' time. Not so much now. Oh how I miss those days. Please tell me it gets better, I need it to get better.

When she hits 4 months, we will be doing some sleep training with her, but for now, I would just like her old sleep pattern back!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Laughs

Sunday was the first time I heard her give a real laugh. We were playing on my bed and I was making little piggy sounds into her neck and she started to laugh. They were the kind that make you laugh when you hear them. It was super cute.

Here are some pictures of that special moment.



Monday, July 26, 2010

Weekend Firsts

Let me introduce you to the Sassy Seat. My daughter loves this thing! I am so happy that I convinced Clinton we needed to get this for her. She loves to be held up, and this does it for us without having her be in our arms. I love that I can put her in it in the morning when I am doing my hair and makeup. It can keep her entertained and happy for a good 30 minutes. Love this!!

Oh, and can we talk about how cute she is when she is making out with the mirror. This girl loves her reflection! She went all out the first time she saw her face in the mirror and full on sucked that thing for a good 5 minutes all while squealing and laughing. I only wish I had gotten it on video.




Also, I went for a walk with my friend and Brianna sat in her stroller without the car seat! She is getting so big, she loved being in there looking out the front instead of always just looking up at me.

Where Has All The Milk Gone??

In recent weeks, my milk supply has started to tank and I have had to supplement with formula. I have not been happy about this one bit. My whole plan was to EBF until she was 6 months, then introduce solids while still breastfeeding until at least a year. Well, that plan may have to go out the window, we are having some major supply issues.

In order to try and up my supply, I went out and rented a hospital grade breast pump which is costing me a small fortune but I thought if it helped with the cause, why not. So far, my supply is still the same, and doesn't show any signs of increasing soon. I get maybe 1-3 oz a session, and that is combined with both sides, not just one! Brianna is eating close to 5oz at a time and I am getting nowhere near that. I don't even have a stash, she just goes through what I pump way too quickly. And, for some reason, she refuses to nurse during the daytime. She is fine first thing in the morning and at night, but during the day, no way. She screams and contorts her little body and just plain refuses to take the breast. It is so frustrating, and certainly doesn't help matters one bit. I am not mentally ready to stop breastfeeding, but it might be what is best for us. She takes formula fine, doesn't mind it at all. Besides, these days she is getting formula and being supplemented with breast milk it seems. It might be the solution to making us all alot happier.

It's just that I feel guilt even considering throwing in the towel even though I know I gave her 3.5 months worth of breastmilk. She had a good start, maybe this will be good. I just don't know how much longer I can go on pumping most of the day and getting nowhere. I'm also missing out on quality time with her due to the pumping marathons. Oh mommy guilt, so glad we could be formally introduced :P

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Her New Favourite Sleeping Position


Don't worry, her face is turned to the side so she can still breathe. (The angle at which I took the picture just doesn't show it.)

3 Months (& 1 Day) Old

How can my little princess already be a whole 3 months old??? It just seems so crazy to me how fast the time goes! I remember the day we brought her home and how small she was and how clueless we were. I finally feel like we are getting the hang of being parents. Finally! I grow more and more in love with her every day and am excited to see what the future holds for her.
  • We have finally settled her into her nightime routine. She gets her bath at 7:30, I put her in her pj's and then we cuddle. I give her either a bottle or breastfeed, depending on what she feels like and then goes down for the night.
  • She is sleeping from 8:30ish - 7:30am. Most nights she wakes up at 3am still for that nighttime feed but she is so sleepy she hardly wakes then falls right back to sleep no problem. The last few nights however she has been waking to feed at 11pm, 4am, 5am, 6am and then 7ish for the day. She also is refusing to take daytime naps, so not fun! I hope this phases passes. 3 month growth spurt, perhaps?
  • She coos and squeals all the time. It is very rare that when she is awake and either Clint or I are talking to her that she isn't telling us something herself. I believe she loves the sound of her own voice haha
  • Spends most of her time (awake and sleeping) on her tummy. She loves to be able to see what is going on around her. She can hold her head up at 90degrees and has no problem holding it there. She has also decided this is the most comfortable way for her to sleep most times.
  • She is a rolling machine! This girl can roll like the best of them. As soon as I put her down on the floor she rolls over. She can do tummy to back and back to tummy. We can't leave her on the couch for even a second now, she will roll right off.
  • She is wearing mostly 3-6 outfits as that is what I had for summer but can still fit in most of her 0-3 month clothes and a couple newborn pants, weird.
  • She weighs a little over 15lbs and is just under 25 inches long! My baby is growing like a weed!
  • She loves to stand when you hold her up from the armpits. She straightens out her legs and holds most of her weight while she takes steps up your chest. It is so cute to see her smile when she realizes she is "walking" up your chest.
  • On Sunday she let out her very first laugh. It was one of the best sounds ever :)
  • Also, she chews on everything and anything, and she's a drooling machine. Whatever she is wearing becomes drenched very quickly from all her drool. I am debating getting her that Sophie the Giraffe, she still isn't amazing at holding onto anything other than blankets right now.
In mommy news, I went to the doctor and talked about how I had been feeling lately and apparently I have PPD. He says with my anxiety and the way I have been isolating myself from everyone, including the husband, I am most definitely suffering from it. He wrote me a prescription for some anti depressants and I have a follow up appointment next week. I haven't taken any yet though as I read on the internet that it can pass through breastmilk and I don't want it affecting Bri. We will see what he says next week.

Also, breastfeeding isn't going so great anymore. I spend more time pumping or feeding her formula than having her at the breast. She hates the summer heat and when it is too hot she refuses to nurse. She's fine in the morning and at night when it is cooler in the house but forget the middle of the day. Hopefully this too shall pass, I really don't want to stop breastfeeding her.










Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Wonderful Day At The Park

The Gray family had a great Canada Day! We spent most of the morning and afternoon in the park walking around and checking out all the great tents. Some people are just so darn crafty! I found some more really cute hair clips for her at one that I cannot wait to put in her hair.

We stopped in at the museum where I work (when not on mat leave) and I was able to chat with a few co-workers and show off my little princess. It's so nice to see them every once in a while, I really do miss working with adults every day. After that we headed to Earl's for lunch with a friend where I had my very first drink in almost a year. That margarita hit me harder than any other drink I think I have ever had, I couldn't even finish it!

So far this evening we have spent it on the couch as a family watching 'The Office' DVDs. I am so late on this one, what a funny show! I think I have been laughing for at least an hour. There are fireworks going on tonight, just not sure if we will make it out, they start at 11. Either way, we have had a great day and now I have a sleeping Brianna on my chest :)

Here are some pictures from the day.








Happy Canada Day!

To all those who celebrate, we are heading out to the park for some fun festivities. Hope you all have a wonderful day!