Miranda is 1 Month 2014

Miranda is 1 Month Old!

Milestones: Well, this time the first month really flew by! She's sort of smiled a few times where it seems like it might be in response to us smiling at her, but it's fleeting and hard to tell. She had her first tummy time this week.

She goes to sleep pretty late each night between 9 and 11 pm, but sleeps well at night. At most she gets up once or twice, and sometimes she sleeps up to 6 hours at once. Obviously she can't roll over yet, but she definitely scoots around her co-sleeper crib so that she ends with her faced pressed in the one unbreathable spot. I am constantly moving her and checking her breathing at night.

Smirking Miranda

Miranda is not too sure about tummy time.

Weekly Wisdom: James started being REALLY fussy in the evening when he was 3 months old so when Miranda passed the 3 week mark and was still being quiet in the evenings (mostly because she's eating all the time) I thought we were in the clear. But then the fussiness hit. But it's slightly less difficult this time. Basically if she won't eat anymore we assume she's over-tired and focus on forcing her to fall asleep- and we know that the bouncing rigorously on the Rainforest Bouncer can help us accomplish this. This works fairly well.

I wonder if we'd had the same sort of focus with James if things would have gone more smoothly. I remember thinking his tummy was upset because at other times of the day he would fall asleep on his own. It's possible that they are just really different. It' s also possible that we didn't know what we were doing last time. Haha.

Also, I've decided that breastfeeding is pretty tough psychologically in that I can't venture far from the baby or stay away for very long, but it seems to really help with being emotionally bonded to her. I am really obsessed with my baby girl, and I do start miss her after very short intervals of time, which for me is a little unusual.

Best moment/s: James loves Miranda so much. I let him hold her for a second this week and he giggled with glee. Kevin often calls James "Turkey" when he's teasing him, so James calls Miranda "Turkey Miranda." It's pretty funny.

She's not heavy, she's my sister.

 

 Go Red Sox!

 

 How freaking cute is this?

Worst moment/s: She's been falling asleep while feeding a lot and ends up gagging a lot. I hate it! It's so scary. And she's been spitting up lots more despite being constantly burped. More fussiness. (Actual worst moment: I got pretty worried the other night when Kevin missed a few trains home after his NY reading.)

Also, even though I tell all new moms to be easy on themselves and not try to get anything done for a while, I totally had a meltdown the other day because I was so overwhelmed by chores that I needed to do or were lingering without being done. So apparently my advice is way easier to dispense than follow. Luckily Kevin is on vacation for 6 weeks now!

First day of Kevin's vacation!

Baby-size: This is the first week she fits into 0-3 month clothing. I keep squeezing her into some of the newborn stuff though because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to some of it (and because she has a limited supply of long sleeves). She's still way too little for stuff labeled 3 months though.

Last time in this newborn-size onesie.

My Weight: The automatic 23 is off, and hopefully never ever coming back. But I've hit a bit of a plateau despite feeding all the time.

I am totally obsessed.

Likes: Breastfeeding, sleeping in our arms, sleeping in the co-sleeper crib at night, Dada, bath time!

Dislikes: Pacifier, bottles, riding in the car 

• James at 1 Month Old and belated thanks to Katie C. for good baby advice in the comments. Always listen to moms with 4 kids!

James is 1 Month Old 2011

1-Month Photo

Everyone complained when I made Kevin walk out in socks, and I asked his mom to take 500 shots just to get one where they baby *still* looks angry, but now we all see it was well worth it, right?

Milestones: The baby had three big firsts this week. He had his first trip to the Cape, definitively started smiling at us (not just smiling from gas), and had his first tub bath this week.  He's also awake and aware more often now, he looks around during his daily outside walks instead of just sleeping through them, and he started showing some interest in his activity mat. Oh, and most importantly, first smiling photo!

His neck is growing stronger, and he focuses on people's faces more. He smiles more often with gas, but doesn't smile out of happiness yet.  He occasionally lets us change his diaper without screaming. His bellybutton is finally completely healed. Generally though, he has no new tricks. He hasn't even figured out his hands are under his control yet.

With my baby boy!, 3 weeks + 5 Days

Check out his awesome sweater from his Great-Great Aunt Barbara


James is feeling a little dubious about the swing (from Casey and Victoria- thanks!)


First tub bath! SMILING! And look how Austin Powers this photo is!

Even though I mostly gave him the bath, there are no photos with me- it's the downside to being the family photographer.

Best Moment: Kevin was burping James and he accidentally made a noise that sounded like a word. It sounded like "boobies," though Kevin wouldn't agree. Both of Kevin and I immediately reacted with wide eyes and started laughing. It makes me excited for when he really does start talking.

Tummy-down Back-pat

Weekly Wisdom: James's fussiness is increasing. In fact, Wednesday, his 4-week birthday, was his worst day ever to date. He screamed for hours with no solution. But we have incorporated everyone's advice into our routine to quiet him so I will list it for other parents and potential parents. Once we know he is fed, changed, burped, and entertained we then try the following (in no particular order):

1. walking while bouncing him (usually effective for the duration of the walk-and-bounce, but he's really heavy and my body has not recovered yet so this can be excruciating for me)
2. tummy time (usually a fail but good for him anyway)
3. patting him tummy-down on our lap (works for 5 seconds)
4. putting him back down on our lap and bicycling his legs (5 seconds)
5. taking him out in his stroller (effective for most of the duration of the walk unless he gets hungry or gets gas)
6. taking him for a car ride (we're too lazy to do this unless we actually need to go somewhere, but it's always effective and sometimes beyond the length of the car ride UNLESS we get stuck in traffic then it's traffic hell with a screaming baby)
7. bouncing him like mad in his bouncy chair (results vary)
8. letting him breastfeed, not because he's hungry but to soothe him (usually a fail)
9. handing him off to anyone else (works for me, but not so well for them)
10. we do not yet have a baby swing, but by God we're getting one
11. ANY OTHER IDEAS WELCOME!

James, 3 weeks + 3 days, pretending to be reasonable

I also like the Moby Wrap his great-auntie Mary gave him. It's good for when he's dozing off but won't let me put him down.  I can put him in it, he sleeps, and I still have use of my hands and legs.  Sadly, I can't use it when he's fussy, because then I'm just closely strapped to a screaming baby and that's worse than not being strapped to one.

Moby-wrapped

Visitors: James had an active week of meeting friends.  On Friday, Ash and Michele came to see him for the first time.  He promptly greeted Ash by simultaneously throwing up and pooping (through his onesie) on her. Yay, Ash!  He was kinder to Michele.

Then on Monday, Rachel and Eleanor came over to meet James.  It was his first play-date! Except he doesn't play yet, and Eleanor is too advanced to be very interested in him.

Ash, happy before James attacked her


James, checking out Michele


I'm holding Eleanor and Rachel is holding James
Who would have guessed it when Rachel and I met in Spain in 2000?

James is now 5 weeks old!