6 Weeks

OOOH! That HAIR!
Some might say that six weeks marks the beginning of the end of the newborn phase. I'm more of a "three month" person. I subscribe to the theory that the newborn phase is the "fourth trimester" of pregnancy, it just happens to take place outside the womb. The theory being human babies are born about 3 months too early (in terms of biological development and survival in the outside world) because if they stayed in the womb longer, they would rip their Mommas apart trying to pass through a birth canal that's too narrow (thanks to the hips changing position as we started to walk more upright). This is the period where you cannot spoil a baby. She came into this world early to spare me injury and death; I can at least pick her up when she cries and feed her when she's hungry. ;)

What has Amelia been up to these last few weeks? We survived the 10 days with my sister's clan in from Iowa (sister, hubby, 4-YO Anna, 3-YO Ashley and 1-YO Adam)! It was actually a very enjoyable stay--in retrospect. My sister has a problem allowing herself down-time, so we compromised and filled our days with one activity away from the house and a lot of backyard pool time here at home (the small, portable pool--we're not "movin' on up" in our residential status!) Mia had her first outing to the zoo. She got to hear the lions roar, have a picnic and watch the hippos swim. She slept through the rest of it. She saw Shamu's show at Sea World and watched us feed the dolphins. The cousins had picnics, went on nature hikes and played on the "rainbow toys" at several parks around town. And for those who know my sister, it goes without saying that Amelia also had her first photo shoot while Aunt Ju-Ju was in town (see some sample photos below).

"THE THINKER"

"THE SCOWL"

"THE BOBBLEHEAD"

"THE YAWN"

"THE ANGEL"

Since the last entry, we celebrated Mia's first Mother's Day, too. Amelia gave me a wonderful present...she slept for 6.5 hours straight! Well, it was from 9:00 PM to 3:30 AM, so it wasn't like I slept through the night; but it's a start! Her brother, Nate, made three Mother's Day presents in Sunday School (a relaxing tea-time poem with tea, a flower with his cute photo in the middle and a version of the handprint poem). Jason made a fancy-shmancy dinner with macadamia nut-oatmeal-crusted mahi-mahi; wilted chard, garlic and red pepper salad; rutabaga-pear puree (rutabagas are my favorite veggie) and banana's foster shortcake! Yummy. The kids gave me a CHI hair straightener, too (maybe they're sick of my morning bed head!)




Last Tuesday, Mia caught her first cold. We've been busy trying to help her breath through the congestion, using the nasal aspirator ("bugger sucker"), soothing, wiping her goopy eyes and just trying to make her as comfortable as possible until the bug passes. We realized that Nate did not have a cold as a newborn--we never had to use the aspirator with him. Amelia also started her social smiles on Tuesday (just shy of her 6-week birthday). I think she'll be as smiley as Nate was. She always seems to be smiling at something now (unless she's giving me her other look--"the scowl of concentration"). I hope it says something about her personality that she started smiling the day she got sick!

"CHEESE!"

On the parenting front, life here is in transition. Amelia's waking up from her newborn slumber (not sleeping 23 hours a day) but still not on a schedule--so life is reactive (rather than the proactive position we Type A personalities prefer). I'm finally having to deal with the challenges of two kids vs one--"OK there's only one of me and two kids are screaming. How do I divide me up? Do I go for 50-50% Or opt for a 30-70%? Does this call for a 0-100%?" Hmmmm. Since the cousins left, Nate's new phrase around the house is "I'm in charge!" (long story); so, he's spending a lot of time going to and from the time out step. Jason just started his last clinical rotation of third year (family practice), yah! Me? I'm driving to doctor appts, feeding Mia, cleaning poopy diapers, feeding Mia, cleaning poopy toilet training potties, feeding Mia, and otherwise walking around in a sleep-deprived state. That's the good life. ;)

Nate trying to help Sister, "She's fussin'!"

Nate's Hand-me-downs on Amelia!

Mia's First Month--the ramblings

Wow! Has it really been a month already?! I think I'm onto something here--just pack your schedule absolutely full with big-brother-commitments and out-of-town houseguests during the newborn phase; time will fly by and you'll forget how sleep-deprived you actually are. It's been a good month. Mia is maintaining her easy-going personality--she's a great eater, she sleeps during the night (minus a couple of feedings, of course) and is tolerant of her over-zealous brother. We're working on his boundary issues (see photo below of Nate trying to help Mia "play" in her swing).

She's developing a bit of a schedule:

• 7:00 wake-up & feed
• about 1 hour "awake time"
• 3 hour morning nap
• noon feed
• diaper change and 15-minutes or so of mental/physical stimulation
• 2-3 hour afternoon nap
• 2:30 or so, snack
• another nap
• afternoon awake period (starts anywhere from 4-6:00)
• dinner time
• 8:00-ish another feeding
• between 9-10:00, bedtime
• first night feeding between midnight and 1:00 am

She had her one month well-check today (an extra checkup due to a hint of jaundice at 2 weeks). Doctor Grant said she is doing very well--alert, taking in her surroundings, strong neck, etc. I had a list of questions that he answered.

1. When she feeds, she often pulls away and chokes, gags, gasps for air. Is this normal?
*Yes, especially at times when it's been awhile since she's fed and there's an "ample" milk supply.

2. Yesterday, I thought I saw some cradle cap, today it's not as obvious. Does it look like she has cradle cap and do you have any remedies?
*It's perfectly normal for babies to cycle in and out of what is called seborrhoeic dermatitis. I received a sample of medicated shampoo to use if it gets worse before it gets better. He said it was very mild and he's not concerned right now.

3. There is a small rash developing on her chest. Should I treat it somehow or just let it work its course?
*He thought the rash was tied to the seborrhoeic dermatitis (see above). If we control the patches on the head, it should in turn take care of the rash on her chest. He said to continue to monitor and rub with Eucerin as needed. If it starts to bother her (i.e., scratching), we can treat with 1% hydrocortisone ointment.

4. She has a bit of congestion. Is it enough to be concerned about?
*He thought her lungs sounded great. What we're hearing is dried mucous in her nose that's causing a "rattling" sound.

5. Her toenails seem to grow into her big toes. Is this something that needs intervention or will it work itself out? Right now the toenails are super thin, almost like paper. As she gets older, the toenails will get stronger and work themselves onto the outside of the toe.

And, after peeing on the nurse at the weight station, we did get her stats:

• Length = 22 in (75th percentile on my doctor's chart)
• Weight= 10 pounds 13 oz (90%)
• Head cir = 15 in

Now onto the rambling...this parenting gig never turns out like you imagine it will during the nine (10) months of pregnancy. In one of my pregnancy books, it talks about how there are few situations where your life changes so drastically practically overnight than the rite of parenthood. You walk into the hospital with one life and leave with an entirely different set of perspectives, concerns, and responsibilities.

Immediately after birth pregnancy slips into the past and the mother becomes immersed in a whole new set of experiences, sensations, and concerns. Particularly with a first baby, birth is not only an event but a rite of passage in which the mother, father and baby pass from one set of roles, with its privileges and requirements, to another with new rewards and demands. In fact, there is probably no greater life transformation in modern Western culture that takes place within such a relatively short period of time. One day the expectant parents are a couple filled with anticipation; the next they are a family with a new knowledge of the world, embarked on one of life's most demanding and creative endeavors.

"The New Well Pregnancy Book"

This certainly rang true with Baby #1. I thought it would be less of an issue with Baby #2. It's not. Our lives are forever changed (again). I suppose the three of us had developed our own rhythm, our family routine over the past three years. Now we have to find our new groove. I also thought I would get frustrated with the baby for interfering with my Nate time. In reality it's the other way around. With Amelia, I long for the intense bonding experience I had with Nate--hours with just the two of us, marathon nursing sessions, reading my parenting books & articles with him asleep in my lap on the boppy, long stroller walks along the seawall, playing developmental games whenever his eyes were open, etc. I know this time around will be different. I know there will be pros and cons to our routine with Amelia, too. I've already learned how to help her sleep better at night (thanks to trial and error with Nate). So, as with the rest of the parenting roller coaster, I must remember to sit back and enjoy the ride!