You slept through the 15 minute car ride home. Daddy and I speculated what it would be like at home with Olivia and you. And while Olivia was a really good baby, one thing she never liked, was riding in the car. Daddy said this was one area he knew you'd outshine her in. I just hope you like Barney Christmas, Frozen and Dora. These are her favorites to watch in the car and the only thing that can make a car ride more than 10 minutes bearable.
The weather was surprisingly, and uncharacteristically nice for the seventh day of February. The pediatrician at the hospital even told us if we went outside, to take you out and let you get some sunshine. I wasn't too sold on the idea of a newborn outside, even if it was 65 degrees, so we put you in your rocker, and let you sunbathe in the front door. You loved it. The next day, while Mommy, Olivia and Grandma were at the store, Daddy took you outside. Mommy was not so impressed; but you seemed to enjoy the warmth and sunshine.
Grandma (or Gigi as Olivia calls her) stayed with us for the week. Cooking, cleaning, washing, folding and ironing laundry, and doing all those things that Grandma's do best. While you enjoyed the extra snuggles, Olivia also enjoyed some extra time with Gigi doing blocks, dancing to the hokey pokey, coloring and crafting, and puzzles. Mommy and Daddy were so thankful to have the extra set of hands that made the transition to a family of four a bit easier. Needless to say, when Gigi went home at the end of the week, we were all going through gigi-withdrawals.
While I was able to keep up with "weekly" updates when Olivia was born, let's face it. I knew that was likely going to be impossible to juggle, amid everything else. #secondchildproblems. But I've been "scribbling" notes in the draft section of this blog for the last several weeks in an effort to document your first month...
At risk of jinxing it, I'll brieflybrag mention on how good you are sleeping. It's almost too good to be true. The first nights home from the hospital, we were waking you up every 3 hours to eat. Shortly after you gained back some of your birth weight, we started letting you wake up on your own. You were doing 4 and 5 hour stretches. Now, only one month old and you are sleeping a solid 6-7 hour stretch, followed by a quick diaper change and feeding, and then another 3-4 hours. Maybe it's because you fell into this sleeping pattern quicker than your sister, or maybe it's just because I'm more prepared for getting up at 4AM, but this time around, I don't feel completely and utterly exhausted. However, I'm still using the "sleep when the baby sleeps", as a good excuse to get in a nap after lunch on most days.
Another area that you have no issues in (so far) is pooping. #sorrytoomuchinfo; which probably explains all of the sounds that you make - mostly grunts, but a few coo's and ooh's and aah's. I suppose because everything seems to be working so well (sometimes too well), contributes to the fact that you are so content. You are laid back and go with the flow, which is good, because let's face it, juggling a newborn along with a 2 year old can be challenging and chaotic at times. You will sit in your swing while Mama is getting ready in the morning (your future wife will thank me some day as you've learned from an early age to be patient while waiting on a woman to get ready). You also are content on your playmat or little vibrating chair during Olivia's bath. (I'm so looking forward to the day that we can put you both in the bathtub at the same time, but since your sister is quite the splasher, you'll have to wait until you can at least sit up on your own.)
You have lots of facial expressions, the scrunched-up forehead, the eye-roll as you're just about to close your eyes, the adorable baby grin, and one of my favorites, the pouty bottom lip, which I'm pretty sure you had perfected within 5 minutes into the real world - even the nurses commented on it.
You are also a good eater - eating every 2-3 hours during the day. You weighed 9 lbs 2 oz at your one month check-up, which puts you in the 23rd percentile for your weight and almost the 80th percentile for height. Tall and trim ... but I have a feeling that could change. You love taking a bath; but hate getting out because you do not like being cold; You are also very impatient (or maybe I'm slow) when you are getting dressed.
Your sister is completely smitten with you, and has no reservations about showing you just how much she adores you - even if you're sleeping peacefully. She loves to show you whatever it is she is doing ... her favorite phrase is "Madden, look at me." Followed by her second favorite phrase "Where's Madden?" The minute she gets home, she runs into the house and the first thing she says is "Where's Madden?" Not "Hi Mommy!" or "Mommy!! I missed you!" Instead, she's on the hunt to find you and smother you in kisses and hugs. You are such a good sport - not that you have much option now. But I keep reminding Olivia that some day you'll be just as big as her :) Daddy and I have been comparing pictures of you and your sister. Yep, it's confirmed. You are definitely related. Your baby pictures (so far) look strikingly similar.
Just a few days before you were one month old, we had you baptized at church. It didn't go quite as I had planned. A snowy weekend. One crying babe. One crying toddler (who wanted to run off some of the energy from the sugary snacks she had eaten during church and hit her head on the back of the pew when Mama asked her to sit down.) Needless to say, it was not picture perfect. But you know what Jesus said, "let the children come to me." ... even the ornery, crying, tantrum-throwing ones.
One month has blazed by in just the blink of an eye. Daddy and I are so blessed to call you ours. You have made three into four. Some days are challenging and frazzled and other days I feel on top of the mountain. I know it's all part of the ebb and flow of life. And between the chaos of caring for two littles, the crying, tantrums, poopy diapers, lost (later to be found in a random cabinet) sippy cups of milk, toys left in almost every room, frazzled dinner times, there's a whole lot of smiling, giggling and deep down belly laughs. This is our life. Our adventure as a family of four. And while we may not have it down perfectly, I wouldn't change a single thing about it.
While I was able to keep up with "weekly" updates when Olivia was born, let's face it. I knew that was likely going to be impossible to juggle, amid everything else. #secondchildproblems. But I've been "scribbling" notes in the draft section of this blog for the last several weeks in an effort to document your first month...
At risk of jinxing it, I'll briefly
Another area that you have no issues in (so far) is pooping. #sorrytoomuchinfo; which probably explains all of the sounds that you make - mostly grunts, but a few coo's and ooh's and aah's. I suppose because everything seems to be working so well (sometimes too well), contributes to the fact that you are so content. You are laid back and go with the flow, which is good, because let's face it, juggling a newborn along with a 2 year old can be challenging and chaotic at times. You will sit in your swing while Mama is getting ready in the morning (your future wife will thank me some day as you've learned from an early age to be patient while waiting on a woman to get ready). You also are content on your playmat or little vibrating chair during Olivia's bath. (I'm so looking forward to the day that we can put you both in the bathtub at the same time, but since your sister is quite the splasher, you'll have to wait until you can at least sit up on your own.)
You have lots of facial expressions, the scrunched-up forehead, the eye-roll as you're just about to close your eyes, the adorable baby grin, and one of my favorites, the pouty bottom lip, which I'm pretty sure you had perfected within 5 minutes into the real world - even the nurses commented on it.
You are also a good eater - eating every 2-3 hours during the day. You weighed 9 lbs 2 oz at your one month check-up, which puts you in the 23rd percentile for your weight and almost the 80th percentile for height. Tall and trim ... but I have a feeling that could change. You love taking a bath; but hate getting out because you do not like being cold; You are also very impatient (or maybe I'm slow) when you are getting dressed.
Your sister is completely smitten with you, and has no reservations about showing you just how much she adores you - even if you're sleeping peacefully. She loves to show you whatever it is she is doing ... her favorite phrase is "Madden, look at me." Followed by her second favorite phrase "Where's Madden?" The minute she gets home, she runs into the house and the first thing she says is "Where's Madden?" Not "Hi Mommy!" or "Mommy!! I missed you!" Instead, she's on the hunt to find you and smother you in kisses and hugs. You are such a good sport - not that you have much option now. But I keep reminding Olivia that some day you'll be just as big as her :) Daddy and I have been comparing pictures of you and your sister. Yep, it's confirmed. You are definitely related. Your baby pictures (so far) look strikingly similar.
Just a few days before you were one month old, we had you baptized at church. It didn't go quite as I had planned. A snowy weekend. One crying babe. One crying toddler (who wanted to run off some of the energy from the sugary snacks she had eaten during church and hit her head on the back of the pew when Mama asked her to sit down.) Needless to say, it was not picture perfect. But you know what Jesus said, "let the children come to me." ... even the ornery, crying, tantrum-throwing ones.
One month has blazed by in just the blink of an eye. Daddy and I are so blessed to call you ours. You have made three into four. Some days are challenging and frazzled and other days I feel on top of the mountain. I know it's all part of the ebb and flow of life. And between the chaos of caring for two littles, the crying, tantrums, poopy diapers, lost (later to be found in a random cabinet) sippy cups of milk, toys left in almost every room, frazzled dinner times, there's a whole lot of smiling, giggling and deep down belly laughs. This is our life. Our adventure as a family of four. And while we may not have it down perfectly, I wouldn't change a single thing about it.
