I think I'm getting the hang of this... now, if she could just stay this age forever! Truth is...everything she likes today could be totally different tomorrow! Motherhood is so exciting!
Nursing
Don't read the rest of this section if you're afraid of TMI.
Nursing is messy! There are times I feel like those girls at the end of Austin Powers, shooting from both sides. When I feel like someone is filling water balloons under my skin, I quickly grab a burp rag to shove up my shirt. There's no point in using nursing pads because I'd just walk around with wet itchy pads all day. My chair has milk stains on both sides where milk has run down my sides.
**Note: I was reading back over my previous posts and realizing my humor is kinda dry. My hope is that you laughed through that paragraph. If you didn't, go back, read it again, and at least smile!**
My girl is a cluster feeder meaning she'll go hours without eating, then eat (shoving burp rag up my shirt as I write) several times in a few hours. During those times, it'd just be easier to go without a shirt, and sometimes I do! There are many, many times I leave my shirt up and my bra down because I've moved to cuddling, burping, or diaper changing without even thinking of it.
Sleep
Adlee Mae sleeps 4-5 hours for the first chunk of the night, we get up for an hour, and she's back to sleep for 2-3 hours. It's enough for me! I'm not a great sleeper, myself, so this isn't much different than my pre-baby schedule.
Lately, Adlee takes three naps a day: morning, afternoon, and evening. When she skips a nap, I trade getting some cleaning, exercising, or relaxing done for holding a grumpy baby: fun, fun, fun! Honestly, I should appreciate those days more. Holding my girl is WAY better than cleaning or exercising!
It took a few weeks to figure out what makes Adlee sleep. Here's what she needs: to be sitting up and to be warm. She spits up a little after eating, so laying her down in a flat bed after nursing did not work. It was frustrating to be picking her up after I thought she was going to stay asleep--I'm so thankful we don't do that very often anymore!
Speaking of laying her down and having her wake-up, I have to brag. She falls back to sleep all by herself. Her eyes might be wide open, and I can just lay back down. She'll fall asleep on her own.
I know I've only had one baby, but I'm going to get up on my attachment parenting soapbox. She is a good baby, but I also think she's able to fall asleep by herself because I've always responded to her noises quickly. She doesn't cry at night because she doesn't have to. She knows that if she can't sleep by herself, I'll cuddle her in my bed. I think she can fall asleep by herself because she feels secure.
Staying at Home All Day
Is totally awesome as long as I get out or get a visitor every once in a while. My sweet husband is totally supportive and understanding when I don't get much done. He tells me often how happy he is that I am taking care of our little girl.
Smiles!!!
Her smiles are the best! I've never wanted something so much. I'll do whatever I can to get a smile, and so will Ryan. We say all sorts of silly things in high pitched voices. We make faces and funny noises. I could imagine how much I was going to love her--that's why I wanted her! I could never imagine how much I was going to want her to love me. I don't need it, but I want it. I find myself thinking about how God sees us. He felt that feeling so strongly that He was willing to sacrifice His Son.
Loving Being a Mama,
Jordon
