Playing catch up with blogging!

My guess is I will have ether shorter, more frequent posts, or longer, less frequent posts...depends on if I get behind or not! Here's a long one...just a warning! I will look back and be glad I wrote as much, but  I don't mind if no one else reads it :)

On the play mat

Only one week until I go back to work...but if I dwell on that, I will get sad and won't finish this entry! So I will be in denial for the remainder of this post...On Friday, we celebrated Freyja's first Thanksgiving with an early celebration at Nick's mom's house. We had a very nice time and I was relieved that Freyja fell asleep at her "normal" time of 8 pm. Between 7:30 and 8:30 pm I have labeled as the witching hour. She gets cranky and the only things that console her are breastfeeding followed by rocking/bouncing her to sleep. Since she is still not taking a bottle and thus I am her only source of food (and responsible for the night feedings then of course!) I especially have stock in her getting good sleep! :) On Saturday, the three of us got together with other families we met through the group prenatal class. All the women were due in August; only one was born in July! It was nice to have a get together where the guys were able to come too. Because most of us had maternity leave around the same time, the moms and babies met up for a walk and/or lunch on Wednesdays. We started with 6 women, now we are left with three of us who still have to return to work. The remaining three of us start work again the week of Thanksgiving, so this Wednesday will be our final walk for now. On Sunday we recovered from the busy previous two days...for most of the day, anytime I was not feeding Freyja I was relaxing. I had wanted to get things done around the house, but good intentions are nothing without having enough energy!

Freyja's first Thanksgiving! :)

Freyja loves her daddy!

Her smile melts my heart!

Halloween

It's Tuesday afternoon, and the only way I could get Freyja to nap for more than 5 minutes was by putting her in the swing in the bathroom while I took a shower. I was done showering before she fell asleep, but since her eyes were getting droopy, I stayed in the shower longer until she fell asleep. Naps are so important, yet she sometimes fights them. When she is riding in her car seat in the car or stroller, she is able to fall asleep...but at home it's another story. She has been barely fitting in her velcro swaddle, but when she is in her crib or bassinet and not swaddled, she doesn't sleep long at all. Today I laid her in her bassinet and she woke up after 5 minutes. Even though she is getting close to the age where she shouldn't need to be swaddled, for my sanity I may have to go get another velcro swaddle and just use it for a few more weeks. Since the concern is as they get older they may roll over from their back to stomach while sleeping, which could be dangerous if they were swaddled, I may just leave her arms out of the swaddle. Ah, decisions. I don't mind as much trying different things during the day, such as trying to get her to nap without being swaddled, but at night when my sleep is crucial I want a tried and true method for her!

I'll admit...Freyja is still napping in the bathroom and I am nervous to go and check on her (it has been about 45 minutes since she fell asleep), because I don't want to accidentally wake her up. But the motherly guilt is rising, so I guess I will go check quietly....

 **Yay** she is still asleep. I'm not sure for how long, but long enough to write a little more I hope! While sometimes Freyja can be a sound sleeper (she slept through Nick drilling a hole in the wall when she was sleeping in the other room), she is inconsistent enough where I just assume something may wake her up. I know what you are probably thinking--and I will lay your fears to rest. I know that it isn't good for her to get used to sleeping without any noise, but trust me when I say she has had plenty of experience with sleeping with noise. It's just when she hasn't slept much (naps or at night) I am extra careful. My sleep is dependent on her sleep. Enough about sleep or I may just want to take a nap, and with my luck it will be right when Freyja wakes up!

During one of my many night feedings in the past few days, I created a list that I entitled Fun Facts about Freyja (11/11/12) I don't know that all of them would be considered fun, but I appreciated the alliteration. Here goes (& pardon my grammar):

Looking at the lamp

• Doing well with tummy time, and can roll over from stomach to back sometimes. Rolled over first at 6 weeks, then not again till 10 weeks. Has not rolled from back to stomach
• Can hold gaze for longer when looking at people, toys, etc and has cute "social smiles." Smiles some at strangers but more with parents and parent's friends/family (it depends on the time of day too. She is more smiley in the morning and more serious in evenings. In the evening can usually get her to smile on changing table by smiling at her or singing to her. Likes silly songs too.
• Can hold the ring of a rattle but doesn't do it for very long. When on the play mat she sometimes hits the toys, but it is hard to tell how much of it is intentional. Usually lasts about 5-10 minutes on the play mat (and usually needs someone to hit the toys for her!) but sometimes she tolerates it long enough for me to fold the laundry or empty the dishwasher. My time is described in what chore I can get done :) I am finding that I can get parts of things done and then have to come back to them...just like I can't write a blog post in less than 2 sittings.
• Daytime naps easier when not at home...car seat when riding in car or stroller or when I am carrying her in the Snugli (similar to a Baby Bjorn)
• Often takes an evening nap around 7:30/8:00 for about 45 min to 2 hours, then fails back to sleep between 10:30 & 11:30. Trying to establish bedtime routine...feed, swaddle, feed, rock, crib. She's too fussy in the evening to sit still for a book. 
• Breastfeeding usually takes 15 to 30 min & still refusing bottle. Haven't tried it in the last few days but they will try it every day at daycare. 
• Weight on 11/11/12 was 9 lbs 8.3 oz. Still have the Medela scale and for a few feeds per day I weigh her before and after to determine how much she ate.
• Likes to be held most of the time when awake. When in a good mood, enjoys sitting or standing in lap with support. Likes to face out sitting up in your arms to see what's going on. She is very active, which probably also contributes to her body size. Tends to fall asleep lying in my arms rather than leaning against my shoulder like she did when she was newborn to 6 weeks old. 
• She fits in 3-month clothes and only some newborn clothes. Most of the newborn clothes are too small in the length. 
• Still sleeps best when swaddled. Has ended up at edge of crib half the nights this week...I think it happens when she is crying and she kicks her legs and moves around.
• Usually eats at 7:30/8:00 pm, sleeps, then eats again between 9:30 & 11:30 pm. Sometimes needs to play a little to get out energy. Then sleeps usually 3 to 6 hours before middle of the night feeding between 2:30 & 5:30 am. Sleeps 3 to 5 more hours (latest she slept till was 9:45 am)
• Works best to swaddle before she finishes eating; then she can fall asleep in my arms undisturbed at the end of a feeding. She is too big for the newborn swaddle and I am planning to buy the next size up even though we may not be swaddling her arms much longer. But I can use again for second child in the future. More often sleeps with head turned to the side (over left shoulder). Has a small bald spot on back of head from moving around, rubbing.
• When upset/sad/cries, area above her eyes (near eyebrows) and eyelids get red. She doesn't like it when I first put her in her car seat or when I first put a hat on her, but she usually quiets quickly. It helps if she can have a blanket in her lap and if she will take the pacifier. Usually just takes a pacifier when tired or after eating.
• If she is crying, the best method to help calm her is breastfeeding. If she isn't hungry, then rocking or bouncing (often while swaddled or held firmly in cradle position of arms) works best. Shushing helps calm her too, but mainly if she is just fighting sleep rather than crying. Sometimes I can distract her when she is crying, but it doesn't last too long. One time I got her to smile as she cried...that was a little funny! When she is tired, if she is being held she often bumps her head into your chest and I have caught her rubbing her eyes. 
• She likes grabbing the afghan and other soft blankets. She can grab hair in her fists and only sometimes reaches at a toy.
• She doesn't love or hate bath time...just neutral
• Likes movement--rocking, bouncing, riding in a car or stroller. Can tolerate swing more than being set down on the floor, but often just for a short time (it usually only works well if she is tired. Cries if she is awake and doesn't want to be in it. If she wants to move around, I put her on the play mat.
• In the past week, her new thing is sticking out her tongue frequently. It's like she just discovered it! :)
• Her cheeks are getting more chubby and I love giving them kisses (or sometimes I give her Eskimo kisses--nose to nose)
• She has a fold on her left ear identical to fold on Nick's left ear (he mentioned this to me)
• She has very long, dainty, skinny fingers. She is comparable to other babies in length (she was in the 39th percentile at 2 months) but more thin than many babies her age. However, she is gaining weight now at a great rate and the doctor is not concerned. We don't have an appointment to see her pediatrician until she is 4 months old.
• She is very expressive!

Ok, I'll smile for you mommy :)

What are you looking at?

After making this list, I am reminded that even though she is young, she has a personality already. It's just hard to know what of her disposition is just normal baby tendency and what is unique to her and will continue in the future. I hope she continues to enjoy cuddling! 

She's awake! I'm sure she will change quickly so I want to document how she is now. She will be 3 months on Thursday!