Wow...how life has changed in the last month. Madelyn has been such a great addition to our family and I already feel like she has changed so much. Just like her physical appearance and the way she was born, her first month of life has been pretty much opposite of her big brother's. From eating, to fussing, and sleeping she has been an overall "chill" newborn so far. Of course, we know this will continue to change but have been blessed this first month to be able to adjust with such an awesome little girl.
I have LOVED having a little girl. When I found we were having a girl, I was very excited but hesitant at the same time. I had been living the boy mom life for 2 years and we already had all the clothes & toys for little boys. It was just what I knew and to start all over with a girl felt overwhelming. But I have had so much fun. From picking out her clothes and bows to imagining dance and dolls in my future, it makes me so excited.
Just like her brother, I'm going to try and chronicle each month of the first year of her life.
Here we go!
Here we go!
Sleep: You have been a pretty great sleeper. Majority of the time I am able to put you
down awake and you can put yourself.
You are either completely asleep or wide awake and
active. It's hard to try to keep you active when you know that you want to sleep. You like to play for a while in
the morning and then will sleep for a long stretch during the day (even if I
wake you up to eat then you go right back to sleep) followed by some awake time
in the evening. I am trying to follow
eat, wake, sleep and you often will do this except after your lunchtime feeding
when you want to go straight back to sleep.
You have known your days and nights pretty much from the beginning which
has been excellent. You still wake up to
eat every 2.5-3 hours except the first stretch of the night which has reached 4
or 5 hours the last few nights. You wake
up for the day anytime between 7 and 8.
You are sleeping in the family bassinet next to our bed. Just like Jack, I love knowing you are
sleeping in the same bassinet that your grandmother, mother, uncle, and brother
all slept in.
Eating: You have been a great
eater right from the start (again…complete opposite of your brother). You started gaining the weight you lost right
after birth back before we left the hospital and you were back to birth
weight by 2 weeks. You eat every 2.5-3
hours except the first stretch during the night which is normally longer. You do spit up often (although you never seem
to be in pain when you do) so we try to keep you somewhat upright after every
meal except during the night and we have angled your bassinet mattress.
Sizes: You are a pretty
average sized baby. You are wearing
newborn and 3 month sleepers and all your 0-3 sized clothes, as well as some of
mom’s clothes from when she was a baby. At last doctor’s check you were 8lbs 8oz and if you are still gaining
accordingly you probably weigh about 9lbs right now.
You have been about 50% on weight and around 60-75% for height and head so far.
Things you love: Your life still consists of eating, sleeping, crying, peeing, and pooping, but you also love to be wide eyed and listen to us talk to you and look around at the bright lights and your brother. You love being on your tummy some during your active time (again, complete opposite of your brother) and you also love to just chill in your swing, awake and asleep. I often try to talk, sing, and play with you during your awake time. Your brother loves to pat your head, give you kisses, and say “hi” to you in the highest voice possible. You can tell he really loves you!
Activities: Not too many activities, yet. You just hang out in the swing and on your blanket “exercising” away. You also run errands and go out to eat with the family.
New things you do: Everything is new and we love it! Whether it be a sound or face you make, you are always entertaining us and we love just watching you. We are very excited to see you smile in the next few weeks!
For sure what makes you unique is your hair. It is SO long and pretty much out of control. Your dad and I love to call you "Tina" for Tina Turner when it starts sticking straight up and all over the place. I love washing your hair during your bath but I have to comb/brush it right when we get done for it to dry somewhat in place. I am starting to see a few strands of hair here and there so it might be starting to fall out like the doctor said but we are loving it so much!
