Four Weeks Old!

Janie was born four weeks ago last night--we can't believe it. She's getting very good at holding her head up, smiling, and staring, so maybe I should believe it!  She can push up on her legs, too, and is getting to like sitting in her bouncer and can even bat at the hanging toys, although we're not quite sure if it's accidental or not.  She also gained just the right amount of weight--about an ounce a day for the past two weeks, so even though she seems to spit up all of her food, she must be getting enough :).  In our attempts to keep her food down, we prop up her Moses basket, sometimes so much that she slides down to the end of it (see photo).  We're also trying to institute the five S's of soothing to help Jane go to sleep or calm down when she's fussy--swaddling, sucking, swinging, shushing, and side-laying, which means we have to try to learn to swaddle again, something that is very hard for us for some reason.  She always escapes!  She loves to move her arms around, but they wake her up and knock her pacifier out. 

On her actual four week birthday our downstairs neighbors Luke and Reid kindly brought pizza up and we had some nice grown-up literary conversation over dinner.  Jane joined us for dinner in her Moses basket.  She had a tough day, fussing instead of napping most of the day, but she did take a walk in her sling with me and my friend Rachel and she slept well at night.  The last few nights she has gone to sleep in the ten o'clock hour and made it all the way until four am before needing a feeding--nice for Mommy.  This week her Grandpa and Nana also visited again, which was lovely and helpful, and this coming weekend she gets to meet Papa (my dad), Bijal, and Gabriel.  Here are some cute photos from this week and her birthday "pizza party." 

Three Weeks Old

Jane is struggling with massive spitting up this week, which is keeping her awake when she's tired and is possibly the cause of increased fussiness.  We're trying a new plan of feeding her for less time and keeping her upright after feedings, including propping up her bed a bit.  It's amazing how much milk can come up and in how many forms.  It's also stealthy; sometimes we don't notice it until it's a dried cascade down our backs or across the furniture.  Any advice on reducing this phenomenon is very welcome!  It seems to be troubling her sleep at night.  She also is much more fussy in the evenings which tends to keep her up and make her overtired, making it hard to go to sleep for the night. She also has developed a little rash on her face. 

In her accomplishments this week, Jane has been holding her head up more than ever.  She seems very strong. Her legs are also strong and she can push with them. Michael likes to make her "run" with his hands and win the race--it's very cute.  She may be an early walker like he was.  She also seems to focus on our faces and likes to look at light out the window. We think that she doesn't really like being swaddled--she resists it with all her might and likes to have her hands free, so we've been experimenting with not swaddling her or just wrapping up her legs. 

We have put together our awesome stroller from our friends in Holland and used it to take Jane on several walks this week, which she really likes.  We will continue to explore our neighborhood and try to find nice routes.  We also took her on a walk in the mall, her first shopping outing!  It was very nice for me to get out of the house a bit. 

Jane's Smile

Jane is supposed to be too young for a "social smile," but she definitely smiles a lot and we know it's because she's happy :)

Drunken Sailor

Jane's post-eating "drunken sailor" look!

Two Weeks Old

On Jane's two-week birthday, she went to the doctor and had her second social outing--to Baylor to meet Michael's students and some of our friends and professors. She and I hung out in our office, I fed her in the bathroom (one reason there's a couch in the ladies' room?), and she wore shoes for the first time (although only for a minute), as well as jeans and a sweatshirt. I realized grown-up style clothes are cute but not very practical (good for special occasions though). Michael's students and everyone absolutely adored Jane of course, even though she was asleep for most of it!

Easter

On Easter, Jane had her first social outing to Jessica and Sarah's for Easter dinner (yum), her second church outing (she slept the whole time again), and we also made a yummy breakfast.

Mommy & Daddy

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It's amazing how easily Michael and I started referring to ourselves as Mommy and Daddy since I don't think either of us had ever conceived of ourselves as such, even during pregnancy. Being parents is amazing because Jane is so sweet. We also feel tense all the time! Last night, she slept well after her middle-of-the-night feeding, which was a wonderful blessing, but I still couldn't sleep because I kept listening for her. She makes sweet little sounds in her sleep that I haven't gotten used to hearing yet--thinking they might escalate into a cry. We love our little sweetie so much already; it is almost overwhelming to think we are responsible for her (we, who know nothing!). She is so delicate and precious, and we just want to do it right and protect her little self. Michael is amazing--he is a natural baby whisperer, so gentle. I think things have gone pretty smoothly, but I feel like I am sleepwalking a bit. I guess parenting is always trial by fire and learn as you go, and no one can master it ahead of time. I read it described as the greatest experience of both joy and terror you can have, and also the most life-changing event, and it definitely seems true. Because of all that, it is basically beyond comprehension and impossible to put into words. I am in awe of all the people I know who are parents, especially those with multiple children.

Here are some pics of the new Mommy and Daddy. A few of them are from our "celebration breakfast" provided by the hospital.