3 Weeks!

The little munchkin is 3 weeks old today. I can't believe it's already been 3 weeks! She's getting bigger every day. Her baby chub is finally starting to come in. She is seeming more alert and can focus on our faces better and likes to look at the ceiling fan and her swing mobile. Believe it or not, she looks even more like her dad every day too.



Joe shaved off all of his facial hair the other day just for the fun of it and I couldn't believe how much it really made them look alike. Joe also looks about 10 years younger. He has only shaved his facial hair one other time since we met, and its crazy how different he looks. It makes me feel like such a cougar.

I wanted to thank everyone for your comments and words of encouragement on my recent posts. It's so nice to hear and be reminded that I am having the same challenges and problems that most new mothers go through when they are breastfeeding and that everything will get better soon. I knew that I wasn't going through anything new or special or extra challenging, but it's new to me and all of the reading and preparing I had done could never really prepare me for everything. It's also nice to vent and have it there to look back on. Maybe it will even help a soon-to-be mom to know what things might come up.

Things are always improving. My nipples are not nearly as sore. And the engorgement issues seem to be working themselves out. I am also noticing that I am leaking less as well. I really think I might be able to venture out of the house in the next week or two. I just have to figure out how to nurse without the aid of my boppy and pillows or with us laying down. I have also found that if I stay on top of her nursings, instead of letting her go too long and become too hungry things go much more smoothly. I try to keep a closer eye on her (checking on her when I think she might be hungry soon) and notice as soon as she starts opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue. If I nurse her earlier instead of waiting until she gets upset (there's a very fine line there), she latches on better and doesn't get worked up. So as of yesterday, through today, it has been alot less stressful. She even went 3 hours between nursings twice last night and I was able to actually get a couple 2 hour sleep sessions in. Yay! Also the past couple of mornings, after Joe leaves for work, I will just bring her in the bed with me and nurse her and then we will both fall asleep for a while. I love having her in the bed with me, and she really loves it, but only when Joe is not there. There just isn't enough room for all 3 of us.

So even though we will still have days that are much harder then others, I am grateful that today is a very good day. She even smiled at me :) She has smiled in her sleep and just as a reflex many times, but today she actually smiled (several times) in response to me talking to her and snuggling with her. It melted my heart.

Last week was international babywearing week. I'm a little late, but here's a pic of us in the sleepywrap. And yes, I realize I look like a hot mess. I really need to get my hair done! (House call Michele?)

And here's a little video I took of her at 2 weeks old...