The Eleanor Update: 13 months

4 teeth still, but she's been working on a few for weeks and it's been getting kind of rough.

Sleep has taken a major nosedive lately.  Like hours up in the middle of the night and waking up by 6 am (I blame this partly on the time change).  This means we are back to two naps.

She gives kisses now and it's adorable.  

She is walking more than crawling now.  It's still kind of crazy to see her walking around.

She can sign milk now (I'd been working on it for a while and one night while nursing she looked up at me and signed it.  I melted).  She can also sign more (although not totally correct, but close enough), and we are working on please, all done and I just started working on help.

Her favorite words are 'hi' and 'thank you.'  She says 'mama', 'dada,' 'uh-oh' although I think she was saying all these last month.

I don't think we've tried any new foods this month.

She's developing a little temper and hits when she doesn't get what she wants.  Generally she can be redirected, but not always.

The Eleanor Update: Week 19

Breastfeeding:  I like to nurse in the cradle position.  It's not always the most comfortable, but I love that she seems so snuggly with me.

On the flip side, she doesn't empty the breast as well in that position.  I nursed her several times on Saturday in that position and for the first time in a loooong time I woke her up that night at 2 am to feed her because I was so full and heading toward clogged ductdom.

Sleep:
I'm so tired.  I need sleep and even when given the opportunity to nap I just can't shut my mind off.

Misc:  I don't think I've mentioned this, but she's doing pretty good about sitting up.  She can hold the post for a little while before pitching forward or sideways.

She has her 4 month check up tomorrow and has to get shots.  It was so awful last time.  Her sweet little face when they poked her and she got that stunned look on her face and then starting crying.  I hated that moment.  I cried also.

Funny story:  We got Eleanor a high chair on Saturday (the one we had gotten as a shower gift had a narrow seat)  and Rob set it up and no joke, 30 seconds later she had a poop explosion.  Good thing that seat wiped clean so well.  Score one for our highchair.  We got this one, but in a different print.
(Chicco Polly High Chair)

She was so tired she couldn't keep her eyes open; she looked so funny.

A fake flower from my dad.

Eleanor's 3 month update

Not sure how my sweet peanut is already 3 months, but this is how I feel about that.


As far as sleep and scheduling we have no predictability other than she is usually up for the day around
8 am.

Some days she will want to nurse right away and some days she might be up for a while before nursing.

Then some days she will want to nap after about 2 hours up (which is the norm for her actually) but other days she might be tired after an hour and half.

When she does sleep during the day I do my best to read her sleep cues and put her in a sleep sack and put her in the crib drowsy but awake.  It works more often than not and she will usually fall asleep on her own.  If she doesn't and I know she's tired I can usually pick her up and kind of sway with her and she'll be out pretty quickly.

Of course every time I think we have some sort of routine down she shows me who is boss and switches it up.  I get a little anxious now at the thought of going out into public since I just can't predict anything.

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She's outgrowing her 3 month pajamas and her 3 month pants very quickly.  I have a lot of clothes I don't think she will ever wear and I've been putting away some still with tags on them.

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I wish she would never outgrow her rock n play so she could sleep next to me.  I stir really easily, and I'm up earlier than I would like to be, but those big smiles that I get the first time I look at her are so worth it.   I love having her next to me.  I'm pretty sure I will be constantly watching the monitor or getting up to check on her when she moves to her crib.  

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I know a lot of times parents want to be liked by their kids and be their friend, but I like to think of Eleanor as my little buddy.  We do it all together.  Yeah I know I'm sounding cheesy, but I really love hanging out with her.  Although even I do like having a break I miss her when we aren't together, and I don't want to be away from her for more than a few hours. 

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I hear breastfeeding get's easier after 3 months.  It's been easier the last few months, so I'm hoping that trend continues and it keeps getting better.  I'm pretty proud of myself for making it three months already.


 I do worry a little bit about milk supply now that she's sleeping longer stretches.  

I've cut back on pumping, although I was only pumping once a day as it was, but I think I need to keep up that once a day pump so I can have milk on hand.

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She loves to look at her self in the mirror and suck on her hands and I'm pretty sure she's going to be quite the daddy's girl.

She's starting to hold onto toys and has quite the grip on our shirts or hair or really anything she can hold onto. 

Her hair is developing a sight reddish tint, but depending on the light it either looks blonde, strawberry blond or light brown.

Her eyes are still a darker blue.  We think they will turn green since we both have green eyes.

 I weighed her today by weighing myself holding her and then without her and going by that she's 13 lbs.

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I'm doing well.  I'm about to my pre-pregnancy weight.  I'm still in maternity pants because my hips are still big.

I feel like I'm finally out of this fog where I had no idea how a whole day went by. 

The 9 Week Update

Breastfeeding:

Last week was a really rough week for it.  I got yet another clogged duct (that makes 4; same side) and trying to nurse through that was rough, and then we had latch pain.  I didn't really nurse her on that side for 2 days.  I was in tears on multiple occasions, couldn't sleep from the pain, and was really considering if it was possible to only nurse on one side.  

I'm so thankful for that breastfeeding support group though.  I went and while the lactation consultant helped latch her on, it was still painful.  Basically I just had to get through it, and with the help of pain meds left from recovery (I'm talking the good stuff, although I didn't abuse them, just so you don't think I did, lol) I did get through it.

There is still some pain when she latches, but on a scale of 1-10, I'd say a 3.  Before I would have said an 8 or 9.

I tried the side lying position.  It was fine for her nursing on the right side but nursing her on the left while lying was just a little more uncomfortable.  That was the side that I was hoping would work out since that's what the lc's recommended.

Rob took her over to my sister and brother in laws on Saturday because I had plans and wanted to not have to bring her.  He fed her a bottle before he left and brought one.  It wasn't out long enough to be a problem, but he was very nonchalant about dumping it.  Like if it's bad we will just dump it. No Rob, you didn't spend an hour sitting awkwardly forward holding a bottle to your boob while a machine pumps.  Ugh!

Misc:

Eleanor has a doctors appointment tomorrow.  It's her two month appointment and she's getting shots.  I'm going to cry.  Pretty sure I already am crying.  I know it's necessary, but I just think about how she is most likely going to react and I hate that I'm going to bring pain to her on purpose.  I'm sorry Ellie!

When we were doing the side lying position on my bed she fell asleep on her side.  I left her there for a minute, I was still in the room, while I was putting away laundry.  I picked her up and put her on her back in her crib, and when I turned on the camera she was on her side.  So I went back in, put her on her back again, and she rolled back to her side.  First time she had done any rolling.   She also wasn't in a sleep sack which I think was a big part of the reason she was able to.  I was nervous to have her on her side so I was constantly watching the monitor.

Me: 
I'm at the point where I really need to get serious about finding a job.  I haven't worked since end of August.  The plan all along was to get through the holidays and then find something.  We aren't struggling to pay bills, but there isn't really extra money, and with winter comes more expenses; from Christmas to higher heating and energy costs.  Ideally a child care job would be the best since the thought of leaving my sweet girl gives me mild anxiety, so something that I can do in home or bring her with me would be needed.  And I want something part-time. Like half days or a few full days.

On a positive note, since I rarely leave the house, my gas costs have gone done, I haven't had to get an oil change in almost 4 months (and probably won't need one until February) so general maintenance costs are down.

She rolled over on her own

Smiling after spitting up on me

Fell asleep during tummy time

Stare down

Sporting the Michigan hat, much to my dad's dismay

LOVE! 

My camera phone attempt at a under the Christmas tree shot. 

Getting love from cousin Traverse.

Spoiled by Aunt Lisa.