DD Kimball Road: Watch Emma Grow

This month was the hardest month by far. Not because of Emma, but so much has happened that it was just jam packed. Not only did I start back to work, tear tear tear, but we celebrated Emma's first Halloween with a perfect costume, went to the pumpkin patch and moved into our own place again. So much has changed in lil miss' life that I am surprised by how well she has adjusted to it all. With the exception of her sleep habits, she sailed through learning how to eat from a bottle from the Grandma's and daddy.

It was an interesting first month trying to figure out pumping needs and how much she should be eating. I was a complete wreck most of the month because I wanted to make sure I was producing what she needed while I was away. Figuring out how warm she likes the milk and good ways to get her to take the bottle were tasks that daddy and my M.I.L. (she takes care of our LO while daddy and I are at work most of the time) had to figure out. We were still giving her the Prevacid in the breast milk once a day to combat the reflux and mommy is still off dairy, soy and nuts.....and almost going nuts with it. I am sticking with it because breastfeeding is best for her immune system right now....also it's the best way for her and I to bond multiple times a day. I miss her like crazy when I am working and feel a sense of glee and excitement when I get home and see her beautiful smiling face.

Her personality has grown so much! She is a big smiler.....loves to grin and laugh. Her giggle is infectious! She is a happy baby a majority of the time.....unless she's hungry or completely exhausted. Her coos and babbles have started to turn into more than just random noises. She started to roll her tongue and experiment with the different sounds that were escaping her lips. It's so fun to watch. Shes really trying to grab everything. She can get a death grip going on my hair and her clothes. It's great to watch her see something and if she wants it she will try and grab it. So much fun to watch her mind at work. She has also been mastering lying on our tummy for longer periods of time and holding her head up really well. She has rolled over from her tummy to her back and vice versa! I thought because how much she hated tummy time that she wouldn't do this yet, but she surprised herself and me when she did it. She looked around as if to say "how did I get here?!"

We moved at the end of the month so this change did affect her a little. She has her own room, although she only naps and spends the first part of the night in there. Mommy still needs her in the room with us because she still wakes 3-4 times a night to eat. It's exciting to have all of her toys and clothes at the ready and to have access to everything. It's my favorite room in our apartment and we spent lots of time in there either reading, playing on the play mat or changing and playing with clothes. When her room is complete I will be sure to post all about it!

This Month Stats:
Weight: 12 lbs 10 ozs (23%)
Height: 23.75" (26%)
Head: 16.5" (73")

Two Month Stats:

Weight: 10 lbs 10 ozs (43%)

Height: 22.25" (44%)

Head: 15.75" (80%)

Eat: We are still exclusively breast feeding, but I am pumping for bottle feeds when I am not at home. We are still going about 2-3 hours in between each feeding, including nighttime. Pumping can be a challenge because you have to be relaxed, get the appropriate latch on the flanges, remembering to eat and drink properly and pumping consistently. I pump every two to two and a half hours to make sure I get an adequate amount for what she eats when I'm not home. At home were still on a feed by demand schedule, which is fine with me. At her doctors appointment our Dr. mentioned that she may be going through a plateau for eating and the moving and bottle feeds may have attributed to a less than stellar month for weight gain, but she wasn't worried considering she is gaining and honestly I truly think we have a snacker on our hands anyways.

Sleep: She still loves to protest her nap and since we have both been leaving around 8am it has changed her schedule and routine a bit. Here's a sample of her schedule.
7:30am - Wake/Diaper Change
8:00am - Breast Feed
8-9am - Playtime
9-10:30ish am - Nap
10:30-11 - Bottle Feed with antacid
11-12:30 - Playtime
1pm - Bottle Feed
1:30-3ish pm - Naptime
3:30-4:30pm - Playtime, mommy gets home and feeds. We read and sing.
5-6pm - Final Nap
Between 8-815pm she gets bathed, then lotion and pj's then we read a book or two or three. Then if she hasn't nodded off yet I rock her asleep and she snoozes on our bed until I dream feed her at 11pm and she goes in her co-sleeper. She will wake to eat from 2-3.5 hours usually, this is to make up for her light meals all day long.

Diapers: Still in size ones. Our favorites are still the Pampers Swaddlers. We tried the Target Up and Up brand and while they were decent they weren't our favorites. Huggies are ok, but I heard they are far better for boys and Pampers are better for girls and that's what we have discovered. Still loving on the Pampers brand wipes. They don't pill or fall apart and have just the right amount of moistness in them. We also still love our Desitin for diaper rash.

Milestones to date:

Bringing her home: July 2nd (1 day old)

First Bath: July 4th (3 days old)

First Holiday: Independence Day (3 days old)

Held Up Head: July 11th (1 week old)

Lost Belly Button: (8 days old)

First Walk (2 weeks old)

First Smile: (3 weeks old)

First Trip: Lake Tahoe/Carson City (5 weeks old)

Found her hands: (6 weeks old)
First Swim: (6 Weeks old)
Laughed Out Loud (12 Weeks Old)
Rolled Over: (3 Months Old)

Here's a photo dump from month four: