Evie is one month old!

Happy one month birthday little girl! LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH! You are such a good girl. I will do anything in this world for you, as will your dad. Cannot believe it has already been a month. We have come such a long way and have learned each other. Cannot believe that my life has changed so much in a month, and I cannot imagine it any other way!

Last friday after her 3 week appointment, she was 9 pounds and 21.5 inches long! We are noticing that she is growing and getting bigger. She is starting to smile, especially while eating. Today brought her upstairs to wake up Nick, and she was smiling while laying there with us! So cute. The smiles last maybe a second. She is also responding to sounds and starting to focus on stuff!

She Latched!

This morning I tried to breastfeed Evie without a shield. She latched for 8 minutes!!! Actually swallowing too! So excited! Was just one side, need to try the next side the other feeding.

Evie is a music lover!

Whenever Evie is fussy, I have found putting music on, singing to her, and just swaying does the trick. She so loves music and dancing! She plays guitar hero with Dad (and does a fantastic job!) too! Sometimes it puts her to sleep, sometimes she likes to listen while looking around. So far I know she loves Frank Sinatra (and any swing/jazz music), Jack Johnson, The Beatles, Flogging Molly, Broadway Musicals. We tried Bob Marley and she wasn't as much of a fan, but she was really fussy.

I need to look for a cheap-ish i home for her room. I have my old ipod that I will put music on and leave in there so we always have music!

3 week Dr Appointment Update

Had Evie's 3 week doctors appointment today. Went really well. Waited a little long in the waiting room, Evie started to fuss, so I had to hold her and play with her - she just wanted attention.

Got called in and went to our room. Stripped her, which does not make her happy. She weighs 9 pounds!!! Could not believe it. She is 21.5 inches long! So she has gained over 1 pound and has grown an inch in 3 weeks! WooHoo!

She did not like being examined by the doctor. Really did not like when she was feeling her stomach. Who would like that? She was screaming! But I was able to quiet her down by re-clothing her and putting her in her car seat.

Not a bad appointment. Next one has shots (2 month). A little afraid of that one. Ok, very afraid of that one.

Latching!

So today, Evie has been eating a lot. And then falls asleep at the breast. It has to do with the heat - two bodies close together makes us each hot and she falls asleep. But we did some feeding down stairs with the shield. She got fussy, we went upstairs to the rocker. Was rocking her and thought might as well try. SHE LATCHED! Only for maybe 30 seconds - but she latched so easily!!!! Happy Day. Tonight/Tomorrow going to try again! Will be so awesome if we can ever get rid of the shield - will be so much comfortable trying to nurse in public!

And I love only having to pump twice to three times a day! And not having to supplement her! We have come a long way from having to feed her with our pinky and syringe and having to trick her to latch with a lot of fluid! And how now she doesn't really have any formula - so happy she is drinking all breastmilk!!!

Bottle Review

When we were registering, we decided to try out a lot of different bottles. We didn't want to invest in something we didn't like. We have tried quite a few - Dr. Browns, Born Free, Tommee Tippee, Avent. The Dr. Browns and the Born Free, we are trying to use mostly glass - never know what they will find in plastic that is bad, so glass at home, plastic while out.

My lacation consultant recommended Dr. Browns and Avent. She said to make sure that the nipple is towards the top of the mouth, which is easier to do with some bottles than others.

Dr. Browns bottles are our favorites. They fit in both our hands well. Evie seems to like them. They are simple to use. Yes there are a lot of parts, but just throw them in the dishwasher basket and all is fine (and the nipples fit perfectly in our munchkin dishwasher baskets). Takes no time to assemble (simpler than the born free) and can do it while half asleep. Just like these the most. The plastic bottles say made in the USA! The glass and plastic bottles are the same shape. Like them both. But unfortunately the parts are not as easily interchangeable from glass to plastic (since the glass are 3.5 oz and the plastic are 4 oz - why not make them the same size???).

The Born Free bottles come in a close second. We do like them - like the nipple. They don't fit in my small hands as easily, but work. They take more time to assemble than the dr. browns since you have to line up and fit two pieces together. I forget where these are made... We only have glass in these.

The Avent bottles came in second also. They are easy to use with Evie. So simple to put together since the air mitigation is in the nipple. We got one of these while at the hospital, so thought we would use it. I just like to make sure that the air hole is positioned at the top when feeding. I like how these are made in England! They do not come in glass, so bummer.

Hated the tommee tippee bottles! They are wide, hard to hold in my hand. The nipple is nice since it mimics a breast, but because of how wide it is, it is hard to keep it aimed at the roof of Evie's mouth. And I do not handle these well. I have small hands and these just don't work! Because they are so wide, it is hard to assemble and disassemble these. Just wish they weren't as wide, but had the same nipple so I could use them easier.

Quick Update

Evie has been doing good. She is on some gas drops that are helping so much! She does still get gassy, but bouncing, rocking, walking around help a lot.

We have realized that outings make the days so much nicer and help with my sanity! We have been to Target twice, mall once (with Nick), the post office.

Yesterday we visited work. We were on our way to the mall after we stopped by the post office. But I was on auto pilot and drove away from the mall. Realized I was going the wrong way, and was taking the bridge across the river near work. Nick had bee wanting me to stop by work to say hi to everyone - so we decided to stop by. It was a long visit (2 hours), but we made our rounds and everyone got to see her! She did great, slept the whole time. Got home in time for her next feeding.

Today we went to Target (she slept). Later in the day, Nick and I went to the grocery store. She was awake for a lot of it, then towards the end she started fussing and crying. So we went to the car. The second we got outside she stopped crying. At least Nick was able to finish grocery shopping.

Breastfeeding is going well, well with the shield. Need to make a follow up appointment with our lactation consultant. I am no longer supplementing during the day. Sometimes we supplement at night. Nick does one feeding (around 2am) with pumped breast milk while I sleep through it.

Last night, he stayed up late and fed her her 5am feeding. Yep, I missed two feedings. My boobs were killing me from being engorged when I woke up. Never ever missing two feedings in a row without pumping! They feel fine now. But lesson learned!

I am also not pumping after every feeding. Usually once in the morning, and either once or twice at night. I need to work on cleaning out the freezer to make room for breast milk! Excited to build up a freezer stash.

I think we may have to get a deep freezer at some point soon. Especially if we end up getting a subscription to Costco/SamsClub/BJs. Our freezer with our fridge gets filled up so quickly. Or maybe just a fridge for the basement to keep extra drinks cold and to use the freezer.

Evie has a pediatrician appointment on Friday! Will post and let everyone know how she is! Cannot wait to see how much she weighs!

Love my little girl!