For the Long Haul: Cause It's Just What New Mom's Do...

I have had two nights in a row where I have gotten three hours of sleep at a time. I don't know about you, but I happen to think this is pretty fabulous given that I am living with a very small, projectile poop (first time was midnight last night, thanks), milk sucking machine. Our "night time routine" goes like this...

Although I loathe the pump, I have been using it on average once a day (sometimes twice depending on how much my boobs feel like they are going to explode) and that gives me two to five ounces a day of "extra" breast milk. So at the feeding that hits closest to 11:00pm or midnight, I feed the baby on both boobs, which usually requires waking her up in between each boob. Then I also have my mom give her a "topper" with the bottle of between an ounce and an ounce and a half of breast milk. Then I swaddle her up tight, put on her hat and put her in the bassinet. For the past two nights, this has bought me about three hours of sleep from that point. So I start the process about midnight, finish feeding/swaddling/preparing at around 1:00am and am able to lay down and sleep until about 4:00am. We wake up at 4:o0ish and I repeat the process. Feed on both boobs and give her a topper (I do this one--no need to torture my mother with middle of the night feedings) and then she gets swaddled again and goes back to sleep until about 8:00am. I get back to bed around 5:00am and The Boy wakes up around 6:30. So that gives me 3 good hours of sleep, and then about another hour and a half.

Like I said, I don't know about you, but 4 1/2 hours of sleep with a one week old baby is pretty good. I also try and nap as many times during the day that I can. I find that if I put the little pumpkin on my chest she will pretty much pass out every time. So I lay her down on my chest and get a little snuggle time and we both get some sleep. So overall, I am quite happy with our little routine right now. Have I mentioned how sweet and cute and perfect she is? Man, I could just suck in her little essence all day long, and pretty much do.

Today is her one week birthday. We have our first official pediatrician appointment. She went back on Saturday for a weight check but this is our first official appointment. I can't believe it was just a week ago that we were checking into the hospital. In fact, it is 9:46am right now and this time last week I was in the car driving to the hospital to check in for the scheduled c-section. And now I am getting ready to take her to her doctors appointment. Have I mentioned how much more I like her on the OUTSIDE of my body rather than the inside? I am so thrilled to be at this end of the birth, I can't even explain it. I am exponentially happier right now than I was this time last week.

Okay must get ready for our first appointment. I will post on the "stats" when I get back. In the meantime, because it's just what us new moms do, here are some pictures...

This is after her "first bath" where I just wiped her down with a warm wash cloth and washed her little hair. She was basking in front of a portable heater and she and I were just looking at each other and talking to each other when my mother snapped this picture. I just love it...

And here she is hanging out in big brother's room. He was playing with his cars and he would just randomly run over to her and give her a kiss and a pat on the head and tell her he loved her (sniff, sniff...) I finally managed to catch it on film...