Visiting Grandma

Cohen has been sick with croup the last couple days and the Dr. told Mom and Dad to keep me away from him until he's not contagious. Yesterday Mom and I spent the entire day in my bedroom with the door closed. From the time I woke around 8:30 am until I went to bed around 10:15 pm we were in my room (wells I was...mom would go out while I napped).

Today Mom decided we would see if we could go visit Grandma D. instead of sitting in my room for a second day. She was planning to be home so we went and had a great day.

It made our day go much faster and I think Grandma was happy to see me too. :)

Thumb Sucker

I have always loved my pacifier and sucking on my hands. Recently I've been working really hard on finding a way to suck my thumb. Well today is the day....I have it all figured out and Mom is pretty sure there is no going back now. :)

My First Snow

Well not only was it my very first experience with snow it was a snow STORM! Luckily Mom, Cohen and I didn't have to leave the house today. We stayed in all day. Daddy had to go to work but he went in late.

Mom dressed Cohen and I our snowman/girl shirts today since it was the first snow and of course she had to get our picture.

Tummy Time

Ever since I was born Mom and Dad have been talking about what a strong neck I have. My Dr. said my neck was pretty strong at my appointment the other day too. Here's a picture Mom snapped of me yesterday when I was laying on my tummy. I lift my head up, turn it side to side to look at different things.

My First Visit with Santa

Today I met Santa for the first time! We were invited to a Santa Party at our friends' the Phillips'. He brought me a gift but I slept through my visit with him. I'm sure he knows what a good little baby girl I've been in the first two months of my life.  :)

He brought me a little blanket with rubber corners for when I'm a little older and want something to chew on.

Pouty Face

I admit it. Sometimes I can be a bit dramatic. It's not uncommon for my little mouth to turn upside down and my bottom lip to make it's way out. It usually makes Mom and Dad giggle a little. Well tonight Mom caught me on camera. Even this sad I'm still so cute. :)

Two Month Check-up

Today I had my two-month check with my Dr. I weighed less than Mom thought...I weighed 9 lbs 14 oz (13th percentile), was 22 3/4" long (58th percentile) and my head was  38 cm in diameter (38th percentile).

My Dr. said I'm growing well. He said I'm not the biggest girl in the world but I didn't start out very big and I'm following a curve so far so that's what he likes to see.  He also said the way I kick and move my arms around my arms and legs are working well.

My tongue is still all coated white/yellowish from the formula. Mom said Cohen's was like that too when he was a baby. The Dr. wasn't concerned about it. He said it wasn't thrush, just coated.

All in all he said I look good, I'm a cutie and he'll see me in two months. Then he apologized for what was about to come. I didn't know what he was talking about at first but then the nurse came back and poked me little legs three times and gave me some sticky stuff to drink. I SCREAMED! I was not happy about those pokes. But after Mom calmed me down I took a big snooze. Not looking forward to that happening again.

Two Months Old

I'm two months old today! I'm smiling more and more each day. Right now I don't let Mom have too many of my smiles though. I usually have a lot for Daddy and other people. Dad says it's because I see Mom the most. We'll go with that. :)

My eating habits haven't changed a whole lot. I usually eat 2-4 ounces depending on how I'm feeling. It keeps Mom and Dad guessing on how big they should make my bottle. But, that's kind of my personality...keep Mom and Dad guessing.

I am still sleeping on my tummy at night and that is still going well. I'm sleeping between 6-9 hours at night. If I wake at 6 hours I get changed, eat and go right back to sleep so Mom says that's not so bad. I did have that one 10 hour night I told you about. Those aren't the norm but now we know they can happen.

I'm wearing size 3 month clothing. Some of it is a little big on me but not so big it looks silly - some of it fits me quite well too. Mom says there are a  lot cuter clothes starting in the 3 month size so I guess you could say I've been stylin' lately.

I like to keep moving if we're in the car, stroller or shopping cart. I'm pretty content as long as we're moving. If we stop for too long I'm going to let Mom and Dad hear about it. Once we start moving again I'm generally happy again.

I've been enjoying more and more time on my own lately. Time laying under my play mat, on a blanket on the floor or in my bouncy seat. I still love my swing too. Sometimes when I'm on the floor I work really hard at rolling over. I still have figure out how to move that arm though, it stops me every time.

I am starting to watch Cohen more and more while he plays. He seems to be warming up to me more and more too. He even held me last week when Mom took pictures for our Christmas card. That was the first time he did it by himself and didn't freak out. I was comfortable with him holding me - it went well.

Last night he was sitting next to me on the floor and said, "She's running out of hair." I didn't take offense to it. To be fair my hair might be getting a little thinner but I do think I'm also growing some new hair. Mom and Dad said he was a very bald baby and as of now it looks like I'll have more hair than he did.

Mom weighed me last night with her. According to our scale I'm around 11 pounds. I go to the Dr. for my 2 month check up on Thursday where we'll be a more accurate weight and a length on me.

Today I was a little cranky. But it's my 2 month birthday - I can be cranky if I want to. I wanted to be held a lot but only certain ways and I changed my mind on how I wanted to be held quite often...again, I like to keep Mom and Dad guessing.

I had my first real babysitter this past weekend. Taylor G. watched me while Mom and Dad went to our neighborhood Christmas party and Cohen went next door to play with his friends, Parker and Andrea. I had fun with Taylor. She told Mom and Dad I'm sweet, I let her know when I wasn't happy but I'm sweet. :)

Well the first two months of my little life have been interesting. I feel like Mom, Dad and I understand each other a little more each day.

I'm looking forward to my first Christmas coming up and all other fun things the next month will bring for me.

So Tired

Mommy told me a few weeks ago that my big brother was sleeping 10 hours by two months old. She said I had some time to work on getting there. Well, with one day to spare I made it. Ten hours of sleep last night! I'm awesome, just like my brother!

Smiles and Coos

In the last week or so I started to smile a little and trying to 'talk'. Each day I get a little better at both.

At about 7 weeks I started sleeping more too. Mom and Dad said I was sleeping ok after they started putting me on my belly - generally six hours at night which they know is nothing to complain about with a seven week old baby. But last week I started having eight to nine hour stretches at night. One night this week I even gave them nine and half hours!

I get a little fussy at night - around 10 or so. I can't decide if I want to eat, sleep, have my pacifier - I'm kind of hard to keep happy until I go to bed between 11 - 12:00 p.m. I have set of lungs on me.

Me and Cohen in our Christmas jammies.

Belly is Best

I heard Mom talking about how they say "back to sleep" when laying babies down to sleep. Well I always slept better when I was laying on my belly on Mom or Dad's chest. I was starting to get a little better about being laid down on my back in bed but some nights it would take Daddy 2 hours to get me to stay asleep. Finally one day it dawned on Mommy to try having me sleep on my belly.

She and Daddy talked about it and agreed since I already have such a strong neck and can lift and move my head it was ok. They also have this Snuza thing they clip on my diaper at night and it monitors my breathing. If it doesn't detect me breathing within 8 seconds it vibrates to stimulate me and it beeps to alert Mom and Dad. Those to things together made them more comfortable putting me on my belly.  Well...I think it's safe to say we are all much happier. I sleep longer and most nights once I'm laid down I stay down. No more popping my big blue eyes open the second I hit the mattress.

Last night I slept 8 hours straight. That's not the norm but I think Mom is hoping it's the beginning of a new norm. The norm since being on my belly has been about 6 hour stretches which they say is still good. :)

Thanksgiving Weekend

Well my first Thanksgiving continues. We didn't do a whole lot but I enjoyed the extra snuggles I got from Daddy while he was off work for four days. I even started to try and flash little smiles once in awhile and I am starting to find my voice. I am making little cooing noises sometimes. I work awfully hard at it but noise doens't always come out. I'll get if figured out soon though I'm sure.

For Thanksgiving we didn't travel far. We were saving that for Saturday. We went to our neighbors, The Phillips' house. I had not been there yet but I got snuggled there too so it was all good in my opinion.
Friday I watched Mom and Cohen decorate the Christmas tree. Cohen told me about how Mom and Dad have been getting him a Christmas ornament every year since he was born and sure enough they started that for me too. This year I got a rocking horse ornament and a wooden stocking with my name on it. They both say "Baby's First Christmas" Mom said she'll have to get my picture with my ornaments soon but I wasn't ready to cooperate that day.

I'm looking forward to my first Christmas!

Thanksgiving Begins

My first Thanksgiving started yesterday. We celebrated with Daddy's side of the family. Mom and I hung out with Grandma and Emily while the boys went to the UNI basketball game.

After Mom and I picked the boys up we went to my Aunt and Uncle's house. It was my first visit to both Grandpa and Grandma's and Brent and Kari's house. I slept through a lot of it but enjoyed being held by the family.

Sounds like the Thanksgiving fun will continue later next week. I'll let you know how that goes.

Cohen, Me and Reese

One Month Old

I'm one month old today. Mom can hardly believe a month has passed already but I can. I'm really starting to get the hang of this being a baby outside the belly.

I sure have been growing - probably because I love to eat. Mom said yesterday she felt like all she did was feed me. I'm eating 3 1/2 ounces every 2 - 4 hours depending on the time of day. During the day I eat every 2-3 hours and at night every 3-4 hours.

Mom and Dad just started giving me a new kind of formula to try. Last night was my first night with it. It's Similac Sensitive for sensitive tummies. For the most part I was doing fine on the regular Similac but I would have a gurgly belly, some stinky toots and sometimes runny stools in my diapers. My pediatrician said if the runny stools were happening more often to try the Sensitive formula - so we are.

I love my pacifier, my baby swing and I'm starting to like my bouncy seat and play mat more and more.

When I was about 2 weeks old Mom and Dad could tell my eye sight sharpened up and they say it seems I can see pretty well already. I focus on faces, ceiling fans and toys on my play mat.

Some of my newborn size clothes are starting to get small already. I guess that means I'm going to getting a new wardrobe soon!

I love bath time. It relaxes me and like Mom says, "I melt in there."

I started sleeping in my crib last night for the first time. I tried it out at nap time the two days before but last night was my first night sleeping in there. I've been sleeping in a bassinet in my own room for the last few weeks. I started out in Mom and Dad's room but I didn't seem to like their room so they moved me into my own room. I like it better there.

I am a pretty good little traveler. I like riding in the car. It usually puts me right to sleep.

At first I didn't like to put down. I wanted to be held a lot. If I was laid down in my bed my eyes would pop open a lot of the time. In the last month I've gotten a lot more comfortable being laid down in my bed and even when I'm awake. I still like to snuggle in and be held but I also like to kick and have some time to myself once in awhile.

The first month of life has treated me well. Can't wait to see what the next month has in store for me.

Mom said we're going to take my picture with this doll each month to watch how I grow. 

I like to bend my little toes over like this. 

And stretch them out like this. 

My Brother Loves Me

Up to this point Cohen has been a bit nervous around me and unsure. Mom says each day he's warming up a bit more. Yesterday he actually gave me a kiss on the head and said, "I'm lucky to have a little sister." Mom's heart smiled and so did mine. I love my big brother and he's loving me more and more everyday. :)

Weekend Visitors

On Sunday we had company come visit to meet me. My Great Uncle Dewey, Great Aunt Danette, Bailey, Carson and Brinley came to visit. It was fun to meet them!

Bailey and I

Brinley and I 

Dewey and I 

Growing Girl

Mom called the Dr. office today to ask about my cold and they wanted to check me out to make sure it was nothing more. Good news is it was nothing more. Just a cold like Mom and Cohen have.

Big news is I was up to 7 lbs 13 oz!! That's a big jump from 6 lbs 8 oz just 2 weeks ago.

My First Cold

Just three weeks old and I got a little cold. Cohen caught a cold from school Mom was guessing and we all ended up getting some variation of it.

So far I've had a bit of a stuffy nose but if Mom and Dad keep it suctioned out I'm good. I get a little cough once in awhile but that's not too bad either. We're all hoping this is as bad as it gets. I'm too little to be sick.

Three Weeks Old

I thought I should give a little update one what I'm up to now that I'm 3 weeks old. I'm sleeping ok at night and I sleep a lot during the day, although I'm staying awake for longer periods of time throughout the day. Daddy usually stays up with me until about midnight-1:00 a.m. He feeds me and then puts me to bed. I then usually wake around 3 or 4 a.m. and Mommy gets up with me. Normally she changes me, feeds me and I go right back to bed then wake again around 8:00.

I am eating about 3 ounces of formula every 2-4 hours. (Four hours doesn't happen very often but it has happened.) :)

Mom and Dad think they can tell I've grown some. They say my face is getting a little fuller but honestly I'm still pretty tiny.

Today is my first day home with just Mom and Cohen. Cohen has preschool today but this afternoon it's just the three of us. We've had a helper here since I came home. Between Daddy, Grandma Dahlstrom and Granny someone has been here to lend Mom a hand. Hopefully she can keep Cohen and I both happy all on her own.

I've heard Mommy and Daddy say I like to be held a lot. I can't help it if I like to snuggle. I really like to lay against something and prefer to lay on my side. I have been rolling to my side since the day I was born. I guess that's not really normal for a newborn but it's no big deal for me. It's how I like to lay. I also REALLY like it if my head is against something. Preferably the top of my head and my forehead. Mom said that's how I was laying in her belly. Every ultra sound they had of my I had my head and face tucked up against some part of her. A lot of times Mom and Dad will hold me on my side with my head on their arm and my forehead against their chest. I'm happy and as comfortable as can be right there and it calms me right down if I'm upset. I also have been lifting and turning my head since the day I was born. Mom and Dad have to be on a alert when they're holding me because I'll just lift my head and turn it side to side and back again without much warning. I'm not great at controlling it but my neck is definitely strong that I can move my head all around.

I also really like my pacifier. I get smacking away when I suck on that thing. Sometimes it makes Mommy and Daddy laugh but hey, I like it!

My First Halloween

Well my first Halloween has come and gone and it hapened to be my three week birthday. I didn't get any candy this year but I guess I still had a good day. I spent the day at home with Mommy, Cohen and Granny. She was here visiting. Tonight Mom and I hung out and handed out candy while the boys went trick or treating. We all went out to visit our family friends Dan and Mary Kay though, with our other family friends, Jesse, Christine, Parker and Bella. I was pretty much done with Halloween by then but I was happy to get snuggles there,

 Cohen and I with "Granny"

Me, Cohen, Marlie

 Cohen and I before he went out trick or treating. 

My Halloween Picture from Demasque Photography. 

 Me, Cohen, Parker and Bella

Two Week Check-Up

I'm not officially two weeks old yet but I had my check up today. Mom and Dad both took me. I was back up to my birth weight of 6 lbs 8 oz. (At the hospital I had dropped from 6 lbs 8 oz to 6 lbs 4 oz then 6 lbs 2 oz then down to 5 lbs 15 oz when I was discharged).

According to the nurse today I was 20" long...grew a half inch in two weeks?? Hmmm..... And my head was 34 3/4. At birth it was 34.

I was a good girl at my check up. My Dr. said I look good. He also commented that I seem to have a "lively personality". He said generally the second baby is more mellow but he thinks I am going to be an active one. Mom and Dad had the same feeling but hearing that from a pediatrician who sees all kinds of kids all the time made them a little more nervous. :)  Mom said while she was pregnant that I was going to be a live wire.

They were thankful to hear that overall I seem to be a healthy 2 week old baby girl.

One week

Yesterday I turned one week old. We celebrated by making our first trip out of the house. We went to get family pictures and newborn pictures of me with, Mommy's cousin Roni at Demasque Photography.

Mom was happy with how our trip and our pictures went. She's anxious to see them. I'll post some once we get them.

Bathtime

I had my first bath at home on Monday night. Cohen helped Mommy. He scrubbed my toes. I liked my bath. The water was warm and they had me all snuggled up in a towel. I thought it felt pretty good.

Here I Am

Wednesday, October 10 I entered this crazy world at exactly 9:22 a.m. I weighed in at 6 lbs 8 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. I was born via a repeat scheduled c section. My daddy was in the delivery room with my mom. I came out screaming. Dad went over to see me and came back to give Mom the report. He told her I looked like my big brother, Cohen.

After surgery the nurses took us to a recovery room where Mom joined us after a little while. The nurses told Mom and Dad everything was going well with me. My APGAR scores were 9 and 10. I had no blue on me and everything was good.

After we got to our hospital room my brother came to meet me. I was excited to meet him. He seemed excited to meet me as well. He wasn't sure about holding me at first but that's ok. After I got to meet him my Grandma and Grandpa Cota, Grandma Dahlstrom and my Granny. (I'll add a picture of me with Granny when Mom gets it. It's on another camera) They all seemed very anxious to check me over, hold me and see what I was all about. Cohen got to introduce me to them and tell them all what my name was.

Later in the day I got to meet my Uncle Brent, Aunt Kari and cousin Reese, as well as my Grandpa Dahlstrom.

Mom, Dad and I spent three days in the hospital and came home on Saturday, October 13. When we got home Cohen was at the house with Grandpa and Grandma Cota. They helped us get all settled in before they headed home.

I like my new house, our dog Marlie and learning what our family is all about. So far things are going pretty well here.

 Heading home with Mom and Dad