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!