One month ago...

<——-I gave birth to this precious bundle of joy. It’s crazy how fast the time has flown. I honestly didn’t know if I would be able to survive the first few weeks and here we are, a month later. I hate to admit that I did flirt with the postpartum blues.  I was feeling so exhausted and isolated. I would literally sit out on the couch and cry from pure exhaustion. It was a hard transition for me to learn  to nap when she did during the day and not feel guilty that housework got behind. I missed being able to just go and be a part of the outside world. Thank goodness for good friends who stopped by to visit me! After those first couple weeks, the breastfeeding got easier and I started getting used to the less sleep and I learned I don’t have to do it all and I pulled through and survived!  Even through the frustration and exhaustion, I wouldn’t trade being a mother to this little girl for anything in the world. Not even for 8 uninterrupted hours of sleep.  I’ve started getting a supply of breastmilk going  and have even ventured out on short trips so I’m getting back to the land of the living again. Even went to see the movie “The Help” with my mom when she was here!  There are still those days that I feel like I’m on lock down but as my maternity leave dwindles down to just two more weeks, I don’t mind it so much. I treasure each day because in two weeks, I will no longer get this much time with her. Oh, that is going to be a rough rough ROUGH day. I am going to have buy stock in Kleenex. Six weeks of maternity leave seems like a long time until it starts and then it’s just not long enough.
I’m still fighting to get to into a routine and slowly getting there but between the feedings and sleepless nights, I just don’t know where the day ends and night begins. Much like her, my days and nights are confused so I’m trying to reverse that a bit. We are slowly getting there. Last night marked 2 nights in a row that she slept in her bassinet in full 3 hour increments, whereas before, I was bad and got into a habit of letting her sleep on my chest at night since she refused to go down in the bassinet.  That  was just a much easier alternative to soothe her and get her to sleep than to fight it. I was in survival mode.  It’s been a hard habit to break. Not only for her but for me. I still let her sleep on my chest during nap times because I just love that snuggle time with my baby but I have a good feeling we are starting to figure out our days and nights!  I started the routine of play, bath, eat, play and then bed (in the bassinet!) and so far…it’s working! so yay!

She is growing like a weed. Every day is a new discovery. She has become so alert and more active. She can recognize sounds more and can focus on them. She loves her floor gym and the mobile on her changing table. She also has a huge fascination with ceiling fans. She can move her head left to right when doing tummy time and does well keeping her head up.  Even two days after birth she was able to lift her head up when you have her on over your shoulder.  I think she’s going to be a strong little girl.

We are still struggling with her tummy issues. Since around week one she’s had issues going poo on her own. She will go days without a movement so we have to help it along with some glycerin suppositories. She has gone on her own a couple times but not nearly as often as she should be. Poor thing. It’s hard to watch her in so much pain. All I can do is rub her belly, give her gas drops and do the bicycle with her legs. I’m hoping her system works itself out soon.

All I know is that this little lady has completely captured her mama’s heart. I am a lucky gal to have 4 wonderful step-daughters and now a daughter of my own. That’s a feeling I cannot even describe.

I will leave you with a few more photos! A couple random photos and photos of the tree Grandma and Grandpa Lamb planted for Emma,  pictures of Grandma Lissa and me and Emma.

Oh and I’m excited because tonight Shanna is coming over to scrap! It’s been MONTHS since I’ve scrapped!!

 

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