We are already two months in! Although it has obviously gone fast, I still have a sense of disbelief over just how much we have been through with this little peanut of ours! She has come such a long way in just the past few weeks. I'm really getting to know her little personality, what she likes, and what makes her tick! She is very strong willed. I'm sure that will be real interesting at some point.
People keep asking me how she has been since we have both gone dairy free. I THINK it's been better. It's so hard to say if the reason things have improved are because of the absence of dairy in her diet, or if it's just general improvements due to the fact that she is just getting older and adjusting a little better. The Pediatrician gave me the green light to start gradually introducing dairy back into my diet, but I'm not ready to rock the boat just yet...justtttt in case! I think it's a little soon for that.
The biggest change is that she actually has long periods of being content! FINALLY! She smiles and coos...and is just the sweetest little thing. I can finally put her down in her glider or swing without her freaking out. She sits nicely, looks around (she is fascinated by ceiling fans), and often falls asleep on her own. We still have our rough patches throughout the day of course, but it is SO much better. She normally has one freak out at some point in the afternoon where she screams her head off and is completely inconsolable (she used to do this all day long). It lasts for about a half hour or so then it passes. Then she is just generally cranky and whiney in the evenings but it is so much more manageable! All in all, she has been a completely different kid from her first month. I'm so proud of how far she has come!
She has even slept through the night! It started off happening a little bit here and there, and seems to be happening more and more. We usually put her down around 11, and she sleeps until about 5:30. There are still nights where she wakes up around 3 for a feeding and it is usually really tough to get her back down afterwards! I'm not getting my hopes up just yet, but we have been doing well in the sleep department. She is even napping better throughout the day. I'm interested to see how she does over the next few weeks. Hopefully she can keep this up since I'll be going back to work soon!
During the day she eats every 2-3 hours. She gets 3 bottles throughout the day (half formula/half breast milk) and she takes about 5 ounces. Normally I give her one bottle in the morning, and then the other two she gets in the evening. I breastfeed her in between. I also breastfeed her when she wakes up at night. We will obviously have to start changing up this routine over the next few weeks to get her ready for when I go back to work. My plan is to still breastfeed her at home, and pump so that we can still supplement her bottles with my milk as well.
My smiley little lady sticks her tongue out sometimes when we stick ours out, she also blows kisses back to us sometimes (she smacks her lips like she does when she is hungry). She is not grasping anything yet besides her bottle, but when I put her on her activity mat she smacks the toys that are hanging. She also has been doing well with tummy time and she has a little more control over her head. She HATES pacifiers! I'm sure in the long run I will be glad about this, but it would be nice to have the option of soothing her with it when she has her melt downs.
Like I said, one month Ella and two month Ella are like two completely different kiddos! She is developing such a happy little personality it makes me so emotional! We had such a rough first month. Watching her in distress all day every day was really wearing me thin. Her adorable little smile warms my heart like nothing else ever has! It's incredible, I can't get enough of it! Hubs and I are head over heels in love with this sweet little girl!
Happy Two Months Ella Rose!!!
Ella weighs 9 lbs 10 oz, her eyes are still that blue-grey (more blue than grey - I wonder if they will stay that way), and her hair is light brown.
The biggest change is that she actually has long periods of being content! FINALLY! She smiles and coos...and is just the sweetest little thing. I can finally put her down in her glider or swing without her freaking out. She sits nicely, looks around (she is fascinated by ceiling fans), and often falls asleep on her own. We still have our rough patches throughout the day of course, but it is SO much better. She normally has one freak out at some point in the afternoon where she screams her head off and is completely inconsolable (she used to do this all day long). It lasts for about a half hour or so then it passes. Then she is just generally cranky and whiney in the evenings but it is so much more manageable! All in all, she has been a completely different kid from her first month. I'm so proud of how far she has come!
She has even slept through the night! It started off happening a little bit here and there, and seems to be happening more and more. We usually put her down around 11, and she sleeps until about 5:30. There are still nights where she wakes up around 3 for a feeding and it is usually really tough to get her back down afterwards! I'm not getting my hopes up just yet, but we have been doing well in the sleep department. She is even napping better throughout the day. I'm interested to see how she does over the next few weeks. Hopefully she can keep this up since I'll be going back to work soon!
During the day she eats every 2-3 hours. She gets 3 bottles throughout the day (half formula/half breast milk) and she takes about 5 ounces. Normally I give her one bottle in the morning, and then the other two she gets in the evening. I breastfeed her in between. I also breastfeed her when she wakes up at night. We will obviously have to start changing up this routine over the next few weeks to get her ready for when I go back to work. My plan is to still breastfeed her at home, and pump so that we can still supplement her bottles with my milk as well.
My smiley little lady sticks her tongue out sometimes when we stick ours out, she also blows kisses back to us sometimes (she smacks her lips like she does when she is hungry). She is not grasping anything yet besides her bottle, but when I put her on her activity mat she smacks the toys that are hanging. She also has been doing well with tummy time and she has a little more control over her head. She HATES pacifiers! I'm sure in the long run I will be glad about this, but it would be nice to have the option of soothing her with it when she has her melt downs.
Like I said, one month Ella and two month Ella are like two completely different kiddos! She is developing such a happy little personality it makes me so emotional! We had such a rough first month. Watching her in distress all day every day was really wearing me thin. Her adorable little smile warms my heart like nothing else ever has! It's incredible, I can't get enough of it! Hubs and I are head over heels in love with this sweet little girl!
Happy Two Months Ella Rose!!!
I am so glad that things are starting to get better for you guys!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! They grow and change so much! I'm glad it's going better for you and that you've hung in it! Enjoy every moment~ it's gone before you know it!
ReplyDeleteSteph, I love how honest you have been about life with Ella being a little rougher than imagined - it's nice to see what "real" life with a newborn can be like, instead of everyone always saying "life is perfect! my baby never cries!!" - thanks for being real <3 glad it's getting better! she's so sweet.
ReplyDeleteShe is so precious. I had to cut out dairy when I was breastfeeding my son because it would give him terrible gas and he was fussy all the time because of it.
ReplyDeleteSo glad everything is getting better for Miss Ella!! You're doing such a great job!!
ReplyDeleteI'm at the same age! :) It's so cool to see them start to get a personality and grow!
ReplyDeleteI have been doing dairy free, too. Jacob was really fussy and had horrible stomach noises. He got better quickly after I stopped, so I'm not sure if it was dairy or he was adjusting. I didn't want milk while I was preggo. I did start eating dairy again and not only is he slightly more spit-upy (but not as bad-wasn't in pain with gas like he was before) but I have been feeling more sick.
Aww! I love this update! I'd almost be willing to bet that her afternoon outbursts are just growing pains. I've heard of babies having that before. She is definately one cute little booger!
ReplyDeleteAhh, I'm so glad things are better! It is absolutely draining dealing with a screaming baby. You're superwoman! :) Travis liked pacifiers for about 4-5 months, but now wants nothing to do with them. I am grateful though. I have a friend whose almost 3 year old still uses a pacifier ALL THE TIME. She refuses to wean him off of it. I'll take a baby who won't take a pacifier over that any day.
ReplyDeleteAwe she is so cute and so sassy!
ReplyDeleteYou're my fav mom blog ever. I love reading your updates in your voice! We need to FaceTime ASAP because I miss you! By the time we come for Christmas, Ella will totally be ready to hang with Kath for a night while we go out to dinner! *fingers crossed* Happy 2 months!
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