Lucy Goosey

Dear Lucy,

You will be 3 months old this Wednesday.  I don't quite know how to explain these past 3 months...they seem at times to drag by (sorry but that's just the truth).  Before I know it, we'll be celebrating your 1st birthday but honestly right now, that seems like such a long time away.  9 more months.  I have discovered that I am not a newborn person.  I hate that, but it's just how it is.  Would it be different if my babies didn't have reflux?  Maybe, but I guess I won't know.  Do I feel guilty always complaining about your reflux?  Absolutely!  You are alive and beautiful and healthy for the most part, and your reflux is not life threatening.  And we know you will outgrow this.  So do I have the right to complain and grumble?  Not really.  But that doesn't stop me, and I'm sorry about that.  But just so you know, it does seem to be in your genes so good luck with your future children.

What else is going on with you right now?  Well, you do not sleep well and yet you love to sleep.  If we're out anywhere near your nap or bed time, you are not happy.  You like your room and you like your schedule.  I am so thankful for that.  Your dad and I are toying with the idea of taking away your pacifier, because we are exhausted from constantly going in your room to put it back in your mouth.  I hate it for you, because I know it helps you feel better.  But we have got to get some sleep soon!  It might be too early, but we'll see.  We started today and you're asleep right now...fingers crossed.  The 45 minute intruder has definitely reared its head.  I'm unsure if it's a sleep problem or just the paci...I'm fairly confident it's not a hunger issue.  This past week you went back to waking up several times at night again too.  But then last night you slept until 5:30am, which we can totally handle.  Please though, start sleeping better soon!

You (usually, please don't let this jinx it) have finally started to be happier during the day.  After feedings, I can hold you for a few minutes (you used to scream if we did anything with you), or I can put you down to play and you're content.  You have such a sweet, contented temperament when you feel well.  You love the play gym that's in your pack & play...you can kick the piano keys and bat at the toys and watch your mobile (sounds a little overstimulating now that I think about it).  You also love your bouncy seat, which you previously HATED.  The swing is still not a favorite, so I think it's about time for it to go.  You also despise your car seat still, but we have a convertible one coming tomorrow, so I'm really optimistic that that will help.  I've also started putting your in your high chair seat at the kitchen table when Emma and I eat lunch, and you will usually sit there quietly watching us.

You are already so enamored by your big sister.  You just stare at her when she's around.  And she is much better with you than we anticipated.  She wants to check on you and kiss you on your head and feet, and especially play with your toys.  She is always coming over to show you something.  She has started playing with her baby to change the dirty diaper or wipe up her spit up or get her to stop crying.  She says you cry a lot.  Fortunately, the crying has diminished significantly in the last month.  Now if you cry (other than during naps or the night), we know there is something going on.

Unfortunately, because of the reflux I think you might be a bit slow with your physical development like your sister was.  You hate hate hate tummy time, which means you get so upset that you spit up all over yourself and become inconsolable.  So we don't do as much of it as we should.  You also are sitting or laying inclined a lot, so that probably restricts your movement somewhat.  Maybe you'll surprise me and roll over soon or sit up early, but I'm going to try not to worry about it so much this time.

Lucy, for all my complaining and complete exhaustion, we all love you so much.  Your sister was a difficult newborn too, and our life wouldn't be complete without her.  Your dad and I say that all the time...it was so hard but oh so worth it.  I can only imagine what life will be like when you're a toddler.  I can't wait to see how you and Emma interact and to watch your personality develop.  We're so blessed to know you and to be your parents!

What a difference a year makes...

Making cookies last Christmas - 2010

Making cookies this Christmas - 2011

Christmas morning 2010

Christmas morning 2011

I cannot believe the difference between last year and this year.  Who is this little person?  She is crazy, silly, funny, sassy, wild, affectionate, and so much fun!  And don't worry, I didn't forget about Lucy, but it's hard to take pictures of her since she naps so often!  But she had a fun Christmas too and I'll post pics later!

One Year Ago...

Can you believe how much this girl has changed in a year?

November 2010

November 2011

Christmas Cards

I love Christmas cards!  I love getting them and I especially love choosing the one we'll send out for our family card.  Usually I send them out super early, and obviously this year, not so much.  I'm hoping to get them out before Christmas, but I haven't even ordered them yet, so maybe not!  I love Tiny Prints for our cards, invitations, announcements, etc.  I got Emma's birth announcement from there, and since Lucy is only a few weeks old, I thought I could find a cute birth announcement that also doubled as a Christmas card.  Here is a link to Tiny Print's collection of holiday cards.

I love this card because I can fit several pictures on it.  Plus it's cute and colorful!

I also like this one.  It's simple but cute.

I love love love this one.  Lucy would look so cute on this.  I would obviously have to find a picture with Emma in it too, but I am definitely leaning towards this one.

I think this one is cute too.  It only has one picture, but if I could take a cute family pic, it would be great.  I'm not sure how easy it would be to take a family pic with a 6 week old and a 2 year old though.

I think these ornament birth announcements are so cute.  They would be something different for sure.

TinyPrints also has a lot of holiday and winter themed birth announcements here.

This one is nice and has multiple photos, so I could feature one of Lucy but also include Emma.

I love this one

Check out this one

So, basically I have no idea which card I'm going to pick.  There are so many cute ones, and I have the hardest time making a decision every year.  But now I have two cute little girls to put on a card!  Any suggestions?

Fussy

Lucy is so fussy! I am at a loss for what to do. Do I just cut out all foods from my diet? Do I go with formula? Do I pump and give bottles? When do I find extra time in my day to pump? I can do it sometimes, when Nick is here to watch the girls, or if by chance Lucy takes a good nap. It's so frustrating.

I'm all about breastfeeding and totally understand the health benefits of it. But it is really hard. And there's so much guilt that goes along with it, whether you do it or not. If I keep going, I feel like I am possibly causing her fussiness. Is my milk hiring her stomach? She seems hungry all the time...so I not have enough milk? If I go with formula, I can know exactly how much she's eating, but I have to figure out which formula works best for her. And I'd she's just as fussy in formula, well then I look stupid for switching.

Also, no one told me that nursing would make my hormones nuts. Seriously it's bad enough having a baby, but bf'ing has kept my hormones all over the place. I am acting like a crazy person. If going with formula helps me get back to myself and makes me a better mom and wife, isn't that what's best?

Maybe my baby just has colic and she will harps out of it eventually...in that case, it doesn't matter what she's eating. Also I hate the breast pump.

This is a random post and something most people probably don't care to read about, but I have lots of time to kill while nursing!

Big sister

Is it bad that I still take more pics of Emma than Lucy?!

Lucy Belle

I guess I'm a little behind, but these past 2 weeks have been a little...busy...overwhelming...stressful.

Lucy Belle Addington was born on Tuesday, October 18th at 8:08am.  She weighed 6lbs 10 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.  Her weight was almost exactly the same as Emma's (she was 6lbs 9 3/4 oz), but Emma was only 18 inches long.  Unfortunately, I had to be put to sleep during my c-section, which we didn't find out until about 30 minutes before.  I didn't like not being able to see Lucy as soon as she was born or not having Nick with me.  I also didn't like how groggy the medication made both me and Lucy.  I don't really remember the first time I did meet Lucy, and Lucy especially was very sleepy while we were at the hospital.  It has taken her a while to really start opening her eyes, but this week she is starting to be much more alert.  Her eyes look exactly like her sister's did (guess she better get used to being compared to Emma all the time...that's probably terrible parenting but oh well).

I would not call Lucy an easy baby!  She cries through diaper changes and really almost anytime she's on her back (although today I got in two diaper changes and a few minutes of playtime in the pack & play without any crying, so that's progress!).  She is a big eater.  I started out trying for a 3 hour schedule, but have had to push it back to 2 1/2 because she eats so much.  She does well for her first 3 naps during the day, and then gets fussy when we put her down in the afternoon and early evening.  We usually end up putting her in the carseat for those naps.  At night, she has not been a great sleeper.  She eats every 3 hours or so (although last night she went for 5 hours!), and then has a very hard time falling back to sleep.  She's sleeping in the carseat, since she can't stand the bassinet.  We try hard not to let her wake Emma up, but Emma has apparently the best hearing ever.  Seriously, she can hear anything, anywhere in the house.  It's crazy.  We're figuring things out as we go, but Nick and I are exhausted.  There's not much time to nap during the day.

Emma is adjusting.  She seems to love Lucy and constantly wants to hold her and play with her.  She doesn't quite understand that she has to be gentle with her, or quiet when she's asleep.  She's been a little wild, and Nick and I have probably made it worse by being somewhat lenient on her.  But now I am going to have to get back to disciplining her.  Three of her molars are STILL coming in and she has been pretty miserable.  Today she has a slight fever and runny nose, and she took a VERY short nap.  I hate those molars.  So Nick and I have had our hands full.  I have to brag on my husband though...he's been so helpful.  I have no idea what I'd do if not for him.  He is exhausted when he gets home from work, but he takes care of Lucy and plays with Emma, and at night he is up with her to change diapers and get her back to sleep.  Once Lucy starts taking bottles, she won't even need me!

Here are a few of Lucy's first pictures.

I week old