3 Weeks Old Today!

I can't believe Josie is 3 weeks old today. She is getting too big too quickly. Last Saturday (the 19th) Josie's cord fell off. I just found it in her onsie when I was changing her diaper. Her belly button looks like a mixture between an innie and an outie. Fingers crossed for in innie! I'm not quite sure what I want to do with her cord stump, so right now it's sitting on the changing table, where I look at it with each diaper change and think about what I should do with it. I'd love to hear some good ideas.

Josie has been a nursing champ since she was born. She doesn’t eat too often (not the 2-3 hours that is recommended, but more like 3-4 hours). She slept really well the first night in the hospital, and woke me up once to eat and went back to sleep. I had wanted so badly to bring her into the hospital bed with me to cuddle and sleep, but they don’t let you in the hospital. I slept a little that first night, since George and I were up almost all night talking about the birth and the events that had occurred and how perfect our sweet little Josie was. Tracy had a cot brought in for George when I mentioned it to her. She was by far my favorite nurse at the hospital, and she told me about her experience with twins. She even told me that Josie was beautiful, and I said “I think so too, but I’m a little biased. I’m sure all mothers think that!” and she told me that she thought her first kid was funny looking.

Everyone at the hospital kept telling us how adorable Josie is and how beautiful and alert she was. She came home at 7 pounds, 15.4 ounces on Saturday the 5^th. Our drive home was painful for me, and probably one of the slowest of George’s life, but we made it, and were very happy to come home. We brought her in and introduced her to the dogs , both of whom were weary of her. Maggie became excited quickly, and cried whenever Josie cried, but Ben still just stares at her from a distance with his ears cocked up and drools a lot. He has had a difficult time adjusting to not being the baby, but he’ll definitely come around when Josie becomes more mobile. George’s parents came over with Matt and Mary to see Josie her first evening home, and my mom mad extra turkey dinner for us to eat so we wouldn’t have to worry about food.

Josie has been a welcome addition in our lives, and though we I have had a few sleepless nights (especially in the beginning), Josie is definitely getting her nights and days sorted out and now sleeps 4.5-6 hours at night, wakes to eat, and sleeps another 3 then wakes to eat again. Her nursing has been random, but she definitely lets me know when she wants to eat. At her 4 day checkup at the pediatrician, she was down to 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and at her one week checkup with Barbara, she was down to 7 pounds, 2.4 ounces. My milk had only come in the day before that, and Barbara wasn’t too concerned about her weight since there hadn’t been any milk yet, but I have been nervous about her weight. She had another appointment on Friday the 18^th with her pediatrician. She was 7 pounds, 11 ounces last Friday. Hopefully at her one month appointment she will have gained a large amount, since I really don't want to have to supplement with formula.

So far, breastfeeding has been going rather well. I'm really hating that I have to use nipple shields with her (Tract at the hospital gave me one to help her latch, and no she won't latch without it!). I went out and bought 3 more so that I can rotate them a bit and have one in the diaper bag, since last time I took her to see Debbie, I forgot it and had to go buy 2 more just so she would eat!

Anyway, for your enjoyment, here are some pictures of Josie over the last 3 weeks.

I read on another website about a woman who was writing her baby a letter weekly. I like that idea, but I would never have any time to do it weekly (at least, I doubt I would remember), so I'm going to try to do it monthly. Hopefully next week I will remember to do it!

HAPPY 3 WEEKS JOSIE!

I guess I better go get you from your grandpa, since you wouldn't stop screaming for me!