2 weeks old

Today was Kalaya's 2 week appointment. Despite the fact that she cried almost the whole time (she was hungry!), everything went great! She has already gained a whole pound since her last appointment! She is 8 lbs, 4 oz and is now 21 inches long. She is in the 75th percentile for length and 55th percentile for height. Doctor says she looks great and must be a good eater, which we knew! She's now big enough to fit in the Bijorn and her cloth diapers, which we will start soon. (we're waiting for her belly button to completely heal, which it almost has) She still fits comfortably in Newborn sizes, but I'm starting to try some 0-3 month outfits, most of which have still been too big. I'm not in a hurry. She also had to have some lab work done, which meant a poke in the foot to draw some blood. She screamed the entire time, and I got choked up. Nelson was the one that held her down, I don't think I could have done that. However, the lab attendant said that we were, "The best parents he'd ever had" when doing lab work with a newborn. I guess he has a lot of people who really break down and can't handle it! I just kept telling her, "This is to make sure you're healthy, it's to help you!", although I think I was saying it more to myself than to her! The doctor also prescribed some vitamin drops for her, since apparently breast milk needs vitamin D supplemented. All in all, excellent appointment!

We've started to adjust to her eating and sleeping routine. She continues to sleep best on a body, but will also sleep well on her positioner, bouncer or, most recently, her swing. We continue to co-sleep, with her between us on her positioner, so she stays in place and on her back. I look at my nights as a 12 hour stretch and my days as the same. We spend about 12 hours in bed, waking to eat every 3 hours or so, then dressed and around the house the other 12 hours of the day, usually eating every 2-3 hours (although I often nap with her at least one time during the day). She is getting more alert and focused when she's awake. She likes having some tummy time and holds her head up longer and longer. Her eyes are focusing on more objects as well. She enjoys being read to, sung to, riding in the car, looking at faces, feeling breezes on her face, swinging and snuggling. She is a pretty easy going baby and only cries when she's hungry or getting really tired. She has pretty much stopped crying during time on the changing table, unless she is also tired or hungry. I am starting to try pumping, for comfort reasons, and also because the doctor said she should be ready to go ahead and try a bottle, as well as pacifiers. We have tried the soothies a few times, but so far she's not too interested. We just want to be able to use them when she's overly tired. She nurses for comfort when she's tired, but isn't hungry and has ended up spitting up, due to being over fed. We're still experimenting!

We had newborn pictures taken of her yesterday. A woman that friends of ours recommended came out to the house to do it, so we didn't have to go somewhere, which was really nice. We should have a link to the pictures in the next few days. Kalaya was not crazy about getting the pictures done, but we think we got some cute pictures.

We feel like we're slightly starting to figure out a routine and that we've adjusted to waking up every few hours. Nelson will go back to work half time on Tuesday and then full time in mid-June. We're grateful he has time at home and have enjoyed the special time the 3 of us have had getting to know each other as a family. We are totally in love with our little girl and can't believe 2 weeks have already flown by!