It's hard to believe that little Bethany is already two weeks old. I keep hoping and dreaming that time will slow down, so that I can soak in and enjoy this sweet phase for longer. I love almost every stage that my kids go through, but there is just something so magical about those first few weeks. I love having her snuggled up on my chest, asleep and immune to the real world. I love feeling her soft skin and counting her little toes. I love those moments in the middle of the night when it is just the two of us in the dark and I get to pray over this tiny person as she eat and sleeps. This time is amazing, and far too short.
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Now to answer everyone's question: "How's it going?"
In short, things are great. The first amazing blessing is Jason being home for three weeks. The school generously gives two weeks of paternity leave and since her birth was right before Spring Break, we ended up with THREE weeks. It has been such a blessing. We still have one more week and I am going to soak it all up.
BETHANY:
Eating: The first five days were HARD...I had many moments of thinking, "I can see why people quit nursing." But I held tight to some of the best breast feeding advice i was ever given: "Do NOT quit during the first 6-8 weeks. It can take that long to truly get into a rhythm, no matter how many times you have done it before." I held onto that advice when I had plugged milk ducts with Alaina, I held onto that advice when Katie refused to eat, and I held onto that advice when Bethany just could not get latched on. We spent many hours just trying to get her started on eating. It was frustrating to say the least, but after day 5 things improved dramatically. Now she is a great nurser (other than still being super sleepy) and she is gaining weight like a champ. At thirteen days she was already birth weight + 9 oz. Go Bethany!
Sleeping: This is about ALL she did for the first two weeks, but that is pretty typical for newborns. So now that she is slowly coming out of the newborn fog, we are working on getting her sleep consistent. As it is, she sleeps for most of the day with a longer wake time (up to two hours) in the early evening. Nighttime sleep is also going well. For the first week and a half, I had to wake her up at night to feed. The last few nights, however, she has been waking up on her own. She gets up twice, eats, and goes back to bed. So, we're feeling pretty well rested over here. Our next big step is helping her have some more awake time during the day, mostly so I can ensure that she gets a full feeding.
Other: I'm going back and forth on the pacifier thing. None of our kids have ever really wanted to take one. Caleb took one for the first three months, but then spit it out and never wanted it again. Some of that might have to do with the fact that we didn't give it at night...I've heard too many nightmare stories of parents getting up 4+ times a night just to replace pacifiers. No thank you. Bethany seems to really enjoy the pacifier and I am happy to give it, especially when she is awake and doesn't quite know what to do with herself. But I am really trying to limit it at naps and I don't do it at all at night. This is new territory for me (a baby that loves a paci), so I am just wading through it.
ME: I'm feeling great. The recovery from the birth took a bit longer this time, but for the last week or so I have been feeling so much better. I LOVE being able to up and doing things for my family again. Cooking meals, doing dishes, and just playing with the kids is actually FUN again. I'm sleeping well (though still more tired than I remember being with other kids), enjoying my family, and thankful for this blessing.
JASON: Jason is doing great...being a wonderful dad and helping me around the house. Having him around has really helped me be able to spend the time with Bethany that I need and want. As a thank you, I let him blissfully sleep through nightime feeds.
THE OTHER KIDS: They are all adjusting wonderfully. They love Bethany and are totally understanding about the time I have to spend feeding her. They come to the bed and sit with me, read books, or just hang out. Alaina loves playing the little mother -- picking her up, changing her diaper, and holding her. Caleb asks me "How is Bethany doing?" all the time and he often comes to me and says, "Where is my sweet little Bethany?" Levi just keeps telling me how cute she is and Katie just likes being the big sister. I've said it before, but watching sibling relationships grow and flourish is my FAVORITE part of parenting. It's not always easy and it takes a lot of training, but when the kids really love each other and support each other and build one another up...it's totally worth it.
And now, for some more of my favorite photos from the first two weeks. There are a lot, so be warned.
My first look at Bethany...
So glad Jason got this one...I love it.
Bethany and I getting to really meet for the first time
This one will forever make us laugh...the hospital labeled our child with tape. Is this in case we forget which child is ours??
Big sibling photos...
Introducing Bethany to Grandma Phillips via Skype...
Snoozing her way through her first real outing (Pizza Hut) at three days old...
When I looked into the backseat on our way to Jakarta, this is what I saw (Katie and Bethany). I have a very similar picture of Alaina and Caleb from when they were little.
Bethany's carriage ride through Taman Mini cultural park at five days old...
Taking pictures at the hotel (I just love big hotel windows!)
Snoozing under a cabana at the pool...
Hanging out with Alaina...
All my girls together...
Snoozing...what she does best.
In her makeshift bed at the hotel
On my bed at the hotel...
On my bed at home...
With Dad (he calls it bonding)...
With Lucy...and don't worry, we don't really let our baby sleep with our dog. I just saw Lucy sleeping on the big pillow and said something to Jason about them matching (all the brown). So we took a quick photo opp...
Another one of my two baby girls...
Caleb loves this one...he says, "She's sticking her tongue out at us!" Sorry for the grainy photo...we took it at a wedding when it was almost completely dark out.
Kisses from Katie...
Time with Daddy at the playground...
At one week...
First real bath...
And me and my little girl...
It's been an amazing two weeks...here's to a lifetime more!
I love the pictures! ESPECIALLY (by FAR) the one of her with Lucy! That is totally awesome. I think she looks more like Jason while Katie is definitely you. She's got some rockin' eyes. :-)
Posted by: sally | April 01, 2011 at 08:54 PM
Beautiful. You always make me cry. Maybe it is because my babies are now in college. I know you are cherishing these years. You have such a sweet family. I cannot say enough of God Bless You in honoring Him with ALL you do. A few of my favs are Katie holding Bethany's little hand in the back seat and of course her holding one of your fingers. BTW somebody has a really cool comforter on their bed at your house, love it! ( : Thanks for sharing.
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