5 Weeks Old!

Yesterday Whitley turned 5 weeks old! I can't believe it's already been 5 weeks. I'll be honest it's been fast looking back now, but at the beginning each day just dragged on. The first two weeks were way more overwhelming and exhausting than I ever could have imagined. I'm sure my experience has been a little more difficult since she is so little. The first week we brought her home when she was 4 days old I struggled a lot because in the NICU she was only taking bottle because, like I explained in my last post, nursing just wore her out too much. So they just had me pumping my colostrum and then feeding that to her in a bottle and giving her formula to top it off. So of course she got used to the way more easy eating known as the bottle. They did have me nurse last couple feedings she was in the NICU but she was not very good at it, it took forever and we still would supplement with my milk in a bottle afterwards. So anyway when we brought her home I was just nursing her and all she did was cry for days! I would try and nurse and she would get so frustrated she even if it was right in her mouth she would just keep screaming. I also cried many of these feedings :) No one ever told me that nursing can be a difficult learning experience. So eventually I gave up and just pumped her a bottle and she was the best baby in the world! So since that day I have just been nursing first for about 30-40 min and then I still have to give her a bottle which is quite tedious but has totally made my life so much more enjoyable and this whole motherhood thing a lot more do able. We figured I was just starving her because she still has a hard time getting milk from me. I'm not sure if she is just lazy because she is used to a bottle or it really does just wear her out. But I know I have tons of milk because I'm just filling bottles like no one's business! Oh and everyone said engorgement hurt but holy cow I didn't see that one coming either. I looked in the mirror and I felt like Pamela Anderson but obviously didn't want anything near them! :) Of course they went down but that was quite the experience in itself. But anyway, it seems like everyday just gets better and better and I'm constantly feeling more confident in this motherhood thing. Those first couple of weeks I really didn't think I could handle do this and I didn't want my mom to leave and man those hormones really take a toll on ya but I'm feeling good now, not in my fat jeans anymore and I'm actually under my pre pregnancy weight (thanks to nursing and being more hungry than I was when I was pregnant!) Anyways, now that she if getting her belly full everytime she really is a great baby! She is to the dot on her time schedule which she eats every 3 hours during the day and at night will sleep from 10:30-4:30 and then 5:30-8:30 or 9 which is not a lot yet but still way better than just 2 hours of sleep! And she is also really good about falling asleep. When I know she is full but she is still awake I can just stick her in her cradle and she will fall asleep on her own! She is also a strong little thing, she has been able to hold up her head really good and turn it from side to side while on her tummy from the time we brought her home! She really is getting so fun now that she is staying awake longer and we are seeing more of her feisty little personality! Although she really is a good, content baby, she will let you know when she wants something and won't let up until she gets it! She is funny, if she isn't sitting just how she likes when she nurses she throws a little fit until she is perfectly in her little position. I'm sure she is going to be an even bigger handful when she starts talking, or becomes a teenager :) Oh and a quick weight update. So like normal she lost 2 ounces at birth but a week later she was back to her birth weight of 5lbs 5 oz. Then at 2 weeks old she had gained a whole lb! (probably another reason why she was starving, she was going through a huge growth spurt!) We went back at a month and she was 6 lbs 11 oz. So she is still pretty little but gaining weight at a normal rate. I can't wait until we can get her out of her 5 premie outfits and into the tons of cute clothes that are just a little bigger! Well there is the update, sorry it's a little long but I just thought I'd share a couple of the things I have learned along the way of this crazy adventure!

Here is Whitley with her dad and me at 12 days old!

Here she is trying out her boucer seat at 2 weeks and 4 days old.

Here is my other baby girl! Little miss Brandi is out of her barn and out with all of the other horses. We though we would introduce Whitley to her pony she'll be riding soon :) She is 2 weeks and 5 days old here.

Here the little miss is enjoying her tummy time and boppy at 3 weeks old!

And Lastly this is the beautiful cradle my dad made for me! I LOVE it!! He spent a lot time and effort on this thing and I am so grateful for it!! Especially in the middle of the night when I can just rock it from my bed to keep her asleep just a little longer :). My mom also made those cute little bumpers in it! I have the most talented parents ever!! I love you guys!