First off - how is she two months already?? It seriously doesn't feel like it's been that long. This month we took our first vacation as a family of 5, and Gemma's first significant road trip. She did okay - not screaming the whole time - but since we've been back her tolerance of the car is nil and I wonder is she somehow has memory of the loooong road trip we had and is fearful that each ride coming up will be that long. We headed to Wichita via STL, and the first leg was great. Somewhere in between leaving St. Louis and arriving in Wichita, however, Gemma lost it and didn't really recover for the remainder of the vacation. It has also spilled over in to everyday life now, so I'm thinking it's a new norm to figure out. What has helped me (good or bad) is rereading Reid's 2 month post and realizing how similar he was to Gemma at this stage. So, while it's a bit crazy (who am I kidding - a LOT crazy) right now, it won't last forever!
Here's a snip-it from Reid's post: This 2nd month with Reid has been challenging - we're still working on trying to figure out what he really likes when going to sleep and how best to help him get there effectively and smoothly. Each day seems to be different with Mr. Reid, and you never know what you're going to get with him. The Ergo baby carrier has been an absolute miracle for me this month...and I have no idea what I'd do without it!! 99% of the time, if Reid is refusing to sleep in any other way, I am able to get him to sleep in the carrier. I have joked with a few people that I am still pregnant, just with an external baby vs. an internal one, haha. I always try and put Reid to sleep in his crib first, but if it fails (especially after numerous attempts to get him sleeping and stay sleeping) then in the carrier he goes. I know it won't always be like this and that it will get easier! Usually it coincides with a burb or gas - but happens nonetheless. So, Christian and I have definitely felt a little overwhelmed at times this month.
This is almost identical to what I feel with Gemma it's uncanny. The main difference is that I rarely struggle to get Gemma to sleep, it's just a struggle to get her to stay asleep right now (reminding me quite heavily of Micah and the infamous 45 minute intruder). One of the hardest things I'm finding right now is the unknown. I truly don't know what kind of day she's going to have, consequently now knowing what kind of day I'll have. She's not on a specific schedule yet, so it's hard to truly make plans for a set time at least. And sleep training may end up coming, but I don't feel comfortable with it yet, so this crazy chaos I'm in might be here for a couple more months. I'm grateful she sleeps in the Ergo so easily, as it's definitely a life saver!
While the last two weeks have been hard, she's also started smiling and it's just heart melting!! I love, love, love this little girl and love the sweetness she has for us. It helps that her smiles are bookended by the cutest little dimples ever, and I'm so in love with the blessing God has given us! In spite of all the crazy, she is well loved and brings so much joy already to our life. Her brothers love her and love loving on her and she will be protected and cared for her whole life, I'm sure! She also loves her momma, and we're getting very well acquainted :)
Dr. Stats:
Weight - 10 pounds, 12.8 ounces = 35%
Height - 22 inches = 27%
Head Circumference - 15.31 inches = 69%
Compared to the boys stats (M: 13 pounds, 13 ounces and 23.5 inches and R: 12 pounds, 1 ounce and 22 inches) she's quite a little peanut. But she started out that way too, as she was 1 pound less than Reid and birth weight and 2 pounds less than Micah. She's making great growth gains and the doctor was pleased.
On another note - I chatted with the doctor about some of the struggles I'm having and feel a little better moving forward. Trying to help her through the 45 minute intruder as well as problem solving the nursing struggles, and a shift in my "scheduled" thinking. Hopefully this eases some of the stress I'm feeling and will make life just a little bit easier!!
We tried to capture her smiles for her 2 months shots with Mickey and just couldn't get them. Oh well, you can't win them all. Hopefully they're there for month 3...but here's month 2 pics!
Things to remember this month:
- how you have started smiling this month and it's amazing; your dimples are adorable!
- how much you love being carried in the Ergo and I don't know how I'd survive without it
- how easy you are to get to sleep...you can only be awake for 1-1:15 before needed to sleep again...but you struggle most days to get past the 45ish min intruder
- how you love sleeping on your tummy, just like your big(middle) brother
- how well your neck control is, showing off your strong neck!
- how much you've grown this month...you were still a peanut month 1, but month 2 you've really seemed to change from a newborn to a baby
- how much you hate, hate, hate the car...just in the last 10 days...so I'm hoping it's a phase that won't be here for too much longer
- how much you love your brothers...you stay pretty calm for them when the want to hold you and definitely take interest in their faces whenever they're jumping around you and trying to entertain you!
- how you can go from 0 to 60 in a split second, which has caused some nursing frustrations that I'm praying are few and infrequent
- how noisy you are...not really cooing too much yet, but when sleeping and eating you're quite loud
- how your clogged tear duct finally went away
- how long your sweet blonde hair is getting!
- how much you love your baths
- how piercing your blue eyes have become
