So here we are 7 weeks post delivery. Things here at the Carlson ranch have gone fairly smoothly.
I know I just jinxed myself, but really I am surprised at how smooth our transition into parenthood has gone.
Millie is a sweet tempered girl. She wants to eat, sleep and be snuggled.
We have hit a few snags in the poo department. Miss Millie is a lady through and through, she does not like to poo.
We have switched formula three times, added pedialyte to her diet, and cross our fingers everyday that we get some poo.
We have to keep a detailed log about eating times, diaper changes, color, texture and amount etc. Gross, I know, but it helps with sharing information with the doctor.
These are the facts of parenting.
Other than the poo, or lack there of, we really have enjoyed being new parents.
Picking out outfits each day, playing in the swing and glider.
Building her neck and spine strength with tummy time on the boppy and the play gym.
Watching for signs of new development. Things like smiles, eye contact, tracking, grasping, and physical growth.
Even just watching her sleep is entertaining. Especially since this little girl snores like she is breathing underwater! My sweet mermaid girl!
Some of our highlights the past 7 weeks …
• Nicknames! I started calling Millie ‘Noodle’ pretty quickly after she was born. She is either being a soft, wiggly over-cooked noodle, or a Stiff uncooked noodle. We also call her Sweet-petite, Turtle face, and squiggle-but.
• Millie Smiles! Of course the first few were just muscle twitches and gas, but in the last two weeks have seen real smiles. Grins and sideways smirks are almost a daily occurrence now. I love when she smiles in her sleep. Just the thought of happy baby dreams is so awesome! I wish I could know what they were.
• All the wonderful visitors and generous gifts that we have received. Grandma Kathy & Grandpa Bruce, Grandma Ruth & Grandpa Steve, Grandma Bonnie & Grandpa David, Uncle Ryan, Uncle Michael & Aunt Natalie, Missy, Donna & Dennis, Mindy & Courtney, Sanda & Eunice, Jodi, Great Aunt Linda & Tami, Mikey, Shannan, Hilary and Cori.
• We have been lucky to receive some really great hand made gifts of blankets, sweaters and an adorable dress. Mikey brought us an official Sock Monkey, and Vanessa sent us a cute little stuffed animal and a kangaroo shaped jigsaw puzzle all the way from Australia!
Some of the greatest moments are the gross ones that make us laugh.
Troy was changing Millie on the changing table when she coughed and spit up at the same time. Thus sending partially digested formula flying toward his face. He had chucks of spit up on his neck, sweater, and in his beard.
We were having pictures taken of Mille at six weeks by our friend and photographer Jamie Clifford. We decided to try to get some cute naked pictures. We took off her diaper and while trying to calm her down and stop her tears, she peed all over me, so much to the fact that when I stood up it looked like I had peed my pants.
Millie’s first bath was hysterical and stressful at the same time. She screamed from the minute we undressed her until the minute we wrapped her up in her Elmo towel and snuggled her. She was bright red from anger and frustration. It is kind of horrible to say it was funny how furious she was over the whole thing.
We’ve had feeding issues with Millie, so we switched formula, tried gas drops, etc. The formula we’re currently using has a little bit of rice starch in it. Troy was feeding her one night in the middle of the night and she was not very happy. He was afraid that the bottle nipple was clogged, so he deiced to test it out by sucking on it. He discovered quickly that it was not clogged and found out exactly what baby formula tastes like, it isn’t good incase you were wondering.
Everyone tells you that having a baby will change you life. They say you’ll never know how much you could love until you hold your own child. You’d rush home from work to see them, you miss them terribly when you are separated, and while I feel like all of this has happened to us, I think the way we feel is best summed up by this statement from Troy.
“…..I didn’t expect the whole thing to be so much fun.”
