Marlon Brando? Marlon Brando.

Welcome to the family.

8 weeks old

Samara is 8 weeks old today. It's hard to believe that much time has gone by. This week has been the best week and also the worst. Mom has been here all week helping out which has been amazing. Samara has been increasingly fussy which we were able to narrow down to being overtired. During a 24 hour period, she would only sleep an average of 10 hours. At this stage she should be sleeping 16-18 hours. The easy part was diagnosing it...not so easy to try and fix it. Although she would be so tired, she would refuse to sleep. Most of the day and night would be spent trying to soothe her to sleep and our efforts would only result in little 20 minute naps. This eventually took its toll on us and eventually the sleep deprivation got to me. Wednesday I started feeling really sick. Nausea, fever, chills, migraine and intense pain in my left breast. On Thursday I went to the doctor and found out I have mastitis, which is a breast infection due to a clogged milk duct. I'm feeling quite a bit better since starting antibiotic treatment but it is taking me awhile to get back on my feet. Thank goodness Mom is here, we would've been lost without her. So those were the bad things, besides Mom's visit which has been so good that we are tempted to ask her to move in with us!

The good things...Sam has turned a corner. It appears as though we have been through the worst. She is now sleeping better at night...last feed at 815 and then not up again until sometime between 1-2. Then it's back to her usual 2 hours but it is such a dramatic improvement. We are also able to soothe her during the day to take naps and although they aren't very long, it's also an improvement and will mean I don't need to wait until Shawn gets home before showering! This has led to a much happier baby which has led to a much happier Mommy and Daddy!

Here is what happens when Mommy gets to do Sam's hair after the bath: (my little tribute to Farrah Fawcett!)

And a picture of Mommy and Sammy surviving a very hard week...I look way worse for the wear than she does. Do bags under the eyes become permanent at some point?? Hopefully not!

Mommy Brain

Sleep deprivation does wonderful things to the brain. I am not quite as smart as I used to think I was. I can't remember the simplest things. For example...every Thursday I get together with the moms and babies from our prenatal class for a walk and talk. Going anywhere takes a lot of prep...packing the diaper bag, dressing and feeding Sam so there is enough time to get to our destination without her getting hungry, feeding or at least dressing myself and packing the car with everything. All on a time restriction. So I get to our planned meeting spot for the walk, not only on time but EARLY and feeling pretty damn proud of myself, open the trunk to get out the stroller...and #$%$# forgot to pack the stroller for our WALK! Super! I suppose it could be worse...I could've forgotten Sam!

Recent Pics

Hanging out in the swing...will only allow it for a couple minutes before demanding human contact!
This is after a particularly rough night...had to take a pic to prove she can in fact sleep!

Big smiles in her bouncy seat! Chubby cheeks! She weighs in at 10 pounds and 14 ounces now...6 weeks ago she was born weighing in at 7 pounds and 3 ounces.

Same thing though, will only allow it for a few minutes before that seat needs to replaced with warm arms!

Trying to wake her up to take ner nightly bath and she was not having it...she stayed sleeping in this sitting up position even after taking her clothes off!

Big stretch, finally waking up!

She has the cutest stretches!

Watching the mobile in the crib. Same thing here too...it's fun for a few minutes but does not replace being held and cuddled!

Adorable if I do say so myself!

6 weeks

Samara is 6 weeks old and growing like crazy. This past weekend she was going through a growth spurt and it seemed like I fed her nonstop all weekend! We watched a movie last night while Sammy had a nap and Shawn said when she woke up, it seemed like she was way bigger.

Sunday morning we were trying to lay in bed and sleep in but she was having none of it. Shawn got up and I was playing with her in bed...raising her above my head and making faces at her. Then she spit up...directly in my eye. So disgusting! I went straight to the shower and then she spit up all over Shawn's chest. Being parents is so glamourous!

Most of you who I talk to on a regular basis know that Sammy was being pretty fussy lately. It didn't seem like it was colic because it wasn't only in the evenings and it wasn't regular either. At my 6 week check up with my doctor last week, she thought it might be acid reflux. So we put her on a baby dose of liquid Zantac and so far I think it's been working but it's hard to say...she could've been fussy for another reason and now that reason is gone too. So hard to tell. Anyways, she seems quite a bit less fussy but is definitely what is qualified as a "high need baby". A friend of mine told me about a doctor whose approach she liked (Dr. Sears and attachment parenting if you're interested in looking it up) and when I went to the website and looked up fussy baby, it referred to high need babies. They are babies who are not content on their own...they are not the babies who lay for hours in their crib staring up at their mobile, quietly cooing until the next feeding! They are high energy, always need to be on the move and always need to be held. This is Sam for sure! It's definitely exhausting but now that I know that's what she needs to feel secure, I feel more comfortable. I've been using the baby carrier a lot so that I can still be "holding" her but get things done. In fact, as I write this, she is sleeping in the carrier on my chest!

That's about it for now, I haven't been able to upload any pics this time but I will do my best to do it this week!

5 weeks old

Sam is 5 weeks old now and just starting to realize that her hands and feet belong to her. The other night she was in her crib staring up at her mobile which is one of her favorite things to do. Shawn was hanging out in the room with her and suddenly she started screaming...why? Because she had a handful of her own hair and was pulling it!

More Samara!

What happens when Daddy does Samara's hair after her bath:

Cute outfit from Aunty Chelsey:

She's getting so good at holding up her head that we thought we would try her in the Bumbo...which she is clearly still too small for!

Mommy and Samara after a walk. Mommy has never looked more tired in her life and she used to stay up all night getting into trouble, playing in a band!