(Bethany at 7 weeks!)
I haven't written the past few mornings because Bethany has been SLEEPING (cue triumphal music) and waking up later. Since she doesn't get me up as early, I've also been SLEEPING! It has been sooo nice, but I've definitely had the blogging itch and don't have much time for it during the day!
Last night was her first official full sleep through the night. She went to bed around 10:30pm and woke up at 6am! The night before that she was up a little earlier . . . so I don't know if that one counts or not. It has been absolutely great, though! We follow a super loose eat-play-sleep schedule which I think has helped tremendously. I feed her every 2-3 hours unless she is insistent on eating. (She's never been on insistent before 2 hours pass.) She usually eats right around every 2 1/2 hours. After she eats, she stays awake and loves to smile and coo. After smiling, cooing, playing, being held, and having a diaper or two changed . . . she'll usually start to get a little fussy and a little tired and then I'll try to get her to take a nap. Her daytime sleep is hit or miss. She always has her naps, but sometimes her naps are shorter rather than longer . . . which is fine as long as she's not overly tired. She is very picky about WHERE she sleeps during the day which is funny. At night, she has no problems with the bassinet, but during the day if I put her down in the bassinet, I'm guaranteed a short nap. If I put her in the car seat or just hold her, however, she always sleeps longer! (Her long naps are around 2 1/2 hours. Again, those are hard to come by now!)
This may be too much information, but I'm starting to really get good use out of my Medela breast pump. (It is a double electric pump that comes in a convenient stylish shoulder bag!) I've been upping my pumping in efforts to increase my milk production. Currently, I try to pump after as many feedings as I can as long as I'm not too close to her next feeding (I don't want to be empty for her next meal!). I also pump when she takes her breast milk bottle. That's a lot of pumping! As of now, I have sixteen bags of frozen milk for future use (each bag has 4-5 oz.) and a bottle and a half stored for daily feedings in the fridge. My goal is to have at least 30 frozen bags of milk in the freezer by December 6 and it's nice being just over half way there! It has been interesting learning how to pump, feed, and store - but we've managed! It has also been interesting learning which boob make the most milk and at what times and how production varies during certain points in the day.
This week has been a good one so far! Marcus and I went to Connect Group on Tuesday night and I even managed to make pumpkin cupcakes and cream cheese frosting to take along. (Bethany was having a good nap day on Tuesday!) For lunch today, Bethany and I got to have lunch with Marcus and Jess. It was fun getting to see them during their work day and get Bethany out of the house. Tonight I went to Base Camp Live rehearsal (I'm playing a character this Sunday morning at Summit Waterford's BCL!) at Summit and Marcus watched Bethany for just over three hours on his own! That is the longest I have been away from her. Marcus said she did just great. She had her bottle and talked with her daddy and slept! When I got home, they were happily hanging out together. It was sweet. (It was hard not thinking of them while I was gone, but I still managed to have a good time at rehearsal. I'm excited for the upcoming BCL!)
Speaking of sweet, Bethany and her daddy have had several cute conversations lately! She is very responsive if you talk to her and she has been smiling, smiling, smiling! It is incredibly adorable. We just love our sweet 7 week 3 day old girl!
Tomorrow is family day. Marcus has the day off and my parents are coming to visit for a few hours. YAY for three-day weekends!