Three Month Update

Guess who is three months old today!!! 

Here she is at one, two, and three months. Amazing how much she has changed in such a short amount of time. It's also amazing how three months can go by so fast, but it also feels like so long ago that we brought our babe home from the NICU.

Weight: No doctor visit this month to get a true measurement, but according to my scale, the babe is weighing in at 12 pounds. I'm not sure where she is packing that weight, though, cuz she is still a squirt.  She is still in 0-3 month clothes, although her legs are so long, most of her pants are 3-6 month and I just roll down the waist.

Length: I'm pretty sure Baby Tuna is 23ish inches long. I tried measuring her on the changing pad, but since this kid is in constant motion, it's impossible to know for sure. If she is indeed 23 inches, that means she's grown an inch and a half in the last month, maybe more!

This was her St. Patrick's outfit. Still a little roomy in the middle, but it really shows how much Z has grown!

Loves: She is ob-sessed with her Woobie. I mentioned this guy in her two month posting. I think they're technically called lovies or soothers, kind of a cross between a blanket and a stuffed animal, but infant sized. She clings to it when she falls asleep, and tries to eat his face when she plays. It's pretty cute.

She is still a big fan of her nightly bath (especially kicking and splashing) and the routine that follows it: getting wrapped up like a burrito in her towel and we dance our way back to her bedroom, diaper, lotion and massage as we play the wrap-up game with her blanket, then into her pjs and sleep sack to read Good Night Moon.

Baby Tuna really enjoys sitting in her Lionheart chair. It's similar to the Bumbo, and dont worry, I'm always right there and she's always buckled in. I put her up on the kitchen counter while I wash bottles or make my lunch, then she will sit with me on the floor while I eat. She is so ready to start sitting up on her own, and this little chair is perfect!

Oh look! There's Woobie again!

This kid is such a chatterbox. We "talk" all day long. I'd love to know what she's trying to say. Her babbles and squeals are just about the cutest thing ever!

It should come as no surprise to those who know me well that my child is drawn to the TV. I really try not to let her watch, in fact it's off for the majority of the day. But I do sneak in a little Sesame Street every morning. I figure if she's gonna watch, she might as well learn something. She only lasts about ten minutes, but is enthralled by the music and colors.

And I don't know if this counts as a "love", but this kid drools like it's her job, complete with bubble blowing and wet everything. She also loves sucking on her hands, which used to be a sign that she was ready to eat, but now she is constantly putting those things in her mouth.

Hates: The carseat. And anything else that causes her to be restrained, including swaddling and being strapped into the bouncer or swing. It has gotten better in the last month, but there are still a minimum of five minutes of screaming dramarama. I'm about over it.

Milestones: Baby Tuna is grabbing and grasping more and more every day. Last month it was more of a clutch, and only soft things like blankets and our shirts. But now, she is grabbing solid objects... and my hair. She's also trying to put the things she can grab into her mouth, which is easily done with soft things, but when she tries with other stuff, like her link ring, it's usually her hand that makes into the mouth.

She has become very good at following us around with her eyes and even turns her head from side to side. Sometimes she will turn her head towards a sound to see what is causing it. I've also noticed that she's started watching me eat, almost like she's studying for the future.

Sleep: Zoey's sleep habits are kind of all over the place. At night, she usually goes down between 7:30 and 8:30 (depending on when she wakes up from her late afternoon catnap) and will wake for a feeding anywhere between 1:00am and 3:30am. From there, she may wake up again at 5:00am or not until 7:00. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It makes for a lousy night's sleep for us because we are always on high alert. I'm also proud to say that Z is sleeping in her pack n play at night, instead of the bouncer. She had started scootching herself down in the bouncer so that her torso was almost totally horizontal and her little legs were hanging off. It finally dawned on me that she might be trying to tell us that she was ready to sleep flat. Duh!

During the day, the babe used to take two long three hour naps and a few catnaps. In the last week or so, all that changed. Now she will nap for 30-45 minutes at a time. It is impossible for me to get anything done in that amount of time! So frustrating.  She's also started screaming her face off as soon as I get her into snuggle position just before a nap. That lasts about five minutes, then she sleeps pretty peacefully. I don't get it and I'm hoping she grows out of it quick!

Diet: After all of our struggles with nursing, pumping, and the babe's digestive troubles, we have decided to transition her to formula. It was something we went back and forth on for quite some time, but it really is what's best for Zoey.  I think our biggest fear is that she will experience her digestive pain  (which includes lots of kicking and flailing, screaming, and torso twisting) while in recovery after her surgery next month, causing an even bigger problem. I won't go into a lot of detail here, cuz I plan to do a posting all about it. The plan is to increase the mix by half an ounce every few days. So far, Zoey is only up to one ounce of formula in each bottle, but things are going well. Fingers crossed!

Last week, we also celebrated my first Mother's Day. Our mothers (and the Hubs' dad) made the trip south to celebrate with us. The Hubs made a yummy lunch rather than doing brunch since I'm on an elimination diet and my beloved dairy has been given the ax. Really tough to come up with brunchy foods that don't involve cheese! Next year, we will have brunch with all kinds of cheesy deliciousness and mimosas to boot! The babe was dressed up to celebrate the day, but with all the commotion, wouldn't nap and was a bit of a fussy butt. She looked adorable, though!

Of course, Woobie had to make it into the shot!

Later in the afternoon, after the family left, was the best part of my first Mother's Day. Storms rolled in, so the Babe, the Hubs, and I put on our pjs, had some key lime pie and vegged out on the couch with the pup at our feet. It was true perfection!

Month Two Must-Haves

Well, we've made it through month two (and then some)! It has not been an easy two months, but I think we're starting to get into a bit of a groove. (Read about it in the Two Month post.) Baby Tuna grows and changes every day and continues to amaze us. Here's some of the things that made Month Two a little easier.

1. Baby Jogger City Mini GT: I love this stroller! It turns on a dime, folds in half with the pull of one strap, and rolls easily over the lousy uneven sidewalks in our neighborhood. The best part, it easily fits in the back of my VW Rabbit...with room to spare, which isn't true of other strollers. It is a splurge, yes, but will last as she grows and can go pretty much anywhere. 

2. Jaques the Peacock: This is one of Baby Tuna's favorite toys during tummy time. His colors catch her eye, he has crinkly wings and a squeaky spot that drives Scout bananas, and Z will babble to him while she tries to roll over. We also have the firefly, but if it were up to me, we'd have the entire collection. They are so cute! 

3. Snugabunny Swing: Baby Z wasn't completely sold on this swing when we first got it, and it doesn't calm her when she's fussy like it does many other babies, but she does nap nicely in it during the day. She will also hang out in the swing, happily gazing up at herself in the little mirror, when I need to take a potty break or prepare a bottle. It swings a little "aggressively" for my taste, but we hang a blanket off the edge and it slows down nicely. 

4. Whale of a Tub: Baby Tuna loves her baths these days, and has even started kicking and splashing (early training for the Summer Olympics 2030). It fits nicely on the kitchen counter and has a little booty bumper to keep the kiddo in place. It also comes with a cute orange fishy cup that is perfect for rinsing out the shampoo. (Thanks Auntie Susan!!) 

5. Medela Pump In Style Advanced: I never thought I'd end up even needing a pump, but now that I am pumping exclusively (more on that later), this puppy is getting a ton of use. It comes with a nifty little cooler and a bag to carry the pump, cooler, and all the pieces parts when we travel. Worth the money if you plan to do a lot of pumping. 

6. Olivia: Who doesn't love that sassy little pig?! 

7. Avent Natural Bottles: We originally purchased these bottles to help lower the chances of the dreaded nipple confusion when I was still nursing. It must have worked, cuz we never had a problem with that. The best part is that they are easy to clean since they don't have a zillion little parts.

8. Very Hungry Caterpillar Rattle: Baby Tuna love loves the Very Hungry Caterpillar! The book is one of her faves and so is this rattle. Plus, it's way cute! 

9. Jack Johnson: I first discovered Jack Johnson a hundred years ago when I first heard Brushfire Fairytales. My love for him remains pure and true to this day. I celebrate the man's entire catalog. (Yep. I just rocked your world with an Office Space reference) So what's he doing on our must-haves list? Well, he is one of our go-tos for calming the babe when she's gone truly bonkers. She also falls asleep to his music from time to time. We try to mix it up when it comes to music, but the babe and I could listen to Jack all day long. Some of Zoey's other favorites for calming/sleep time are Norah Jones, Iron & Wine, and the Pandora Lullaby station. She also digs the Pandora Raffi station during playtime.


And with all of that out of the way, here's a bit of what you all came for:

The kid just moments before a big roll over. And how cute are those bubble shorts?!

These two are nothin' but trouble! And see what I mean about the babe in constant motion? It's ridiculous! 

I know, right?!

Two Months Old!

Last week Zoey Kate had her two month birthday. . . and mommy had a stomach virus. Not the way I wanted to celebrate our babe's birthday or kickstart my post-baby weight loss (though I did manage to lose about 7 lbs!).  I was reminded of the Emily Blunt line from The Devil Wears Prada about being just one stomach flu away from her ideal weight. Well, I was more like three stomach flus away, so I'd rather just put in some extra time on the rowing machine. 

I know I always say this but, I really can't believe that just two months ago, we brought home our baby girl. Crazy! She had her two month check up last Wednesday, and I am certain I heard the word "perfect" come out of the pediatrician's mouth. 

Perfect in polka dots! 

Here are Baby Tuna's Month Two stats:

Weight: She was born at 8 lbs even, and is now up to 11 lbs even. 

Length: She was born at 20.5 inches and has grown a whole inch. That's 21.5 inches for those who are arithmetically challenged. According to the growth chart, Zoey is in the 15th percentile for height. That's not a typo. 15th. I'm still amazed that our kid, the offspring of two giants, is such a squirt. Although my mom often reminds me that I was pretty much the same size as Zoey when I was born. (Comparison photos coming soon to a future post!) 

Head: The babe's head has grown by two inches since birth. Up to 15 inches around. 

Loves: Music, though that's not a big surprise given who her momma is. We listen to all kinds of music all day long, but the Lullaby Radio station on Pandora is always a big hit for nap time, or calming down Baby Tuna when she has hit the peak of a screaming fit. 

A little post-bath fun

She has finally started enjoying her nightly bath, now that the Hubs and I have perfected the process. It's definitely a two man job. I think her favorite part is after, once her diaper is on, when she gets her lotion and massage, then is wrapped up in her flannel blanket to get warm. 

Hates: Still not a big fan of being in her car seat, which makes going anywhere ten tons of fun for me (and is partially why I rarely ever leave the house with her), or getting the hiccups, which she gets about five times a day. Those hiccups can derail a good time at the drop of a hat. She would also like to skip her next round of shots. I think I speak for Z when I say that they were zero fun, although the Hubs did a really great job of keeping her as calm as possible. I on the other hand, having a pathological fear of needles, became super interested in what was happening in the diaper bag when the sweet nurse gave Zoey the injections. Sounds like someone is in the running for Mommy of the Year!

Nicknames: Peanut, Boo Boo, Baby Tuna, Zo, Monkey, Fussy Butt.

Babbling along to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Milestones: So many smiles!! And a little bit of giggling and lots of babbling, too. Turns out, when she isn't screaming her face off, Baby Zoey is a pretty happy and chatty little monkey.

I think she's saying, "Isn't my Woobie cute?"

She's also clutching soft things like our shirts, blankets, and her Woobie (one of those snuggle buddies - a tiny blanket with an elephant head in the middle. Wow! That sounds more horrifying than snuggly, but it's cute, I swear!). 

Big sis Scout showing the bambino how it's done!

Always getting stronger holding herself up during tummy time and, like a little overachiever, she has rolled from her front to her back. The only problem there, now that she knows she can do it, she gets so pissed cranky when she can't. We aren't to the point where it happens all the time, but it has happened! 

Hobbies: Baby Tuna's hobbies include holding her head up like a boss, kicking her legs like an Olympic swimmer (watch out Missy Franklin!), and eluding sleep, no matter what time of day. 

There is so much sweetness in this one little pic!

Sleep: We've been trying, sort of, to get the babe on some sort of a nighttime routine and schedule, but we haven't been totally successful. She foils us at every turn. Her favorite scheme: refusing to go down for her late afternoon nap, acting grouchy for two hours, screaming out her over-tiredness for two more hours, then finally falling asleep after 8:00, sometimes 9:00. Exhausting for all of us! We finally started adding a half ounce to her bottles (I'm now pumping exclusively, but that's another blog post), and changed the times of day that we add gripe water to the bottles, and that seems to have made a little bit of difference. The jury is still out, but I'd say we are cautiously optimistic. 

Using a pacifier has also made a huge difference in taming the fussies during digestive troubles and helping the babe get to sleep. Initially, she wasn't interested and I had wanted to avoid using a binky because I didn't want her to be dependent on it. But you know what they say about desperate times, and it seems to soothe her, so why not? (If you have a list of reasons why not, please keep them to yourself. I'm already conflicted enough!) On the subject of pacifiers my thoughts are twofold: First, if I don't give her the binky, she's gonna suck on her thumb/finger/knuckle/wrist. When it stops being cute, it will be a million times easier to take away a binky than it will be to take away her hand, and will most likely NOT earn me a spot on the evening news. Second, this kid's gonna need braces anyway. Although we both have Colgate smiles now, Baby Tuna didn't exactly hit the orthodontic lottery with the Hubs and I. 

Mommy's Favorite Moment: I love love love that moment when she first wakes up. She is such a snugglepus, and she coos and babbles so sweetly. It lasts just a few minutes, but it kills me every time! 

Mommy's Least Favorite Moment: The hours of 5-8 pm around here are what we have dubbed "the Witching Hours." Some evenings run like clockwork: bottle, bath, book, and bed. Most evenings include all of those things... plus a buttload of screaming and crying. The kind that has no end. The kind that makes you want to beat your head against the wall. The kind that makes you wish the bottle part of the evening routine were a bottle of Jack Daniels. There has been less and less of that lately, but I still hate it when it happens. 

How Mommy's Doing: Well, now that I'm over the stomach bug, physically I'm doing pretty well. I lost all of the baby weight sometime around 6 weeks, plus a few pounds more, and hope to keep losing if I can get a workout routine started. What I need the most is toning up, especially in the middle. Yikes! I'm trying to get out and walk in the mornings and hoping to work my way back to running eventually, though I'm not sure how I will be able to wrangle the stroller and the dog while running. It's tricky enough while walking, and leaving Scout at home is not an option. The Hubs is also going to create some "sissy Crossfit" WODs for me to do with the rower and kettle bells, since I have zero interest in doing actual Crossfit.

In the last month, we've started seeing a little personality emerge. Here's a little photo dump that shows what a character we've got on our hands:

Baby Tuna had a huge toothless grin on her face just before I took this shot. Then she got distracted by the shiny apple on the back of my phone and all I could get was this face. Why so serious? And, of course, she's always in motion.   I must have taken a zillion shots with the chalkboard this month, and all but two looked like they were out of The Ring!