Daycare Day One

I dropped little Adelaide off at daycare this morning. She was kicking and smiling. She played with a toy, looked at the other babies, and looked at me as if to say, "It's ok mom! I'll be fine!" But it doesn't feel fine for the mom. It is so strange to be a mother, so far I just feel guilty any moment I'm not with her. Several co-workers and Facebook friends had words of encouragement that really got me through the day. One even checked on her when she dropped her own sons off at daycare (we go to the same one). I received a gift today from one co-worker - the cute lion hat that she made, thanks, Andrea! Look at how tired she is - daycare tired Addie out. She hasn't slept so much in ages! :)

3 months old!

I'm went back to work Monday, January 12. I had gotten an extension of a week for January 5-12 (she was born a week late). I took that extra week "practice leaving" (running errands and pumping) so that it wasn't such a shock to me (or to her, or to her Grandmas) on my first day back at school. "Practice leaving" did help my first week back. I miss her so much when I'm at work! At the same time, it is nice to see my students and colleagues. February 2nd will be the next major transition as she starts actual daycare, and not the one-on-one with Grandmas she has during January. She DID finally start taking bottles - voraciously so! She has finally napped some, without me nursing. It did involve a lot of rocking - but at least she slept!

Adelaide is growing out of the 0-3 month footed sleepers since she's so tall, but can still wear some 0-3 month clothes. She is starting to fill out more. She's really finding her hands, and starting to comfort suck on her hands. We're hoping this continues, as it may help her sleep. She likes to talk to stuffed animals - she likes a monkey that hangs on a monkey-themed baby gym. She loves it when her grandmas sing to her! It is so much more fun now that she can play, smile, and react!

Week 10

(December 30, 2008) Christmas and New Year's with a baby is fun, but very quiet and subdued. We went to the Christmas Eve children's service with Grandma Susan at our church. She was very good, and even fell asleep during the candlelight Silent Night! It helps that it is a very liberal church, and that you can nurse during the service. (And thank goodness for those nice, modest nursing tops!) She got tons of presents, but she didn't know it. Christmas day our friends Tara and Ross came over and Susan cooked a feast! New Year's Eve the four of us (Matt, Grandma Susan, Addie and I)ate Thai take out, put Addie to bed, and watched the ball drop on TV.

Addie naps now, maybe just because she's older - but only when I'm home to nurse her first. Hopefully she'll learn to nap when I'm at work!

Adelaide was 11 pounds 6 ounces at her doctor's visit on 12/26/08. She was also 24 1/2 inches, but we're pretty sure that they measured some of her hair as well. (The nurse didn't check very carefully).

Weeks 6 and 7

They say a dairy intolerance can cause sleeplessness, so I am trying to eliminate (or at least cut back on that). It must be working (or she's just getting older) because she is napping a bit better. She smiles a lot more, which makes it all more fun. She really likes her books (we have bedtime ones, and daytime ones). She is fitting into her little outfits now (at first, she could only wear the tiny sleepers). Isn't she a great early Christmas present to put under the tree?

Weeks 4 and 5

Here is a picture of Addie smiling on the changing table at four weeks, and with her second cousins Sam and Claire at five weeks, The thrush is gone, but Addie still doesn't nap much. She sleeps about four to six hours fewer than she is supposed to, most days. We may just be the lucky parents of a kid who hates naps! Luckily, she sleeps (usually) pretty well at night - two shifts of 4 hours each. This means fewer updates here! She smiles more and is starting to 'talk.' She did really well on our road trip to Iowa for Thanksgiving, we had such fun!! Pity I can't drive to Iowa every day.

Three Weeks Old

Adelaide is three weeks old, and 8 pounds, 7 oz. She's gained a pound already, since she's a good eater! She had thrush, and was very fussy for awhile, (and didn't stop nursing or even nap for about two weeks). Her thrush is almost cleared up and she is less fussy, takes naps, and is much happier. We're practicing with the baby slings (carriers) and I'm venturing out a bit, but it is hard to get everything organized to leave - and then have to nurse every half hour or so when you are out! (She's a good eater, like I said). She's starting to almost like baths, we think her smiles are maybe REAL smiles, and her eyes are getting to be a clearer blue. She's changed already! Alison finally got to see her niece, and bought an "I Love My Auntie" bib for her!

At home - Days 2 - 6

We are home and happy - our house was decorated when we got home. I suspect my teacher-friends from school. :) Even though we had a great experience at Regions, it was really great going home from the hospital early (just over 24 hours). It is hard to sleep in hospitals. Last night, we were all able to sleep some! Grandma DeFrance has been here since Friday, and Grandpa DeFrance came yesterday. (He's having a lot of good luck - new grandbaby, 60 birthday, his cross country team made state, and he won $100 on the slot machines!) Grandma Schmidt joined us for a wonderful dinner here, and a champagne toast to Adelaide. I'm healing, trying to get the hang of motherhood. Matt is a real natural with her. The first friends have started stopping by (although I'm trying to take that easy). We're so lucky to have such great support!