Week 4.5

Mommy went on her first outing alone with you. We met Sara and Olivia and Misha and Kaz at the coffee shop for drinks and new parent talk. You had an amazing day and night that day.

You are beginning to sleep in 3 hour stretches at night. When you wake up, I feed you, change your diaper and put you right back to sleep. It has been a nice change from having to rock you or let you play before you went back down. You seem to have one good day and then one rougher day. I think you are on your up-swing, though.

You have such a fun time in the morning. 9am-10 am is now called your "magic hour." You coo and smile at your hanging toys, the ceiling fan, and even at mommy! It's my favorite part of the day. Can't wait to continue our journey together. Love you, Clara Jane!

Week 4

I can't believe how much I love you already, Clara. You are such an amazing, smart, beautiful little thing. I am beyond excited to watch you grow up and to see what you will do with your life.

Some new developments this week:
- cooing and smiling!! (even if it's at the ceiling fan)
- tracking faces
- hating tummy time
- staring at your daddy
- meeting your great grandparents Mammaw and Poppi (you loved them)
- loving Grami time
- crying for 3 hours straight every night (sigh)
- enjoying Skype with the Duhans (you actually watch them)
- crossing your arms while you sleep
- sleeping on mommy's chest (one of mommy's new favorite things)
- relaxing in the bathtub before bedtime (or what your parents wish was bedtime)
- hanging out with her friends, Olivia, Kaz, Stella, and Zarrin
- playing with Uncle Michael, Aunt Mandi, and cousin Rell

Week 2

The second week of Clara's life has been so sweet. She is very alert and looks at everything- favorites being the fan and light fixtures. We have been showing her some black and white patterned flashcards that seems to stimulate her. She will stare wide-eyed at each card for at least 15 seconds. No real new milestones this week.

Unfortunately, I think our luck ran out with the good sleeping and eating habits. She has started to become extremely fussy after feedings. She will eat for about 10 minutes, sleep soundly for ten minutes, and then begin writhing in pain. It's obvious that her stomach is aching. She twists and grunts, screams, and then cries. Once I calm her and put her down, the whole cycle starts again. I HATE seeing her in such pain and feel terrible that my milk is making her suffer. Plus, neither of us are sleeping much. I am averaging about 3 hours a night. I will get 2 hours straight and then another 1 or 2 hours broken sleep. Feel so happy and in love with my family, just having trouble fighting the exhaustion. Thank goodness for my mom. I don't know what I would do without her, especially now that Andrew is back at work.

Her umbilical cord finally fell off today, which means we can give her her first real bath tonight. Always seems to calm her. Hopefully next time I post, her tummy problems will be solved.