Lola - 2 Weeks

Lola is two weeks old today!  It feels both like time is flying by and dragging, I guess because our days have been pretty monotonous as we're getting to know Lola and figure out her wants and needs.  I'm still apprehensive about taking her out too often.  I'm not sure how she'll behave, and I'm also worried about exposing her to too many people too soon.  But I'll slowly start taking her out and that will make our days more exciting.

After some rough nights the first week, we've had some success sleeping the past week.  I think it's mostly due to the fact that she can now fit in the SwaddleMe blankets we have.  She was too tiny for them at first, so we were swaddling her in muslin blankets, which she could easily break out of.  The SwaddleMe blankets have velcro and are essentially baby straitjackets, so she can't get out.  Thus, her crazy arm spasms don't wake her up.  She's slept for as much as five hours at once during the night, but on average she's out for three hours, then I feed her and she goes back to sleep.  We've still had a few nights where she doesn't want to sleep (she likes to sleep a LOT during the day, which I'm trying to regulate now), but eventually she goes to sleep.

Lola is eating like a champ.  While it does take up a lot of my time and energy, I'm so happy that she's a good eater and we haven't had any issues breastfeeding.

My brother Ben visited from New York last weekend to meet his niece.  It was so sweet to see him hold Lola, even though he seemed unsure of what to do at first.  We didn't have a very exciting weekend since it rained so much, but hopefully Ben enjoyed the family time and just relaxing.  He also seemed to enjoy having a non-NYC-sized kitchen, as he cooked three fabulous meals for us.

We went to the pediatrician for Lola's two-week checkup on Monday.  She now weighs 7 pounds 15 ounces, so over a pound gained from her first appointment and 8 ounces over her birth weight.  The doctor said this is great and that I can stop waking her in the night to feed her - just feed her if she wakes and is hungry.  She also grew one inch and is now 21 inches.  Her umbilical cord mostly fell off last Friday, but there is still a little piece on her belly button, so the doctor said to wait until that falls off until we give her a real bath.

I had my two-week postpartum visit today.  It was just a general check-in to make sure I'm feeling well and to answer any questions I had; my full checkup will be at six weeks.  The midwife felt my stomach to make sure everything is going back in place, and she said everything felt good.  Also, I was happy to learn that I have lost 27 of the 35 pounds I gained.  Although I'm sure the last 8 pounds will be the hardest to lose.  I'm not so worried about the weight - I mainly just want to get back in shape so I don't get winded walking up the tiniest hill.  I've been trying to go on daily walks with Lola to slowly build up my endurance.  I'm supposed to put off any major exercise (e.g., kettlebells) until six weeks, so I'll keep taking it easy for now.

Lola's "firsts" this week:

• Trip to Dekalb Farmers Market (although she spent most of the time in the car with me while my parents and brother shopped, as she was not happy with the sling that day)
• Playtime on the activity mat
• Trip to the grocery store (she liked the sling that day)
• Time in the swing
• Meeting Uncle Ben

Lola's likes:

• Mommy & Daddy (obviously)
• Swings - both her baby swing and the porch swing
• Being outside - it seems to calm her down immediately (and usually puts her to sleep)
• Eating

Lola's dislikes:

• Being naked
• Having her diaper changed (usually)
• Getting a sponge bath

Walk in the park

Passed out after a meal

With Uncle Ben

Holding Grandpa's fingers

Enjoying the porch swing with Uncle Ben

Sleeping (a common activity)

Tummy time on Daddy

With Grandma

"I'm two weeks old already??"

Activity mat