Kinley at 1 month old
I can hardly believe my little girl is already a month old! Everyone told me the time was going to fly, and they aren't kidding. I remember when I was a kid and time seemed to drag by most of the time. I sure would like to return to those days sometimes. Our little girl is just as sweet as they come. I still look at her and can't believe that she's ours!
The first month has gone by like a whirlwind. Between feedings, diaper changes, baths, napping, laundry and general housekeeping, there doesn't seem to be time for much else. As much as I like my house clean, I have let a lot of things go, just so I can spend plenty of time cuddling this precious little blessing. The last thing I want is to realize in a year that her newborn days just slipped by, because I was too worried about trivial little things.
We don't have a real schedule down yet. She is pretty consistently eating every 3 hours. Occasionally at night, she will go 3 1/2 or 4 hours between feedings. Those nights are like heaven! I haven't been quite as tired as I thought I would be. If I'm not quite ready to be up in the morning, I can usually get her to go to sleep if I put her in bed with me. I know all the experts would jump down my throat about that one, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do!
Here are some 1 month highlights:
** She weighs close to 8 pounds (we don't have an official weight, but at the doctor on Tuesday, she was 7 pounds, 9 ounces)
** She is still wearing newborn clothes and diapers, and most of her clothes are still too big. I was expecting an 8 pound baby, so I didn't think we'd be using newborn stuff for very long, so I've had to pick some more small things up here and there.
** She eats 3 ounces every 3 to 3 1/2 hours, and tends to wear a lot of it. She's a messy eater right now, and a lot leaks out of her mouth. Lucky for us, though, she has yet to ever spit up.
** She makes the cutest little noise when she's really hungry and starts eating. She used to do it when she was nursing, too, and it has always made me laugh. One of the cute little quirks about her.
** She gets a bath every other day, and does NOT like it. We have tried the baby bathtub once since her cord fell off, but she still screamed like crazy, so I've still just been using the sponge thing on the bathroom counter because it's quicker.
** Another thing she hates is diaper changes. A lot of times she cries as soon as you put her down on the changing table, but most definitely screams as soon as you touch her with a wipe. I have gotten through a few changes with little to no crying, but most the time, she hates it. I hope this is something she outgrows, because I hate making her upset.
** She loves the swing, and some days, it's my lifesaver - the only way I can get some things done.
** She will happily sit in her bouncer or lay on her floor mat for 15 or 20 minutes at a time.
** Tummy time is not her favorite thing, and she often falls asleep. She does like to be up on someone's shoulder, and will lift her head and look around.
** She mostly sleeps in the bassinet at night. If I can't get her back to sleep quickly, I will put her in bed with us, just so I can get some sleep for my own sanity.
** She is starting to smile a lot. I think it's still mostly involuntarily, but sometimes when she's looking right at me and gets this big smile, it completely melts my heart!
** She is a champion sleeper in the car. Any time we got somewhere with her, she falls asleep quickly and stays that way through most of our errands, or whatever we're out for. I know this won't last forever, but it sure is nice for now.
We are so in love with our little girl, and can't wait to see how she changes and grows in the coming months. God has given us a wonderful little blessing, and we couldn't be happier.
Here are some "outtakes" from our 1 month photo session. I'm clearly no professional, and trying to get a 1 month-old to cooperate is not the easiest task I've ever taken on!
