Storytime!

On Thursday we all ventured out to storytime at our local library since it is the last time I will be able to go with them for awhile. Peter and Nate go pretty frequently normally, whenever Peter is off or closing on the days they have them, but I never get to go because, of course, they only have them while I'm at work. Peter told me that when they first started going Nate was very shy and wouldn't get up and participate in songs or anything, but he's slowly but surely starting to get more comfortable and dance and sing. However, when I was there he didn't want to do any of that.

Now, the main trait I don't want my children to receive from me (other than the whole chubby thing, but I'm working on that) is my painful shyness. I want them to feel like the world is their oyster and have no problem going out and doing things or talking to people. From the way he acts around his family you would never guess that he would have this problem, but I'm starting to wonder. He loves to dance and sing at home, so why not at storytime too? Maybe it's all the kids that he's not used to? I don't know, but hopefully I can work on this too. I have no problem with him being an introvert, as long as he doesn't mind opening up every once in awhile.

But, he very politely waits in line to get his stamp every week, so at least there's that.

1 month!

Our little lady is one month old! Well, technically 5 weeks and one day, but I'm running a little late... kill me! :)

"Cool Octopus!"

One month details:
Height: We didn't have a doctor's appointment, so I'll estimate about 22.5".
Weight: Ummm, I don't know. Based on how much she was growing at her two week appointment I'd say probably about 11lbs.
Clothes: Size 0-3 months - packed up the Newborn stuff yesterday and it was so sad. She can still fit into some of the newborn stuff, but the pajamas and onesies are definitely too small, so I thought it would just be easier for me to pack up everything. 0-3 month pants sometimes fall off though... :/
Eating: She eats usually about every 2-3 hours, sometimes more, sometimes less. At night she will give us one long stretch. I've been pumping the last couple weeks at least once a day while she's eating to build up a stock for when I go back to work and we have probably 50-60oz built up now. Peter gave her her first bottle on Sunday night and she didn't really love it, but I think it could have been done a little better. (Not after she was already screaming for food and in a sitting position, not standing.) But he gave her another one the next morning that we had ready in advance and she took 3oz no problem!
Sleep: She sleeps sometimes in small little spurts, and others for long stretches. She really prefers to be held, but sometimes she will let us put her in the swing for a little while and usually gives us 4-5 hours in the bassinett at night.
Awake: She has just started having longer stretches of awake time, ranging from about half an hour to an hour and a half or two. We just sing or talk to her, and she loves storytime with Nate. We've also been doing belly time a couple times a day. She can only take it for about 5 minutes or so, but Nate likes to do it with her and she lasts longer when he's there, and even turns her head to see where he is if he's moving around. She can move her head and hold it up very well. She has to put it down every now and then, but she's doing pretty good.

Nate doing "back time" with Mia

Holding up her head!

Smiles!: She gave us her first "real" smile on the 26th! It is beautiful
Coos: She has been cooing away recently and it is my favorite sound!
Nate: I feel like Amelia has been easier than Nate was. I'm sure she really isn't, but I was dealing with "First Time Mom Syndrome"! But, since my mom has been gone, it has been more difficult dealing with both of them. Since my last post about how amazing Nate has been things have taken a turn for the worse. He told Peter that he didn't want to be a big brother any more and asked if she could go back in my belly. He also said that he thought I didn't want him any more. :( So we have been trying to find the line between making him feel special and like we still love him without letting him get away with whatever he wants. I'm not sure we've found it yet. I'm hoping things will get a little better once get back on a regular schedule when I go back to work next week. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Big Brother Nate

So, Nate stayed with his Nonna while I went to the hospital. She said that all day he kept asking when he would get to see his little sister. We wanted to make sure that he was the first person who got to see her, so my mom brought him by as soon as we had a few minutes with her and had her all cleaned up.

The first thing he asked when he walked in the door was, "Where's my baby sister?" We told them her name and (luckily) he can say it no problem! He wanted to hold her and we showed him how to do it.

First time holding his "Baby Sister"

He came back to visit twice the next day too, and even exchanged gifts with Amelia. He got her a little bee for her car seat that plays music and she got him a Tiny doll from Dinosaur Train that matches (and interacts with) the Buddy doll we had gotten him for Christmas. He loved it!

Since we have been home for over a week now, things have been pretty good. He is very sweet with her and has come in to our bedroom every morning asking the same question he asked at the hospital, "where's my baby sister?!", but sometimes we do have to remind him to be a little more gentle. I think there are moments, especially at nap and bed time, when he wishes he still had my full attention, but I think he doesn't really mind as a whole. He gives her lots of hugs and kisses, and the sweetest moment I've seen so far happened a couple nights ago. I was changing her diaper on the couch while he was watching his nightly episode of (probably) 'Dinosaur Train' and she started crying. He kept watching, but reached his hand over and just put it on her head while I finished cleaning her up. I almost cried.

Tough love

Helping with bathtime

Hopefully it can stay this way now that my mom has gone back to California and he no longer has his roommate and spoiler. We are trying hard to make sure that he still knows that Peter and I love him and that Amelia hasn't replaced him in any way. And hopefully that will just get easier as she gets older, but for now I think we are all doing a great job!