4 months old

Well, I can't believe my Emma is 4 months old. Time is really going by so fast with her. She is really changing so much lately. She is so much more interactive with us and is such a happy girl. She has discovered her feet and is desperately trying to put them in her mouth. She has recently started sucking her thumb and I think she will continue to do it, which is fine with me b/c I can't nurse her constantly like she wanted to in the beginning and she never took to a paci. She laughs and talks a lot now and is so curious of everyone around her. She has started really trying to grab at toys and of course once she gets something it goes straight for her mouth. We are still doing great nursing, but she tends to like the left side over the right, which if I'm near a pump is not usually a problem. But, if I'm away from home and she refuses to take that side I start to get engorged I start to get a little panicky. Sometimes she will take the right side with no problem, but there are times where she will kick and scream when I'm trying to get her to latch on and if I switch to the other side she is totally fine? Isn't that crazy, I don't remember Aidan doing anything like that. I'm not sure what's going on there? Have any of you other BF moms experienced anything like this?

trying to roll over

my cute chunky monkey!

Emma and her cousin Matti playing

oops I didn't mean to cut her head off in this one!

sitting up with assistance

Here is a video of her laughing at her Nana B. Its a little dark, but so cute!

pink eye

one more thing that Emma has gotten from her brother. Aidan had to go to the dtr on Wed. and we were told that he definitely had pink eye and was not allowed to go to school the next day. When I went to pick up Emma Wed. afternoon it looked like someone had punched her in the eye, it was pitiful. So, I took her to the dtr yesterday morning and she also has it. I was glad to go to also ask them about her still being congested and having to clean her nose out constantly. They told me they weren't concerned as long as she didn't have a temp and wasn't coughing with every breath. I'm not sure if that really makes me feel better or not, I guess I will just continue to do the same thing I've done and hope that it clears up soon. The Medicine they give you for pink eye really works fast, both of their eyes already look better. Even though its more than difficult to put eye drops in both an infant and a toddler, talk about torture! I'm so paranoid about touching my eyes now and I think my hands are going to dry out from putting anti-bacterial gel on them. But, other than her eye and a little congestion they said she was very healthy and they were happy to see she was still gaining weight throughout all of these boughts of sickness. She was still wearing her clothes and diaper, but she weighed in at 16lbs! My big girl. I wonder if she'll be any heavier when we go back for her 4 month check up in two weeks?

I worry...

I worry about so many things these days, I'm truly feeling like a mom. I worry that I'm not bonding with Emma the way I should or that I'm not spending enough time with her. But, that's because Aidan is very clingy to me lately and wants my undivided attention which I want to give him, but then I feel guilty for putting Emma down to tend to Aidan. Having two children is definitely a challenge and I love it, but at times it can be very stressful. This is usually in the evening when Emma wants to nurse and Aidan wants me to pay attention to him. Chris does his best to intervene but both of them usually want me, which makes me feel wonderful but I end up being pulled in two directions and not sure what to do. I usually end up going to Aidan because he is the one saying "Mommy, Mommy" and Emma has to wait until I can get to her. I worry that I'm doing the right thing, but like my Mom told my cousin on her blog "Go with your heart" and that's what I'm trying to do. When you have one child it seems so difficult and crazy and you can't imagine having another, then you have your second child and its an even wilder and crazier ride that seems to be a whirlwind at times. I'm so glad I had both my babies close together and I've heard that its tough at first but it will be easier when they are older. We'll see...

Emma has been such a good baby so far. I hate that she has gotten sick from her brother being in daycare, but what can you do. She still seems congested and I'm constantly putting saline up her nose and suctioning. I also put a blanket under one side of her mattress to elevate her and have a humidifier in her room to help her at night. I'm not sure what else to do? How long is she going to be like this, I know the dtr said that colds last longer in babies but this is ridiculous! ugh! Even though she has been snotty and congested she is always in the best mood and she has been the best sleeper, I'm trying not to get used to it b/c i know this will not last, but I usually nurse her on and off for about two hours in the evening, then put her in her crib around 9:30 and she sleeps until 6:00 in the morning, crazy I know! I can't believe she will be 4 months on July 27th. She is such a talker lately. I never remember Aidan making so much noise and babbling like she does. I have a feeling she is going to be a little chatterbox! I also think she "talks" so much b/c she is making sure we know she is around! She has really become aware of her surroundings lately, she smiled at our dog Macy the other day and loves watching her brother and he gets a kick out of getting a reaction from her, very cute! I put her in the bumbo seat the other day and she seems to like sitting up, she's still a little wobbly but likes the view she has. I will try to get a video of her in it soon and of her talking up a storm.

Well, I'm starting to understand the worry that my own mother has endured for over 36 years with me and my sister. You can't seem to stop yourself even if you want to.

I worry about my babies....

Interesting blogs

I got this link from my friend and fellow blogger Ashley (thanks for posting that) it just cracked me up. Its a blog that is about L&D and a nurse telling stories that happen. There are some wild and crazy people out there is all I have to say! ha! Click here to see the site.

just a quck post about pumping

wow! I just pumped this morning and got a little over 13 ounces at one session, what the %@*#?
That seems like a lot to me, is it not?! I pumped for over a year with Aidan, 3 times a day at work and the most I ever got at one session was like 8 or 9, but then again Aidan never drank as much as Emma seems to need. Mommy's hungry girl! I guess I am pumping more b/c she needs more, man I wonder what I'll be pumping in the next month or two. Of course you always pump more in the mornings, so my next two sessions today should be no more than 5 ounces each. I have to thank my sister for giving me the "hands free" pumping band, that helps sooo much and keeps my mind off of pumping. The only problem I have is not paying attention and one of my bottles starting to over flow, I hate when that happens, I don't want to lose one drop of the milk. Well, Yea for lots of milk today, I wonder if this means Emma's going through a growth spurt. hmmm...I may have to change my guess on her weight to more like 16 lbs! My sweet chunky monkee! :)

She's changing so much...

Emma is changing so much she's 3 months old and has really grown so much, I sometimes forget that she is only 3 months when she looks much bigger than that size wise. I'm not sure how much she weighs, but I have a feeling she's atleast 15 lbs now, maybe more, its so hard to judge. She wont go back for another visit until her 4 month checkup in August. She has really started smiling when we come in the room and its so cute to see her light up when she sees us. She has also started laughing some and its so adorable. I have a video here that has her smiling and sorta laughing. Its so hard to get that on video, they start doing something and you run to grab the camera and then they just look at you like what, I wasn't doing anything! ha! Like that cartoon back in the day with the dancing/singing frog that only did it for the one guy and when everyone would come around he would stop and just act like a frog! That's what babies do, they see that camera and they freeze up! I have to sneak up on her so she doesn't see the camera and catch her doing stuff! hee hee! Oh and I apologize for the video being so dark, but I was trying to catch her in the moment. She has also been really vocal lately, I have a feeling when she is ready to talk we will not be able to get her to shut up! :)

Some pics from Chad & Erin's wedding

Here are some pictures from the wedding. You can see more on Aidan's blog

Daddy and Emma
Look at me in my beautiful dress and my first pair of shoes! Aren't they the cutest!

Me and Mommy

Me and Mommy

Chad and Erin - Don't they look like a brunette version of Barbie and Ken?!