The two above outfits were both purchased by her Great Aunt Connie - Connie, you have such good taste!
On to some of the firsts....I recently acquired a couple of Bumbo seats:
These have been awesome. Rachel's been showing us how strong her neck is getting when we hold her. These Bumbo seats are really tall in the back to help the baby keep their head up as they are learning to sit up on their own. I purchased a pink and a blue one from Craigslist so we have one upstairs and one downstairs. At first she really didn't like sitting in them for very long. But as she's gotten used to them, we think she actually enjoys it. And although she can't see what's on the tv from the couch, she can see it flashing colors so it looks like she's watching it.
Today she had her first big nasty booger. I'm not so gross that I took a picture of it (there was no camera handy) but I did think it was noteworthy to be reported. It was huge and it was gross. We survived.
Also this week we've noticed that she's starting to use her hands. Sometimes she'll pick things up without knowing she's doing it, but we're noticing that when she does this she instantly brings it to her mouth. I typically have a cloth diaper to use for when she spits up. If she's sitting or laying down and the diaper is within reaching distance, she'll clamp her hand around it and bring it to her mouth. I've also been holding her pacifier in front of her mouth to see if she wants it, and when I do she'll put both of her hands on mine and guide the pacifier in to let me know she wants it. Although not a drastic feat, it does tell me that she's starting to get the hang of her hands and it wont' be long before she'll be reaching for things within reach on purpose.
In addition, when she's starting to get sleepy, this week she's starting rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands. Although we can tell when she's getting tired without this signal, it's very sweet.
She making more noise now! Someone on Facebook who had a son just a few months before we had Rachel said something about his boy speaking Wookie. It's so true! Rachel's starting to speak Wookie now. Her coos and other noises are starting to sound less like grunts and more like actual "ah"s. I think she also is enjoying her own sound more, and therefore is more apt to make noise.
Her independence has already started.....somewhat. I can now leave her playing on the floor or in her crib for longer periods of time before she fusses. This has been monumental in allowing me to make a bottle, make dinner, or even do work. She's starting to entertain herself by looking around or even just watching her hands. It's quite liberating for all of us in this house!
This past week we got to travel to GramE's for the first time. We spent the day shopping and had so much fun!:
This past week we also decided to start moving her to formula. Being able to provide nourishment for my daughter has been a great accomplishment for me. I've loved being able to give my daughter the healthiest start possible. Since we brought her home from the hospital, we've fortified my breast milk with a powder supplement that they used in the hospital and was recommended by our pediatrician. Since she was used to it anyway, and it was used when she was still a preemie, we went ahead and tried it. This made me VERY VERY nervous. What if it made her sick? What if I didn't make it right? Turns out, she's actually happier. Although Jason and I aren't thrilled with the difference this switch has made as far as diaper changing time goes, I've noticed a difference in her demeanor. Whether or not it's because she's more aware of the world or because her tummy's happier it's difficult to say. I'm going to say it's a combination of the two. I really feel that the formula is easier on her tummy (even if it's not easier on the diapers) so I'm glad we're starting the switch. I currently make her bottles about half and half, so she's still getting some breast milk. I'll continue this trend until I've weened myself from pumping. As I've said before, I've been thrilled to do this for her. When I was in the hospital and couldn't see her because I was having a hard time getting around and couldn't get upstairs, I comforted myself by religiously pumping even though I wasn't producing hardly anything. In my mind, it was the only thing I could do to support my daughter since I couldn't be up there to hold and comfort her. Now I feel relieved that I've been able to do this for her for as long as I have. But now, I'm ready for liberation since she's taken so well to formula!
Today Jason told me that during the 20 minutes I was out going to the grocery store he thinks she laughed. OH COME ON!!! Here I've been coaxing her for more than a month now to laugh out loud and she possibly does it for the first time when I'm gone. We tried and tried but couldn't get her to do it again. I'll keep saying what I've been saying for over a month now: she's so close to laughing. It'll be any day now!
I'm not going to lie, I absolutely love showing Rachel off. I'm so excited that now I can get out of the house when I need to with her all by myself. Although I don't let people touch her that I don't know, it gives me such a thrill when strangers come up and tell me how beautiful she is. They would probably say that about any baby, but I love when they do that to Rachel.
I'm still struggling to master getting out of the house, although it's getting better. A friend of mine warned me that it might take me an hour to get everything together to leave the house, but it'll get better, and she's right. I'm not so fanatical about having to have the diaper bag with me at all times. I've learned: Rachel will be just fine.
Today for the first time, I took her shopping and used her stroller. Praise the Lord I had a friend with me to help as I looked ridiculous trying to get this figured out. But my dear friend Ginny needed to kill time, I needed to return something to the store, so we hopped in the car and had this adventure on a whim. Ginny - thank you again for your help and assisting in this experience! But once we figure out the stroller/car seat combo, we did great. I'd played with the contraptions before, but not whilst out in public. Once figured out, in the store we went.
Now, I'm not opposed to taking goofy pictures of my daughter. In fact, I love them. Ginny does to. So she came up with this idea and I encouraged it:
How hideous is that thing?! Why do people actually purchase this crap for their kids and let them wear it? Well, to each their own I always say, but this is not anything I'd ever let my daughter own. But I will let her wear it for a few seconds for a photo. That flower is bigger than her head! Rachel didn't seem to mind. She actually smiled as soon as the picture was taken. Go figure.
I think that's the latest on our sweet girl. Tomorrow Ginny will be coming back for 3 month pictures and I am SOOOOO excited. I LOVE having pictures of my girl, especially professional ones. (I try my hardest, but I am not a photographer). So we'll be posting more pictures very very soon! Ginny said she was excited to play dress up with Rachel. I'm excited to see what she'll come up with and the shenanigans that will play a part in the experience. I'll get those posted just as soon as I can!
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