Gimme five. . . er, six

We received a wonderful gift of a handprint shadow box at Lacey's baby shower in January, and at the end of Madeline's first month we decided it was time to capture a print. We waited until she was fast asleep this weekend and made our move - quietly preparing the inkpad and getting the paper in position. Her hand was limp and she was snoring away in baby dreamland.

Well, you can probably guess what happened next - as soon as we started gingerly inking her hand she stirred and clenched her tiny fingers into a fist. The scene devolved into a wrestling match - Madeline began to jerk and whimper as mom tried to wrench apart her ink-stained digits and press them against the paper.

You see above what we ended up with - a thumbless, five-fingered smear to serve as a reminder that a sleeping baby should remain so.

Like a weed

We went into today's 1-month doctor appointment hoping Madeline had reached a weight of 8 pounds, 6 ounces, which would be an ounce a day since our last visit. We were suprised to learn she tipped the scales (almost literally!) at 8 pounds, 10 ounces. She's also grown an inch to 21.5 inches. So it's more apparent to us why she wants to eat so much - she's growing like crazy.

.

We also learned her head size is in the 95th percentile, meaning her brain is growing just as well as her body, which makes her parents proud!

Tummy time

We've had Madeline on her tummy a few times this week, and she's getting the hang of lifting her outsized noggin. (She's also getting in some grins!)

The fourth week

What a difference a week makes! Sometime during the last weekend it was like a switch had been flipped - the nursing just clicked and we haven't looked back. We stopped giving Madeline bottles and Lacey has cut back on the pumping, which was taking up an inordinate amount of her already stretched free time.

The result is a happier Lacey and, therefore, a happier me. Lacey has been in great spirits this week, fueled by the nursing success. She still has been getting up every couple hours to nurse, but she has had such a positive attitude during the last week that the exhaustion doesn't seem to be affecting her as severely (she's still exhausted, though!).

.

We've been getting out of the house a little this week as Lacey becomes stir-crazy from sitting at home all day. We take walks most days; we had lunch at Chik-Fil-A on Thursday; and Lacey took Madeline to Starbucks on Friday afternoon. Mom and daughter also made a trip to Lacey's office on Wednesday to show off Madeline to mom's coworkers.

At the end of the first month, Madeline is right on track, or even ahead, in regard to developmental milestones. During tummy time she can hold her head at a 45 degree angle and even swivel it from side to side. She can track an object moving horizontally. She coos and gurgles happily during playtime and, on Wednesday, she smiled at me for the first time when she was awake (she often smiles involuntarily as she's drifting off to sleep). Some will say she still can't smile voluntarily at only 4 weeks, but the sight of her grin was intoxicating nonetheless.

Rub-a-dub-dub

Now that Madeline's umbilical cord is gone, we can give her a real tub bath. So today was her first real cleaning. She fussed a bit, but I think mostly was just wondering what was going on.

Our first Easter

Today we made our first road trip - to the England house for Easter lunch and John's birthday. Madeline slept during the car ride and was agreeble most of the afternoon. I think the biggest benefit was for Lacey to be able to get out of the house, even though she spent a good deal of her time at her parents' home nursing. There's something to be said for a change of scenery.

Jungle adventure

Occasionally we have the chance to enjoy playtime, and one of Madeline's favorite activities is a jungle adventure (well, laying on her jungle adventure playmat - thanks, Knez family!). For some reason she's transfixed by the dangling purple toucan.

The third week

Madeline's umbilical cord fell off today at about 12:45 before a diaper change, almost exactly three weeks to the minute after she was born. Sadly, this was probably the most exciting thing that happened to us this week, a week filled with the soul-eroding monotony of restless naps and sometimes hourly feedings.

As I leave for work every day at 2:15 in the afternoon Lacey is feeding the baby on the couch. When I return after midnight the pair are often settled in the same spot, Madeline nursing quietly and Lacey gazing emptily across the room to the darkened window, perhaps lost in a dream of a day when she could string together more than two hours of sleep at a time. I know she's exhausted, but she's doing an amazing job.

The quality of the feedings seems to be improving - Lacey has been pumping less and we haven't been using the bottle very much - only to help satiate Madeline during her cluster feedings, most of which strike during the overnight hours.

Lacey and my mom took Madeline to the doctor's office to be weighed this afternoon, and she clocked in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces - a gain of 7.5 ounces for the week. The doctor had said we're looking for 6-7 ounces per week, so this is a great reassurance as we try to ensure she's eating enough to fuel her rapidly growing body.

Progress

Lacey, Madeline and I visited the lactation consultant today after a frustrating weekend. Madeline weighed 7 pounds, 7.5 ounces today - 4 ounces more than Friday. So she's really been packing it on this weekend, which is great! This may be the only time in her life where we want her to put on as much weight as she can.

After watching Madeline feed, the consultant said she was doing much better than she was during the last visit 11 days ago, and was pleased with the progress. "We're not there yet," she said. "But almost." She's latching better and eating better, and we hope to wean her from bottled supplements altogether (now we're giving her an extra 1 or 2 ounces of bottled breast milk after some feedings, epecially at night).

Bath time!

I guess even people who can't move by themselves need to get baths every now and then. Here are some pictures from today's adventure.

The second week

In a week of little sleep and mounting stress, we treasured the small victories. On Wednesday morning, Lacey was elated to fit into a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans; we are learning to take naps when we can get them; and we celebrate the good feedings.

At our doctor's appointment this morning Madeline weighed 7 pounds, 3.5 ounces. It was five ounces more than she weighed a week ago, and she finally overtook her birth weight. But the doctor says she should be gaining about 6-7 ounces per week, so we remain vigilant about what she's eating.

Lacey continues to struggle with nursing. Some days are good, others less so - Madeline sometimes falls asleep while feeding and then gets grumpy minutes later when she's taken off. Sometimes Lacey is in feeding mode for hours on end, trying her best to make sure the baby's getting enough. But things seem to be getting better, slowly.

I returned to work this week - on Tuesday I was suprised by the amount of energy I had but today I am definitely feeling the strain. Last night (or rather this morning) I didn't get to sleep until 5 a.m., and then was up by about 8 to prepare for the appointment.

Every parent I talk to assures me that the first weeks are some of the most stressful, as parents adjust to the baby and the baby finds its routine. We love Madeline with all our hearts, but also hunger for the return of some semblance of sanity to our lives (or even just a couple hours of sleep).

Getting comfortable

Madeline is experiencing more, longer periods of alertness, mostly in the morning and overnight hours. We use this time for bonding and, sometimes, photos.

Express yourself

Baby Madeline begins to experiment with facial expressions. (Click on the photo to make it bigger.)

The first week

I'm sitting here with the baby draped across my chest, thinking about how my life has changed over the past seven days. Lacey and I have hardly slept, but we're feeling more and more confident as the hours drift by.

It started with Lacey feeling "weird" on Thursday after our 39-week check-in appointment, followed by some 15 hours of active labor beginning late that night and drifting into Friday afternoon. Madeline arrived healthy and robust at 2:05 p.m. - 7 pounds, 2 ounces and a hearty wail to greet the world.

Everything seemed so straightforward in the hospital - Madeline fed well and slept when she wasn't eating. Doctors and nurses were on hand to answer our every question. Family members from near and far dropped by to say hello and we showed off our new daughter.

But then we came home. Madeline's sleep cycle changed every day and she started having trouble nursing. Her weight dropped by almost 14 percent to 6 pounds, 3 ounces on Tuesday. But Lacey worked with a lactation consultant to devise a plan, and at Friday's doctor visit Madeline checked in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces, a healthy increase in only three days.

What has made this week for me has been watching Lacey gain her footing. Seven days ago she was a grumpy, uncomfortable, exhausted pregnant woman. Immediately after Madeline was born I witnessed a change - the beginning of an evolution - as Lacey assumed the mantle of motherhood. She's been an unbelievably patient and nurturing mother and wife through some difficult times this week. I never had a doubt that she would be outstanding, but this week has shown me how lucky Madeline will be.

Notes from this week:
- Madeline doesn't like to be the center of attention for very long. She becomes irritable after being held by strangers, but always calms when being held by mommy or daddy or hearing our voices.

- Toward the end of the week she's had periods of alertness lasting as long as an hour, and I try to talk to her and touch her as much as I can during these times. It's so much fun getting to know her.

- Grandma Vera was a wonderful help this week. She stayed with us between Tuesday and Friday and assisted with meals and household chores, but more importantly was a comforting resource for Lacey.

Another glimpse

Maybe it's just the proud papa in me, but I think she's adorable in this 19-week ultrasound image taken October 10.

Our first look at Madeline

Here's our first look at Madeline Ella - at 10 weeks on August 10, 2007. I immediately notice she bears an uncanny resemblance to her father.