The eighth week

Two months. I guess it's almost time to stop measuring Madeline's age in days and weeks and move on to the next larger increment - months.

As things smooth out over the passing weeks, we sometimes find ourselves wondering what we can be doing to influence Madeline's development. Lacey has focused on the baby's routine - when and how much should she be sleeping, and does it matter where she sleeps? On paper it looks as if Madeline has a well structured day (we still make written notes of feedings and naptimes). She generally feeds on the same schedule every day, and she's down to one overnight feeding.

We also focus on other developmental issues - thinking about the time she spends on her tummy and using books, toys and sounds to stimulate her.

Along those lines, Madeline seems to be progressing nicely. She's more vocal and has even used two-syllable words. I'm not sure if she's laughed yet, but sometimes when she's smiling and engaged it's obvious her high-pitched vocalizations are a result of her excitement. On her tummy she holds her head up and looks around, and she's starting to use her arms to push her chest and shoulders up. Lacey reports that Madeline batted a spinning toy for several minutes a couple days ago, and she's been reaching and grabbing more frequently in general.

And, as you can see in the pictures, she's been sitting up with the help of the Boppy pillow. While she tends to topple frequently, she's getting better at supporting her head and looking around.

Note: The acid reflux seems to be getting better after we started the medication last weekend. It seems like there are still times when she experiences sharp discomfort, but she's sleeping better at night and during the day. We'll find out more at her two-month check-up on Monday.