3 weeks old!

Alaina is 3 weeks old today!  She continues to do wonderful and is growing each and every day.

Alaina had a growth spurt this week.  I wish I could weigh her to see what she has gained.  She went a few days where she wanted to nurse every hour.  It was very tiring for momma, but we made it through!  You can tell her face is filling out, along with the rest of her!  Typically she eats every 3 hours during the day and every 4 hours at night.

She seemed to outgrow her newborn clothes overnight.  She is now in 0-3 months and size 1 diapers.

She is more awake during the day, and at times seems to fight sleep.  I don't think she wants to miss out on anything!

 

She dislikes bath time very much!  It is an all out crying fit when she takes one and it takes two of us to give her a bath because she gets so mad!

 

She is following voices and hold her head up well.  We have started tummy time, which she isn't a big fan of.  Addie loves to lay on the floor with her and talk away.  You can tell Lainey really wants to say something back, but it comes out as more of a grunt.

Tummy time with Addie and Emma...

 On Saturday Dan's aunt had a sprinkle for Alaina.  Big sis Addie got to show off her sister and help open presents.  It was a great way to Alaina to meet more of the family!

It's been another great week!  Just soaking in all this time with the girls before I return to work in 9 weeks...

Alaina at 2 weeks

On Wednesday Lainey turned two weeks old.  Time has flown since we came home from the hospital.  Both girls have been doing well, and have made life pretty easy for their momma, since I have been home with both girls by myself most days.  Addie has been going with Grandma a few days per week, which has been very peaceful in spending time with Alaina.

Lainey had her two week weight check on Wednesday to make sure she was back at her birth weight.  We were happy to see 8lbs. 12oz. on the scale! She is gaining like crazy.  I should have guessed, she loves to eat!

At this point, she is eating about every 3 hours during the day.  She wakes up once per night to eat, and it up around 6:30am.  She is having more awake time during the day and is always looking for voices.  She really reacts to Addie's voice.  Most likely because she speaks MUCH louder than most of us!  Not much else to report...lots of snuggling and sleeping!

Here are a few pictures to share from our week...

Addie had to jump in!

 Addie has been taking pictures too!

Addie loves to hold her baby sis.

Easter 2013

Lainey didn't have to wait long for her first holiday.  We celebrated Easter at our house to make things easier with a new baby at home.  Lainey got to meet most of our family for the first time and was pretty spoiled!

 

Our girls in their matching Easter dresses. 

 

Addie posing for momma...

 

 and Lainey posing!

 

Lainey had her first bottle on Easter!  Addie was thrilled to get to feed her.  I panicked a little before church, because we don't have a very accommodating building to breast feed, so we "tested" a bottle before we left.  She isn't the best at eating from a bottle, but she did it!  She is able to go back and forth with no issues, which makes for one happy momma!

 

 

5 generations...

 

The girls with their Easter baskets.  Addie happily hunted for her sister's basket and showed Alaina everything that was in her basket!

 

 

Hunting Easter eggs!

 

 Addie had a blast coloring Easter eggs with Daddy.  Lesson learned from this year...NO more eggs with glitter!  We had glitter ALL over the house.  Lainey even had it in her hair!

 

Addie with her final product...notice all the glitter!

 

Happy first Easter Lainey!

Alaina Jean

Here are some pictures to share of our sweet little Alaina...

The last belly picture.

Sisters meeting for the first time...

Addie helped make a sign for her sister to welcome her home...

Emma is pretty protective of Lainey.  She is always by her side.

Alaina's first week home...

We survived our first week home with baby Alaina.  She has adjusted wonderfully into her new home and we are also adjusting beautifully to a family of FOUR!  I actually never imagined it would be as easy as it has been.  I was worried about Addie, but she has been the BEST big sister Lainey (and mom) could have asked for.  She is always right there to help me when I need it and always concerned for her well-being.  Makes my heart melt to see the two together!

 

 

We have already established nick-names for our little bundle - including: Lainey (which many of us use), Lainey Bainey, baby sissy, and my favorite from Addie - Sweetheart. 

 

She is such a wonderful baby.  I was a little worried after hearing stories of people with awful second children.  I can honestly say that Lainey is probably easier than Addie was!  She doesn't cry unless she is hungry, naked, or taking a bath (which she hates most of all)!  She only is up once per night.  I feed her around 10pm, she is then up at 2-2:30am, and up at 6:30-7am!  I know, I am spoiled!

 

She has been a great eater since the day she was born.  She latched on perfect the first time we tried to breastfeed and has been a little eating monster since.  During the day she feeds around every 3 hours.  We haven't quite gotten a routine down yet, but we are getting there!

 

I am not quite sure how laundry seems to quadruple with one more child, but I am forever doing laundry!  Between the number of times Alaina dirties outside her diaper or spits up....AND miss Addie changing her clothes----SERIOUSLY.  NEVER.  ENDING!!

We had her check-up last Monday and she weighed in at 7lbs. 11oz.  I have to take her in again on Wednesday when she is two weeks old to have her weighed again to make sure she has made it back to her birth weight.

 

I had forgotten all the expressions of a newborn.  We are always watching for them and giggling with Addie.

 

 

 

Most of the time, she is sleeping the day away...just like a newborn should.

 

 

 

Healing from the second c-section has been a breeze compared to the first.  We were able to leave the hospital a day early because we were doing so well.  I really did not want to spend another night in the bed at the hospital, and neither did Dan!  We had lots of help from family when we got home, which made is very easy with Addie.  Addie was also excited for us to be home.  She really did not know what to think when she saw me laying in the hospital bed the first day!  I have my two-week appointment tomorrow, so hoping I get a good report (which I have no doubt) and I get released to drive!  It stinks being confined to home!!

 

Here's to hoping we have a great second week, where I will be spending most of my days with both girls home!