Another Weight Check

My computer's been on the blink, so this is a little bit of a dated entry, but we returned for another weight check with the doctor on Monday. On her three week birthday, Reagan cracked 6 pounds! WOOHOO! She's now a hefty 6 pounds 1 ounce. We return in one week. She is eating so much better, and feels so much more like a "firmly established" baby, that I think the parents can relax a little:)

MD Appointment

We have weight gain! For the first time since entering the world two weeks ago, Little Girl Reagan has GAINED weight! WOOOHOO! She is now a whopping 5.3 pounds, for a weight gain of .15 over the past week. We'll take it. We'll check in with the doctor again next Monday, but over the past few days, Reagan has eaten much better, and been more alert. Given that her official due date isn't until next week, I think she's doing pretty good :).

Belated report

Forgot to report on Thursday's weigh-in. Still 5 pounds, 1 ounce. Stable, but not gaining. And now diarrhea has hit, so... back to the doctor's office on Monday for another visit. Let's hope little girl gets "established" soon.

Life on the Battlefield

It's not easy being small, fragile and defenseless in this household with two "bull in a china shop" older brothers. We have thus designated Reagan's garden-themed room as the "Green Zone", where little boys are rarely allowed, and hopefully unable to injure their sister while she's in her crib. She needs a safe place. Heck - I need a safe place when little boys are on a rampage.

More pictures

While the boys and grandma were swimming this morning, Reagan and I did a little pool-side photo-shoot... I think she looks a little oriental while sleeping. HMMMMMM.

Just because she's cute....

Not a whole lot to say. She's just cute. But I'm biased.

The weigh-in

Down another few ounces, to 5 pounds, 1 ounce per doctor's scale. We're force feeding her every waking moment now. Next weigh in in two days....

appetite

It can take up to two hours for a single feeding with Reagan. By then, of course, we're supposed to feed her again. Our children seem not to have inherited my appetite.

Precious

Rob and I have had conversations in the past regarding the word "precious". Few people can say the word "precious" without sounding saccharine and phony. It's just the nature of the word. Rob's Aunt Dorothy, however, can say that word and sound sincere, because she is one of the most sincerely sweet people on the planet. Rob, when looking at his daughter last night, said "I'm gonna have to say it! Reagan is the P-word!" She is. Sincerely. Totally, completely, utterly, precious.

4 day old check up

We took Reagan in for her doctor's appointment today. Current weight 5 pounds, 2 ounces. 19 inches long. Still slightly yellow, but the doctor told us not to worry about it unless she turned really orange. Was also told to "be mean" as far as the nursing goes, and stop supplementing. I'm a little hesitant, given her consistent weight loss, but... starting at the first stable weight, that's IT. No more bottle. We can do it!!!

A Memo

Note to Reagan
From: The Management
Re: What sleep means

Dear Little Girl
Now that you're home, just wanted to define a few things. SLEEP is when you shut your eyes and lie quietly for more than two minutes at a time, so that other members of the household (ie, the mommy) may also sleep. It is NOT to be done, for example, during EATING, which is characterized ideally by a state of alertness, in order to complete said feeding. The two are separate entities. Eat = awake. After Eat = sleep.

Just needed to clarify, as the whole "falling asleep while eating" and then waking up the second mommy puts you down in the crib and crying until you are held again, is not making for a restful evening for the management.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this issue.

The Mommy

Happy Birthday

Contractions started at 9:00 pm last night, water broke at 11:00, to the hospital by 12:30, in the operating room by 2:00, baby by 2:30 am!!!! More pictures to follow, when I'm out of the hospital on Wednesday.

37 weeks

Vegetable of the week - a stalk of Swiss chard. HA. Whatever. So far, the last 3 days have been the best three days for several weeks! No nausea or stomach symptoms, I have some energy back, my respiratory cold is getting much better. I am trying to get the house "in order", so that I don't feel overwhelmed and chaotic once back from the hospital. Cleaned the fridge, mopped all the floors, vacuumed, wiped down some cabinets, did 6 loads of laundry yesterday. Not that you'd know it, based on the status of the house today. That's the bad thing. When living with very MESSY little boys, all of that work is invisible and extremely temporary. At least Rob has promised to help me clean the basement and fish tank later today. And really, who am I kidding? I WILL come home to a messy house. It's just the cold hard truth at this stage in our lives. But wouldn't it be nice to feel completely "in control" at the START of a newborn's arrival? Because chaos is the one thing I fear more than anything once she arrives. I was so anal with the boys - documented every ounce they ate, every diaper they soiled in a little folder, stuck with a strict schedule, and did nothing but care for two little babies and a house for the first year of their lives. Now, I can't even imagine what life is going to be like after she's here. I think I spend so much time living life and getting ready for her, that I don't stop to think about a real BABY here, in two weeks or less, with 10 little fingers and toes, and sweet smelling hair, and small little baby breaths, to cuddle wtih. Baby's are such a blessing, and this baby especially is such a GIFT, I hope I don't ever take her for granted.