It’s a hammock!

Josie weighed in today at 10 lb 2 oz. She’s outgrowing her clothes like crazy! Lots of the 0-3 month clothes are just barely fitting her long torso, especially with her cloth diapered rear end. I just put a big bunch of 3-6 month clothes in the laundry so they’ll be ready for her to start wearing.

Last week after she hit the one month mark we decided to start introducing Josie to the bottle so that she’ll be able to eat while mom goes back to work. I pumped about 3 oz while she was sleeping to be ready for her when she awoke. We started off slowly with only half an ounce of milk so as not to waste it if she hated it. She took a few tries but she got the hang of it and sucked the milk down in a matter of seconds, and then started screaming. Jordi frantically rushed to the kitchen for more milk and we added another ounce. Which again, she sucked down and then screamed for more. Hating to hear her scream, we then put all of the rest of the milk in the bottle and so she of course took a little more, and then decided she was done, leaving lots in the bottle (note for the non-parents: once the milk has touched saliva it can’t be frozen and saved for later). We had no idea how much she eats in a feeding at that point because as a newborn she’d eat maybe half an ounce to an ounce at a time and breasts don’t come with lines marking fullness. She finished up the rest a short time later after a catnap.

We tried again this week and gave my dad the privilege of trying the bottle for his birthday. She seemed to have forgotten how to drink from the bottle again and was refusing it. I tried with her a little later and she managed to get some of it down as perhaps it wasn’t so unusual to be fed by mom. Grandpa finished giving her the bottle once she figured out how to use it again and all was well. So it’s going to take some practice to get her used to other people (notably grandma since she will be doing daycare) giving her a bottle which we will do over the next several weeks.

I’m a little behind on posting pictures and info so this photo is a little over a week old, but it is a great smile!

Josie is showing a lot of preferences for likes and dislikes now. For instance, the worst thing that ever happens is that her hat covers her eyes. She makes noise like someone is torturing her. Last week she started to see things in her mirror and really liking it. So I got her a mirror for her bassinet to help her be happy and calm if she’s awake but not yet hungry in there. She likes her baths now and spending time in the water, although the water has to be warm (more on that later). She also likes dancing to Weezer, especially their new CD and their song “Troublemaker“.

Last week we went out to Walden Pond on a nice warm day to get some fresh air. Josie got to model her new bathing suit!

Josie has picked up a fussy streak a bit lately and I’ve found a wonderful tool to help me comfort her and get the use of my hands. It is called the Moby Wrap. I wrap the fabric around myself, put her in it in one of several ways and she calms within minutes if not seconds. Here she is all wrapped up!

Josie is 4 weeks old tonight. What has changed? Lots since she first arrived on the scene! She’s been putting on weight, getting some pudgy baby legs and arms. She has gotten good enough vision to LOVE her mobile above her changing table. Sometimes we put her there with the mobile on just to get her to stop crying. She sleeps less now and is awake more of the day. She nurses much more efficiently and now gets a meal in under half an hour. Here are lots of pictures, including some from the visit with uncle Javi from this weekend so you can see the changes for yourself!

We’re starting to gain some new baby handling skills. For instance, today I cut Jordi’s hair (which I do normally) while carrying Josie in a ring sling. She is sleeping happilly while I have the use of my two hands! Earlier this week I went to the Boston Babywearers group meeting and got some pointers for the sling which has helped make her happier and the sling more effective.

Today we also went to the doctor and Josie is up to 8 lbs 10 oz, she’s gaining about 1 oz a day which the doctor said is fantastic and right in the range she wants to see.

Last weekend Jordi’s parents came to town for a visit which was great. Yesterday Josie got to meet her uncle Javi and his girlfriend and we’ll be having fun hanging out with them more this weekend. We went out to dinner for the first time with Josie last night and she mercifully slept through the entire thing!

Just some cute photos that I like of Josie. She’s showing off her long arms and big power on top of the changing table! (note the diapers on the righthand side referenced in the previous post) Wednesday she went to the doc again, and this time weighed in at 8 lbs 1oz! She’s gaining like a heavy weight champ!

One of the most frequent questions we’re asked is “how are the cats handling it?”. Quite well actually, although each has their own strategy. The previous photo shows Fred’s approach to the baby which amounts to “can’t we all just take a nap?”. He appreciates all the time spent in bed and on the couch. Kaya has taken a different strategy which amounts to trying to claim all new things that come into the house. She sleeps on the changing table, uses the diapers we leave conveniently on top for a pillow. She has also learned how to sit in the bouncy seat. Below, she claims my parent’s stroller which they brought over to try out (with the baby).