Adriana has laughed a little bit before, but it was only very short ones here and there (and they sounded more like screams of joy), but this week we managed to make her howl with laughter! Oh my gosh, it was the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. We were just sitting there laughing at each other and she kept going and going. And I’m such a hormonal dork so I obviously teared up. hah. Then we tried to catch it on video and it was….radio silence. It makes us so excited to make her laugh in the future. It’s such a good feeling!
Adriana’s Babcia (Eric’s mom) came to visit us this week. Adriana got so many cuddles and lots of playtime with her so that was really nice. She also brought her a few early Christmas gifts – one of which is a really sweet red plaid dress that she will wear over the holidays. She’s a lucky girl and so loved by her grandparents.
While Margaret was here, we thought it would be a good time for her to try giving Adriana the bottle. I had a dentist appointment, so I pumped a couple ounces and fed her before I left and went on my merry way. My appointment ran longer than usual, so I called Eric just as I was leaving and he said things were not going well with the bottle (she just wouldn’t latch onto it) and Adriana was screaming for a half hour. I felt so stressed and guilty on the drive home. They tried both the Dr. Browns and the Comotomo bottles with no luck. Finally Eric got a tiny bit of milk into her to take the edge off so when I got home she wasn’t crying anymore and was semi-content. It’s been hard when I have to go out, and of course, it’s hard on Eric especially because he feels like nothing he does will help soothe her! We’re going to keep at it though….just like we did with breastfeeding and hope that it all will just click one day! You never know. And of course if she doesn’t take a bottle it’s not the end of the world. We’ll figure it out. Like many of you have said, once they are on solids they can go longer stretches.
On the plus side, we had another amazing night of sleep this week. Adriana slept for a stretch of 7.5 hours! She tends to cluster feed at night and then I try to give her a feed immediately before bed. This seems to help satisfy her for a longer stretch at night! On average though, she’s still feeding around 10pm, 3am, and 6am….give or take an hour. Sometimes she will skip the 3am feed resulting in a nice long stretch.
I meant to mention this little tip that we learned in the early weeks about diaper creams. When she was born, we started using a natural diaper cream religiously, thinking that we should use it at every diaper changing. Well, not longer after, Adriana started to develop a small rash so we switched up the creams thinking she was sensitive to something in the cream. It didn’t improve even when trying out a bunch of different ones. We mentioned it to our pediatrician and she suggested that it was the diaper cream causing the issue and she said to only use the cream if there was an actual need for it. As new parents, we had no idea we might be over-using the bum cream! So we took her advice and stopped using the creams for a while and wouldn’t you know it the rash completely went away! And we haven’t had to use ANY diaper cream since! I mean none. Her bum has been rash-free ever since. Anyway, I just thought I would mention this discovery in case it helps someone else!
Adriana still appears to be showing signs of early teething. She’s had a lot of fussy days lately and she is still chewing on everything and seems to be quite bothered! Her cheeks have also been quite red. She’s still enjoying her new teething toys.
Currently loving: New fuzzy animal books and song books (I’m a little teapot!) from her Nana and Papa! Also, baths (she can’t get enough), diaper changes, practicing standing up on our laps, airplane games, etc. We’ve also introduced her exer-saucer and she’s loving that too, although still needs our support with it a bit.
Still not enjoying: Ear cleaning, nose cleaning, nail trimming/filing
Weight gain since birth: 5.5 pounds or so – my arms are getting great workouts these days! *flexes pipes*
The other big news this week is our upcoming trip! We’re gearing up for her first 4.5 hour flight. I had an idea the other day – why not write a post on the entire “first time flying with a baby” experience? I think I just might! Sort of like a day in the life post, but focusing on the travel day. Maybe it will help someone reading…or if anything, maybe some comedic relief. By the way, I totally appreciate all the stories and tips you’ve been leaving on my last posts.
Well, this will probably be my last post before Christmas, so I want to wish you all a very happy holiday! I appreciate those of you who check in for these baby posts each week. This baby blog has felt like personal therapy for me at times, but it also makes me happy that so many of you have left comments saying how much you are enjoying the posts. It’s been really fun for me to document, not to mention a nice change of pace from recipes. I appreciate all of you who have shared your stories and experiences over the past several months!
On that note…have a great holiday!! I hope you find some time for rest and relaxation amidst this busy season.
My nephew would not take a bottle for months, i even had to use a syringe without the needle to force him to drink! and then one day I think it just clicked. Just keep trying, she will get the hang of it eventually!
Hi Angela!
I’ve been following your blog for 3-4 years now! Through these years I’ve slowed changed my life and diet (I’m 80% of the way vegan ;) and you’ve had a huge impact on my motivation and inspiration to keep moving forward and expanding on my own culinary-creative side :) You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve made and had my husband try…but if it’s one of your recipes he’s never hesitated :) So I look to you for delicious recipes! I’ve never been disappointed and I’m always stoked to find a new favorite. So, with that, THANK YOU:) Also, my husband and I just had our first, a little boy on 9.23.14—so it made me smile to see you had your little girl around the same time. I just wanted to say hello, and that I love catching up on your blog, and hearing about baby things. It’s helped me through this crazy time as well. I’m so looking forward to a full nights sleep! :) Anywhoo-I wish you three the happiest of holidays!
-Melissa (Portland, OR)
Hi Melissa, Thank you for your lovely note! So awesome you’ve been following my blog for so many years! :) Congrats on the birth of your son!! So awesome they are so close in age. I hope you are enjoying the 3 month mark as much as we are!
Hello, Congratulations you guys are doing so well. Just wanted to say that we also had all this bottle trouble. If Eric is ever in that situation again, where you really can’t get home, he can always try giving Adriana your milk from a shot glass. I know it sounds crazy! Our lactation consultant told us. It is funny how well the baby can drink from that. Just sit them in your lap and do little sips at a time. Again just to take the edge off so everyone is not getting stressed. Enjoy your holidays!
Oh yea, we’ve done it before (cup feeding) a couple times in the early days when breastfeeding wasn’t going well…it took forever, but a good option to try if nothing else works!!
This brings back so many memories of my first baby…. now thanks to a set of twins on my third pregnancy I have four. Each baby is a special experience and I often tell my 8 year old the stories of our special first year together, when so often it was just the two of us. I just got a little choked up reading your post. She too had her first real laughter the week before christmas… I was living in Toronto and couldn’t wait to show my family in Ottawa when we went home! Enjoy this wonderful Christmas!
Your story sounds a lot like my friend – she has 4 kids now and the 3rd and 4th were twin girls this year! Hats off to you both!!
The laughter is like nothing else!
I love your baby posts. I would love to ready about your first time travel experience with her! Looking forward to it. Happy Holidays !
Merry Christmas,
The exact same issue happened with nappy rash (Australian) with our second baby, one day we ran out of cream and it suddenly cleared, it only came back when we started to use the cream again. It had been fine with her older brother so definitely felt a little silly that we caused it. Also double check the ingredient list many natural creams contain compounds from foods such as paw paw. For her the rash came when she ate p[aw paw as well as used the cream. Something to be mindful of when you start solids. My youngest is now 5 but I love all your baby pasts, its like a trip down memory lane. :)
Enjoy your holiday and try not to worry, breastfeeding on take off and landing helps their ears adjust to the pressure change :)
Sarah
I love your updates :) Just wanted to chime in as a 2-time-mom-to-bottle-refusers (so frustrating! I did everything “right” the second time, including paci from day 2… but it still didn’t work). Other options ended up working better: feeding with a spoon, and starting with open or sippy or straw cup from about 4 months. I don’t mean to be a debbie downer, but solids won’t reallly be helpful until they’re about 8-9 months old, but before then sippies or straw cups should absolutely be helpful. And also, from 6 months onwards sometimes they find water preferable when mom is away. Not gallons of the stuff, but enough to take the edge off as you say.
haha this made me laugh “2-time-mom-to-bottle-refusers” I feel your pain!
thanks for your tips! We will try those soon.
My first would not take a bottle for months, we kept trying and trying with breast milk and he refused. One day my mom was visiting, and she suggested formula, we tried it, and immediate success. I was a bit worried he would refuse the breast after, but no problems! As far as he was concerned, breast milk should only come from the breast! :).
My second took to the bottle right away, he made my life very easy. And my third refused the bottle like the first, we tried the formula and that didn’t work, but she loved a sippy cup, from about 2 months. Funny how they are all so different.
Perhaps you can find useful tips for Adriana’s first trip here: http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/15-tips-for-traveling-with-a-baby/
thanks!
Another great update! Yes, babies laughing is so stinkin’ adorable. Such pure joy. :-)
We introduced the bottle really early (too early according to every baby book, at 4 days old…). I had breastfeeding pain and engorgement in the beginning, so pumping helped me and my husband loved being able to feed her. We were really lucky because she took to it with no problem and it didn’t seem to interfere with the breastfeeding.
However, I think you brought up an interesting point – how tough it can be for the Dads for the first couple of years. Dads often feel helpless and basically “second-best” when it comes to babies – especially breastfed babies. I remember once when my daughter was 8 months old, I had to go out for a business evening. It was the first whole evening I’d ever spent away from my girl. She had started on solids and had plenty of pumped milk, but she had just hit the age where babies start having separation anxiety. My poor husband told me, in an anguished voice, that she had spent approximately 3 hours crying inconsolably until he finally found a shirt of mine and gave it to her to sniff. She fell asleep sobbing with her face buried in my shirt. He felt totally helpless and I felt so guilty. At 13 months she’s still suuuper attached to me and melts down if Dad tries to take her from me. He gets really frustrated with feeling like runner-up to Mom all the time. I don’t know if you have any male readers, but if there are any Dads out there who have strategies on how to get through this phase or at least deal with feelings of helplessness, I’m sure Eric and my husband would appreciate it!
Oh that story made me tear up a little! I totally feel for the dads in that situation. I know Eric has often felt that way over the past 3 months when I have had to go out (he says he feels helpless too and I always feel guilty). It’s hard for sure, and I can only imagine once any separation anxiety hits it will be even more challenging. I too would love to hear tips – probably a great discussion topic for a post!
Aw Adriana is doing so well. I loved the 3 month mark. So many great changes and milestones happen. With regards to bottle feeding, you and Eric are doing a great job. Have you tried leaving a blanket with your scent on it for Eric or someone else to have draped over them while giving the bottle to Adriana? The scent might help ease her while she attempts to drink from the bottle.
Teething is no fun, my son started at the three month mark and didn’t cut a tooth until he was 10 months old. I purchased an amber necklace and wrapped it around my sons ankle to help easy the pain. (I’m not sure if you have heard of the amber necklace) you can read up on it out here: http://www.snugglebugz.ca/blog/amber-teething-necklaces-myth-or-magic/
I purchased mine at snugglebugz as well. The other thing I would try is Camilia by Boiron. It is a homeopathic liquid in a sterilized vial that you can rub into the gums and administer to the baby. I used this and it helped quite a bit. Boiron has a great line of products that I use for my son and myself! You can find is a local Health Store!
I hope your 4.5h journey home for the Holidays goes smooth and Adriana has a fabulous first Christmas.
Wishing you and your Family a Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year
Great tips! Thank you Emily :)
Happy holidays, Angela! I really love reading your baby posts, even with no children (or even thoughts of children at this point) of my own. I like that we get little glimpses into your life beyond the cooking, and that’s really fun for me. Keep up the beautiful writing and your general awesomeness! I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
Thanks Lauren! I’m glad you are enjoying the posts!
lol my mom told all the new moms in my family: change diapers frequently. then there is no need for diaper rash cream because there’s no chance for a rash to develop. :) it’s worked so far! 2 generations
makes sense to me :)
Babies need lots of diaper-free time. Put her on a blanket (or a towel) in the living room and let her bum air out for an hour a day (or mores, even). It’s not just the air – it’s for the light as well
great tip!
I’m not sure if I said this before, but reading your baby blog makes me wonder what my parents went through when I was a newborn. It helps me be more appreciative of my parents and the struggles they probably went through as well, since I was the firstborn. I love reading your baby blog and about your insights. I can feel so much love going on in the air. I can’t tell whether I love your food blog or your baby blog more… either way, I love your website!
Thank you :) I know what you mean about being more appreciate of what your parents went through…I feel that way all the time now!
This article reminded me of you & your upcoming first flight with Adriana ;)
http://t.today.com/parents/parents-hand-out-goody-bags-apologize-advance-baby-flight-1D80380978?cid=par-huffingtonpost
omg, that’s hilarious!
I love how her teeny arms are up in the air like ‘Touchdown’! She is just adorable! It’s so fun to see her birth documented! I am looking into fostering a baby so, all of this insight is really wonderful!
oh that made me laugh….a milk drunk touchdown!
I feel you on the bottle struggle! our tipping point actually came when my MIL was babysitting when I too was at the dentist. Finally, she took a knife tip to the end of the bottle nipple, stretching out the hole a bit & IT WORKED. She has taken a bottle happily ever since. I hope that y’all have as much luck!
Also, good luck on the plane trip!
We flew cross-country with Olive June at 8 weeks (we were insane) & barely lived to tell about it :) In hindsight, it’s hilarious of course.
If you are interested, read what NOT to do here:
http://danandchristielew.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-to-barely-survive-flying-cross.html
enjoy!
I think we are definitely going to try a faster flow nipple or just poking more holes in one that we have…I think I have a fast letdown so she might be frustrated with it coming out too slow. Hope it works!
Thanks for sharing all your new mother experiences, especially about breastfeeding. I’m so glad you stuck with it as it gives us pregnant mommies (new moms) support and inspiration that it is possible. I really look forward to your blog posts every week. You daughter is beyond priceless!
I hope the plane ride wasn’t too bad.. can’t wait to hear about it.
Merry Christmas
Happy holidays Angela! Thanks so much for these posts, love them! I’m filing all your little pieces of advice for future use – like the bum cream, who knew? :)