Yesterday, on the 20th, Cora turned two months. And what did we do to celebrate you might ask- we took her to her two month appointment for four shots. It was a great visit (minus the shots). Cora is growing right on track and the pediatrician said she was gaining weight great (which felt so good!). You know how mom's talk about how hard it is to watch their children get shots? Well, I thought to myself, I am not going to be one of those moms that crying when their child gets shots. Confession- I sure did tear up as I helped the nurse hold her still to give her the shots. Watching Cora in pain was awful- awful. (On a complete side note- we could not have asked for a better pediatrician. I always leave her office feeling respected, listened to, and empowered as a a new mom. Let me know if you are looking for a pediatrician, we would love to share ours with you.)Cora is 22 inches long (in the 65th percentile) and is 11 pounds and 6 ounces (in the 50th percentile). Her head is growing right on target (30th percentile) and she can hold her head up for very long periods of time. She already has great head control, which the doctor said was really good. She loves her tummy time.
Cora is sleeping just okay. She usually get at least on 3-4 hour stretch and then the rest of the night is up in the air. I have to admit, the sleep stuff is the hardest part for me right now. Most days I feel half dead and all I want is a long nap- I am one of those people who is just a better person when I have sleep. I have also had a freak out moment last week when Cora has started to break out for her swaddle in the miracle wrap- the girl is SO strong. The doctor and I talked a lot about sleep yesterday and she was so reassuring about what I am doing and what is to come as Cora gets older. She said what we are doing right now is exactly what Cora needs and only Steve and I are the parents of Cora- we know her better then any one else. That felt good to hear. Many times I feel like we are out on island all alone and everything feels foreign and wrong. But our doctor is right- Cora is growing and a good baby over all. Sleep will come when it does. So for now I am going to stop comparing myself and her sleep habits to others and the internet(at least that is what I am going to try to do!). Sleep will come again, at least that is what everyone says:).
Nursing has gotten a million times better and it is something I think we can do for the long haul. We still have our challenges at times but over all around week 7 I felt like something clicked and it is getting better and better. She nurses between 8 and 10 times per day (sometimes more depending on the day).
Cora has started to smile- A LOT!! We love it and is especially smiley in the morning. She has also started to coo in the last week or so which is so fun and affirming. My heart melts each time I see her little mouth start to curve up in a smile.
She is also focusing more on objects and is starting to grasp when things are put in her little hands. She is wiggling her hands and feet all the time and last week she discovered her feet. She can not grab them yet, but she loves staring at them. I think she is just fascinated that she can finally see that far:).
Cora has been on two trips this month and is getting ready for her third this weekend. She flew like a champ and loved traveling in her car seat- which made me so happy! We went to Abilene last week and over all traveling with an infant by car was pretty easy. We had to stop 2-3 times to fed and change diapers. And we took Hope- having our family of four in the car was pretty fun.
Cora still has the same nicknames- Cora-Bear, Bitty, Bug, Booger, Beautiful, Pumpkin. Steve is super cute with her and her nicknames.
Over all Cora is pretty even tempered. She has about an hour she is pretty fussy in the evening but other then that she is easily consoled and really just loves to be held. I am working on putting her down more and we are getting better with that- like right now I am typing and she is playing/napping on her play mat.
She is wearing size one diapers and is in 0-3 months clothes. Dressing a girl is so fun- period. The girl has more bows then one should- I can't get enough.
Cora had her first babysitter on Valentine's Day. Thank you Sara P. for watching our sweet girl so Steve and I could have a much needed night out. I was told Cora did great and and we hope to have more nights in the future...
I am seeing 5-6 clients per week right now and so far the transition back into work has been easy and needed. I like going off to work for an hour or two per day and it gives Steve and Cora great time together. I feel so blessed to have the job I do and be able to work when ever I want to- some days I feel like I get to have my cake and eat it too. We are blessed in that way.
Over all we are doing well here in the Sargent household. Now bring on the third month and all it has to bring...
3 comments:
You and Steve are doing such a great job. To your defense there is nothing harder than being a first time parent. I don't think there is a book in this world that can prepare you for what it is really like. I'll never EVER forget the sleep deprivation I had with Hudson. There just isn't anything like it. It does get easier and it will (I did not believe it when people said that, and I swore to myself I would be getting up with Hudson still when he was 18). You really will sleep again, I promise. Once Cora is sleeping through the night you may find you miss your nightly dates...maybe. :)
And you are right, comparison is crippling. Don't do it. It hurts your spirit, and it brings doubt and insecurity. Fight the temptation to see what "other" people's babies are doing at certain milestones. Cora is right on track for Cora and exactly where she needs to be at this very moment.
I love reading about Cora and mommyhood. What a loved baby girl she is.
I 100% agree with everything that Allison said. Cora is perfect and she will develop just like God has intended for her to develop. Sleep deprivation is awful. I promise you will feel like your old self again soon. You are doing such an awesome job! We really, really need to talk soon!! Miss you, friend.
Chelsie--
I don't know if you remember me or not (I think we had a few classes together at ACU) but I read your blog some and just wanted to say a couple of things. First--I LOVE the name Cora. It is beautiful! Secondly--I can so relate to what you said about Cora sleeping (or not sleeping :)) and comparing her to everyone else. My son was born at the same time as a bunch of other little babies who all, it seemed to me, were born sleeping through the night, where as Aedan's sleep was a lot more like how you described Cora's. He's 8 months now and not sleeping 12 hours a night or anything, but sleeping in good long 6-7 hour stretches and we're not sleep deprived at all. It goes so fast and really does get so much better as far as sleep. So, hang in there and don't worry about what everyone else says their kid is doing--it'll make you crazy. :) And, my pediatrician said that a good rule of thumb is that they can usually sleep about as many hours as they are months old--so sweet Cora is right on track. :)
Aja
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