Week 3!

Madison is a little bit more than 3 weeks. It doesn't feel like its been three weeks since I went into labor...really! I think this is what people mean when they say enjoy because the time goes by so fast.

Well Maddie has sure had a lot of accomplishments and improvements this week. For the better and worse ;)

1- Tummy time... Maddie LOVES tummy time. She can lift her head when she is on her stomach really well, but we have to watch her head to help her land in nicely. Sometimes she face plants on our chests. Her also slinks up things when you give her feet a sturdy foundation. She does this best on her diaper changing pad and on daddy's chest. Her legs are so strong! She has tummy time probably for like an hour every day on and off. She even practices head lifts when she is sleeping. This is the not so good part because she sometimes wakes herself up when she does this. She also likes to stretch flex her arms and legs while she is sleeping. We have found the trick to helping maddie sleep for at least 3-4 hour stretches is to swaddle her up so that she can't move. Haha poor girl! She doesn't like to be swaddled anymore (before it would calm her down) but now she tries with all her might to break free from her swaddles. For example this morning we found her with her arms out of her swaddle. Typical Maddie haha. She also likes when I hold her where she can tip her head back and look around. of course I still have to hold the back of her head but its so funny how she is so fascinated with the world when I hold her like this. She will even watch me while I talk to her for extended periods of time when I hold her like this. So between her wakefulness and naps, she can't get enough of those leg and head exercises. It's also pretty funny that recently she likes being held in an upright position and gets more fussy when she is held like a baby in the crook of our arms. I think she thinks she is older than she is haha. No wonder she is getting so strong?! She completely fits her name. We love our baby Madison

2-Her belly button is good for water submersion. after her umbilical cord fell off, her belly button started to bleed a little bit. Then it scabbed. And now the scab is falling off. But the pediatrician said it was okay to submerse it because it is sealed off. So Maddie has had two baths this week in warm water. The first was warmer than the second. She tolerated the first and had a fit in the second because she got pretty cold. But we sure love a clean baby. She is quite a spit-er-up-er...so she gets pretty stinky. At least her neck does!

3- She is very alert when she is awake. Not only does she look in the direction of where sound comes from, but she will stare at us talking for a little bit of time. Her eyes are so penetrating so I love it when she does this. This is new this week starting last Saturday where she will watch me while I am talking to her.

4-Mommy is sleeping more! ... because of a combination of things. Maddie is nursing so much better than before. Sometimes she gets sleepy or frantic but once she is woken up and calmed down (a tad bit) she will eat and eat! I've taken her pediatrician's advice to change her diaper, feed her as quick as possible, and then put her down to sleep. When she cooperates, it works like a gem! I also feel 75% comfortable putting her down now. So when I put her down, I can actually get some sleep. Before, I would put her down and be unable to sleep because I was worried she would choke herself or just stop breathing. Anxious mom I know. I am still working on the waking up part, but that is improving too. Lastly, night times are toss ups, but on her good nights she sleeps for 3-4 hours at a time. one night this week I only woke up two times to feed her and then she went right to sleep. Another night this week I think I woke up 5-6 times to feed her. Last night we were up until 3 and then I fell asleep on the couch burping her until 4. So we both didn't really go to bed until 5. So I was really surprised when she woke up wide awake at 8 and stayed awake. Maddie is full of surprises. I feel like she is beginning to notice night and day because on good nights she sleeps great. But only time will tell. For now, I just need to take advantage of being a full-time mom and nap when she naps. I don't know how working moms have newborns!

5- Maddie is more fussy and its harder to know what she wants. Last week, we could figure out what she wanted. This week she can be crying or fussy and we just don't know what she wants or how to get her to calm down. I think its because she is getting more active, alert, and aware of the things going on around her. For example, she is sensitive to movement. She knows when we switch arms when holding her or when we put her in her crib or her bouncer. She also reacts to loud sounds like the blender. She also, like mentioned before, wakes herself up because she is so wiggly and then fusses then. or sometimes she doesn't even wake up, she just moves her head around, grunts, and makes noises and slowly gets fussy. Yep, we are first time parents learning how to take care of a newborn!

6- Maddie is more vocal. Her coos, grunts, and clearing of the throat (I think) are all new of this week. She made noises before but now she is really making noises and they are just so stinking cute!!

7- Going outside calms her down. I think the wind, the light, and seeing new things calms her down. It calms her down when she is fussy from her head exercises. We just walk across our balcony...not too far but it sure is an adventure for her!