9 posts tagged “melissa”
Flora turned six months old yesterday! Watching a baby grow really lets a person see how quickly time can pass. September feels like a lifetime ago, yet the time has gone so quickly. I think Sean and I have adjusted to parenthood pretty well. We have our little routines and rituals and we all get along most of the time. I think we're a happy little family. We've been lucky that Flora has been an easy baby - no colic, naps well most of the time and gives us lots of smiles. The smiles make me think we're doing something right.
Speaking of smiles, she is starting to ham it up for the camera now, getting excited and smiling instead of just making WTF faces. I got a few great smiley pictures of her yesterday, where I normally only get one where she is in halfway between smiling and serious. It's not a toothy grin yet though - Flora doesn't have any teeth, but she is chewing, drooling and sucking on her hands all the time, so teeth are probably imminent. However, my mum tells me that I didn't have any teeth until I was over a year old, so Flora's teeth could take their time too. As long as I don't discover her tooth by receiving a bite on the boob, I'll be happy.
I'm still breastfeeding, but Flora started on cereal almost two weeks ago. She is slurping it up like a champ, and I plan to start introducing vegetables by the end of next week. I'm amazed - and proud - that breastfeeding went so well for us. She was exclusively breastfed until we started cereal. When I was pregnant, I had hoped to nurse for about six months. Now I plan to do it for as long as I am able and she is interested. I do go back to work in mid-June though, so that may put a kink in my supply. I don't want to pump at the office. I'm not embarrassed to do it, but I don't think I'll be able to take enough time to pump enough milk to make it worth my time. By that point (she'll be nine months old), she'll be eating lots of solids and if I can nurse in the morning and at night, I think we can make it work. If I have to supplement with formula during the day, that's what I'll do, but I do admit that I will be disappointed - I like her being an all-booby baby. It astounds me that I was able to provide her the nourishment and nutrition she needed to more than double her birth weight in under six months. Now, if she could only stop taking that nourishment and nutrition at 3AM, we'd be all set.
She's very observant and doesn't miss a trick. She's starting to get chatty - mostly "ba", vowel sounds and the occasional "mah, mah MAH!" when she is frustrated. She also continues to blow lots of raspberries and has varied up her technique to include raspberries that sound like either purring or farts. (My kid makes fart jokes already! Awesome!) She's not quite laughing yet, but she makes noises and smiles at laugh-inducing moments so I think she is really trying.
She's starting to stay awake when we go out in the stroller so it will be nice when I visit both my and Sean's offices. The last time I visited, she slept through the entire thing and no one saw her eyes. We're looking forward to visiting both places when it warms up a bit.
I may be a little biased, but Flora seems to be shaping up into a good kid. I think we're going to keep her.
I can hear her waking up from her morning nap so I will leave you with a video I made yesterday to commemorate her six-month half-birthday.
Written content? Who does *that* anymore. It's all about pictures of Flora now. It's just easier to show the pictures than talk about them.*
Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks.
We've been out and about - the mall, the library and more recently, a playgroup at the community centre. Soon, we'll be trying the pool on for size. Whenever I put Flora in her snowsuit, I tend to start laughing. Not in a mean way of course, although running to get the camera probably does add insult to the injury of putting on a snowsuit. She's so puffy and marshmallow-like in it. I'm not sure if she realizes I'm laughing at her yet.
We wished Auntie Kyla a happy birthday.
We hung out with Thomas.
We took some family pictures.
We made some silly faces.
Auntie Kyla gave Flora a bath.
Flora tried on Grampy's hat and played with his duck decoy.
And...Flora sat up on her own for the first time! She lasted about 20 seconds before she tipped back over, but it's a start. Note the major WTF look on her face.
*Written content will hopefully return soon. And maybe it won't even *be* about the kid.
We smiled (a little bit) for the camera:
We saw a really big Christmas tree:
And we showed everyone how much we like to rock:
I am such a sucker for these quizzes. And it's good to post something on here that isn't baby-related.
Here goes:
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I don't think so, but now I want to ask my mom about it.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I think Thursday. Flora would not go to sleep and I was getting frustrated. Once she finally fell asleep she smiled a little in her crib (which was due to gas), I cried a little more. And I thought my hormones were sorted out by now!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? When it's legible, yes.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? I don't eat a lot of lunch meat, but turkey is okay. The sub shop in my hometown makes a really good turkey and bacon sub (actually, all their subs are good), and that's where I eat most of my lunch meat.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? I have one daughter. That is still weird to type. She is seven weeks old
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so, or I'm not a very nice person.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Uh, yeah!
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I used to want to when I was younger, but now I'm not so sure. That last sentence made me feel old
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Honey Nut Cheerios.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? It depends on the shoe and how it fits.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Sometimes. I'd like to be stronger though.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? I haven't met too many flavours I don't like, but we seem to buy vanilla the most.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? It's different for every person.
15. RED OR PINK? I wear a lot more pink, but red has its place too.
16. WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT YOURSELF ? My weight bums me out sometimes, but I try not to get too bent out of shape about it.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My dad. He died back in 1991, just before I turned 13 years old. I wish I could have known him as an adult - I think his two pre-teen daughters were starting to bewilder him. I have a hard time picturing him as a grandfather since he died so young (38), and that makes me sad. I think he would have been a good one though. I just wish he could have had the opportunity to do so. (If I write any more, I'll have to change the answer to #2.)
18. FAVOURITE INDULGENCE? Spicy Nacho Doritos, wine (not together)
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? blue jeans, black socks with beige flowers on them
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? crackers
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the clicking keyboard and the occasional squeak from Flora who is sleeping in the next room
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? Probably a deep purple-y pink
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? my husband, tomato leaves, lavender, Flora after a bath
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? my husband
25. BROTHERS AND SISTERS? one sister, four stepbrothers
26. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? hockey on TV, basketball live (but I'm not a big sport watcher generally)
27. HAIR COLOR? dark red dyejob
28. EYE COLOR? blue/green
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no - can't fathom sticking something in my eye on purpose
30. FAVORITE FOOD? tomatoes, cheese and garlic - you can always make a meal based on those three items
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings - I hate scary movies
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? In full? I'm not sure
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? black
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer,summer, summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? all the above
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? pie (apple or raspberry)
37. TOP OR BOTTOM? none of your beeswax
38. FAVOURITE SHOES: I heart my Birkenstocks. I've worn the soles down, so I'll probably need a new pair next summer
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Mostly baby care books, but I picked up "Life on Planet Rock" by Lonn Friend and I'm rereading that again.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSEPAD? No mousepad - laser mouse
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? I'm thinking back, and I don't remember. I PVR everything I watch regularly so I can watch the shows when Flora is asleep or feeding
42. FAVORITE SOUND? The rain
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Queen
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? I went to the Dominican Republic on vacation in January - was very fun
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Aren't all talents special?
46. WHERE AND WHEN WERE YOU BORN? I was born in Picton, Ontario in 1978
Don't forget to fill out your version of this questionnaire!
Where did the time go? I can't believe it's October already. Flora is one month old today. We went to her one month doctor's appointment yesterday and she is doing very well. She is now just over nine pounds, so she gained nearly three pounds in a month. The sleepers that were too big when we came home from the hospital are fitting much better now. As Grandma Faye (my mum) says "she's perfect!"
Sean went back to work almost two weeks ago. His first day back at work was the first day I had spent alone with Flora since she was born. I was anxious about being able to handle it, but we're doing okay and sort of settled into a routine. I've managed to get dressed and fit in a few chores every day before Sean comes home so I figure we're doing okay.
Flora is starting to have wakeful times during the day now, so it is nice to see her eyes. She is constantly looking all around the room, taking everything in. I wish I knew what was so interesting about what she sees. Despite all the time she spends awake, I still seem to take most of my pictures when she is sleeping. I guess that's because it's hard to take a picture of a baby while you are holding her. I need to get after Sean to take some pictures of her with me, or at least when she's not crying. (Sean seems to catch a lot of pictures of her when she's crying for some reason.)
Speaking of crying, she's not a major crier yet. She lets us know if something is on her mind, but usually calms down once we figure it out. She has trouble getting burps out sometimes so that's something we're working on. Between the farting, the grunting and the noise of a diaper being filled, I had no idea that newborn babies were so noisy. I expected crying, but not bum noises I can hear from another room! (She is going to kill me when she is a teenager and she finds these archives on the web.)
My mom came to visit earlier this week and the three of us went on Flora's first outing that wasn't a doctor's appointment or a walk around the block. We just went to the mall to pick up a parcel for Sean and get some groceries, but it felt good to finally leave the house for more than a few minutes. The stroller steers well, and fits in the trunk (barely - we have a small car). Flora had many admirers and was very well behaved - there was some crying occasionally but she calmed herself down and went back to sleep. Breastfeeding in public was not attempted - more because she didn't need it rather than due to any embarrassment on my part.
Sean and I took Flora on her second outing after her doctor's appointment. We went to Costco, and she slept through most of that expedition. She had a few admirers there as well. One set of ladies fawned over her a couple of times throughout the store. It made me giggle and feel more than a little proud. Fortunately no one tried to touch her, considering that cold and flu season is starting. We don't start our immunizations until next month, and I don't feel ready to deal with a sick baby yet.
Here are some more pictures from the last couple of weeks.
Flora is 16 days old today. Soon we'll be counting her age in months instead of days and weeks. It seemed like September was going to take forever to come and now it's almost gone. I can't believe how much she has changed already. My mom came to visit last Sunday and she said that Flora had grown already and soon Grandma would hardly recognize her (she said this in baby talk to Flora, who just kept on sleeping).
We're getting the hang of the breastfeeding thing. We went to the breastfeeding clinic last Monday and Flora is gaining weight and latching well according to the lactation consultant, so hooray for that. She doesn't really have a sleep routine yet - some nights, she wants to stay up after feedings, other nights, she'll go right back to sleep. She is starting to be a little more awake during the day, and it's nice to see her eyes. I love watching her make faces at whatever she is looking at or thinking about. I've seen her smile, but they're small smiles so they're probably gas. I'd smile too after passing some of the eruptions that I've heard come out of her!
And on that note, here are some pictures from the last few days:
This was the letter we emailed out yesterday to friends and family to announce Flora's birth:
Hello everyone,
We've finally looked up from the baby long enough to send this note. :)
Flora Faye Mitchell was born on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 7:17am. She was six days early. (melissa is relieved that Flora held on until past her birthday and into September) We were induced due to a irregular heartbeat that started on August 29th. The heartbeat evened out and she was declared healthy once she was born.
The induction started at 8:30pm on Tuesday, September 2nd. Labour didn't really kick in until about 3pm Wednesday. It was a long time, but the experience was a good one overall. We have a great team of doctors, nurses and other staff at Toronto East General Hospital to thank for that.
Sean and Grandma Faye (my mum) were with me during the birth. Grandma Janet (Sean's mum) and my sister were patiently waiting for news in the waiting room. No one passed out and I didn't curse during labour once. (!!!)
Pictures can be found here: http://flickr.com/photos/mpricemitchell/sets/72157607159140943/ I use Flickr to share all my pictures so you can check here regularly for updates.
My sister Kyla won the baby pool (and that was without any insider knowledge). Check and see how everyone did by visiting http://www.expectnet.com/logingame.php?game_name=SeanMelissaBaby
We came home Friday afternoon (September 5th). Our dog was very excited to see us and gave Flora a sniff and a quick lick. The cat has been laying low and I think he's a little horrified by all the new noises.
We are happy, healing and getting used to being a family of three.
Thank you to everyone for all your extra love and support during this time in our lives. It has made the start of this journey much easier for Sean and I. Feel free to pass this message on to anyone I have missed.
Someone is starting to squeak and mutter in her sleep so I better go and check things out.
Love to all,
melissa and sean
We're a pretty hardcore bunch of partiers around here. I didn't even remember to say Happy New Year.
Sean is not here to approve this, so I hope he doesn't mind Blinky on his shirt!
