1 Month of Lil

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It's been an entire month now since the big arrival of our baby girl. I can't believe how fast the time flies, especially with two kids! I feel like it was just yesterday Jeb and I were tucking her in, nice and snug, in her car seat in that precious pink silk gown on that cool and stormy April night and bringing her home. I will admit that it has been a lot harder having two kids. It's really hard when Reid says, "mommy play baseball," or "put sissy baby down," or "hold you mommy," right in the middle of one of LilliAnn's feedings or during a time when she's really fussy. At times I feel like I'm neglecting one child to take care of another.

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We've been staying out at the lake in my parents' new lake house the past two weeks. It's been so nice being close to my grandparents. My grandma Lucy has been cooking for us and helping out with the baby and Reid loves playing outside with papa Glenn - and I think papa enjoys it even more! It has been hard though being away from my mom. They haven't been out at the lake much because she's busy with Kassidy's last few senior activities and I really have missed her help tremendously!!! I thought being at the lake would be relaxing, but somedays - with a newborn and a toddler - it's all I can do to get my teeth brushed! My perfectionist, type-A personality makes me feel quite overwhelmed and stressed at times. These past few days I feel like I'm just surviving motherhood instead of thriving! I've been trying to tell myself that the days are passing quickly and that I just need to sit back and enjoy my babies. I'm the type of person who likes everything to be done and in order so it's hard for me to let the laundry pile up or let the kitchen stay dirty or to not worry about baby books and pictures. My mother says that there will always be something that needs to be done - always laundry to do, the house always needs straightening - but they won't always be babies. So...I keep reminding myself of this when I feel overwhelmed. 

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Is it colic?

LilliAnn's a great baby...for the most part, but for about the past week she's been extremely irritable at night and bursts out in these really high pitched cries. It seems to start in the evenings around the same time every night and lasts about 3-4 hours. During this time nothing seems to make her happy. Jeb is so good with her, way better than I am with her. He has such a calming, relaxed personality that seems to soothe her. I guess that's one of the things that made me so attracted to him...he helps calm me and feel more chill! Jeb thinks that she has a touch of colic and I'm starting to agree. I just pray that it doesn't last long because I'm exhausted!

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She's awake lots more now, especially in the mid-morning and evenings. We can't believe how well she hold her little head up. She's been holding her head up very well since she was about 2 weeks old and now she'll hold it up for quite a while and even lift it up and turn it from side to side. It amazes me how she can differentiate between voices and will turn and look when different people talk to her. Reid didn't track well with his eyes until about 2-3 months and Lil is already following objects very well. She's smiled a few times, but not purposefully, it was probably just gas! I love how aware she is and how big her eyes get when she's trying to focus on something. And what a little chunky monkey...at 1 month old she weighs almost 11 1/2 pounds and is 23 inches long! This girl never misses a meal! Breasmilk does a body good :)

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LilliAnn Loves:

- to be held

- rocking

- eating

- to be held up on someone's shoulder

- to sit up where she can see everything

- sleeping in daddy's arms

- the bath and the noise of the bath water running

-kisses from Reid

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LilliAnn Doesn't Love:

-pacifiers

-taking a bottle (and it's even breastmilk bottles!)

-laying down if she's awake

-lots of really loud noise

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It definitely has been quite an adjustment having a new addition to the family, but so worth all the adjusting! She's mommy's little angel and daddy's little girl! I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful, healthy family...complete with my boy and my girl. Reid is doing great, aside from the occasional temper tantrums and time-outs... thanks to the terrible twos! He's loving lake life and practicing up on his baseball swing. Jeb and I are looking forward to a fun summer at the lake playing with our kiddos and enjoying boat rides and lots of family time!