He Is Not Overwhelmed: Two Months Old

You turned 2 months over Labor Day weekend. It seems, at times, like it is just flying by and you are getting so big so fast. Other times though it seems like I have been off work for forever and this summer is lasting a lifetime. I keep asking myself, how are you feeling about her growing up/getting bigger? Until this weekend my answer honestly has been that I am fine with it. You are sleeping better at night, you are more interactive with everyone, you smile all the time, you are learning new things and your personality is shining through the older you get. All those things make me love how far you have come and look forward to all the new things that lie ahead. It just keeps getting better as these 9 weeks have shown. However this weekend I had my first twinge of sadness that the little newborn I brought home is now an infant. You no longer fit into newborn clothes, I packed them up on Tuesday. You no longer burp over my shoulder all cuddled into my collar bone, instead you are miss bobblehead pulling back to see the world. You no longer fit in a snug ball on my chest, your legs rest in my lap when we cuddle now. My petite little peanut is getting big. I think I miss your size more than anything. To the world you are an average sized baby but to your NICU minded mommy, you are officially a big baby.

- You started smiling this month and now I can get you to smile anytime you aren't tired and cranky by just talking and smiling at you.

- You also started cooing and making all sorts of noises. Sometimes it sounds like you are singing. I sing a lot to you so I like to think you are trying to mimic me.

- You have started bubbling and drooling sometimes when you get really excited or are sucking on something (usually your fingers). Dad tries to keep up and wipe it everytime he sees the bubbles, little does he know it only gets worse :)

-You only like the soothie pacifier. Others make you gag or you flat out refuse them. This makes grandma sad because she hates how big the soothies are and that it covers a lot of your sweet face.

-We got to start using your cloth diapers on you finally! You were too small for the first 6 weeks or so. I think they look so sweet on you even if they are on the smallest setting and are all bulky. Diaper butts are cute!

-You also started fitting into other clothes besides newborn onesies, horray! You have a closet full of cute dresses and outfits people bought you that you can now wear.

-Your hands are always moving, grabbing, searching and your startle reflex is still very intact. You can't sleep without being swaddled because your crazy arms are everywhere.

-You love to look at the painting Beth made you that hangs above your changing table. You will be all fussy with a dirty diaper but as soon as I lay you down and you catch sight of the birdie, you stop fussing and stare intently at it. There is a lot of contrast with the colors she used and I think it catches your eye easily. You sometimes even smile at beth bird.

-I have been pumping every morning this past month and we finally bought a deep freeze to store all your milk. We have about 170 oz stored up. It sounds like a lot to me but if you take 4 oz every feed, 7 times a day, all that milk would be gone by day 6! It shocked me how much you could consume. It also makes me grateful that I have been able to breastfeed and we don't have to spend all that money on formula.

-We still send daddy a daily picture to his phone so he doesn't miss you as much at work.

- Your neck is getting much stronger and we call you the little bobblehead because you move it around in circles everytime we sit you up to burp. Tummy time is more enjoyable now for you and you don't get as frustrated.

-I got you a playmat that has fishes and a mirror and a ball hanging from it. You love to kick the ball and hear it jingle. The mirror is also turning into one of your favorite toys. You love looking at yourself and smiling at the cute baby you see :)

-We still take our morning walks, I will miss this the most when I go back to work. We smile and wave at all the kids getting on the school bus in the morning. We have gotten to know a lot more of our neighbors since we had you. It is an easy conversation starter when you have a sweet baby to talk about. It is so cool to see God using you already to brighten other people's days. So many people see you and instantly smile. If you smile back and start cooing they usually can't help themselves from stopping to interact a little.

-When we go on our walks now, I start to sing the ants go marching song when you get drowsy. Usually you are asleep by the 7th ant. I think the beat of the song and the walking/marching motion lull you sleep.