Lavinia Grace: 1 Month Update

I can’t believe our little girl is already a month old! Why does time go by so fast when you have a baby? I won’t lie, I’m glad that those first 2 weeks after delivery are over (man recovery is rough… even after a relatively easy birth!) but there is nothing like snuggling your teeny tiny newborn all day!

STATS: We don’t have Liv’s 1 month check-up until later this week so I don’t have her official weight/height stats but Henri and I did an unofficial weigh-in on our food scale this past weekend. She was about 8lbs 5oz so baby girl is growing like a champ. 

As far as clothing goes she is still wearing newborn size, even the few 0-3 month outfits I have are too big. She is also still in newborn diapers. We started off with the disposables because our cloth diapers are 8lbs+ and I didn’t want to buy newborn cloth diapers in case she was born too big for them. We’re planning to make the transition to cloth this week after we get back from a quick trip to Big Bear because who wants to start something new like that while traveling? I’m really excited to get started with the cloth diapers but hope I’m prepared for the amount of laundry I’ll be doing!

EATING: We are currently breastfeeding on demand and this month there was a big learning curve with that. Learning on to latch properly, learning how to tell when she’s hungry vs fussy or crying for a different reason, learning how to not fall asleep myself during those middle of the night feedings, etc etc. I’m really thankful that we haven’t encountered any major problems yet. There’s was a preference for one side that we had to overcome and of course I’ve encountered the occasional painful engorgement and sore nipples but I’m counting myself lucky. 

I also started back at work last week (more on that soon!!) and have been gone from 5-8:30 for XC practice so she typically gets one bottle of pumped breast milk in the morning from Henri. 

SLEEP: Any newborn’s sleep is erratic and unpredictable and Lavinia’s is no different! From the beginning Liv was a very sleepy baby, in the last week or so of this month she definitely “woke up” and spends less of the day sleeping. Right now we don’t have her on any type of schedule and just take cues from her on when it’s time to eat, sleep and “play”. We started a bedtime routine this weekend but that was technically in month 2 so I’ll share more next month when it’s a bit more established.

Some nights she is a great sleeper and will give us 4-5 hour stretches at night and others it seems like she’s up every hour wanting to feed. 

The first week or so we had Liv in a co-sleeper in our bed but after that we transitioned her to her crib in the nursery and both slept on the twin bed in her room. It was a little cramped but for the few weeks it was worth it to have her already getting used to her crib but also being in the same room as her.

LIKES:

• cuddles
• nursing
• sleeping on mommy or daddy’s chest… anyone’s really
• tummy time

• her pacifier (when she wants it)
• walks

• riding in the car
• having her arms/hands up by her head
• being in the Moby wrap
• Mommy’ singing voice (she’s probably the only one… ever!)
• her Mamaroo
• kisses and raspberries
• bathtime
• “sitting up” like a grown up

DISLIKES:

• her pacifier (when she doesn’t want it and you try to give it to her anyways)
• Being in her car seat when the car or stroller isn’t moving
• having a dirty diaper
• having a burp that she can’t get out
• Being swaddled – this goes along with liking to have her hands up by her head

FIRSTS:

everything she’s done this month has been a first but some notable firsts are…

• Pediatrician appointment
• Birthday party

• going for a “swim”

• picking up her head during tummy time and switching sides
• Church service

THINGS I WANT TO REMEMBER:

• every moment of her birth, it was just such an amazing experience and I still can’t believe that I got to carry her for 9 months and bring her into this world
• her smiles when I kiss her and tell her I love her 
• the way she melts into my arms when she falls asleep
• watching Henri become a dad and seeing how much he loves her!
• when her little hand pats/rubs my side while she’s nursing 

I love you Lavinia Grace and can’t wait to see how much you grow and change over your first year!