Two weeks...

I know it has taken me some time to keep you all updated, but this past week has been crazy. Since the fourth of July, we spent lots of time with Grandma Micki running around town getting things done. We went to a breastfeeding group that consisted of other mothers that are breastfeeding. It was really a nice group that was run by a lactation consultant, it allowed me to vent my frustrations with the feedings and also to share the joys that it brings as well. It made me realize that I have a bond with Angela that Tyler has yet to receive, and as much as I should not feel guilty about it, I do. I want Tyler to feel like he is contributing and helping out as much as possible. He is always asking if there is anything he can do to help and I know he really wants to help out, I just don't want him to feel useless in raising our daughter. I have been pumping every now and then so that when I really need to catch up on sleep or when I just don't feel like feeding every thirty minutes, he enjoys taking over.

We also went to our first doctors appointment. Angela had her two week appointment on Thursday and boy has she grown. She weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. when she was born and was 20" long, and at her appointment she weighed in at 8 lbs. 3 oz. And wow were they right when they said that all babies do is Eat, Sleep and Poop. The amount of sleep I get has gone down, the amount of diapers we go through is ridiculous and I don't think she ever stops eating.

We are still struggling with getting her to sleep on her back by herself. She loves to sleep on her tummy on our chests or on her back as long as we're snuggled with her, but to put her to sleep on the floor on a blanket or in her pack n' play or crib is impossible. Which means that trying to get things done on my own is almost impossible.

This weekend was pretty eventful for us as well, we said farewell to Grandma Micki who's stay with us was greatly appreciated as she was an enormous amount of help. While we said goodbye to one guest we said hello to two more. Lane and Averi Christensen, our good friend and his daughter from Williston came to Fargo just to see us and it was awesome. We had such a good time visiting with them and Averi was so good with Angela. She would sing her the ABC's when she would get fussy and she would gently rub her cheek while she was eating. Then while she was lying on the floor Averi would bend down and give Angela kisses on the forehead. It was precious. We did notice though that if we get together with all of our friends who have kids, we will be greatly confused as all of our daughter's names begin with A. We have Amiah (Tobi and Cammi's new addition), Addison (Chance and Ashley's girl), Ava (Kris and Amiee Oyen's girl), Averi and now we also have Angela. Talk about confusion.

Since I have been cluster feeding for the past day and a half now, I will leave you with pictures and keep you updated a little later on. I hope these past few days have been eventful for you all and that you are all doing well.

Visitors

These past few days have been somewhat of a blur for me. It seems as though the days pass quicker as they pass. Trying to get Angela ready to leave the house is the biggest challenge for me as it takes forever to feed her, then I have to dress her and pack the diaper bag and then feed again, all of this for her...then there is me who has to get ready. This first week has flown by quicker than I ever could have imagined it to. Our days consist of sleeping whenever we can, feeding baby, going for walks and visiting with friends. Mostly it's taking cat naps with our little Angela laying on chest. It seems as though that is her favorite position to sleep in as at night she refuses to sleep away from us (that might just be me worrying too much about her dying of SIDS). A little something that may come to haunt us in the future. I used tell everyone that I would never let my baby sleep with me and get attached to it, I would put her to sleep in her crib and that would be how she slept all the time...but boy do things change when you actually have her in your arms and don't want to put her down.




Since we've gotten home, we have had many visitors stop by to meet this precious little angel of ours. We appreciate all of the love and support that we have had this whole time, we just never knew that so many people could love something so little and so new. I do have to admit that when people come over to visit, I get jealous of the time they are spending with her, mainly because that is time they are taking away from me. I am so selfish in that respect.




As we continue to enjoy every minute we have with her it sometimes still is unbelievable that we have such a precious child to love every day. Breastfeeding is going much better now, she is still feeding about every 2-3 hours during the day and then marathon feeding throughout the night. It seems as though she has her nights and days a little mixed up. I might have to invest in grandma to use my Grandma Ree's technique of rolling in various ways to get her confused (that's what she did with me when I was born). I will leave you now with random other pictures that I have taken of my little girl. I don't think I take enough pictures, but I am told otherwise. I do hope you enjoy.