3 months old!

Oh em gee! My baby turned 3 months old on June 10th! Yes, I'm a little late posting this, but life these days is so busy. I know I say that a lot but it's the truth! Lakelyn is always learning new things and keeps me laughing constantly! She is the sweetest!

I started back to work on Mayb20th. When I got to my grandma's house to drop her off I, of course, cried. I did NOT want to leave her. Thankfully, it was only for a couple of hours and I was sent pictures throughout the day to help me make it through. Each day leaving her is a struggle for me, but at least I am able to leave without tears.

 

 

We took her to the lake for the first time and let her get in the water for just a few minutes. I didn't want her to be in there too long because, well, its lake water and that isn't always the cleanest :) plus the water was still a bit chilly and it was pretty windy outside. She really loved the water! We definitely have a Lakiebug!

 

 

I also gave her, her first booboo cutting her fingernails. Oh my I think I cried as much as she did. And  it would not stop bleeding so I had to put the Band-Aid on it! Broke. My. Heart!

 

Using the book "What to Expect the First Year" this is where Lakelyn stands according to the "norm"

 

Lakelyn can do everything a three month old baby should be able to do including:

• lift head up 45 degrees when on stomach

This isn't from laying flat or really 45 degrees, but she can do that too!

 

She can also do everything a three month old will probably be able to do including:

• laugh out loud (this isn't a consistent or long laugh, but I've heard it)
• on stomach, lift head 90 degrees
• squeal in delight 
• bring both hands together
• smile spontaneously
• follow an object held about 6 inches above baby's face and moved 180 degrees, from one side to the other; with baby watching all the way



She can do almost everything a three month old may possible be able to do including:

• hold head steady when upright
• on stomach, raise chest, supported by arms
• grasp a rattle held to backs or tips of fingers
• pay attention to an item as small as a raisin

 

except: roll over one way (she kind of can if I help her a few times, but she doesn't like doing it)

 

Lakelyn can also do almost everything a three month old may be able to do including:

• bear some weight on legs when held upright
• keep head level with body when pulled to sitting
• turn in the direction of a voice, especially mommy's
• say "ah-goo" or similar vowel-consonant combinations

 

except:

• reach for an object (if she hits an object it's still accidental) (she will grab things, but I'm not sure if its intentional yet)
• make a "razz" sound (Lakelyn does A LOT of talking, but not sure I've heard a "razz" sound?

This is her protesting naps face!

 

Other things about my Lakiebug:

• Still LOVES baths, in fact she just LOVES the water and outside
• She is always so happy and smiley when she wakes up (unless you are waking her up then she's not so happy)
• Started eating her hands ALL THE TIME
• Started drooling like crazy
• Wants to sit up constantly
• Loves being outside
• Loves being in the stroller without the car seat, but doesn't mind the car seat too much if she's riding in the stroller
• Slept through the night (from about 9ish until 6:30-7) for the first time (this only lasted less than a week)
• Slept in her crib at night for the first time (did not last all night.. I think it has to do with not having an incline like her rock and play does and even the pad you can buy for the crib that will give it an incline isn't as much of one as the rock and play)
• She has major meltdowns if you don't get her to sleep before she gets over tired (which she will FIGHT like no other) or you don't give her food fast enough
• She still likes to have her paci, but doesn't seem to be really, really attached to it. Maybe that comes later.
• She doesn't really like being in her car seat. She'll fuss when you put her in there, but she usually is ok with it after a minute, but if shes in there for too long she will start stretching and crying and throwing a fit. I can't blame her though.
• She LOVES being naked and having her diaper changed or lotion put on her.
• She HATES having clothes put on her
• She breaks out of her swaddle as soon as she realizes her arms are in there
• She will smile at you and melt your heart when you put her down to go to sleep, feeding her, anything really (i'm confident she completely knows how cute she is and knows it'll make you pick her up and talk to her)
• DO NOT put her down to go fix a bottle, pick something up, eat, or do pretty much anything unless she's in a good mood, fed and not tired.
• Loves looking at lights and ceiling fans. This is how I have 10 minutes to get ready in the mornings!

2 month doctors visit!

 

 First night sleeping in her crib

 

Selfie Queen

 First time wearing shoes and it lasted for about 5 minutes before she kicked them off

 

Putting her feet in the water and bath time are her favorite!

Testing out the new stroller!

 

My precious, precious baby girl! I love every moment of this life with you. It is very sad for me to look back and see how fast time is going and how big you are getting, but it is also a very fun and exciting time watching you grow and learn.
Although today is June 20th that I am posting this something very sad happened just a few days ago on June 17th /18th that I wanted to share with you. A church downtown Charleston had a sick, ignorant boy at the age of 21 come into their bible study class, sit through an hour of it before shooting and killing 9 innocent people. He stated that he wanted to start a race war. These 9 men and women were strong and God fearing people. And this city has come together as one to get through this instead of causing more issues with hate and anger. By the time you read this you will be old enough to understand and I am terrified for you and this world if things continue in this way.
I pray that you are always protected by the Lord because he tells us that times will be hard following him and people will not like us Christains. I pray that Daddy and I are the best possible parent we can be and through us you will learn about the Lord and develop a relationship with him and love him. I pray that you see the good and be the good in this world. I pray that you have your mommy's strong will, daddy's patience and the Lord's heart. We love you so incredibly much Lakelyn Beth and I can promise you until mine and daddy's last breaths on this earth we will protect you!

Breastfeeding Newbie and My Advice

Breastfeeding for some people is just easy and comes naturally. For others its hard, hard work! Some women can produce tons of milk that they freeze and store and some women like me only produce enough to get through a day maybe 2. Just because you can't produce tons of milk to freeze doesn't mean you have to give up on breastfeeding. I wanted to write down some tips that have helped me (and to remind me) from breastfeeding basics to how to get through and keep on keepin' on.

 

1) Don't worry about your milk not coming in the first few days of you babies life. The colostrum baby gets is plenty!

 

2) The lactation consultant will tell you to put baby on both breasts for about 15 minutes or so during each feeding. My nipples were so sore and tender and starting to blister way too bad for this. I made my own decision to use one breast per feeding. I just needed that extra time to let my nipple calm down some!

 

3) Trying to find that right hold that is comfortable for you and baby can be HARD! Especially if you have never done this before. Don't panic, you will eventually get it even if its 6 months after you've given birth!

 

4) They say not to give a paci to a baby, however, MY baby was not rolling her tongue like she should have been instead she was sticking it out like a lizard. The soothie that the hospital gives worked great for her and did not confuse her with the nipple, but taught her how to do it!

 

5) Use lanolin topical on your nipples after EVERY feeding! Also hydrogel pads feel AMAZING!! Stick those bad boys in the fridge for a few minutes and then slap them on there!

 

6) With the blisters on my nipples and also a week or two later with thrush I was hurting so bad and we were still learning how to breastfeed that I just had to give my nipples some kind of break from bad sucking. So against everything everyone said I went to the breast pump. Used it for about 24 hours and gave her a bottle with a very slow nipple and round nipple (like the soothie) so that my nipples could get used to what it was supposed to feel like and so she could work on her sucking on something other than my poor nipple. It worked and I think it helped with my milk coming in.

 

7) I am not one of those "pull my boob out in front of everyone to feed my baby" kind of women, so I would pump and give her a bottle when we were out and about. Not to mention trying to get her in a good position while being discrete was almost impossible for me. I breast feed her through the night (laying down which is super easy and almost the only way we can do it right now) and pump about 3-4 times during the day. I believe the trick to producing a lot of milk may be to continue to pump in between feedings so that your body thinks you are needing this much milk. I didn't do this. I am a new mom for starters and could not put my baby down or simply just needed some sleep when she slept. And 2 I was having to go back to work when she was 3 weeks old and just couldn't pump in between feedings otherwise I would get NO work done.

 

8) Breast pads are your friend. I wear them everyday, all day. If you leak and they get wet CHANGE THEM OUT! Its like sitting in a wet diaper, don't do that its gross and can cause mastitis.

 

9) Your boobs will be big, they will stay big, when they are full they will be nice and perky, when you feed or pump they will sag like old grandma boobs. It sucks, it's depressing, but I'm told it'll go away and your normal pretty boobs will return!

 

10) RELAX! Any amount of breast milk is better than NO breastmilk. If all you can get is enough for one day at a time then do it that way. You do NOT have to have some sort of golden stock pile! Once babies hit about 4 months you can start adding baby foods to their diet anyway and wont need as much and then can start freezing some even if its just one bottle's worth a day. 

 

and I can't leave without a picture of our sweet Lakie!

I am not a doctor or professional. I am just a new mom learning how this thing works day by day and these are my opinions.