Miranda is One Month!
Miranda is growing and changing so quickly!
Happy These are her statistics at 1 month old:
weight: 10 pounds, 6 ounces (75-90%)
height: 22.25 inches (75-90%)
Dr. Stephen was impressed that Miranda is already putting weight on her legs, is very alert, and smiling a lot. In the last month of getting to know her, we’ve learned that Miranda is easy to soothe, and easy to put to sleep (usually, unless she has gas or is overtired). She often smiles and laughs in her sleep, which melts our hearts.
The sleep formula swaddle, pacifer, bouncy seat, sleep sheep ocean sounds
Nursing is going well after a few weeks of pain. I was worried about getting thrush as I had with Natalie, but the pain is gone now, so I think my body was just getting adjusted. Nursing seems to be separate from sleeping for Miranda, which I’m happy about since it appears that I won’t be the only person with the ability to get her to sleep. Miranda likes to be rocked!! She takes a pacifier!! She has adorable hair:
Mom, please fix my hair!!! It sticks up in the back all on its own!
Miranda hates being strapped in the car seat and although she occasionally falls asleep in the car, she doesn’t stay asleep once the car stops. She doesn’t spit up (figures since I bought a ton of burp cloths, beyond the ones we received as gifts!). She is a champion pooper and often goes through a few outfits per day. Luckily, she likes taking a bath, although she hates being cold and often cries when we take her out. Overall, Miranda is fairly calm and laid back. We are enjoying her babyhood, because we know how fleeting it is!
Smiley Twins?
Okay, I know that as parents, we are not supposed to compare our children to one another. But sometimes when I look at Miranda, I feel like I’m in a bizarre time warp and Natalie is an infant again. Many people who didn’t know Natalie as an infant or who have never seen her baby pictures have remarked at how much Miranda looks like her big sister.
It’s been clear since Miranda was in the womb that our daughters have very different personalities, however. And it’s hard not to compare. At least once a day, I think “well, that’s different.” But I’ll refrain from comparing them to each other in writing.
Suffice to say that they absolutely love each other.
Big smiles for sisters! Miranda’s First Bath
Miranda lost her umbilical cord stump last week, and was ready for her first “official” tub bath today.* A fitting milestone as today she is 3 weeks old! Halfway through the bath, Meema remarked that it really does take a village. So true! Natalie was a big helper, (Miranda’s feet are really, really clean!) Meema assisted with equipment and rinsing, and PopPop took these lovely photos.
Miranda isn’t so sure at first
Happier… ….with a warm wash cloth over her belly
I think she likes it!
Natalie helped wash her feet Miranda seemed to love having her hair washed.
Big rinse No tears at all!
So cold!! She definitely did not like coming out of the warm bath into the cold air.
Hello there! Miranda’s hair is curly when wet!
Happy to be warm and dressed!
* I say “official” because when Miranda was just 1 week old, she did have a poopsplosion to huge that it required being rinsed off. Wipes could not have handled that amount of poop. But for Miranda’s privacy’s sake, we didn’t take pictures of that. Aren’t you glad?
Rising to the Occasion
Big Sister Natalie Natalie is proving to be an awesome big sister. Before Miranda was born, we had been worried about her regressing in any number of areas: sleep, potty, eating, etc. We worried about jealousy and Natalie acting out to get attention or out of confusion, frustration, and anger. We worried about her insisting on Mommy’s attention while I was nursing or otherwise attending to the baby. Our heads were filled with stories of older siblings trying to sell or throw out their new, unwelcome family members.
But like the strong, amazing girl she’s always been, Natalie has accepted the challenge of becoming a big sister with grace and enthusiasm. She has been willing to share her toys, loves to hug and kiss Miranda, and wants to be involved in taking care of her. In fact, the only times Natalie has gotten upset haven’t been when she’s not getting attention. Rather, she gets upset if we deny her access to her sister, i.e. “Miranda just fell asleep, so now isn’t a good time to hug her.”
What’s even more impressive to us is that Natalie seems to be embracing not only that she has a baby sister, but that she is, in fact, a big girl. Instead of regressing, she’s become even more independent in terms of the potty, eating, and playing. She’s been sleeping in her bed all night almost every night. Miranda is only 3 weeks old, and so far we’ve loved watching Natalie’s relationship with her sister develop, as well as see her growing maturity.
Rocking out Notice her pajama shirt says "I like to be LOUD!"
Best Dad & Husband
Chris, as always, is the best dad and husband ever. This was not an easy pregnancy for me and he picked up the parenting and housework slack without complaining. Since Miranda was born, he’s been taking care of me and Natalie while managing to keep the house clean and organized (not to mention work at his demanding job). Friends have remarked about how well-rested I look, and it’s because I have a husband who is so wonderful. Natalie, Miranda, and I are very lucky!! We love you, Chris.
Cuddling with Daddy
Chris tries out the new beco Multi-tasking!!
Bedtime Stories