I wanted to post photos of the nursery today, I really did. Perhaps if I had one of those babies that, you know, slept, I could get some things done around here. Eleanor’s a doll, but she’s not familiar with the whole nap concept.
“What? I’m supposed to do what all day? Uh, no.”
The nursery photos are forthcoming, I promise.
I gave Brandon a Flip video camera
Here’s one such example. I find it utterly charming, even though Eleanor basically just lays there and occasionally bats at a toy for well over a minute.
The fact that she’s interested in toys now is both good and bad. Good, because she’s becoming more expressive and more like an actual little person! Bad, because now in addition to wondering if she’s crying because she’s hungry, wet, or tired, we can add crying out of boredom to the list.
Here’s our little cutie wearing the pin that mama made for her.
Happy one month birthday, Eleanor! I can’t believe how fast the time is going by and how big you are already.
(I’ll be taking a photo of Eleanor sitting in the Eames rocker and wearing her pin each month until she’s two years old.)
Eleanor’s wants and needs are pretty simple at this point. She likes nursing, being held and rocked, being sung to, and sleeping. She hates being put down, being awake for extended periods, and pooping. She’s not all that keen on stroller rides or baths either.
She has definitely been keeping us busy. I don’t know if she needs the warmth of being held or if she just likes hearing a heartbeat, but she never lets us put her down. I try to put her down in exactly the same position I had been holding her in, but she always wakes up within a few minutes. It’s easier to just hold her and let her sleep on us than to try and console her over and over as she becomes increasingly tired.
Adjusting to life with a baby has been fairly easy for me. She sleeps pretty well at night, waking to eat every few hours but falling back asleep right away. When she does wake for the day, she’s usually in a pretty good mood and I can set her in a bouncy seat while I take a shower, so we have a good little routine starting. And I haven’t experienced any of the ‘baby blues’ that I know are so common. Maybe I’m just lucky, but I’ve been so happy taking care of her.
The only difficulty I’ve had has been with breastfeeding. Nursing has definitely been a lot harder than I thought it would be and there have been days where I’ve almost wanted to quit. The latch-on is painful, causing me to cry along with Eleanor sometimes. I know that breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt, but for me it does. I’ve met with two lactation consultants (one in the hospital, one in my home), and both told me that I’m doing it correctly. The second LC did say that Eleanor has a high palate and that I may just have to wait for her to get a little bigger and “grow into her mouth”. I think the worst of the pain has passed, so I’m just going day by day and hoping things improve soon.
On a happier note, I want to start a little photo project with Eleanor. I want to take a picture of her each month either holding the same object or sitting in the same place (maybe the Eames rocker?). I think it will be great to look back at a collection of photos to see how she grows. :)
Eleanor Ann Balch was born Wednesday, April 29 at 2:42 in the morning. She weighed in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces (the exact same weight that I was as a baby), and she is twenty-one and a half inches long.
Thank you all for your sweet comments and support throughout the pregnancy! Today is Brandon’s birthday and we’ve just arrived home from the hospital after a slightly extended stay. There were a few complications throughout the inducing process and delivery, but I’m doing well and Eleanor is happy and healthy.
She has blue eyes, brown hair, and she’s just beautiful. We’re so in love with her.