All in Due Time

A collage of our first week with Caroline.

Luke holding two week-old Caroline.

Caroline: two weeks-old.

It's hard to believe that our sweet little angel is almost 3 weeks old already! She weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces when she was born and was down to 7 lbs 1.5 oz. when we left the hospital. As of last Friday, she weighed 8 lbs 5 oz-- so she is eating well and getting enough milk. She is in the 40 percentile for height and weight. Luke has always been in the 95 percentile-- so she seems so small to us!

She is still doing really well-- She went for almost a week and a half sleeping at night from 9:00ish to 2:30ish and then back down until around 6:00 am. Then, this week she started sleeping a little less each night. I think now that she is getting bigger, she is getting hungrier faster, which is leading her to wake up earlier. During the day she is eating at least every two hours-- she just wants to eat! I remember Luke being the same way in the beginning.

I actually gave her a little formula on Saturday just to see if she would take a bottle. At first she didn't want anything to do with it, then she drank about an ounce with ease. I would really like to have the flexibility of being able to give her a bottle if needed. I have no idea when the "right time" to start her on a bottle is-- I just didn't want to wait until it was too late and she wouldn't be receptive to it. On the other hand, she really doesn't need formula-- although, I nursed her last night and just before I put her down, I gave her an ounce of formula-- she slept from 9 until 2:30 again!! I think the formula fills her up more-- though most doctors say that's an old wives' tale! :) Anyway-- I was always too terrified to even try to give Luke formula, now I realize that it won't hurt them... I just don't make enough milk to pump, and since I am already feeding her every two hours or so, I just don't want to get into the habit of dealing with breastfeeding ALL day long!! I have no intention of replacing a feeding with formula, but I really want to find a balance somehow that will allow me to keep her "bottle friendly" in case of emergency or necessity! It just takes the pressure off me a little bit and frees my schedule up a bit if I need to be gone. Ideas anyone?! Advice?!

I am very proud of the fact that I haven't had to miss a single church service since she was born! My Aunt has been coming to watch her for us on Sunday morning so that we can attend. She will hopefully be able to make her "debut" on Easter-- which will be around the time she turns six weeks. I am looking forward to being able to get out in public with her! :)

So, the adjustment to two has been MUCH easier than I had planned so far-- but we have a LONG way to go! I can't complain though! It is still amazing to look at her knowing what a miracle she is! I can't wait until she starts to develop a little personality and begins to smile!

We got great news this weekend that Luke got accepted to Otter Creek pre-school! We are thrilled! He will be in the "Young 3's" class with 13 other kids. He will go Tuesday/Thursdays from 9 to 2. I think he will love it! He is getting so big! :)

Apart from trying to make sure that Luke gets enough of my time and attention, life is good! I am sure every mom feels like that at first when trying to balance two kids. I am looking forward to the weather warming up and Caroline growing up a little more so that we can get outside to play. All in due time-- they will both grow up fast enough! :)