2 Months Old

As time continues to fly, I'm beginning to realize the speed at which my children grow is beginning to surprise me a little less, though it still elicits a shake of my head and a little disbelief. I think it always will. Something I am grateful for, though, is how, with time, I am learning to cherish each moment given me. I'm actually finding myself soaking in the little moments.

And it's a good thing too because I feel Aubrey is growing at a more rapid pace than Zoë did, probably because she is bigger than Zoë was at 2 months. (Ha! And soon I will be needing to post a 3 month post. I'm also behind which makes her feel much older.)

(I'm so bummed! I looked at the pics when I took them, but I must have been really tired because they are none as good as I thought I'd captured with my little point 'n shoot. Boo!)

2 Month Stats

• You weigh 12 lbs 11 oz (84 %ile), measured 24 inches long (98 %ile), and your head circumference was 15.5 inches (85 %ile).
• You are fully on a schedule now, and though you're a pretty flexible baby, you prefer to stick with your schedule and will find ways to get back on track if I'm not paying attention. Here is what your typical day looks like:

- wake around 7 am and nurse

- down for a nap around 8:30/8:45

-wake somewhere around 11 and nurse

-down for another nap between 12:30/12:45

-if you sleep well, I usually have to wake you around 3 and you nurse

-you either fight this nap and I nurse you at 5 or you go back down for a nap around 4:30/4:45

-either way the rest of the evening becomes crazy because you usually want to nurse when you wake from the nap around 5:45/6ish (I prefer to keep bedtime between 7/7:30, but you won't always nurse well if you eat at 6) or you want to be held the rest of the evening

-bath every other night

-swaddle and nurse while we read and sing with you and Zoë around 7

*note* This "schedule" is more what I aim for and have found makes you most content when we can get it - as noted above that you will try to get back to it if I've somehow managed to get off track. However, there are many days this just doesn't even come anywhere close to being the outline of our day. C'est la vie!

You're my little chubby baby! Those cheeks! I kiss them all. the. time!

• Speaking of nursing, you're a drowsy nurser, but you like your milk so much that you've managed to figure out how to nurse anywhere from 10-15 minutes/side (sometimes less!) and get everything you need. You almost always look like you're coming out of a milk-induced coma when you're finished because you've partially fallen asleep and usually have a little bit of milk on your chin.
• You aren't much of a fan of having a wet diaper, to the point I have to change you before the liner is really even completely wet most of the time.
• Everyone asks who you look like, and while you have many similarities to your older sister, you are also uniquely you, which I love! For instance, your lips are different. And though I can't always put my finger on it, there are just features which make you, well...you!
• You LOVE to snuggle! There are moments I have thought you were asleep because you weren't moving and had nestled right into me. But when I look, I see you're not even tired, just enjoying being held.
• You hate tummy time, though you're beginning to tolerate it more as you're able to pick your head up more and more.
• You hold you're head up really well most of the time. Sometimes you lose control and bang your head into my clavicle or jaw...those moments aren't so pretty, though sometimes I'm more phased by it than you.
• You started smiling right before your two month old birthday. However, we've noticed you smile with your eyes and will try to not smile with your lips sometimes. It's really cute to watch you and I always wonder what is going on in your mind.

Your first "See How I'm Growing" picture

• You love, love, love your sister. You enjoy watching her, smiling at her, being next to her. Well...most of the time! You're not a fan of when she is trying to share take over my lap while I'm nursing or holding you. Though I can't say I blame you, as that usually means her comfortable position is uncomfortable for you and I'm maneuvering both of you to keep you from being squished and her happy.

You even allow the torture of an empty bottle. I'm pretty sure she thinks you're her baby doll :)

• Oh, you're in 3-6 month/6 month size clothes. And though we don't use them that much, you're in a size 2 diaper. If you keep growing at the rate you are, my guess is we will have to buy new clothes for you because the seasons won't match up.
• You love to work on building leg strength by us holding up you and letting you stand. Sometimes you'll stand for several minutes before you decide you need a break.
• We tried to get you to take a paci, but with no success. You have a high enjoyment of sucking on your fist, but I guess because you take the bottle like a champ, you expect a paci to put out. And when it doesn't, you squint your face into a "I don't like this" contortion, and promptly spit the paci out. I can only hope you don't start sucking your thumb...
• We are having a time coming up with a nick name for you. Daddy wanted to call you Bear, but I just don't find that sticking. 

Obviously, this isn't from your 2 month old pictures, but because I took it not much later than your 2 month pics, I had to share it. Such a happy baby with a sweet smile!

My Sweet, Sweet Aubrey,

Though I'm so glad you're healthy, I'm no fan of how rapidly you're growing. The tiny, curled-in-a-fetal-position infant doesn't happen much anymore, though I am grateful you enjoy cuddling. I am so grateful for you! Though I can slightly remember what life was like before you joined us, I do not miss it at all. You already add so much to our little family!

While you seem to be very laid back, you are not shy about telling us what you need. You are very adament about your dislike of a wet bum or telling us when you're ready to change scenery or even if we've kept you up too long. 

I am loving getting to know you more every day! I can't wait to see how your personality unfolds!

I love you!

Mommy

2 Months Old

No...I can't be typing that title...right? I mean she was just born?!?!

*SIGH*

They grow so fast. I guess that's one of the reasons I'm grateful she loves her cuddles: I get the opportunity to give her a little baby-sized "I love you so much" squish a lot :) Then I cherish the moment in my heart forever.

I'm a few days late in posting this as she turned 2 months old on mother's day. And although I didn't get any great pics of just her (or really from the dedication for that matter :/), there is a candid one that, though blurry with as much cropping as I had to do, she is melt my heart, oh soooo adorable!!!

OH MY GEEZ I JUST WANNA SQUISH HER I LOVE HER SO MUCH!

I honestly didn't know I could love someone that much. Totally different from the type of love I have for my wonderful hubs, but geez. 

Here's a pic of the entire fam :) Of course Zoë decided to become fussy in our shoot so...this is the best we could get. Love those baby feet!

We dedicated her to the Lord on Sunday - Mother's Day and her 2 month birthday! I wish we had better pics. This one would be my absolute fave but it's blurry :(

She was the youngest baby dedicated in this service so she had the honor of being held by our pastor, Dr. M. Kevin McKee or as I like to call him Mr. Kevin :) Too cute!

Mommy's arms are very, very comfy for sleeping!

My brother was awesome and videoed it for us. However, I can't upload that stinkin' thing to my computer. Not sure why so maybe one day I can put snippets of it up, but for now the pics will do.

Zoë, my little Sweet Pea,

I can't believe your daddy and I have been blessed to call you ours for 2 whole months! Time is flying past us and I sometimes wish it would just stand still. Though, I do believe you and I both will be glad when your colic is gone. You're working on it though - growing like a wild flower (which mommy thinks will help the colic since she also thinks the colic is due to a digestive immaturity). And just so you know, this blog post took me all day to write because of your colic :) You just need a lot of TLC!

We had your 2 month check-up a little over a week ago. You measured 23" long and weighed in at 11 lbs 3.5 oz! You're in the 75th percentile for height and 50th for weight. It appears you are tall, at least for now, like mommy and daddy. And, my dear, you were a trooper with 4 vaccines - 1 oral and 3 shots! We only had to give you one dose of tylenol and give you some extra cuddles. Other than that no one would have known you had been given 4 vaccines. Daddy even said he hopes it goes that well when we go back for your 4 and 6 month check-ups (I completely agree with him!).

So here is what you have been up to:

• You smile almost all of your waking time now (that is, when colic isn't stealing your joy). Your very first smile occured about 3 1/2 weeks ago as we were starting day 3 of nonstop crying (you were going through a growth spurt). Let me tell you, you made my whole day that day! Such a sweet, sweet moment.
• You are talking more and more. You even made daddy jump yesterday as you were listening to music on your play gym and let out...I guess I would call it a squeal of delight. Whatever it was was definitely a happy sound and totally surprised him, made me smile.
• You think it's funny when I squish my nose back at you (you do this a lot) and produce a huge smile in response
• Gigi also found that you like when she puts her lips together and makes pooty noises at you (sorry, sweet girl, but that is the only way I know to describe it)
• You eat about 6-7 times a day with the occasional 8 times a day
• You sleep, technically, from about 8 at night until 630/7 the next morning. I say technically because your last meal is a dream feed somewhere between 930 and 11 which you have sometimes woken up for. Daddy and I are loving the, at least, 5 hours of sleep we're now getting a night!
• You have started to wake up happy in the mornings: smiling, kicking your feet in delight, and smacking your lips ready to eat. SO CUTE!
• You have succesfully scooted yourself off the play gym mat with your extremely strong legs earlier this week. You haven't really been into tummy time the rest of week so I'm not sure how much you will repeat that.
• Needless to say, you haven't rolled over from tummy to back again
• You wear size 2 diapers at night and mommy is very sad because she just bought you your last pack of size 1 diapers. You are growing so fast little one!
• You still wear 0-3 month/3 month onesies but you won't be in them much longer!
• You are getting better with going to sleep on your own at night. It's taking a little bit of work but your fussy time is getting less and less. 
• If you had your say, I'm pretty sure you would prefer to be held 24/7 though you are learning to play independently and love laying on your back on the play gym mat or in your pack n' play under the mobile.
• You have a temper all your own - we are going to have to teach you to use that iron will for good :)

If I'm leaving something out I don't know. What I do know is you are such a sweet, sweet blessing, Zoë! Daddy and I are so blessed to call you our daughter. Your blossoming personality is beautiful. We would take you in a million years. You are so full of life and I cannot wait to see how God will use you for His glory one day (how we pray you will follow Him, princess). You couldn't make us more proud!

Love you forever,

Mommy