The Ninth Week

Day 57, April 19

Maya is eight weeks old.  Our stuff arrived today.  We took time from unpacking and had our weekly photo shoot.

Day 58, April 20
We've been trying to capture a good smile on camera.  But she usually gets distracted by the camera and stops smiling.  I did get her "cooing" on video though.

Day 59, April 21

We went to look at nursery furniture today.  We decided to wait until we can get a crib that meets the new standards so poor Maya still doesn't have anything in her room.

Day 60, April 22
Our little peanut is two months old today.  

A lemon from our tree.  It soon became lemonade.   

Day 61, April 23
I couldn't find the sticky stuff yesterday so these photos are a day late.  

Day 62, April 24
Maya's first Easter.  We went to a friend's house with other young couples with kids.  The older kids hunted eggs.  Maya slept through the egg hunt but I ate some Easter candy for her. :)

Day 63, April 25
Today was Derek's first day at work.  We've been spoiled having him home for two months.  Maya was cranky from 5 til 8 last night.  I was hoping that since the crankiness started right before the move it would go away once we got settled.  She's always been a homebody so maybe she just doesn't feel at home yet.  We go to the pediatrician a week from tomorrow.  Hopefully she will have some insight if it's still going on.  I am looking forward to getting an accurate weight on Maya.

The Eighth Week

Day 50, April 12

Maya is 7 weeks old today.  Last night she spent the night in a hotel for the first time.  We finished driving to my mom's house and she slept the entire way.  After lunch, Maya met my grandparents for the first time.  They were very happy to meet her I think.  My grandma is a bit of a baby hog.  My poor grandpa barely got to hold her.  Maya has smiled a few more times so I think her previous smile was a real one.

Day 51, April 13

My grandma could barely wait to come hold Maya again today.  She held her most of the afternoon.  Maya got to meet several of her cousins today.  They lined up waiting to hold her.  Maya is still cranky and just wanting to nurse in the evenings.  I hope she goes back to her usual happy self once we get settled.

Day 52, April 14

Maya started cooing.  It's less of a coo though and more of an ack sound.  Today we said goodbye to our families.  It will be a while before we see them again.  My grandparents and aunt visited us in the morning.  Then we had lunch with my mom and brother.  My cousin stopped by during lunch to meet Maya.  Then we headed to Derek's parents house for a few hours.  After Maya got over her crankiness and fell asleep, we hit the road.

Day 53, April 15

Today was lots of driving.  Maya did well during most of it.  She added states 6, 7, and 8 to those that she's been in.

Day 54, April 16

More driving.  Maya added two more states to her list of travels.  She was cranky again tonight but did really well other than that.  

Day 55, April 17

More driving.  Maya had her first brush with the law.  She was cranky and wouldn't calm down.  We were in the middle of nowhere and the only place to stop was a gravel pulloff.  I got her out of her seat and was feeding her when a state trooper knocked on the passenger side.  Startled us since we didn't see him pull up.  He just wanted to make sure everything was ok.  He said saw Derek looking into the back and though someone was injured.  I guess this is better than our last encounter with the police when we made this drive, when someone, we won't mention any names, got pulled over.  Maya finally calmed down and slept until we made it to our new home.

Day 56, April 18

We went shopping today.  Maya seemed to be fascinated by everything.  I wore her in the wrap and she was looking around taking it all in.  I guess she really hasn't been out much.  She'd only been shopping one other time at 5ish weeks and she slept through it.  We picked up a futon for us to sleep on until our furniture gets here and since we figure we'd have plenty of guests this summer.  We seem popular these days for some little reason.  I also finally got a rocking chair.  I'm excited.

The Seventh Week

Day 43, April 5
Maya is six weeks old today.  The time has really flown by.  I was doing our weekly photo session and Maya peed all over the bed.  Less than one week left until we move.

Day 44, April 6
We had professional pictures made again today.  We did them outside at a park since it was finally a nice day.  Maya cried most of the time.  It was really the first time she had been outside and not buried under blankets in her car seat or carrier.  We went to Bible study tonight and she slept the entire time.  We started giving away stuff we don't want to move today.

Day 45, April 7
We spent the day running errands and getting ready for our move.  Maya and I packed up my stuff in my office and said goodbye to most of my labmates.  Derek packed up his office and then came to help us.

Day 46, April 8
My brother, sister-in-law, their three kids, and my mom came to visit today.  My brother and his family hadn't met Maya yet.  They were all excited to meet you.

Day 47, April 9
I think Maya smiled at me today.  I'm not sure if it was a real smile but it sure seemed intentional.  We had family dinner with our adopted family tonight.  It was great to see them but hard to say goodbye.

Day 48, April 10
We went to church today along with my mom, brother, sister-in-law, nieces, and nephew.  Maya decided she needed to eat and eat and eat so we spent most of the time in the nursery.  After church, we went to my mom's favorite Sunday restaurant before they left for home.  We spent the afternoon trying to get everything ready for our trip.  In the evening, we went back to church and said goodbye to everyone.  It wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Maybe the move still doesn't seem real.  This evening when were trying to pack and organize for the move Maya was cranky.  She just wanted to nurse.

Day 49, April 11
The moving company packed us up today.  They started at 8:30 and were done by about 1:30.  That is definitely the way to move.  Maya and I spent most of the time hanging out in the hall.  We stopped by to say goodbye to our best friends on the way out of town.  It was rough.  We will miss them.  While we were at their house, Maya was cranky again.  After she settled down, we started the drive to visit my grandparents.  We drove about halfway there and Maya slept the entire time.

Wordless Wednesday

The Sixth Week

Day 36, March 29
Maya is 5 weeks old today.  She had her one month check up.  She weighed 8 lbs and 6 oz and was 20.5 inches long.  She went from the 5th percentile at birth to the 10th percentile.  When I was carrying her from the exam room to the scale room, someone was commented on her being a newborn.  I told them she was a month old but started out kind of tiny.  She is now about the size I was when I was born.  I was 8 lbs 8 oz and 21 inches.  I don't think I'll complain that she was tiny, since she is healthy.  The nurse practitioner said that she is healthy and perfect.  And she was amazed that Maya didn't cry during the exam like most babies do.  Apparently Maya is pretty laid back still.  The NP commented on Maya's head control.  She does a good job of lifting her head when she's on her tummy.  The NP also recommended that we not take her into public unless necessary until after two months or more.  I'm not sure when we are going to take her to church or if I should take her to J's baby shower this weekend.  I'm pretty content just to hang out at home with her.  But since we will be moving soon, it would be nice to see some people before we leave.  The NP then said it was ok to fly when we were discussing moving.  It seems to me that airplanes are some of the most germy public places.  She also said it would be possible to get her two month shots after 6 weeks if we wanted but she would just wait until closer to two months after we moved.  I think we are going to wait.  Maya had a bit of cradle cap.  The NP said that that's why her hair fell out and pointed to her forehead.  But her hair hasn't fallen out, she was just born with the old man receding hair line.

I cooked for the first time since her birth today.  I finally made the beef stew I planned to make on the Monday I was induced.  It was tasty.

The move is sneaking up on us.  Our stuff will be packed and loaded on April 11.  Now that it's so soon, I'm sad that we will be leaving.  I've started thinking oh this is likely the last time we will do this or that.  This place is home now.  And I'm really going to miss our friends.  I'm not sure moving so soon after having a baby is ideal.  I think I'm still more hormonal than I normally am.  Everything has combined to yield quite a bit of anxiety on my part.

Day 37, March 30
Maya seemed to be unhappy last night so we tried out gas drops last night for the first time.  She went for 4 hours and slept pretty good.  Then she slept for two more then cried off and on for an hour.  After another meal and more gas drops, she slept for another three hours.  Not a bad night.  Maya went to church tonight for the first time.  She was welcomed as a first time visitor by the teacher.  She slept the entire time.  Everyone had to come and take a peek.  They all agreed that she is beautiful.  She wore the hat that I made her, a dress that my mom made her, and shoes that were Derek's mom's.  The dress and hat were what she wore home from the hospital but they fit better now.  After church, Derek and I ate custard while Maya ate.

Day 38, March 31
Maya slept well last night.  She was only up once to eat between midnight and 8:40 am.  I had my postpartum appointment this morning.  Maya and Derek came with me.  She was great the whole time.  The doctor said, "Doesn't she ever cry?"  I told him not too much.  We gave him the pictures of him holding Maya at her birth.  He seemed happy to get them.  After that, we all went to pick up the last few items that I had planned to get before Maya arrived.  It was Maya's first shopping trip.  One of the items I got was a wrap.  We tried it out last night.  I really like it and Maya seemed to like it as well.  In the afternoon, Maya and I went to my lab meeting.  She slept the entire time.

Day 39, April 1
Today is my grandpa's 91 birthday.  Happy birthday papa.  Maya will get to meet him in a little over a week.

Day 40, April 2
This morning Derek was rudely awakened to a poop explosion.  I was changing Maya's diaper and she got me, the changing table, our bed, and the carpet.  Great way to start your day.  In the afternoon, I went to my friend J's shower for baby E.  Maya stayed at home with Derek.  After the shower, Derek and Maya came over and we spent the evening with our friends, eating pizza, watching basketball, and passing around the babies.  We are really going to miss them.

Day 41, April 3
Maya went to church today.  When we were getting her ready, Derek changed her diaper and she peed in the middle.  This resulted in urine up her back and in her hair.  (She likes to pee on dad and poop on mom it seems)  We were thus a little later than we had planned.  Maya's buddy E was at church too.  I held Maya during most of the service.  She was squeaking and grunting.  Everyone loves her little noises.  We went to a friends house for lunch and I wore her in the new wrap.  It worked out pretty well but she didn't like it when I would sit down.  And I learned that wraps are apparently hippie things.  I guess we are moving to the right state.  In the evening, I wore her in the wrap at church.  She slept most of the time.  But would cry on occasion and she got hungry at the end.  A number of people came by to say goodbye since we are leaving in a week.  Someone almost asked where the baby was before she noticed the little face poking out of the wrap.  I think people are less likely to touch her when she is in the wrap.  Once we start going out more, I think I will be using the wrap often.

Day 42, April 4
Maya didn't sleep well last night.  She ate at 11:30 but was up until 1:00.  Then she wanted to eat again around 3:00.  Then she ate at 5:45 and was up until after 7:00.  She then wanted to eat again at 8:00.  She was extra hungry and a grouch today, also.  Not sure if that was related to the sleeping.  Maybe she's having a growth spurt or something.  I fortunately was able to take a nap this evening.

The Fifth Week

Day 29, March 22
Today Maya is one month old.  She has grown so much.  Her one month well baby check is next Tuesday.  I look forward to seeing how much she weighs.  Maya was grouchy today.  I broke down and gave her a pacifier.  She really seemed to like it.  We went to out to eat tonight at a drive in and Maya didn't seem to mind her car seat.  She slept the entire time.  I went shopping for diapers and a nursing tank while Derek and Maya stayed in the car.  I still feel weird leaving her.  It stresses me out more than I expected.

Day 30, March 23
We had visitors this evening.  J's parents, H and J, came to visit.  They had only seen Maya once since they came to see us a month ago in the hospital.  It was nice to see them.  Maya wasn't too grouchy.  After that Derek went to bible study while Maya and I stayed home and napped.  We had storms tonight and the thunder woke me up once.  Other than that we slept for 3.5 hours.  Hopefully this won't negatively impact her sleep tonight.  Tomorrow we are driving 5 hours to see two of Maya's great grandfathers.  I didn't really want to go so soon but with the move coming time is running short.  Hopefully it won't be too stressful for me or Maya.  From our previous visitors I learned that I'm not a big fan of other people holding Maya.  This is something I didn't really expect but it is getting a little better.

Day 31, March 24

Last night Maya sounded really congested but she wasn't snotty.  She's had this problem off and on since she was born.  We called the doctor's office and the nurse suggested a cool mist vaporizer.  We had a moving company come out to our apartment and give us a quote.  This makes the upcoming move seem more real.  After that, we ran some errands before heading out of town.  We picked up Maya's birth certificate.  We then purchased a vaporizer and a nursing bracelet.  The bracelet lets me keep track of the time, length and side of the last feeding.  Today is the first day since she was born that we haven't written down every feeding.  Despite the fact that the lactation consultant said that I didn't really need to weeks ago.  The five hour drive only turned into a six hours with a single stop in the middle for feeding.  Maya was pretty happy in her seat and slept almost the whole time.  It is quite a bit colder there than at home and I forgot to pack a hat for Maya.

Day 32, March 25

I'm not sure if it's all the excitement from last night, being in a new place, or my stress rubbing off on her but Maya wanted to eat every two hours.  It didn't help that our bedroom was freezing.  The lack of sleep didn't help my anxiety any.  It wasn't a great day for me or Maya.  She had a bit of a meltdown in the morning and wanted to nurse frequently.  She then crashed in the evening.  Aside from that it was nice to spend the day with Derek's maternal grandparents.

Day 33, March 26

We went to visit Derek's paternal grandpa today, along with several of his aunts, uncles and cousins.  There were way more people there than I really felt comfortable with and more kids.  Not many people held Maya though so hopefully she didn't get germy.

Day 34, March 27

We hung out with Derek's grandparents today and then drove home in the evening.  The ride home went pretty well.  Maya slept most of the way.  We did see a car accident though.  It was right in front of us and the car that lost control had just passed us.  Scary stuff.  I think having a kid has mellowed out my driving.  I'm glad to be home.

Day 35, March 28

Our friends, J and J came over to visit tonight and brought along their two little ones G and E.  I hadn't seen the kids since the Saturday before Maya was born for G's birthday party.  I joked that my water would break the morning of G's party since J's broke the morning of my shower.  But I missed it by a day.  But Maya and G do share a birthday.