Category Archives: Family & Friends

Sleeping Jessica, 11/7/09

On Tuesday, Jessica had an ultrasound performed on her hips. This is a common precautionary test for breech babies. She slept the entire time, even with that cool gel. The ultrasound technicians said it would be nice if more babies were that calm. Below is a picture taken after they finished the test. We found out the result and everything is normal. On a side note, Dell Children’s Hospital is really well laid out.

Hip Ultrasound, 11/10/09

Sleeping Jessica, 11/11/09

When I set her in the crib after changing her diaper, so I can wash my hands, I’ve been setting her so she can look in her mirror and it keeps her happy.

Jessica Checking Herself Out in the Mirror, 11/11/09

I can tell she’s growing because the newborn clothing is getting too small, well mainly too short. See the below photo. She’s at the maximum length before it gets too short, although she still has a little ways to go before it gets too tight.

Jessica Ready for Bed, 11/11/09

Jessica is such a happy baby. Very infrequently does she get really upset. Although she still doesn’t like baths. We’re hoping that will change.

Happy Baby, 11/12/09

Sometimes when we go on walks, she is awake and alert, watching the bugs hanging from the stroller/carrier handler. Other times, as seen in the below photo, she sleeps the entire walk.

Jessica in her Stroller, 11/12/09

We’ve been trying to give Jessica a little tummy time every day, although sometimes that doesn’t happen. She seems to enjoy herself and will kick her legs and try to roll over. She’ll do this until she gets frustrated with her current inability to complete the front to back roll. Her actions made us wonder at what age can babies be expected to roll-over. I searched the internet (such a handy tool) and found some differing opinions, but most say around 3 months with some saying as late as 6 months is normal. Check out our wiggle worm in the little video below.

As a side note, Jessica’s cousin Trevor was born yesterday morning. See Sarah’s blog for pictures. They’re only about 3 weeks apart, when their due dates would have put them 6 weeks apart. I guess they wanted to be closer in age since Jessica came a little late and Trevor came a little early.

Today, we took Jessica to the doctor. Normally, you take a baby for a well-check at 2 weeks of age, but because her weight gain was so good at 1 week old, the pediatrician pushed Jessica’s visit to 3 weeks old. When put on the scale today, Jessica weighed 8 pounds 13.4 ounces. That is a weight gain of almost 2 pounds in 2 weeks. Wow, she is growing like a weed! Needless to say, Jessica is a good eater. During the day time, she eats on demand. Sometimes she goes 1 hour between feedings, sometimes 3 hours and anywhere in between. She had been waking up 2 times a night to feed, but the last 2 nights, it has dropped to once around 3 AM, going about 5-6 hours between feedings. This is kinda exciting, because she is somewhat getting a schedule, of course, it is a schedule to subject to change.

James had quite the experience while we were at the doctor’s office. The weigh-in required Jessica to be nude. After being weighed, he was about to lay her down on the exam table to diaper and dress her, but before he could lay her down, she decided she was cold and peed all over his hand and the exam table. It is fortunate that 1) she is a girl and 2) James had her just inches from the top of the table and not up against his body.

James and Jessica, 18-days old

Her umbilical cord stump fell off earlier this week. This is great, because now I can really start using the cloth diapers. With the diaper covers I had purchased, it was hard to keep the umbilical cord uncovered and as I wanted to prevent moisture being trapped in that region, we had mainly been using disposables. As soon as I’ve hard more time to experiment with the different types of cloth diapers and covers that I purchased, I’ll write a post on what I’ve found works best for us. That experimentation will also involve James, because I want him to not find cloth diapers too much of a chore to change. Below is a picture of Jessica napping while I changed the sheet in her crib since we had a diaper leakage issue.

Jessica in her Bouncer, 20-days old

Another picture of her napping. The majority of pictures I took of her this week are of her napping. Of course, she is so cute when she is asleep, it’s hard to resist getting out the camera. But I will need to take more pictures of her awake. This should get easier as she will spend more time awake as she grows.

Jessica Napping, 21-days old

Jessica weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces when she was born. Each night at hospital, they weighed Jessica. The first night she had dropped to 6 pounds 14 ounces. The second night she was down to 6 pound 9 ounces and the third night she was down to 6 pound 6 ounces. This constituted a weight loss of 10%, which is the maximum the pediatrician on call at the hospital said was acceptable. Because of that, we visited our pediatrician (same practice as the on-call pediatrician) Tuesday morning after being released from the hospital. At that visit, Jessica weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces, so she hadn’t gained any weight, but she hadn’t lost any more weight either. The pediatrician suggested I supplement until my milk came in, but really that is counterproductive to breast-feeding since your body produces as much milk as it thinks you need and if your baby doesn’t feed as often, it doesn’t think you need to produce as much. Fortunately, my milk came in later that day and by Friday when we went back to the pediatrician, Jessica weighed 7 pounds. She had gained 10 ounces in 3 days and that truly goes to show my milk was good stuff and that Jessica is a terrific eater. Of course, I was also was feeding Jessica what seemed like all the time. It’s pretty neat watching her fill out and I’m curious to know what she will weigh when we go back to the pediatrician’s office on her 3-week-old birthday. For more information on breastfeeding, check out La Leche League of Austin.

Jessica Kicking her Feet in the Bouncer, 4-days old

Besides nursing, Jessica has gone on numerous walks around the neighborhood. She enjoys being in the stroller and usually falls asleep, but sometimes she just watches the toy bugs on the carrier handle.

Jessica in her Stroller, 5-days old

Jessica in her Stroller, 9-days old

She’s started having daily tummy time. The tummy time doesn’t last very long right now. Jessica tries her darnedest to roll over, but she doesn’t have enough oomph yet to do it, which clearly frustrates her.

Tummy Time, 11-days old

Jessica has spent some time with her cousin Aspen, who’s adventures can be found on Jason and Julia’s blog.

Jason, Aspen, Julia and Jessica

She’s been held by her older cousin Dawson, who visited the 2nd weekend of her life and thought she was pretty cute.

Dawson, Jessica and James

Jessica has had her first bath at home. She seemed okay with it until we washed her hair, whereas at the hospital, she didn’t like the bath, but enjoyed the nurse washing her hair. We’ve now washed her hair 3 times and every time, she hasn’t enjoyed it. Hopefully, our bathing baby skills improve and she starts to enjoy bath time.

First Bath, 7-days old

She’s had lots of time with her two grandmothers. James’ Mom was here for 6 days the first week home from the hospital and my Mom was here for 6 days this week. We hadn’t planned on having the extra help, but as I’m not supposed to lift anything heavier than Jessica due to the C-section, its been nice having the extra help. James and I are spoiled now though with all the good cooking our Moms have been doing. Thanks Moms!

Jessica and her Nana

Jessica and her Nanny

And of course, Jessica spends lots of time sleeping. Isn’t she precious? We hadn’t planned on using a sleep positioner, but Jessica has a tendency of kicking her legs up in the air and that movement will often cause her to roll on her side and we want to try to keep her on her back until she can intentionally roll on her side.

Sleeping Babe, 13-days old