4 months old!

I knew this day would come, but 4 months ago I thought it would take a long long time to get here. Our baby girl is 4 months old this week! I know to some that still seems pretty young, but to me it is a HUGE milestone. She can do so many things now. She can hold her head up, push herself up (baby push up) when she is on her tummy, recognize me and Andy, smile, bring her hands to her mouth, entertain herself, make cooing noises, laugh, drink 6oz of milk at a time, she is starting to notice her feet, and she has been sleeping through the night for about the past 2 months!

She and I have totally gotten the hang of breast feeding. Now my only worry is about my supply and getting the time at work to pump. I have a lap top now, so that is making it so much easier to work and pump at the same time. I really want to get one of these PumpEase Hands Free Bra I think it looks totally bizarre, but all the reviews say it totally works! It is funny when I complain about pumping to people that have never pumped before. They are so shocked I have to hold the pumping horns in place. No, they do not just "stay" there. I wish they did, but they don't. On second thought, I am happy they don't just stay there because if they did, then that would be A LOT of suction on the girls. yikes.

Everyday she is doing something new. Last night Andy was doing "motor boat" (I have no other way of describing it) and she was totally imitating him! It was so freaking cute.

Today was her 4 month check up. I learned my lesson from last time. A) Don't listen to other people when they say their baby was fine and slept the whole day. B) Be prepared to have a very unhappy baby. I took the afternoon off work and did not plan a darn thing except to hold and baby my baby.

We got to the doctor's office on time (a small miracle in my world if it is a new route). I laid Aven on the table while we were waiting for Dr. Josh. He came in and started asking if she was doing all the things a 4 month old should be doing. I said yes to it all and he started his examination. She was laying at the top of the table so he pulled her down to the end and started talking to her in a sweet voice. She did not like that 1 bit. I think she was a little startled with the sound of the paper or how it felt on her back. She started crying as if she had gotten her shots! Once he picked her upright and was checking out her balance she stopped, just like that. Strange.

Her shots were next and as expected she was very unhappy and cried the most angry cry I have ever heard her have. She did not settle down right away either. Once we got on the highway back home then she finally calmed down. Just like last time, her first nap went well but the second time she woke up things were all kinds of unhappy in Aven's world. I was prepared for it this time. I gave her the correct amount of infant Tylenol, nursed her and did not freak out. The not freaking out part was helpful. Andy walked in the door during her crying jag so he took her and was able to calm her down enough to change her and hand her back to me for another feeding. I think the Tylenol started to kick in and she was able to drift off to sleep. We will see how tonight goes. I am expecting to be woken up by a crying baby about every 4 hours...

All in all, it was a good appointment. She is 14.3 lbs, 25.5 inches long, and has a head circumference of 41 cm. She is in the 70% for weight, 90% for height, and 50% for head size. I find that totally crazy that she is scoring that high for height when Andy and I are well... not the tallest people in the world. LOL

I will say, as the days progress, I find being a Mom more manageable and rewarding. I also am realizing how freaking fast it goes. It really seems like yesterday she was so tiny and new.

With Mother's Day approaching I am reflecting on how other mothers care for their babies. All of my energy goes into Aven. Feeding her, pumping milk for her, bathing her, changing her, washing her diapers, washing her clothes, and all the other things I plan for and do for her take up most of my day. I am not complaining. I am just realizing how much of me goes into her. The effort on my part to give her the best care is overwhelming sometimes. Then I think about how my mom did all that for me. It hits me how probably every mother has done that for their babies. I know I didn't really think about how much my mom sacrificed of herself in my early years until I have done it for my daughter. Thanks Mom. I know that is not nearly enough, especially considering what a total jerk I was at 14. If I could go back and slap the crap out of myself, I would. Seriously.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mommies! Here is to you for the doctor's appointments, dirty diapers, midnight feedings, sleepless nights, extra pounds, and insurmountable other things we do for our babies. I am really looking forward to my first of many Mother's Days. =)