Fischer Memories: Happy, 1 Month! {Blakesley Ann}

Blakesley Ann is 1 month old! This past month has been 1 blissful blur. In a matter of a month I gave birth, Marcus has put on the Naperville Wine Festival and Indy Wine Festival, Cora has turned 4, I have turned 33, Sonoma has started 1st grade, and family and friends have been in and out to help all of us out. It's truly been chaotic, and so many big changes have happened all at once. I can't thank our family and friends enough who have stayed with us, dropped off meals, treats, played with our kids, brought Blakesley gifts and been available to us whenever we need help! Our Church set us up with a wonderful meal train, and so many other gracious friends have dropped off meals as well. I can't tell you how helpful this has been, especially with a traveling husband who has been in and out, during his busy season. We are all SO appreciative. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.

After spending 1 month with our little babe, we are starting to get to know her sweet personality. She has been so much more alert this past week, and I also managed to catch her cute little smile on my camera. She smiles at me all the time after she wakes up or sometimes after a feeding if she isn't asleep.

EATING:

Blakesley has been exclusively breastfeeding since day 1 and it is going really well. Her latch wasn't great at first, so it took a lot of practice, but she's got the hang of it for the most part now. I pumped for the first time a few times this week, and Marcus tried giving her a bottle tonight. It did not go over so well, and she screamed and cried. It reminded me of the first time we tried a bottle of pumped milk with Cora. It was so sad listening to her fight the bottle and scream, but I am hoping it will get better with time. I don't have to pump, but I thought it would be nice to start building up a small stash, so I can actually leave and go do things ;)

SLEEPING:

Blakesley sleeps in a rock and play right next to our bed. She seems to be ready for bed by 7:00. If we put her to bed at 7:00, she usually sleeps until 12:00. Then she eats and goes back to sleep until 4:00, and eats and goes back to sleep, but it takes a lot longer for her to go down then. However, the past two nights we have had a sitter for the older girls, so Blakesley has been out with us until later. Last night she slept 10-4!! Then ate and slept from 5-8:30! It was amazing. I know it changes all the time, so I'm just happy if I can get her to eat and go back to sleep quickly in the middle of the night. The mornings are very tricky, with me having to get everyone up and ready and at the bus stop at 7:30. I don't know whether to wake Blakesley and feed her, or try to transfer her sleeping. We are testing it all out right now, but regardless, the mornings are ROUGH. Naps during the day are awesome if she is sleeping on me or in my arms. She does not like to take naps in her swing, chair, or basket. Sometimes if she is sleeping really soundly in my arms, I can transfer her.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Blakesley does not like her car seat. I am praying that this is just a phase and that will get better with time. She better start liking her car seat, because we are in the car all. the. time. I'm trying to get her to take to the pacifier. It's hit or miss. I love her snorts, grunts and noises that she makes when she sleeps. I love that she is all balled up when she sleeps on me, just like she was in the womb. Our new Pediatrician doesn't do 1 month visits, so I don't know her weight right now or length! I would guess she is over 9 pounds by now. She goes back to the doctor at 2 months. She usually calms down when someone sings to her. The girls and I sang to my belly every single night, their two bedtime songs: "You are my Sunshine" and "I see the Moon." I can tell she recognizes the songs, and she recognizes all of our voices.

Today, I was able to transfer Blakesley from her bed to the stroller to the bus stop. I love this picture which happens to be in order from oldest to youngest.