One {1} Month!

Weight & Height: 10 lbs., 3 oz. and 21.75" long!

Clothes & Diapers:  We had to use newborn disposable diapers until her umbilical cord stump fell off so that we could fold them down.  We loved our newborn cloth diapers, but found that they did not always contain her pee at night.  Newborn clothes fit the best, but there are some 0-3 month outfits that work great too.  3 month clothes still swallow her whole. 

Eating & Sleeping: After Ella Paityn was born we went to the doctor for our follow up appointment.  Although her weight gain was fine (7 lbs., 3 oz.) and she had almost made her birth weight (7 lbs., 5 oz.), my milk had not come in yet so the doctor wanted to see us again. At the next appointment, my milk had come in and she was past her birth weight. At the one month appointment, we were given the go-ahead to let her sleep through the night! During the day, she eats every 3 hours typically on the same side for the entire time, but sometimes I'll switch sides about mid-way through.  She typically nurses for about 30-35 minutes from start to finish.  Sleeping?  What's that?!  Ella Paityn wakes up about every 3-4 hours like clockwork. 

Mood:  Pretty fussy, but loves to cuddle and be held!  Ella Paityn spent her first two-three weeks of life being sick with a cold.  She had elevated platelet counts which signals a virus (like the common cold). She was congested and snotty, and ran a temperature of 99.9-100.7 consistently. 

Likes: Sleep!  She sleeps almost all day long it seems.  She also enjoys going on little trips to New Bern, out to eat, or to meet Mommy and Daddy's friends!  

Dislikes: Having her arms "cooped up".  Girlfriend does not want her arms swaddled.  She will break them out every time. 

Milestones:  First trip to her new home (April 30), First trip "to town"- Panera Bread, Belk, and Target (May 2), Newborn picture (May 3), Due date (May 4), First time meeting her Mammaw, Pappaw, and Aunt Tina (May 9), First time at church on Mother's Day (May 10), First play date with Mrs. Kim, Brooke, and Taylor (May 12), First trip to Daddy's work in Jones County (May 14), First trip to the Farmers Market in Oriental (May 16), Umbilical stump fell off (May 18), First time getting a pacifier (May 19), First trip to the river (May 24), First trip to Mommy's school- Comfort (May 27), First trip to Daddy's work in Lenoir County (May 27)

Sentimental Things Mommy Wants to Remember: How tiny my baby girl is!  I have cried multiple times over how quickly she is growing, though always reminding myself that I got her a few pounds earlier than some people get their babies. :-)  Daddy took off almost two weeks from work to stay home with his girls and we loved every minute!  He was a HUGE help.

Practical Things Mommy Wants to Remember: Start pumping from the very beginning to build up a supply. I didn't want to be "attached to the pump" and therefore I didn't pump much at all for the first month.  Get newborn disposable diapers for the first few weeks. Put the clean diaper under her dirty diaper when changing.....we learned very quickly in the hospital (meconium all over the bed).  100.4 is considered a fever in an infant. Babywearing is good for the soul.