Our sweet little Caroline Grace is officially one month old today!! There is literally nothing I love more than being Caroline’s mama.
Yes, I spend most of my sleeping hours awake, I am sucked on, pooped on and spit up on all before lunch (if I even get lunch), I haven’t had a moment alone or a cup of hot coffee that hasn’t been reheated a million times in over 4 weeks and I still look and feel about 5 months pregnant. On top of that, most days the house is a complete
disaster, I haven’t showered until daddy is home, a million errands need to be run, meals need to be cooked and dirty clothes are spilling out of the laundry room.
Being a mama is hard work but she makes it so worth it all. All day long she snuggles and loves on me. I cherish her little smiles, her “cheerio” and “frownie face” expressions. And although she’s growing so fast and changes a little more each day I don’t feel like the weeks have flown by because I am intentional about savoring every
moment.
One of my greatest joys is watching Caroline with her daddy. I love them both so dang much. It is amazing how a baby has changed my relationship with Matt. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do love him so much more than ever before. I love hearing them in the next room reading, watching them snuggle and catching Caroline’s expression the second her daddy walks into the house from work. She is well on her way to becoming a “daddy’s girl” and I don’t mind one bit.
I don’t think we could have survived the first 2 weeks without my mom. She took such amazing care of Matt and I so we could take care of Caroline. Without having to ask, she worked around the clock to cook, vacuum, do all the laundry, grocery shop, water the plants, walk Charlie twice a day, attend our doctor’s appointments with us, run errands, bake lactation cookies and lots of other treats, cook and freeze meals for later and help us take care of the baby so I could take time to shower and put on makeup. Without her I’d probably forget to eat lunch, my fridge would be empty, our plants would be dead, Charlie would hate me and we’d be sleeping on the same sheets from before we left for the hospital. Not to mention, she was there to encourage me through the long days, breastfeeding challenges and Caroline melt downs. And with the confidence of having her with me, I was able to get out of the house quite a bit once Matt went back to work too which really helped me to feel “normal” despite being incredibly exhausted and sore.
Breastfeeding has been quite a journey. A few days after we left the hospital we attended our first pediatric appointment and found out that Caroline’s weight was down from 6.11 lbs to 6.4 (totally normal for newborns during the first week). It wasn’t until our follow up appointment 3 days later that we became worried when she was down another ounce and the doctor recommended that I start pumping and feeding the milk back to Caroline to increase her intake during feedings. Pumping was pretty discouraging. I would pump for an hour only to bottle about mere .5 ounces of milk. We decided to go see a lactation consultant the following week and I began using Fenugreek and Brewers Yeast supplements, Mother’s Milk tea, upped my daily water intake drastically, started eating oatmeal with extra flax seed for breakfast, increased our skin-to-skin time, got a prescription for Reglan (a breast milk enhancing drug) from my OB and snacked on lactation cookies in hopes to increase my production. Our LC also instructed us to supplement small amounts of formula too once I’d run out of breast milk. The following week we were overjoyed to learn all of our hard work was paying off when Caroline weighed in at 6 pounds, 15.93 ounces (exceeding her birth weight)! It’s been a uphill battle, but I refuse to give up!
One Month Highlights:
Caroline,
- You weighed in last week at 6 pounds, 15.93 ounces and we were so happy you exceeded your birth weight!
- You love to be held…all the time. If I even think about putting you down you get upset. You also love to be worn in the K’tan wrap.
- You wear newborn clothes and diapers but they are getting more snug every day, and that makes me sad. I want you to stay little forever but I’m also excited to watch you grow.
- You are so strong and constantly lift your little legs all the time. You can also hold your head up pretty
good and roll to your side by yourself often. - Daddy gives you your baths and you love them, until it’s time to dry you off.
- You love the paci, most of the time.
- You prefer tummy time on Daddy’s chest.
- We still can’t decide if your hair is coming in thicker or falling out each day. Sometimes we think you have my auburn hair. Other days we think you have daddy’s brown hair.
- Charlie has warmed up to you quite a bit this month. Even though he ignored you the first two weeks, it’s been so sweet watching him grow more concerned and protective of you recently.
- You love our morning walks and so does Charlie.
- We haven’t decided who you look like, but most people are quick to say you look like daddy.
- You’ve been held by so many friends and family members. People have flown in from all over just to see you and bring you little presents (and meals for mommy and daddy).
And now, picture overload…
– One Week Old –
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| First Bath |
– Two Weeks Old –
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| The “Cheerio” face! |
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| A growing friendship |
– Three Weeks Old –
You are so loved, my darling. You fit into our little family so perfectly.
Happy 1 Month, Caroline Grace!
Oh Christina, what a beautiful post! I am just so happy for you and Matt and your little family. You are all so precious!!
She is just too beautiful God bless her.
She is just lovely! You are a great mommy 🙂 And what a huge help to have had your mom there. We would not have survived without the help of our family either. A baby changes everything 🙂
I love your honesty in this post. Motherhood is not a cake walk, but as you know, it's so rewarding and worth it. Just wait 'til she see's you, her Mommy, and smiles… cue the tears of happiness and joy!! She's beautiful, Christina. You seem so fulfilled!
Love these! So happy for your family!
All of her outfits and bows are so cute!! But her little legs in that front pack??!!! Adorable!!!Mamaplusmini.blogspot.com
You are such a wonderful Mom for working so hard on your breastfeeding relationship! It will get easier! Caroline is a lucky (and beautiful) little girl.
She is gorgeous!! Love all her big bows!
Your daughter is a doll!!And where oh where did you get that sweet elephant with the personalized ear? I think have to get one (once I can decide on a name for my babe!). 🙂
She's beautiful Christina. I admire you breastfeeding mamas. It's hard work and I'm not sure I would have been cut out for it.
She is absolute perfection! Happy one month, sweet girl! xo
Post like these are encouraging and raw. It's nice to read the truth from new moms especially for those of us that are about to take the same exhausting but rewarding journey in just a couple weeks. Thank you for sharing. I keep making note of post like these for when I am completely exhausted and feeling defeated to know I am not alone, but with amazing help and baby smiles things will get better!!! Sounds like you are dong an awesome job of taking care of your little girl. The amount of hard work and dedication you put into getting her weight back up is truly amazing. You weren't willing to give up and go to strictly formula (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with formula). I love that you kept on breastfeeding and pumping. I hope to be as strong as you with breastfeeding.
Oh my goodness she is precious! Her outfits are too cute!
She is so darn cute!! It's so wonderful the help you've had from your mom and continued support from Matt!! It's clear you were made to be a mama!!
She is so lovely….and it will get easier Christina….the first few months are so hard.
She's such a beauty. Congrats on one month of parenthood 🙂 xo
Love all the pictures of your sweet Caroline! And you husband is precious, those flowers were so sweet!!
omg matt's card and flowers make me want to ugly cry – too sweet! keep the pics and stories of caroline coming! 🙂
She is absolutely precious!! How darling!! Congrats chicka!!
Such a sweet little princess!! Happy first month of parenthood, mommy!
She is just precious!
she is SO beautiful!! happy first month! you (and dad) seem to be doing so well! and hoooray for grandmas who are lifesavers 🙂 🙂 so happy for you and your family! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
A month???!!! Whaaaat? haha Wow- you two are so very blessed!! xoxo
Adorable!
She is absolutely scrumptious! That first month is such a whirlwind of emotions and experiences, but I'm so glad to hear you are taking it all in. It makes such a difference to have an amazing support system like you have and to get your husband involved early! Having an extra set of hands around during the day makes it so much easier too to help with dishes, cooking, cleaning, etc …. Congrats on your little doll baby!
She is just gorgeous…and the bows…those bows! Bless!!!! :)xx
Absolutely precious! Happy one month baby girl!
She is so so precious! And her little outfits and bows – to die for! I love watching how protective dogs are over new babies! So sweet!Paigetomatoesforcucumbers.com
She is absolutely precious!! It sounds like you and Matt are doing a wonderful job as new parents!! Where did you get those sweet bows and the elephant?? I'm about to be an Aunt for the first time and would love to get them!
She is so beautiful. You are such a good mom I can tell! 🙂
What a doll! So glad to hear Charlie is warming up to her!
She is just so perfect my friend, and well done on being such an amazing mama. You can be so proud of the natural that you are and all that you are doing to provide the best for your baby girl. May our Lord give you strength and for things to get easier day by day x
She is just beautiful! I know you and Matt are such wonderful parents.
She is just darling. So happy for you and Matt!
Yes, yes, and yes to everything you said! It's the hardest and best thing ever, all rolled into one. I loved my husband more after we had our daughter, as well; it's the greatest. She is so precious and that Cheerio face is to die for. Love it!
She's precious and you're doing a wonderful job, mama!!!
Please beware of Reglan! It really should be avoided if at all possible and taken as little as possible! It is a considered a black label drug (meant only to be used when all else fails) and has many very serious side effects. I was prescribed it for heart burn when pregnant, took it for about 5 weeks, and still suffer consequences from it 2 1/2 years later. Here is some basic information about it: http://www.rxlist.com/reglan-side-effects-drug-center.htmHaivng to use some formula is better for your baby than a mother who is suffering ramifications from an unnecessary dangerous medication!
This is such a beautiful post. She is a darling.
1. I love your hubs sweet note to you!!!2. She's beautiful!!3. You are doing an amazing job!!
oh friend, she looks so beautiful! keep doing what you're doing. and for the breastfeeding, a tip I learned from a friend, pump on one side, while feeding on the other, she said for her it worked like a charm!
This post made me tear up. So happy for you and your husband, children bring so much joy to us. Love how Charlie is part of the family too.
Oh this is all so familiar! hah This new mama business is a bit tricky, huh?! Glad to see you're doing well, Caroline is precious!
Oh she's just so so sweet – I love that picture of her and Charlie! You're doing such a great job all that work to get your milk supply up I'm glad it paid off! I'd love to know where you got the personalized elephant, I think it needs to go into my new baby present round up!!
Such beautiful pictures!!! She sure is one sweet baby girl!
Christina, this pictures are absolutely adorable. Congrats to you and Matt on the birth of your sweet baby girl!
Aww, the pics with Charlie are absolutely presh! And I love the picture of your husband wearing Caroline in the carrier and all you can see of her are the hat and feet. Adorable!
She couldn't be more perfect mama! You're doing an amazing job! Your posts are so encouraging and something I will look back on in four short months when I'm filling those new mama shoes. Thank you for your honesty! Charlie also looks to be the best big brother around. 🙂
She is just so precious! Enjoy every second – the laundry can wait. It goes by so fast – snuggle her as much as you can!!! loveandlifesimplified.blogspot.com
Congratulations! Time has gone by so fast she's already a month old! Thank you for always sharing your experiences with us. I have 21 more days to go 🙂 do u have any first month favorites?
Congratulations on a successful first month, mama! She is too, too precious <3
Oh goodness, she is just precious!!! Enjoy each minute, mama! It goes by fast. 🙂
She is just perfect!
She is so adorable! I however cannot believe that she is already 1 month old.. Goodness where has the time gone?
She is so precious!!
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