Nursing Out of House and Home

***Warning for all the fathers, fathers in law, and any other male that might read this blog: the words breast, boob, nipple, latch, pump, and milk will be used repeatedly. If this makes you squirm, don't read any further, just skim to the pictures :)****

So, we have a champion eater on our hands. For everything Andrew was when he was 3 weeks old, Emily is the opposite. Exact opposite. For instance, she sleeps. Soundly, and alot. Second, she's easy to PUT to sleep. Third, she nurses. Very very well. A lot. She latched on from the beginning and hasn't let go.

In fact, this baby girl, at 3 weeks old, eats 4 OUNCES. I know this because I pump twice during the day and give it to her in a bottle. I think it's important that she know how to drink from a bottle and the boob, in case there's ever an instance that I'm not there to feed her. So, this is how I know that she eats 4 ounces. At 3 weeks old. I do recall Andrew eating 4 ounces (of formula, I might say) at 3 MONTHS old. I am just simply astounded that she eats this much. I'm pumping 4 ounces out of each breast. And I think to myself, "If the boobs are this heavy and full at 3 weeks of age, what's it going to be like when she's eating 6 or 8 ounces down the road?!"

The nursing did not start off well on my end, so I never even thought I would make it this far nursing. She did fine, it was my poor little nipples that were taking a beating. Apparently redheads in general have a more difficult time nursing. It has something to do with our very sensitive skin. So, one week into nursing I had (TMI warning) scabs on my little nipples and would just about scream everytime she nursed. Which is why I brought out the breast pump so early in the game, to give the girls a break. While the nipples are better now, it's still painful to nurse her, but I just go to my 'happy place' and we get through it. Somehow I don't think this is normal, this pain & discomfort, but I'm determined to meet my goal of nursing for 6 weeks. After that, I can either make a new goal, or I can strictly pump. Formula is my last option. Andrew had formula from the second week he was alive, and he's fine...growing, learning, healthy. But I wanted to stick with the breastfeeding this time.

She's been drinking out of a 3.5 ounce bottle up until today. We went out to eat with friends Friday night and I went in to Target to get some bigger bottles (the ones we have are only 3.5 ounces). It was time for her to eat, so I just pumped in the car and let Brian feed her while I went in. I bought a set of 4 ounce bottles. I got back out the car, and Brian said, "She just drank 4 ounces." So I turned on my heels and went right back into Target to swap the bottles for 8 ounce size. Geesh, kid. We're definitely going to be ready right at 4 months to start rice & some foods. Because I can't imagine making enough milk for her to eat!!

The upside of her eating so much is that she goes a little longer between feedings. Just last night she went for a 4.5 hour stretch. And during the day, she goes about 3 hours, sometimes longer. And I do believe she has reached the 10 pound mark. Andrew was 10 pounds at his two month well visit!!

Anyways, here's a picture of my big girl and her daddy, eating from her 8 ounce bottle. And some pictures of the big brother. Lately, he will find my camera, then bring it to wherever I am, and give it to me and say "Cheese!" He loves having his picture taken. So here are a few of those, too.

Warming Up & 2 Week Checkup

Andrew is certainly warming up to the idea of being a brother. In fact, I think he rather likes it. He always wants to know where the baby is, what she's doing, and when can we "make baby higher" (on the swing). Poor little gal, as soon as she can sit up, she's going to be pummeled. But, she'll hold her own. We had our 2 week checkup today, and boy, she's a growin. She weighs in at 9 pounds even, and has grown 1/2". She's in the 75th percentile, something Andrew never knew. Not only has she gotten back up to her birthweight, but she blew past it and added another 7 ounces! All my breastfeeding worries have gone out the window- she's certainly getting all she needs. I can't believe how big she is. Andrew wasn't 9 pounds until he was about 6 weeks old. We can't button the top button on her sleepers because her neck is so big!

Anyways, here are some pictures of the kids. My personal favorite is the one of Emily latching on to Brian's cheek. When we're not sure if she's hungry, we give her the cheek test. If she latches on to Brian's face, we know she's ready to eat!

Introducing....

Miss Emily Mae Manley

Born February 4, 2010, at 9:15 a.m. Weighing in at 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and measuring 20 inches long. She's got lots of long, dark hair and deep blue eyes. Perfect in every sense of the word!

We went in for our c-section early, early Thursday morning. Everything went just fine, except for a couple of minutes there where I thought we were going to lose Brian to the hard concrete floor. Poor guy had to go outside for a moment! I was able to see the little miss very soon, probably within an hour of surgery. She was so round, and pink, with the chubbiest cheeks I've ever seen on a baby. And she was mine, all mine!

The hospital stay flew by, and before we knew it we were discharged and heading home. Which is a weird feeling. Exciting, to get this new life started at home with family, but at the same time, scary as hell, without the help of a nurse a button's touch away. We had my mom stay with us for the first three days, and then Brian's mom came for a day. She went home today, and took Andrew with her for the weekend. It'll give Brian, Emily, and me some time to bond. As nice and quiet as it is, I miss Andrew terribly and it's only been a few hours. I feel like I haven't seen him in a week. But I'm sure he's having a ball, and is not even thinking about me right now!

Speaking of Andrew, he's starting to acknowledge the baby now, instead of refusing to look at, touch, or talk about her! Today he even gave her a kiss on the head. He's most concerned when the baby is crying, and he's the first to say, "Baby crying!!" Which I'm sure is not so much out of concern for the baby as it is annoyance at this little thing making noise.

So we're at home, watching the opening ceremonies on tv, with snow falling outside. I'm content for the moment, but as most mothers are after having given birth, I'm liable to cry at any moment, for any reason. Things are going better than I'd hoped, Emily is a sleeper. A good, good sleeper. So good that we have to wake her to feed her, which seems wrong, but a girl's gotta eat. Nursing could be better, but it's working, she's pooping, and I have to remind myself that she's only a week old, and with each day that passes she'll get better at it, and so will I. I also remind myself that every day is the last day she will be that size, that with each day she's bigger, and older, and that I'd better love each moment, even at 3 a.m.