Living in the Moment

Sorry it's been so long, folks. Samantha has been very busy making sure she stays an only child for quite a while!
We've been living hour by hour the past two weeks. When I was living by weeks (the two-week-wait, "I'm x-weeks pregnant", "she's x-weeks old") I thought time went slowly.

Then we started counting by the hours:
"She slept x-hours (usually 1 or 2)"
"She ate x-hours ago"
"She's been screaming for x-hours"
"She's been working on a #2 for x-hours"
"She had a #2 x-hours ago."
"I've been off diary for x-hrs"

The past two weeks have felt like 2 months.
Infant food allergies run in the family, so it really is no surprise that Samantha is having issues- I was just hoping against hope she wouldn't! I was sort of in denial, but when I went to the lactation consultant (after a week of no sleep) and she read off the symptoms of a breast milk allergy (face rash, excessive gas, fussiness, blood in stools) I realized how miserable my baby has been.
So, in addition to no tomatoes (which I think was giving her her horrible and stubborn diaper rash) we are now off diary (which I don't think she is allergic to, but am holding out just in case) and soy (the newest theory).
The good news is that the baby weight is coming off!

We are now 24 hrs off soy, and will know more in another 24 to 48 hrs.
She was up every 2-hrs last night (a huge improvement)
Slept for an hour without being held this morning
Slept another hour in the car seat this afternoon (we usually just scream bloody murder) .

I feel like we should have a newsreel or something.

a rare moment caught on camera!24 hrs off soy and counting!

Baby Charmer

The hair dryer in action

Baby Exercise

1 month old

I'm going to try and do a video and milestones each month (to the day, not by weeks).

So, here goes month number 1!

Milestones/News:
-smiled at me on the 16th
-poor thing has been fighting a diaper rash for 3 weeks now. Bag Balm seems to be the only thing that helps- but this means no cloth diapers at the moment
-she likes to sleep on her side; and by "like" I mean won't sleep in any other position
-she recognizes my voice and Jer's- she'll look for him and start gulping at the air when she hears mine (like a little birdy waiting for it's worm)
-she will hold her hand out sometimes for me to play with while she's nursing
-she is balding on one side of her head... Kind of looks weird.
-The hairdryer is our best friend. Keeps her calm while awake and will instantly stop a crying frenzy.

oh, and as she shows in the video- her nickname is Squeaker.

She isn't the best sleeper (unless in my baby katan, but I can't sleep while she's in it, unfortunately). Some nights we're up every 1/2 hr, some nights (like last night!) up every 3. Today I'm working really hard to get her on a schedule of some sort. The 5 minute naps and 1am bedtime are killing me!

scratch that, I think we're sick. She slept for the most part today from 10:30 am to 4pm.

oh, and as of her 3 1/2 appointment she weighed 7lbs 2oz.

The End

What allowed mom to eat breakfast

No diaper (under the blankets to keep warm)
Friends to chat with
Nora Jones
and
Hairdryer on low to remind me everything is ok

4 weeks?!?!

My baby is almost a month old!! Well, there is some debate on that in the Lepper household. Jer says 4 weeks is one month. I thought it went from date to date. *shrug* We have a 4-week-old child either way.

Anyway, the hairdryer will only work for so long, so here are some pics/video!

She always rolls herself on her side

We love bathtime! (Jer calls this ninja baby)

1 week old
(with the "darth vader look" as daddy says)

2 weeks
3 weeks
4 weeks
(looking much less darth vaderish)

a number 2 usually follows.