Meeting Aubrey Halleigh

I can't believe it has been over 4 months since meeting Aubrey!  Here are a  few highlights from the past few months:

Baby shower...but without me.  Yup, I was sick (ended up in the ER twice that weekend).

#1 asked question: Is she a good baby? Yes, she has never willfully disobeyed me ;)  I'm never sure how to answer this question.  If good is defined by obedience, then I don't know* (because she doesn't have the capacity to do anything but eat, sleep, poop, laugh and cry.)  But if good is defined by characteristics that she has no control over (minimal crying, sleeps and eats well, etc.), then yes, she is good (at least most of the time).  She LOVES her brother.  If he is in the room, she is happy...even happier if he is in her personal space.

*On second thought, this could be an opportunity for a theological debate ;)

Beach House

#2 most asked question: How do you pronounce her middle name?  Halleigh (Ha-lei), not to be confused with Haley.  A friend's daughter name was Halleigh, and we liked it   Not sure where they heard it.

Going to the doctor

#3: Personality?  During pregnancy there were several times I almost called the doctor because she wasn't moving.  But Drew would always ask, "But it's normal for this baby, right?"  Normal for Aubrey was minimal movement, response to Callen's voice, and a hand near her head (yes, I could feel that!!)  And for the first few months not much has changed.  She is laid back, LOVES her brother (will cry if he leaves the room) and must have at least one hand free near her face.

Playing with Cousins

#4a Similarities between the kids? Both love the outdoors...and lots more.  Saving details and pictures for another post.

Wiggles with Mom

#4b Differences between the kids?  I would have never classified Callen as a colicky baby.  But after experiencing a baby that rarely cries (Aubrey), Callen was definitely fussy.  Callen was sensitive to just about everything I ate.  Aubrey only a few things bother her: mainly hummus.  Callen moved constantly in the womb, but I would go almost a full day without any major movements from Aubrey.

First Airplane ride (2.5 months)

Airplane, really?  Yep!  Flew to Seattle to celebrate with Crazy as she graduated medical school.

Family adventures

#5 Schedule? With Callen, I had him on a strict schedule at least most of the time (Baby Wise: eat, play, sleep).  But I have had a more difficult time getting Aubrey into a routine.  Part of that is because I have two kids now.  But also because we got off to a more exciting start with 2 ER visits, 4 days of bed rest, family vacation, airplane rides, etc.  Basically, our lives haven't been predictable.  After noticing some behavior issues with Callen, we decided to slow down and REST.  This has helped both kids tremendously!!

As of now (at 4 months-ish), Aubrey takes three naps: 2-1.5 hours and 1-1ish hour.  If she misses the morning nap, she is less likely to sleep well the rest of the day/night.  She is SO social that she prefers not to nap.  And generally, she won't be grumpy without a nap.  But I need the break...so I force her to sleep.

I remember with Callen that I need to teach him how, when and where to sleep- both at night and during the day.  And that still is a struggle with Aubrey.

Tummy time

#6 Eating?  She has been a GREAT eater since day 1!  Every 2.5 to 3 hours.  Maybe every 2 hours in the evening if I feel like milk production is low.  She is efficient: never will eat longer than 10 minutes.

Lots of smiles!!

#7 Pacifier? Yes.  I have mixed feelings about giving one to her, but she uses it to fall asleep.  I've come to realize that it is either her thumb or the paci...she wants something in her mouth.  And I don't want to nurse her to sleep.  When the paci falls out, the thumb goes in.  If I won't give her a paci, the thumb goes in.  In the beginning, we FORCED her to take the paci.  She kept gagging, spitting it out...but I'd rather have a paci addiction than a thumb sucking addiction.  I'm not going to try and break the sucking addiction until after our next airplane adventure.

Friends: Ashyln, Bella and Aubrey

Overall, it has been a fun 4-ish months.  We have had our laughs and tears.  Late nights and early mornings. Victories and defeats.  Parenthood continues to challenge my faith, point out my weaknesses, and show me how much of life that I don't have control.  Just when I think I have mastered some aspect of parenting, God gently shows me I am not in control. Slowly, my selfishness is being revealed and stripped away.  Any aspect of "good parenting" or "good behavior" from my kids is a reflection of God's mercy and NOT my own doing.