5 weeks! But who's counting?

Our baby girl is growing up. 5 weeks old and 9.5 pounds. She's starting to fill out some of her cute outfits nicely. We saw a specialist at Seattle Breastfeeding Medicine this week and she diagnosed Willa with a posterior tongue tie which we had clipped. Nursing is so much less painful! I'm hoping this was the root of our troubles and that things will only improve. Cj is diligent in giving Willa facial massages to help relieve the tension in her jaw and lips that built up from trying to compensate for limited range of motion with her little tongue. What a good dad. We have also started very laidback elimination communication, and Willa has peed in the potty a few times this week. Exciting stuff. We look forward to changing fewer diapers in the future. 

 Willa is rooting for Cathy's "Team Beaver" in her sleep: 

The following picture series cracks me up: 

 And then happy again:

Willa's first hike! We went to Rattlesnake Ledge with Megan and Sadie yesterday: 

Mama time after an olive oil massage from papa (which is why she's so shiny): 

Mugging in her little yellow sweater from Grandma Klocow: 

Love you all. 

One month and counting

 she sleeps...for 5 hours straight the other night! This has not yet proved to be a trend...

 We love her swaddle blankets even though we don't swaddle her because Cj worries that it's bad for her hip development. Speaking of development, Willa's holding her head up when placed on her tummy, and spending more time alert and awake during the day. She's fun :) We've been referred to a tongue tie specialist at Seattle Breastfeeding Medicine because there is a possibility that W has a sneaky posterior tongue tie that has been causing/contributing to our breastfeeding struggles. I'm trying not to be too hopeful. We're hitting a stride with feeding regardless, and generally feeling less homebound, which is lovely.

Willa's one piece of furniture so far - the swing seat! she has a bouncy chair from grandma Klocow to look forward to and we just got a cosleeper/bassinet in hopes this will facilitate Cj's upcoming transition back to work. We'll see!

Much love,
K, C, and Willa bean

3.5 Weeks - Election day!!

Life with Willa becomes more joyful every day. I cannot believe she is almost one month old! We are developing routines and breaking them, discovering patterns, and losing them. All the usual stuff, I'm sure. It has been so crucial to have Cj here and I am grateful he still has a few weeks off before returning to work. 

Naked time with papa (Naked time with mama always leads to me getting peed on)

 Kristina and Willa at 2.5 weeks

We started a new feeding plan this week after an intense lactation appointment last week, and have been supplementing Willa at the breast every feeding instead of using the bottle. This has a two-fold purpose of providing breast stimulation every time she needs to eat, hopefully increasing my milk production, and making her work a little harder for her food, which helps her hone her nursing chops. I hate the supplemental system (syringe and tube), but appreciate the progress we've seen. Also, now that i'm used to wrangling all this gear, just nursing her feels so much easier!

Megan and Christian hang with Willa

That said, Willa is gaining and growing, weighing in at 8 lbs 3 ounces when we last checked 2 days ago. I think it has all gone to her cheeks and her fingers - they are getting so chubby. In her carseat today, Cj and I noticed that she is developing jowls! At night, Willa will fall asleep on my chest and I just can't bear to put her down, so she sleeps sprawled across me with one little arm hooked up around my neck and the other clutching my side. These moments with her are being so astoundingly tender.

We have had 2 fun photoshoots this last week with my mom's friend Rachel who is developing her professional photography business and asked to take pictures of my family, including Bre, Brian and the girls. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures! Our little one can never complain that she wasn't adequately documented in her early days...This past week has also brought Willa's first Halloween, a trip to Red Mill for burgers, a walk around Greenlake with a new mama friend, a few coffee shop trips, Willa's first tub bath (generally positive experience!) some garden projects, visits from friends and neighbors, baby clothes organizing, tracking of presents and overdue thank yous, and today I baked chocolate chip banana muffins! Every little thing we do feels like such an accomplishment.

Pumpkin baby and Zombie parents Halloween 2012

The biggest news of the week is probably that my dear friend Liz had her baby Friday night - welcome to this beautiful world, Penelope! We can't wait to meet you.