6 weeks old

We have reached 6 weeks! Along with that came a few firsts. Emma has started to smile at us and imitate our facial expressions. I can't get enough of those big gummy smiles!!! I love it. It's these little moments that I live for. 

I'm trying to get a schedule down but it's pretty challenging. Eat, play, sleep is what I'm going for but the sleep part is what I'm struggling with. She always fights her sleep. Then she gets super fussy and ends up having a meltdown.  At that point she just want to nurse for comfort. It's hArd not to just give in on that one. Especially when she is screaming so loud that I think it's possible my ear drums will burst. But I guess it just takes time and practice to get all the kinks worked out. 

So I'm starting to think Emma has a little colic. Night time has proven to be very difficult. Not every night but 4 times a week would be a good estimate. Nothing makes her stop. She gets incredibly worked up. Sometimes she screams for upwards of 4 hours straight. I have come close to mental breakdowns. I am sometimes questioning my sanity. When she finally does fall asleep my ears continue to ring. It is awful. I have talked to the dr about this but he just brushes it off as her just being a newborn. But I'm convinced there is something going on. Her schedule is this.... Eat, play for 15-20 min, scream, sleeps for 10-20 min, screams again possibly sleeps again for a few min and then screams until its time to eat again. I don't know what to do. I'm going to call the dr tomorrow and say something needs to be done. And that I'm not just exaggerating. 

Marks mom came out to see Emma this past week. She was able to take in the sights of New York as well. Hopefully Emma's screaming didn't make her go crazy. 

Well it took me 3 days to write this tiny post. I'm just so exhausted. I'll try to post an update after I bring her to the dr. 

Here are some pictures. 

1 month old

Wow! Where has the time gone?!? I can't believe she is already one month old. Seems like yesterday we were leaving the hospital. 

Well these past two weeks have been fun. She is more awake during the day now. She just looks around all bright eyed. Doesn't really focus or track things but she enjoys looking at whatever her eyes land on. Nights are sometimes hard. She has been getting stomach aches and bad gas in the evenings. She just screams. I feel so bad for her. We have gas drops we give her but they don't always work. I'm almost positive it's because she's not a good burper. I can burp her for an hour and get nothing. I've tried stopping a few times during the feedings but it still doesn't help. Not sure what I should do about this but I plan on asking the doc this week. 

Breastfeeding is going great. I sometimes wish I wasn't exclusively breastfeeding just so I could catch a break but I know it's good for her. She doesn't take well to bottles or pacifiers. She just wants to nurse. Oh well, I should be thankful that I can breastfeed. 

My parents came in town for the week. They leave on Monday. It's been so much fun seeing them hold Emma and Emma just loves all the attention. They have been a big help with house work to. It's really nice to be able to relax and not worry about laundry and dishes all the time. My mom cut and highlighted my hair while she was here. It is short! I like it though. Much easier to take care of. 

Mark left for the weekend to St. Louis to be in a friends wedding. It's hard not having him here but things are going well. I can't wait to have him back though. 

As for me. I'm doing good. I'm often tired during the day but can't seem to nap well. My brain just doesn't allow me to nap. I have kinda stalled on the weight loss front. I have lost 30 pounds so far. I plan on starting to tone in a few weeks after my appointment with my OB. 

Nothing else really new around here. Here are some pics from the past few weeks. Enjoy!