1 Month

Annabel is 1 month old today!  Jon said it has been a long month.  I think it feels that way when your nights are just as long as your days.  :)  It has been quite an adjustment going from one child to two, but that's a whole other post.  Anyway, we are so thankful to have our precious Annabel in our lives!

When she was first born I thought she looked so much like Adeline, but now I don't really feel that way at all.  I do, however, think she is absolutely beautiful, just like her big sister, but a beautiful all her own. She's not doing much other than eating, sleeping, and pooping right now.  She doesn't really like to be awake much.  If she is awake, it's not long before she gets fussy.  I feel like we've gotten on a schedule a whole lot faster than I did with Adeline.  I think that's partly because we already have a schedule with Adeline so Annabel just kind of had to adjust to that.  Also, because Annabel has to take medicine every 8 hours so that in itself put us on a certain routine.  

This is what our day looks like now (& these are all approximations):

• 1-2am: Awake for the first feeding of the night.
• usually only nurses from one side & is impossible to wake enough to eat more
• 4-5am: Awake for the 2nd feeding
• takes her medicine at this time as well
• 7:30-8:30:  Awake, nurses, gets dressed for the day
• 9:00am:  We are usually leaving the house around this time to go to one of big sister's activities
• she'll usually nap in the car or in her carrier
• 11ish: Nurse again
• This is where it gets difficult.  She gets tired, but refuses to go to sleep so she usually fusses until her next feeding.
• 1-2pm:  Nurse again
• take medication
• usually falls asleep right after eating from being so worn out from fussing since 11
• 4-5pm: Nurse again
• usually has to be woken up to eat & is impossible to keep awake afterwards
• 7pm: Nurse again
• try our best to keep her up while we get Adeline ready for bed & she usually gets pretty fussy
• 8:30: bath time & more medicine
• 9:00pm: Nurse again & sleep hopefully by 10pm

She is still sleeping in our room in her "Rock & Play Sleeper."  I'm going to work on tweaking this nightly routine & getting her into her bed in the next few days.  I'm thinking she's still going to have to nap in our room since she and Adeline will be sharing a room.  I'm really nervous about that transition.  It's not going as smoothly as I'd like right now, but I'm going to see what I can do.  

The first month is such a blur from sleep deprivation, but I've enjoyed it.  I've tried to cherish every moment because I know how fast they grow up.  

We love you so much, Annabel.  You are the perfect addition to our family.  We look forward to many many many more months together!