My baby is already two months old. That is just ridiculous. I feel like I anticipated her arrival for so long, and then boom, two months have gone by.
We had Arden's two month well visit yesterday and I was surprised by her size. I expected her to be near 11 pounds, but the sweet girl weighed in at 10 pounds and 2 ounces, and measured at just a hair over 22 inches long. So despite being the largest at birth, she was the smallest of all our girls at two months (see Ryann, Elsie and Thea at two months). Her weight fell into the 18th percentile, her length into the 27th. I discussed the amount she spits up with the pediatrician, along with her baby acne, both of which were deemed a non issue (what I expected, they are both just, unfortunate). Overall she looks very healthy, and just suggested that if I can handle it, to maybe stay away from dairy until she is closer to five months old. Arden didn't appreciate the shots in the slightest, but we survived and hopefully won't have to go back to the doctor until her four month appointment.
Arden is pretty much in all 0-3 month clothes. The Could Island brand (from Target) newborn sleepers lasted the longest. Width wise she still had PLENTY of room, but she just outgrew the limbs. I felt like we were going to plow through the 0-3 month size, but she must have grown quick in the first few weeks and then slowed down. She is wearing a size one diaper, and I haven't put any shoes on her at all so I'm not sure where we'd be at in those.
I suppose I shouldn't be shocked that Arden is the smallest of the four right now, she eats the least and sleeps the most. She is my little dream baby, I can hardly stand it. Arden has been giving me at minimum a six hour stretch for well over a week. Maybe even two. The last three nights she has slept nine to ten hours straight. I have no clue why. I have done nothing differently. She sleeps in an Ollie Swaddle in the rock 'n play in our room. I'd love to try her in something flat, or in her crib, but um... I also am really enjoying this whole sleeping thing. I've been able to work out in the mornings and often even shower. Right now she is going to bed sometime between 9 and 10pm, and waking up anywhere between 5-7:30am. If she wakes before 6:00am she has gone right back to sleep and will sleep another three hours. After 6 it is a bit more unpredictable, but then she'll take a three hour morning nap if we're at home. The evenings are a little dicey, but she still isn't super crabby. I look forward to her going to bed a little earlier, but again, I'm getting to sleep so I'm not going to complain.
Something else that Arden has done that none of the rest of the girls seemed able to, is fall asleep on her own. It has only happened a handful of times, but we're going to keep practicing over the next couple of weeks. It takes a bit to get her drowsy (swaddled and bouncing and pacing and such), but she has managed at that point, to go from a fairly alert state to asleep. My hope is that we can get the hang of putting herself to sleep a bit more, and then work on the transition to the crib. I go back and forth on when to move her out of our room. With her sleeping decently at night right now, I don't need the convenience of her being next to me. At the same time the new recommendations are something silly like having them in your room for the first year. That ain't gonna happen. Chris has been sleeping on the couch since she came home from the hospital so that neither of them disturb each other.
She, in general, is just a more content baby than any of the rest ever were. It is night and day from Thea. She will fairly easily go 4 hours between feedings during the day. I regularly have to wake her from her first nap to make sure we get in a decent number of nursing sessions. For about the last week, I'd say she nursed 5-6 times a day. We've tried a bottle once (at six weeks) and it didn't really go over well. I bought a Tommee Tippee bottle and hope to give that a go sometime soon. Maybe a different bottle will change her mind? Fingers crossed, because it would be nice to actually be able to have a date night, or date afternoon, or do anything where I don't feel like I have to be around her just in case she decides she is hungry. Oh, we're also four for four on pacifier hating kids. I don't mind it a bit when they're older, but when they're babies I sure wish they'd at least tolerate it!
Arden's eyes definitely seem to have a blue hue to them. But her hair still looks fairly dark compared to the other three! I'm trying to wrap my brain around possibly having a brunette. Ha! I'm sure there is still time for that to change. Kiddo has a ton of baby acne, or really the pediatrician called it something else, but her poor face just looks miserable. And it is incredibly dry all the time, despite lots of aquaphor. I'm anxious for that to clear up. Her bottom lip is also split right down the middle, and it just won't heal up. I'm not sure if it causes her any pain but it sure looks uncomfortable.
In the last month we celebrated Arden's first holiday, Valentine's day. But between running to class parties for the other kids (in which I didn't take her because germs) and her sleeping, I only took one measly picture. Sorry fourth born! I promise I love you so very much. I'm so glad that flu season is nearing the end, and now that she has had her vaccines maybe we'll get out a bit more. At one point I realized the poor kid hadn't left the house in like six days. Not that she notices or cares, but it is kind of crazy to think about. And so far she has been pretty great when we do go places so it isn't like it should be scary to go. Unless you consider Thea in the equation. She is my wild card. I kind of want to put her on a leash.
Arden enjoys her bath time, and seems fascinated with her sisters. Or terrified of them. One of the two. Ha. She lights up when she hears her Daddy's voice. Tummy time isn't so much her favorite. She gasps and gags if we go outside and it is the slightest bit windy.
Sweet girl, I can't get enough of you. I love you Arden!
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