Adapting

I cannot believe how fast time flies by when you're just feeding, changing, putting baby to sleep, trying to catch up on my own sleep and cleaning up around the house! My days just fly by!

Things have been going pretty good, but I did have a period of baby blues that got me down. I was so overwhelmed with trying to figure out our new life and breastfeeding was driving me crazy cause I would sit there for two hours trying to feed her and then when I think she is finally done, she would act as though she was famished! I was going insane cause I was literally spending my entire day on the couch trying to feed her. And it didn't help that being in the NICU destroyed me cause I was always paranoid at how much food she was getting and you obviously can't tell when she's breastfeeding. That was the whole reason she was in the NICU in the first place cause of her eating problems, so naturally that was the top thing on my mind. Then I started getting stressed because I was stressing out and it was just a vicious cycle. Finally, I just decided that I was going to pump and then just bottle feed her. Then I could tell how much she was getting and I knew that I would only have to pump for 20 minutes at a time and I would be done, which is so much better than sitting there for two or more hours and then some. I also called the doc to give me some meds to help me feel normal again. So after figuring out all that things have been great!!!

Labor day weekend we went down to our cabin in Fairview, which was our first time spending the night somewhere other than the hospital and home. She did really good, but most of the Button family was up there so there were a lot of kids which equal a lot of noise that kind of overwhelmed her (and me a little too!). But all in all she did really good and it was fun to have a change of scenery. We have also taken several Sunday drives and gone to the mountains to enjoy the fresh air. Then about a week and a half later we flew to Reno and then drove to Lake Tahoe to spend several days there. Jason knew that I needed to get out of the house (even though I was really freaked out about it). He was very understanding and didn't want to pressure me into anything but at the same time was really encouraging the trip. So finally after one breakdown and two attempts, we made it! I was hesitant about the airport and flying with a month and a half year old baby, but Everley did really well considering. I think I was more freaked out than she was. Going through security was a little interesting but we made it through none the less. It was beautiful there and so worth the apprehension I was feeling! (I hate it when Jason is right!) It was so nice and relaxing. We drove around the lake twice all in all and made stops along the way. We would go for walks and browse through the shops. It was fun to see Everley take in all the new scenery and new sounds and smells. I think she started to get sensory overload toward the end of our trip but she still did pretty good! And she slept the whole flight on the way home. She is so good to us!

On September 25 she officially turned two months old! I can't believe how fast it's gone! She just had her two month appointment and is doing good for being early. She now weighs 8lbs 7oz and is 22 inches long. She is pretty low in all the percentiles but the doc said she is really only one month old according to her maturity cause they go by the gestational age as far as these growths and measurements go, but not to worry cause she'll catch up and everything will be great! She had to get THREE shots at her appt. but she took it like a champ! She is such a strong and brave little girl. When the nurse poked her for the first time it took a second to realize she didn't like it so much and screamed with her little face all scrunched up. But as soon and the nurse was done with the third shot and put the tweety bird band aids on her legs, she stopped crying and was fine! She coos and smiles A LOT! It's so cute, I love when she smiles! She is so beautiful, I can't hardly believe she is mine to love on! She has her daddy wrapped around her finger! Jason loves our little girl so very much and is so good with her! She smiles the most when daddy talks to her, but mommy gets smiles too :) She has rolled over from her tummy to her back a couple of times and other times just gets mad. She loves to go on walks and likes to be outside. She still has reflux and spits up a bunch since the muscle that closes above her stomach isn't quite developed and it allows her food to just come up if she's jostled around to much or if she's not in a sitting position. So with that, we are constantly doing wash and I think we have about 25 bibs that she goes through in a couple of days. She lives in a bib, which helps cut down the number of times we have to change her clothes, but we still usually have to change her clothes at least once or twice a day.

I have to go back to Skywest October 18h which is just around the corner. I am both nervous and excited to go back to work. I think it will be nice to have a little change during the week but I am also nervous about how it'll mess up the schedule that we have just gotten used too. Oh well, life will move forward, right? At least I only have to work 12 hours a week so it's not like I will be away from her a lot. It's seriously all about the flight benefits. If it weren't for those, I would probably quite and work somewhere a lot closer to home. But gosh darn it, we love to travel! Jason is really excited to take Everley all over the place especially when she learns about something at school, like the White House, then we would fly her out to D.C. and actually show her what she just learned! It's gonna be so much fun! We are already planning her first birthday luau in Hawaii with our dear friend Walter and his family. First birthdays are a big deal in Hawaii and so they are going to throw her a big party :)

Well, that's pretty much it in a nutshell. Life is certainly different, but it is wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing! She is such a blessing in our lives! I will post a slide show (if I can get it to work) as soon as I can!