Feeding Our Girl

I assumed erroneously that breastfeeding Carly would be easy cause it had been easy with Wyatt.  Unfortunately, it's true what they tell you: Every baby is different.  

Carly was born weighing 7lbs. 14oz. and was nice & round.  Within three days though, she'd lost nearly a pound.  (They like to keep weight loss at 10% or less.  She had lost 12%.)  So despite her good latch and my previous experience, just breastfeeding wasn't going to get the job done.  So I had to start pumping, and supplementing Carly's feeds with what I'd pumped.  Not to be dramatic, but I was devastated to have to start pumping.

I didn't want to give her formula or a bottle, so I expressed what I could to get her breast milk and we used a feeding tube taped to Josh's finger to deliver it to her.  That worked really well for the last two days we were in the hospital, and continued once we got home. 

{A little Instagram inspiration-- thanks Kid President!}

I kept up the feed/pump/supplement gig for about a week.  Once my milk came in, I decided I would feed her as much as she wanted (all the time if necessary!) if it meant I didn't have to pump anymore.  So I became a feeding machine --just ask Jack.  He'll always say, exasperated, "Mom's feeding Carly. Again!" ha! Then I crossed my fingers she'd get where she needed to be.

At the two week mark she had only gained six ounces, one ounce from the goal.  But I persevered, and at breast feeding class yesterday, she had gained 12 ounces, surpassing her birth weight! Hooray!

 I can't wait for those thighs to be nice & rolly!

 Those cheeks are just gonna keep getting rounder & rounder!

 She still has a little trouble staying awake for the night feed, but the lactation consultant at breastfeeding class (a free class that's offered weekly at our hospital! so cool!) gave me some tips for keeping her awake & getting her full.  After four hours of sleep (yes, she sleeps! hallelujah!) I'm supposed to change her diaper and keep her naked for the feeding so she's not as cozy.  I tickle her toes and talk to her to try & discourage her from falling asleep.

Another thing we do at night to make her job easier is use a nipple shield.  She can't seem to latch as well when she's tired, so we make it simple with the nipple shield.  It's annoying (and I'm so grateful we don't need it during the day) but it works to get more food into her belly.  Which means a second good sleep period after her feeding.  Totally worth it!

School resumed Monday, and this is how it looks from where I sit.  Baby girl in the boppy, usually nursing, and the older three doing their lessons as usual.  Thus far, life with four kids doesn't seem impossible... but Josh leaves tomorrow to go back to Alaska... so it's about to get real.

Pray for me.

{Seriously. How delicious is she?}

I am going to keep attending breastfeeding class so I can keep track of sister's progress.  I am so proud of this girl for growing like a champ despite a delayed start!

Days Two, Three & Four at the Hospital

We spent three nights and four days at the hospital, just like we did with the twins and with Wyatt.  I am never super anxious to get out of the hospital because then real life begins...

While we were in the hospital, Carly got to meet a lot of family.  My grandparents came from the coast Monday morning and that meant the world to me.

My parents also spent a lot of time at the hospital, getting to know their one & only granddaughter.

I believe that aside from Josh and myself, my sister Roxanne loves Carly the most in the entire world.  They met and Roxanne fell hard for that sweet girl.  I love seeing them together!

The boys also spent a fair amount of time with us at the hospital getting to know their sister.

{Jack}

{Wyatt}

{Logan}

I'll be honest, I've enjoyed dressing her so very much. I don't remember packing a diaper bag of clothes for any of the boys' time at the hospital, although I'm sure I did, and I barely remember what they wore in the hospital.  With Carly there were multiple outfits, precious pajamas and even coordinating headbands jammed into her bag.

Hands down, my favorite accessory currently is this lambie hat from my friend Julie.  Carly looks so precious in it; it fits perfectly; and everyone comments on it.  (I wish I had better pictures, but these are the best I got the morning we left the hospital.)

Finally on Wednesday morning we were released from the hospital and on our way to settling into life as a family of six. 

(Six?!?!!!)

We Get To Be The Ones

After I had my first miscarriage, I flew home from Anchorage and embraced motherhood of our three boys like I never had before.  Bedtime in particular became sacred and I spent hours in their bedroom, snuggling them and singing all the songs on JJ Heller's "I Dream of You" album.  Many times I'd sing with tears in my eyes.

One song in particular ("I Get To Be The One") had lines that choked me up every time.

"How does someone so small

hold my heart so tightly?

I don't even know you,

I love you completely."

I would sing that, imagining our little baby flying up to heaven and wish so hard that the pregnancy had stuck.  

Fast forward a year and a half, and here I sit, nightly, with Carly in my arms, singing that same song to her and her brothers.  Only now the lyrics that get me are these ones:

"I get to be the one to hold your hand

I get to be the one.

Through birthdays and broken bones, I'll be there to watch you grow.

I get to be the one."

And that's exactly how I feel.  It is my total blessing to be the one who raises her, loves her and prepares her for this world. It is an awesome and beautiful responsibility and one I do not take lightly.  

I am giddy every morning to dress her, carefully choosing a coordinating outfit, and sometimes even a headband.  I love watching Josh and the boys with her, and am continually thinking of more things in the future that I have to look forward to. (ie pig tails; barbie dolls & pink Halloween costumes)

{Josh and Wyatt giving Carly her bath}

I love watching the boys be big brothers (again and for the first time).  I love watching them watch Josh as he fathers a newborn.  Bathing her, rocking her, changing her diapers.  They are so blessed to have such an amazing dad to one day emulate.

{One of two outfits I bought for her while I was pregnant}

She's still very alert, and loves to be sung to.

She sleeps a few longer stretches at night, although she doesn't love sleeping in her bassinet.  We'll have to work on that one!

Wyatt brought me the Ergo my cousin gave Carly (I've let the boys wear it around the house) and asked me to put her in it. He was pretty disappointed when I told him no, but decided his favorite stuffed bear would do the job.

He loves to hold her, and has read his favorite books to her a few times.

Jack is, hands down, the most in love with Carly.  He wants to hold her, feed her, carry her around.  I love how helpful he has been, and when he chose to read "The New Baby" to her? I melted into a mommy-love puddle.

Wyatt always wants to take her socks off and check out her piggies.  It's beyond precious.

This is another outfit I bought her while I was pregnant.  It might be my favorite of hers.  She's so snuggly in it!  

She seems like such a happy baby, always smiling and flirting with her eyes. 

We are all in love with her.

She was totally worth the wait and the heartbreak of those early miscarriages the year before last.  

We're all so happy we get to be the ones.

***

Three Brothers & a Sister

Carly was born at 12:06pm.  

By 4:30 her brothers had come to meet her. 

And what a happy meeting it was!

(Wyatt loves her toes!)

Other than holding her, Wyatt really wanted to change her diaper, and was amazed at how small her diapers are.  They all marveled at how little she is, and they all wanted to feed her.  Unfortunately for them, I will be breastfeed Carly, so they won't get to experience feeding her.

When he met her, Wyatt exclaimed, "Look at her huge adorable eyes!" 

It seems the grown ups aren't the only ones who noticed our alert little girl.

While they were there, my mom was grabbing something out of a Motherhood Maternity bag and Logan asked, "Are you gonna milk her?" meaning me.  We all cracked up so hard and assured him that no one would be milking me.  

I would say all three boys were enamored with Carly and Wyatt didn't mind one bit that she was born a girl after all.  And when we got home from the hospital a few days later, Jack and Wyatt both thanked God that we have a new baby during bedtime prayers.  We are all grateful indeed.

***