5 weeks

Kate Elizabeth, you are 5 1/2 weeks old! I can't believe it's been that long since I held you for the first time, while at the same time it seems as if I've known you forever! You are the sweetest, most beautiful baby and my favorite thing in the world is holding and cuddling you. I am so excited for your future, but every day I wish time would stop right in its tracks. I don't want you to grow up!

Everyone loves you so much, especially your Daddy and I!  You still have some fussy times, but they are shorter and a little less often - either you're outgrowing the colic (fingers crossed!) or we're learning what works. 

You LOVE being outside and usually start crying as soon as we try to walk back inside with you. You also love your baths until the end when we wash your hair, then you SCREAM until I get you dried, diapered, and start to nurse you! 

You don't fall asleep on your own - there is a special "sleepy Kate dance" that is usually necessary. We hold you tight against our chest and walk around, bouncing and singing to you. Sometimes, that still doesn't work so we pull out the big gun: standing in the bathroom with the tub faucet running. The sound of that water puts you right to sleep. 

I'm not really worried that we can't just lay you down when it's time to sleep. You have bad acid reflux, so from the beginning, you had to be held upright for a long time after eating. Otherwise, you'd spit up/vomit and start gagging and coughing and you'd wake up often. Now, you're on some medicine for that, and you sleep in your bouncy seat so that you're sitting more upright. Since you started sleeping that way, you're sleeping a little longer at night and Mommy is so excited! Most nights, you go about 4-6 hours between feeds, so I get to sleep about 4 hours in a row!

You outgrew newborn clothes at about 3 weeks, and you wear size 1 diapers. You hardly ever cry during your diaper change and you LOVE lying on your changing table. You look out the window and are so content there!

You get the hiccups a few times a day, and it's always after you have some reflux after eating. I feel so bad for you when you get those hiccups because you fuss like they hurt!

You've taken a bottle with mama's milk a few times and you do great! I don't even want to think about going back to work in a couple of months, but at least I know you'll eat well at Nannie Kiki's while I'm gone!

You have Mommy's dimple! You also still have lots of dark, beautiful hair, although some has fallen out.   You have fair, baby doll skin and last week you started getting some baby acne. You love to have your hands cuddled by your face and to have your feet and legs played with.

You eat about every 3 hours during the day and stretch 4-5 hours most nights. You're eating so well and have definitely gained some chub and rolls! I kind of weighed you on a scale here and you weighed 10 pounds, but that was with clothes and a wet diaper, so I'm guessing you weigh about 9.5 pounds. Your next appointment is when you're 2 months old, and you'll get vaccines that day too. 

You have another friend in the world! Dr. Ali's baby girl Tilloo McGinnis was born 8/26 weighing 8 lbs and 19 inches long. Hopefully you'll meet her this week!

Right now, you're sleeping in your swing and Daddy is preparing for his fantasy football draft tonight. Next weekend, you'll get to watch your first Gator game! I just love you so, so much and thank God everyday for you. You are an incredible blessing!