One month old

Today we had your 1 month check-up, Little One. I can't believe that a month has come and gone already! Time sure is flying by this time around. Your stats, which I was excited to find out about, are that you weigh 10lbs, 11oz (90th percentile) and are 22.25" long (90th percentile): you're growing! You grew out of your newborn sizes around 3 weeks old and you fit very nicely in your 0-3 month clothes. You're doing all things a 1 month old should be - you're holding your head up, you are interested in voices around you, and you like to hang out and look around. Oh, and you're smiling now! It's so much fun to get you to smile! Last week we were getting a half-smile, but now its a full-fledged, whole-face grin! You've gotten on a great schedule which I'm thankful for: a 2 hour nap in the morning, a 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon, a 1-2 hour nap in the evening and going to bed around 10pm. You're first stretch of sleep in the night right now is about 4.5-5 hours with about 3 hour intervals after that. I'm hoping for a little more sleep very soon! As you can see, we're just enjoying life with you, Khloe.

Amy visits

It's been wonderful with Amy here for 5 days! You two bonded and clicked right away, which was important because she was your first babysitter! I hoped and prayed the babysitting would go well - me leaving your side for the first time! - and it did (for both of us). At 3.5 weeks old you took your first bottle, and I have to admit, it felt very liberating for me. You took it very well and so we gave you more bottles and more bottles all week long! It's good to know that you will drink from a bottle when we need you to, and sometimes we will.

Here are some highlights of your time with Amy. She walked you and rocked you and fed you like a champ, and you slept and ate and burped like a champ for her. She even figured out this special "hop, skip, walk, glute-tightener, calf-strengthener, calorie-burner thing" that you specially liked. It was the trick for getting you to calm down or burp or get to sleep or just be happy. We use the trick every day now! Thanks for cooking, cleaning and babysitting Aunt Amy! Glad you got to meet Khloe as just a little sweet peanut. We will definately need to adjust to you not being here.

Goodbye's are never easy!
Kayla (3.5) and Khloe (3 weeks)

First walk

With not-so-nice weather hanging over our heads for the last three weeks we have not been able to get out as much as I would've liked, and it's making us all go crazy! But finally, when Amy was here, we had our first few nice days so the three of us ventured out for a walk in the neighborhood. I know you are not a fan of your car seat - unless you are already asleep - so instead of a walk with the stroller I took you in the baby carrier. You slept the whole time and I felt great for getting out and exercisizing. Can't wait for more nice weather!

Khloe's Debut Party

Today was your first big party - and you were the star. I planned a ladies-only afternoon for all my friends to come meet you. It was easier for me if I had to coordinate only 1 day of friends visits instead of multiple days, so I invited 30 friends to come over for an open house afternoon of getting to know you.

It turned out to be a fun afternoon! Lots of friends stopped by and, with the help of Daddy, Amy and Grandma A, we had a nice spread of h'ors douevres and cocktails for everyone. I was a little nervous about how the day would go - if you would cooperate - and things went perfectly. You slept most of the time, but also had some awake time on the floor. Everyone thought you were so little and precious and beautiful!

It was also Daddy and I's 12th wedding anniversary today, which made it even more special to all be together as a family.

XO

Mother's Day

It's my first Mother's Day with you, Khloe Jean. Thank you for making me your mom. I love it.

We've been busy figuring each other out these last 3 weeks.... or I mean, mostly I have been busy figuring you out. And we're getting better at making things work smoothly, but thank you for being so forgiving along the way. I burb you, but really you just want to be down and stretch. I feed you but you want to go to sleep. I try to get you to sleep, but you need to burp. I think you want to play, but you want to sleep.

But, I'm getting the hang of things (again) and I feel like its getting easier. You have a whole new language I didn't know or speak but I'm getting better at it each day. And you're getting the hang of things now, too. You're more awake throughout the day (we love to look in your eyes), you eat very well, you take long solid naps (in your swing and pack-n-play), you take 3 hour naps and are sleeping up to 5 hours at night (!!!) and your content to just stretch out on the floor and look around (you love to watch Kayla).

Thank you for being here with me on this Mother's Day.

Your bedroom

I thought I would show you photos of your room, Khloe!

And here you are enjoying your room!

 19 days old

Cuddling

Oh Khloe. I just love to cuddle with you. Throughout my pregnancy I was secretly hoping that I would get another baby that loved to cuddle just as Kayla did, and I got that with you. Cuddling with a newborn is just the best! You love to cuddle with your neck pressed as tight as can be against our neck. Someimes you even like to sleep like your face on top of one of our faces, cheek to cheek. (Also just like your sister!) You sleep twice as long when you're held, which can be a blessing - and a curse sometimes.

This was one of our cuddle moments. I kept thinking that I had to get up and get to so many things - tedious housework and chores that don't really mean anything. But then, I'd look down at your peaceful face, smell your sweet breath, feel you breathing on my neck and then I'd squeeze you harder and tighter and decide there was no where else I wanted - or needed - to be than right here with you. I wasn't going to let this moment pass. I wanted to remember it forever, and I most definately will.

12 days old

My favorite place to be in the world