Two Month Snapshot: Alexandra

by biscuitsspace on September 17, 2018

How is our baby Alex already two months old! The time is going by so very quickly. We are savoring each day and fleeting moment! Overall, things have been a bit easier this month as compared to our first month together! The theme for this month summed up in one word is rhythm. We are finding our rhythm and grove with Alex! We figured out what paci finally worked for Alex, one that would stay in her mouth, thanks to a recommendation by a friend! Most importantly, Alex is finally sleeping, as compared to the first month, which is monumental. She gives us about four to five hour stretches at night, six and seven hours on occasion, which has been so nice! She is the most animated and interactive in the mornings after waking up and in the evenings right before bed time. She is interacting with us and we love to see her smile, it melts our hearts! And, she is taking about one to two long naps a day, on average, which has been great! The Dock-A-Tot, paci, white noise machine, and velcro swaddles have helped immensely with her sleep! We have learned what her cries mean, for the most part, we are trying to anticipate her needs, and we are getting a rhythm to our days, all the while she is constantly changing and growing. Speaking of which, recently, to make more room in Alex’s closet and dresser, I packed away her clothes that no longer fit! It was bittersweet. Some clothes, she only wore one time, as she is constantly growing! Overall, our life feels so much simpler since her arrival, all the while our life is more complicated simultaneously. Most of all, we enjoy and love our baby Alex immensely!

Doug and I have also found our rhythm together. We tag team to care for Alex and Victory. We have become very efficient at getting things accomplished! The element of time has a whole new meaning for us. We have managed to even work out a schedule whereby we can both go to the gym multiple times a week, which is a feat with a little one! I have managed to be able to see and visit with some friends, which has been really nice as well!

Victory is even doing better, too. Last month, she would, sometimes, retreat to our bedroom when the baby cried and when we had visitors. Now, she is staying with the baby and I even more. I think it takes some time for everyone to somewhat acclimate. We tell Victory each day that she is going to have a little sister that absolutely adores her in the coming months when Alex is able to understand and really discover Victory. Victory is very gentle and kind with Alex, and we are very fortunate for this. They are even nap buddies! We have been able to get out for some outings, dinners and ice cream with Alex and Victory! You can see below, Victory and Alex pictured at each of their gils’ dinners together this month!

A few highlights from Alex’s second month include:

-she is sleeping! We are so elated! We are all feeling a little more rested, but we are both tired!

-she is staying swaddled at night, with her velcro swaddles, which has helped immensely with her sleep and our sleep!

-she is a loud sleeper and she grunts, like a wild boar, which is apparently normal! As a result, we moved her at seven weeks in her Dock-A-Tot to her crib in her nursery, down the hall, where she is now sleeping at night.

-she found her fingers and hands! She sucks on her fingers and fists sometimes. She is still looking for that thumb, possibly!

-she gave us some big smiles! It was wonderful to witness! She is starting to interact with us, which is neat!

-she loves her play yard! She is mesmerized by all of the hanging objects and sounds!

-she loves her swing, and she takes at least one nap in it daily, usually!

-she has had several ‘blow outs’ that necessitated an immediate bath! Thankfully, Doug handled most of the clean up during these instances and I gave Alex her baths following each ‘blow out!’

-she is tolerating bath time and we have moved to a larger bath tub for her, as she is growing like a weed!

-she and Victory like to be read to in the evenings before bed!

-she is still enjoying taking walks in her Bugaboo and Ergo! Fortunately, she was born at a nice time of year so we can get outside, despite the rain and hot and humid temperatures, recently!

-she loves to eat and nurse! She always let’s us know when it is time to eat!

A few highlights I would like to remember:

-enjoyed designing and creating our baby announcement introducing Alex, which we mailed to friends and family during her second month!

-love greeting Alex in her nursery in the mornings! I think she is seeing more clearly, these days, as she gets older! I enjoy our morning time, and play time together, a time when baby Alex is very animated and she is generally in a really good mood!

-enjoying nursing Alex, especially in the mornings and evenings, as it is one of my favorite times of day with her! (We refer to her affectionately as our ‘little cherub!’)

-loving the little noises she makes!

-knowing on the days that I feel totally exhausted, that I will someday really miss these early days, and I need to remind myself, at times of this fact.

-enjoying taking Alex and Victory out to eat a few times and having things going well!

-knowing now that I can reach 10,000 steps without intentionally exercising from running all over our house, room to room, all day long!

-Doug is sharing all types of music with Alex when he spends time with her in the evenings after work! Sometimes, she will even fall asleep!

-most of all, we are cherishing getting to be Alex’s parents!

Doug and I are very grateful for our little girl and our little family! We feel so lucky. We look forward to seeing Alex’s little personality develop and unfold. Below are a few images: Alex’s monthly portrait; Alex and Victory’s monthly portrait; followed by photos of Alex throughout this month; and some iphone images, of our precious girl along with some images of Alex and Victory during her second month with us! You can read our birth story along with viewing images from Alex’s birth here; and you can read Alex’s one month snapshot here.