I’ve tried to write this post for a week – it was Maia’s 1-month birthday on Tuesday – but the days seem to fly by with me being too busy to even brush my hair but seemingly getting nothing done. Welcome to the life with a newborn baby! 😊
Maia is doing very well and growing (too) fast! My little hatchling looks more like a proper baby now with chubby cheeks and leg rolls – she still wears “tiny baby”-size clothes and “micro baby”-size nappies but feels less fragile. There’s nothing cuter than squishy baby rolls!! She may be small but she is strong – She holds her head up well and waves her arms and kicks strongly (especially when frustrated). We have started “tummy time” and she can now lift her shoulders up a bit. When lying on her back on soft surface she can nearly roll onto her side – clever girl! It’s so exciting to watch her develop.
Maia is starting to be awake and alert for longer and longer periods and seems to be more aware of what’s going on around her. We have noticed that she follows us with her gaze when we move from side to side in front of her. She also turns her head towards a sound. I bought her a colourful play mat with toys thinking she might soon need more stimulation than what my face can offer, although for now she still prefers to cuddle with me (*melting heart*). Same goes with the rockaRoo baby rocker chair we bought her. She might spend 10-minutes in her rockaRoo when on a good mood but otherwise wants to be held or be in the sling. I use an Ergobaby wrap sling which has been my saviour now that I’m at home alone with her. How did mums ever even get their teeth brushed before the sling was invented?? If only I could shower with it…
But I’m sure the time will come when Maia is happy to spend some time on her own – after the fourth trimester perhaps? By then I will probably be missing this time and our endless cuddles…
Maia can be very entertaining with her silly smiles and other funny faces but presumably these are not yet linked to emotions. I can’t wait for the first time she smiles at me (and means it)! As a new mum I’m quite happy to spend a lot of time just observing her little face which is good because often that’s all I’m able to do anyway, holding or nursing her. And I’ve definitely been the evil mummy photographing her silly expressions – something to save for her 18th birthday!
Despite my ambitions to get my baby follow a routine our days are still very much baby-led. Maia does have her own routine though, if I don’t mess it up with ill-timed outings. She follows a loose 1.5h-2h feeding-sleeping pattern throughout the day. After what’s taken a lot of willpower and energy from me, Maia now sleeps most of the night in her own bed in a Gro Snug newborn sleeping bag (with arms tugged inside). I still exclusively breastfeed her and she doesn’t use a dummy. I offered her a dummy during one desperate night but she refused it (Tommee Tippee night-time soother which was meant to be accepted by most babies!). Oh well.
I’m still trying to slowly get her into a routine that works better for us (targeting longer sleeps at night). We bathe her every night when her dad comes home from work as part of her evening routine. Maia loves her baths and is clearly relaxed in the warm water. Considering there isn’t that much you can actually “do” with a little baby, bathing her is a really nice activity which we do together with my fiancé.
Yesterday I said to him that if it wasn’t for the physical fatigue and the sleep deprivation I would be 100% loving this period of taking care of our newborn baby (instead of loving it 98%). I honestly don’t mind giving up most of my free time, or the endless poopy nappies and laundry, or even the never-ending breastfeeding. She is so precious, an amazing little creature and I love her so very much! It’s a shame that the fatigue takes away from the enjoyment but I guess that’s part of life.
Taking care of myself and our relationship is of course very important and I suppose it’s good that this time when she is so dependent on me is relatively short. In long-term we shouldn’t live for her, but rather with her…
xoxoxo,
Sini