Bristol is 1 Month Old!

Its hard to believe it has already been a month since our beautiful little girl joined our family, but it was a month on Wednesday!  I just wanted to wait to post until we had our 1-month well-baby check-up, which we had this afternoon.  Bristol is growing very well.  She now weighs 8 pounds, 4 ounces, is 21 inches long, and has a 14 1/8 inch head circumference.  This puts her in the 10th percentile for weight, between the 10th and 25th percentiles for height, and between the 5th and 10th percentiles for head circumference.  She's still pretty tiny, but she is growing very well, considering her weight dropped to 6 pounds, 6 ounces at 4 days after birth.  She is still wearing mostly newborn size clothes, but has been able to wear a few 3-month outfits that run a little smaller.  She's our little peanut.  :)
 
Bristol is such a joy to us.  We love to see her grow and develop her little personality.  Based on the way she was in the womb, I figured she would be demanding.  Turns out I was right, at least so far.  Kevin says she is dramatic, I say she is a diva.  But really she just knows what she wants, when she wants it, and she lets you know.  Which I don't think is a bad thing, really.  It means she is decisive and will hopefully continue this trait on and become a good leader.  :)

Bristol is developing well.  She loves to play and kick on her playmat.  She gets so excited when she is playing there and will start cooing and squealing.  Bristol is so strong, too.  Since her first week, she has held her neck up incredibly well for being so young and she is learning to control it already, though she still has a ways to go with that. :)  She really likes tummy time and can pull her knees up under her already and scoots around a good deal.  She is always rolling over onto her side from her back and tries so hard to roll from her tummy to her back. 

Bristol also loves her bouncy seat and loves to be read to and sung to.  She basically just likes to hear your voice at all times she is awake.  If you walk away for a second or get distracted and stop talking to her, she is likely to get impatient and let you know she is still there and wants your attention.  :)  Bristol tolerates the swing for a short time, but its not her favorite thing... it mostly makes her spit up.  ;)  She also is a big fan of cuddling and loves to be worn in the Moby wrap.  Sara wears her around quite often, both of them loving every second of it! 

Bristol has started to smile quite often and has begun to smile when she recognizes one of us.  Carson was the first to get a true smile out of her and he has definitely achieved the most smiles from her, too.  But Kevin and Sara have each gotten some good smiles, too.   Its just so sweet! 

We're still having some rash, poo, and reflux issues.  Poor baby girl has had an awful rash since her first week.  It turned into several raw spots quite quickly and still remains that way.  Her poo is quite runny and the pediatrician believes it may be acidic, which does not allow the rash to heal.  I still suspect the disposable diapers and wipes are a culprit, as well.  We had planned to begin using cloth diapers during her 2nd week, but can't make the switch while we're using the different diaper creams and prescription ointments on her rash.  We did stop using the disposable wipes at home now and it does seem to help.  Bristol no longer cries out in pain when we are cleaning her up, at least.  Even the sensitive disposable wipes seem to have been too much on her skin.  Since things aren't getting any better, I'm considering making the switch to cloth and forgetting all the ointments and creams and just using the cloth diaper safe stuff we have to see how things go.  I just hope it doesn't make it any worse. 

We are still trying to figure out what in my diet is causing her the runny poo, gas, and reflux, too.  At this point, I am avoiding all dairy, chocolate, caffeine, coconut, gassy veggies, and things with a lot of sugar in them.  But Bristol's poo is not improving.  Her gas is better, though.  But she still has the reflux, though it doesn't really phase her now.  So there have been some improvements.  If only we could get her poo to not be quite so runny/liquid. 

In spite of the poo, gas and reflux issues and her demanding temperament, Bristol really doesn't cry a lot.  She will get quite upset, very quickly, and gets very loud fast (she has her mama's temper, we think), but she also calms down very quickly once she gets what she wants.

So far, life with two kids is great!  Bristol has fit in almost seamlessly, really.  Of course, life is different (I am really missing my sleep - lol!), but its not as different as we/I expected it to be.  I was prepared for more acting out from Carson, feeling disconnected from Carson on some levels, etc.  But we haven't experienced much acting out at all, nor have I felt any disconnect, for which I am very grateful!   Maybe these things are still to come, but for now we are just rolling with it and enjoying life, trying to make the most of my maternity leave! 

This weekend Bristol will get to meet some of our extended family from Wisconsin.  They're coming to town for a family reunion out at Aunt Sharon's house.  Hopefully we all hold up well and are able to make it through the weekend of festivities.