Snowbound Herpetologist

Annika is currently at daycare while I write this post (so I'm totally stressed out...although it is getting ever so slightly better each time I leave her), but it's somehow already time for her three month update, so I better write something!  I am running to the pediatrician's office this afternoon to drop off a physical form for Maya, so while I'm there, I will try to convince them to let me into a room to quickly weigh her - I'm guessing she's somewhere between 15-16lbs.  I will update her growth charts if they let me in! At three months, Annika is becoming more and more fun.  Yesterday, I even got a couple cough-like proto laughs while trying to tickle her!  She's still a very serious baby, but she's starting to become a bit more social.  Near the end of this month, I intend to try her out in a high chair to see if I can get her sitting at the table with us for dinner.  In light of that, I'm working hard on her sitting skills - we'll see i...

Use Younger Baby to re-create fun photos that I took with Older Baby. Work on bottle proficiency. Take Younger Baby to work. Coffee is a must. Attend really important work meeting with Younger Baby in tow. Stress the whole time that baby must be SILENT.  Work hard on reaching. Document crazy cowlick, just like Older Baby's (and Dada's). More bottle feeding. Ever-present large water bottle for maximum hydration to increase milk output. More yoga ball bouncing with cranky Younger Baby. Pick up Older Baby from daycare. Try to convince Younger Baby to smile. Try to document Younger Baby smiling with Dada. Celebrate Mother's Day with selfie in bed. Nurse. And nurse. And nurse. Nurse in public. Add Younger Baby to Older Baby's bed for funny photos. Take ALL THE BABIES to daycare. Again, coffee is vital. Go to Older Baby's sprinkler party Document sisterly bedtime kisses Take Younger...

I have to go review a grad student's paper and write some emails (they are never ending!!!), but I'll give a quick 10 week update.  Annika went to daycare yesterday morning (although I stayed the whole time), and it certainly didn't put my mind at ease.  Yesterday was a super tension-filled day with wanting/NEEDING to get some work done paired with the stark realization that Annika is way too young to thrive at daycare, at least this daycare, which is a little disorganized.  I don't 100% trust them, at least with a baby that is this breakable - although to be fair, I'm not sure that I would trust anyone with that many kids to look after (and they only have 5-6 kids total, and 2 caregivers).  The other kids are just so big/old (all 18-24 months, basically) and the providers won't baby wear, which means a 2 month old can't be carried all the time and will basically sit in a crib the whole time.  Annika will scream in this situation, which will make it even mor...

First things first: stats.  Annika had her 2 month appointment on Monday, where she got growth measurements and her first round of shots.  She is now a (WHOPPING) 13lbs 4oz and 23.25in (head circumference is 15.8in), so she's like 90th percentile in every metric.  For comparison, Maya was 11lbs 12oz and 24in at the same check, and she was born a pound heavier.  Annika still spits up a ton, but somehow she's almost doubled her birth weight as a 100% breastfed baby by two months - and she has doubled from her lowest weight after birth.  Husband has taken to calling her "Pudge-cicle." Annika at two months :) Shots went well - the first afternoon oscillated between the photo below and sleeping, but otherwise no fever and no redness/swelling at her injection sites.  I was nervous and pretty much hate the first round of shots when you don't know how your baby will respond, but I always tell myself that you know what's worse?  Pertussis.  Or menin...

There's not enough time for everything I want to do in life right now, that's for sure!  I'm supposed to be reviewing a paper and definitely need to get to it today, but I have a baby sleeping in my lap and it's hard to concentrate on anything else :)  I've been feeling like I'm missing opportunities with blogging, seeing as I haven't written anything much yet about what Annika is like as a baby, or how Maya is actually handling the transition to big sisterhood.  I will try to remedy that now, as long as Annika stays napping and I can continue the awkward typing while balancing the computer precariously on part of my knee! At nearly two months old, I can say that Annika is definitely another "spirited" baby.  My mom, who was here only for Annika's first two weeks, said she wasn't and that if she got crazy, that's because we messed her up :)  I tried to explain to her that Annika was super jaundiced and all she was seeing was a very le...