Baby Log: Week Two

Nothing can prepare you for the first time your baby is sick. I knew it was inevitable, but in my mind I would be composed and in control. Another silly notion. Marlie started showing symptoms of a cold on Tuesday, so I rubbed her down with a eucalyptus-based salve. On Wednesday, she couldn't burp after feedings and became really fussy and cranky. She was also nursing every hour and wasn't getting restful sleep. By Thursday, she had diarrhea and then she vomited...a large amount of sour milk and mucus. She started to choke, and I was scared shitless. Thankfully, my MIL was here. She saw the panic on my face and made me position Marlie to help her expel the sick. I called the pediatrician's office and received orders from the on-call nurse to cease breastfeeding and administer Pedialyte (sugar water, IMO). This meant a trip to the drugstore. Those were the longest 15 minutes of my life. She sucked down two ounces of the sugar water and went right to sleep. That night me and her daddy took turns watching her for signs she might need to throw-up again. I was paranoid that she would choke in her sleep. In the morning, we went straight to the pediatrician's office where she was declared fine. She just had a little cold on her tummy, but it was running its course and the worst was over. Whew! Let's see what else Marlie has been up to during her second week of life outside the womb:

• I love to watch her with her daddy. He has proven to be a natural despite having zero experience with babies. He is even better than me at putting the pre-fold cloth diapers on her and burping her.
• Her features change daily. She looks nothing like her newborn photos. She is looking more like her daddy too! Developmentally, she is can lift and turn her head to the other side when she is laying down and she starting to socialize by looking into your eyes, touching your face and grabbing your finger.
• In addition to favoring her father, she is exhibiting more of his personality traits like being a night owl, stretching like a cat when she wakes up, sweating even though the a/c is on full blast, and charming you with her eyes.
• I caught a boogie monster with the aspirator. It was huge!
• She makes so many noises...it sounds like Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory!
• Breastfeeding is joy! Damon calls it Boob-B-Q!
• We have nicknames for her: pee-pee because she has a knack for spraying you in between diaper changes; nibbler (like the character from Futurama) because she she can put away large amounts of food for someone so small; funny bunny because she makes lots of cute faces; electric boo-ga-loo or boogie for short because she wiggles like she is dancing
• Being a mommy is the best job I ever had, and I am so thrilled that God hired me to do it for Marlie.