Two weeks have already passed! It seems like Izzy has been here forever, and at the same time like I just had her yesterday. I see what they mean when they say “it goes by so fast…”
Dan went back to work this week so Izzy, Oliver and I are settling into a routine (or at least we are trying). Last week and into early this week was a little tumultuous. Izzy and I were not compatible breast feeders and as a result, she wasn’t gaining weight and was getting hungry and cranky… after hours and hours and hours each day of trying and struggling (she could not stay awake to breastfeed, and we tried
everything), we decided along with the very amazing and supportive nurse at the breast feeding clinic, that we would pump and bottle feed Izzy. I was upset at first, but I have to admit that it is really working well for us. We have a happier baby and a happier me. Dan enjoys getting the chance to spend extra time bonding and feeding her, and it gives me more flexibility. The thing that really sold me on bottle feeding this baby was the way she lit up when she finally had a full stomach! So now I’ve got to get into the routine of pumping, preparing the occasional bottle of formula and washing endless bottles… I never expected to bottle feed this early so I also had to learn how to prepare bottles, and how to feed her from a bottle! I was surprised at how much guilt I felt at not being able to figure out the breastfeeding thing. I was really grateful at how supportive both my doctor and the nurse at the breastfeeding clinic were. As I learned with my birth experience, baby calls the shots… so you might as well throw your plans out the window. Do what works best for you and your babe.
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| One week |
I’ve noticed a huge difference in her over the last few days. She sometimes practices a variety of facial expressions (which may or may not be fart related). She loves to just focus on your face and stare. She is alert and curious and likes to go on walks with me and Oliver, wrapped up in one of her carriers. Now that we have a feeding system all set up, she is a pretty easy baby (knock on wood). While my opinion may be biased, I think she’s also one of the prettiest babies I’ve ever seen!
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| Two Weeks! |
I’ve been so lucky to have so much support throughout the last few weeks, from friends & family near and far. On Monday, I checked the mail and found a surprise package from my friend Kathleen. She painted the beautiful piece for us below. I absolutely love it, and can’t wait to frame it up and hang it in the nursery! Kathleen wrote about her process for this piece on her blog.
I’m really hoping to get a little bit of studio time this week, but we’ll see how it goes…
19 Comments
Heather
November 5, 2014 at 5:29 pmShe's so cute! I am glad that you are all adjusting well. What does Oliver think? I love that picture of her looking in on her. The painting is beautiful too!
Diana Nuland van
November 5, 2014 at 6:54 pmOoo, she's so cute! Love the picture with Oliver, does he like her?
sarah.e.norwood@gmail.com
November 6, 2014 at 6:51 amHe seems to! Though he mostly just ignores her 🙂
Oni
November 5, 2014 at 7:32 pmit took me two full weeks to get a grasp on breastfeeding. I mean this is totally tmi but my nipples were in bad shape! and i was delusional. and I cried alot. But something about the two week mark and everything started working. I would try again BUT many women have success exclusively pumping so whatever works to get that liquid gold into your babys body. I'm not sure if you are a facebook user but there are tons of breastfeeding support groups on there that were a life saver for me.
Izzy is a cutie patootie.
sarah.e.norwood@gmail.com
November 6, 2014 at 6:54 amWe had a successful first week… Then she started falling asleep and could not be woken up. We tried undressing her, cool cloth against the skin, tickling her feet… It was like it was TOO confirming for her!
Anonymous
November 5, 2014 at 10:37 pmCongratulation on your gorgeous girl. Please never leave your dog alone with your baby, especially when he can reach her.
sarah.e.norwood@gmail.com
November 6, 2014 at 6:50 amNo worries there. She is never out of my (or my husband of another caregivers) sight.
Anonymous
November 6, 2014 at 11:45 pmI can not understand the colours, for years I adore your pastel colours and combinations that are so special and cheering. Now your baby girl is wearing black, it seem stressful even your baby and look at the shape of the quilt she is on, it is scary shape of coffin, maybe it is only impression but I feel sorry for the baby.
SimpleFibreLife
November 7, 2014 at 12:43 amCute Bub!
Don't feel guilty about the breastfeeding thing. I had a friend who went through a similar experience and it stressed her and the baby out way too much to keep trying something that just wasn't working
Here in Australia there is a big push for breastfeeding, which is fine, but also creates huge pressure and anxiety if a mother and baby don't or can't do it. It is more common than you think, but for some reason it's something that just isn't talked about much. As long as she is healthy and happy that's the main thing.
The rest is small stuff.
Speaking of small stuff, please ignore the haters and trolls. They don't deserve the time or energy 🙂
Kathleen Maunder
November 7, 2014 at 12:58 amThank you for sharing my painting here, Sarah. It was a special joy to paint it for you, Dan and Isabel. I don't know of a baby more surrounded by love and care. She is a very lucky girl. xo
macskakat
November 7, 2014 at 1:07 amWell, that's an incredibly rude comment! Why on earth can't she dress her baby in what she wants to dress the baby in?!? Everyone is entitled to their own taste, and just because yours is different doesn't mean it's 'right'.
Babies can only see high contrast colours at that age anyway, so they don't even register pastel shades as being any different – colours such as black give them far more visual stimulation.
S – that little girl of yours is simply adorable! And please don't feel bad about the breastfeeding (although I know that's far easier said than done!) – it's not at all easy to do, even though it seems it should be! As long as she's full and happy and healthy, you're doing totally the right thing. Keep up the good work, you awesome mother! 🙂
missfairchildscharmschool
November 7, 2014 at 11:16 amWOW – there are some horrible comments here. Mum of 4 here. Breastfeeding my first I made it to six weeks. But given my nipples were about to fall off and both of us cried the whole way through a feed we switched to bottle feeding. We were both happy. Number 2 (who was later diagnosed on the autism spectrum) didn't like being held and HATED skin to skin contact. We made it about 4 weeks. So when I was expecting twins I figured it wouldn't happen. But it just worked. They latched on straight after birth and it just worked. They self weaned at 1. Breastfeeding, bottle feedin, natural birth with no drugs or opting for a c-section, black or pink baby clothes. NONE of this matters in the years to come. My girls are now 14, 13 and almost 11. I can guarantee you that the times I dressed my eldest in blue jumpsuits handed down from my mum (my youngest brother is less than a year older than my eldest) on days I was too exhuasted to wash the frilly stuff, or the fact that my 13yo didn't like skin to skin contact (just FYI – bottle fed and genius IQ) or the fact that my twins were born vaginally compared to a friends who were c-sectioned …NONE OF IT MATTERS. Healthy & Happy baby with a happy & healthy mum = best outcome.
Being a mum is tough. The societal pressures that go along with it are ridiculous. Being a first time mum you can feel you are always doing something wrong. But you aren't. You were concerned your daughter wasn't getting enough from you and wanted her to be healthy and changed to the thing that made that happen. THAT is being a mum.
Screw the haters. Love your baby. Do what is right for you and her always.
ps- the blanket is amazeballs
Enjoy being a mum and please, please ignore all the stupid comments you will receive from everyone on the internet to the person at the check out of your local grocery store.
sarah.e.norwood@gmail.com
November 7, 2014 at 1:33 pmthat's what my doctor said – just because it didn't work with this baby doesn't mean it won't work for any potential future babies! There are benefits to both ways 🙂 It makes me sad how much we judge each other as mothers. We need to stick together!
missfairchildscharmschool
November 7, 2014 at 1:46 pmI know! As if parenting is some kind of competition to who does it best. She is a perfect little doll and you and your doctor and your husband know your baby, body & what is needed than random strangers on the internet. I think you're doing a wonderful job and she is so cute I could do with having a few more cuties myself. Sorry I didn't mention that before. I was too busy being outraged. Thank god I just had real life people in the street to tell me everything I was doing "wrong". Enjoy her. They grow up too fast. Way to fast to care what some stranger thinks of her beautiful quilt.
gingermakes.com
November 8, 2014 at 3:46 amShe is just so precious! You're right- she really is a particularly pretty baby!
Jill Wasiewicz
November 10, 2014 at 4:45 pmBeautiful photos of Izzy, she is just gorgeous! I love her little outfit, it's extremely cute! So glad you both found a solution for feeding. I know breastfeeding is really encouraged but unfortunately not all our babies have read the manual! I'm delighted Izzy's little tummy is now full, you must both feel so much happier 🙂
Carla
November 11, 2014 at 5:52 amI can't get over how adorable she is! Congrats again, Sarah.
Symon
November 19, 2014 at 5:59 pmI'll be honest, I'm usually not much of a baby person but your little one is just absolutely beautiful 🙂 Congratulations, from my heart – I'm so happy for you & your family ^_^
Andrew
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