Harper's {1} Month Update

Harper is {1} month old today! It's so hard to believe that this little girl has been here for {1} month already. Time has sure flown by, but at the same time I can't really remember life without her :) She fits right in to our little family and we feel so blessed to have her. 

{Height & Weight}

When Harper was born she weighed 6lbs. 11oz. Since she was born on a weekend we took her to see her pediatrician the next week and at four days old she had dropped to 6lbs. 4oz. Once my milk came in she was back up to 6lbs. 12oz at her two week appointment. She currently weighs 7lbs. 13oz. I was so happy to see that she had put on a whole pound, not even two weeks after she was last seen. I don't have an update on her height, but when she was born she was 20 inches long. I am guessing we have probably grown another inch in the last month because some of her footie pajama's actually fit now. She is currently wearing newborn diapers. I'm guessing we'll be in those for a couple more weeks. 

We ran into a dilemma when Harper was born...because Camden was such a bigger baby, I figured all my children would be this way. Well, we were wrong! I had basically only purchased her 0-3 month clothes and hardly any newborn size because of my previous experience with Camden. Harper didn't fit into her coming home outfit and I certainly didn't have much to fit her when she got home. While still in the hospital, I sent my parents to pick up a few newborn outfits and onsies. They have got us through this last month and though she is mostly still wearing newborn we have managed to put her in a few 0-3 month clothes. Most of them are still too big, but we make do :) I am hoping by August and September she'll fit into all of 0-3 month clothes so we can get some wear and tear out of all the adorable stuff I bought her for summer...Thank goodness we'll be visiting Disneyland in September and she can wear her summer clothes there too!

We can't wait for this little girl to get some rolls. She has been getting bigger by the day, even though she is still so tiny! 

{Health}

It's hard to avoid getting sick when everyone in your house has something...Harper ended catching a cold from Camden and John this past month. I was able to avoid it thank goodness, but I would have taken it over watching Harper suffer with a stuffy nose. She seemed to handle like a champ though and with a few nights of saline and the humidifier, she is doing much better!

Other than her little cold, Harper is as healthy as can be. I honestly feel blessed that I have had two healthy children that haven't had to go to NICU and haven't had any other health issues. I hope it will always stay that way.

{Sleep}

Harper likes her sleep. I don't know if I am just more familiar with taking care of a newborn the second time around, but ever since the day we brought her home she has at least slept three hours at a time and when she is done eating she falls right back to sleep. I know this may not seem like a lot of sleep for me, but if she wakes up to eat and goes right back down, then I can handle it. She has even had some five hour stretches. Harper is still rooming with us. I am not sure when we'll transition her to her room, but as of right now I am in no real hurry :) She is such a good baby and I am so glad she lets me have the rest I need to take care of her and her crazy brother. 

A typical sleeping schedule for Harper at night is we go to bed about 10:30 or 11:00pm. She'll wake up between 2:00- 3:00am to be changed and to eat. She goes back down and wakes up at about 6:00am to be changed and fed. Then she'll sleep until about 9:30 in the morning. Obviously there are nights and days that vary, but for the most part she's got herself a little routine at night. Something I didn't really know and it kinda stressed me out the first time around was babies don't really have an established day time schedule for a while. I now know this time around that trying to have a routine during the day is not necessary at this age and eventually that will come, besides she just sleeps most of the day anyway :) 

I try to make sure when I put Camden down for a nap that Harper is fed as well so we can all nap together.  Also, I try and keep her awake most of the time once John gets home from work, so we can all get a better nights rest and aren't walking zombies the next day. 

{Eating}

I am so happy to say that I have been able to exclusively breast feed Harper for the past month. I was so nervous with how unsuccessful I was the first time around. I had such a low milk supply and couldn't provide the amount that Camden needed, so we had to supplement with formula to keep up and then eventually my supply just stopped. There were other factors involved, like me not taking the time to eat a balanced meal, I didn't drink enough fluids, and the stress of being a brand new mom...which later on turned into post-pardon depression because I didn't feel adequate to be a mom because I couldn't breast feed. 

I decided this time that I was going to try and do it and if it didn't work then oh well. I was not going to stress. I was not going to make myself feel bad if it didn't work. Formula is just fine for babies...after all my Camden is just fine and is the healthiest little man. By taking this approach it took away a lot of the stress of it all. Harper attached great once we got home from the hospital. Because she was little she would only eat from one side and I always made sure to power pump after she ate. She is now eating like a champ and I have been able to freeze a crazy amount of milk. I don't know how long I'll be able to breastfeed, but I am grateful it has worked much better for me this pregnancy. 

We are still getting to know our little Harper and her sweet little personality. She has quite the cry when she wants something...and has herself a good set of lungs! She's going to be a firecracker...I can already tell. Some things that we have discovered that she loves is baths. She doesn't ever cry in the tub and really enjoys getting her hair washed! She is such a girl :) She also doesn't mind the car seat and really loves to be held. Harper also enjoys being outdoors in the fresh air. 

Some dislikes we have discovered with Harper is laying her in her crib...oh boy this is the complete opposite of her brother! Camden slept in his crib by four weeks. We'll be lucky if Harper ever wants to sleep in there. She doesn't really enjoy getting dressed or changed, but most babies don't. Harper also doesn't like having her hands tucked in a swaddle, she'd rather be able to have them up nice and snug by her face. 

Having two children has really been such a blessing. I was scared to death wondering what we got ourselves into having children so close in age, but honestly I would not have it any other way. Being a mom is the best job ever and I think because I was so use to the routine with Camden that adding another one to the mix really hasn't changed much. I am sure that with time things will get harder, like when Harper doesn't sleep as much during the day, or when Camden discovers crayons and all other sorts of messes he can make, or when Harper becomes Mobile and I am chasing two children everywhere, but really this is what I signed up for and I can honestly say it has been amazing. I am so glad that God has trusted me with these two. Now, if I can only find a quicker and better way to get out of the house without it taking three hours ;) 

Don't grow up too fast little Harper! Mom and dad are trying to take in all the little moments with you because we know from experience that they don't last very long. P.S.- mom's heart almost burst the other night when dad was singing " Oh darlin don't you ever grow up, stay this little." He loves you so much Harper. I think you already have him wrapped around your little fingers.