It's Tatge-tastic!!: 15 weeks

I really need to stay more on top of this. When kiddo number two comes around I’m going to need a reference and this every couple of weeks post isn’t going to help.

Nick was away for a few days last week and this week. It really wore me out. I don’t realize how much i rely on him when he is here. HE IS AN HUGE HELP AND A GREAT DADDY! Needless to say I’m really glad he is back lol.

Going back to work has been great (its been 6 weeks). My friend Kim from work has been watching Natalie every Monday all day. That is the longest day I work, and I’m sure a long day for Kim as well. She has a 2 and a half year old so Natalie and little Rikki keep her very busy. I always feel bad when my munchkin isn’t behaving, but most of the time things go smoothly. I miss her the most on Mondays. Tuesday and Wednesday I work from about 2- close. These days my mom has her. She is usually pretty good but sometimes the transition to driving 25 minutes home around 8:00 doesn’t go so well. Occasionally I go into work on a thursday for an afternoon, or a Saturday but usually it’s just the three days. I love my days at home with her. She really is on a fantastic schedule. It was tough to get her here, but it seems to make our day run so perfect (usually lol). We are still working on bedtime and not swaddling but it’s coming right along.

She is up to 4 6oz bottles a day. A month ago she was doing 6 4oz bottles. We transitioned to 5 5oz bottles and now here we are. So much easier! And a lot less bottles to wash! I usually make 7oz just in case she is still hungry, but rarely does she drink all of it. She sleeps from about 10-7. As we continue this saga of weaning from the swaddle some nights she wakes up around 4 or 5 and just needs a bink(pacifier) and her arms tucked in to go back to sleep. We are making progress though. She sleeps in a long sleeved onesie and the halo sleep sack (arms out). Florida summers are hot and humid, so I try to keep it cool in the house so she isn’t to warm during the night.

During the day she eats about every 4-4.5 hours. Takes two 2 hour naps and a cat nap late in the day. Plays lots! A typical day goes as follows:

Breakfast bottle at 8:00, walk in the stroller with winston at 9:00, Play in/on various fisher price contraptions all over the house until 10:30. Then either in the swing or the crib with her blanky and a bink. Usually takes her about 15 minutes to fall asleep. She is down for 2 hours, then up around 12-12:30 for a lunch bottle. We repeat the steps above in the afternoon (minus the walk cause it’s hot as hell). Dinner bottle around 4:30-5, then we play till about 7:00 and go for a walk. She usually falls asleep on this walk and will stay asleep for about 30-45 minutes (cat nap). If she misses the cat nap our evening is a little rough. Then at 8:00 we do bath time, 8:30 bottle and play for a hour or so. By 10:00 she is ready for bed. We read a book or two and she hits the crib with her blanky and bink. We have had a fews week of this schedule (the night time varies, some nights I have to rock her). Last night she took a while to go to sleep, i had to rock her a little and then she randomly woke up at 1:00, and 5:00 needing her bink. But usually we are pretty good. I love our schedule. The best advice I have received so far was to get your baby on a schedule early (thanks Sandra). It has made everything so much easier, and Nat is a happy little girl because of it! If the schedule is thrown off however, we are a hot hot mess :)

Natalie blows lots of bubbles now, especially when you blow bubbles at her, she giggles lots, even at herself when no one is in the room lol. She never stops smiling, except when she does her sad face (the bottom lip melts my heart). She doesn’t like to lay back in anything. She tries to sit up in the stroller and bouncy seat (unsuccessful, but she holds her neck up). She is pretty strong, gets that from me obviously. We do lots of tummy time, she likes to stand up when you hold her, some naps she sleeps best on her side (i know I’m a horrible mother, I check on her 9,456 times). She loves her blanky, she watches winston, still likes her rainforest mat, can grasp toys, and reaches for things too. Bright star makes the best toys ever. She loves this giraffe with all kinds of fun things hanging on him. The exersaucer works wonders in the kitchen when I’m trying to cook or wash bottles. She is a huge fan of the bjorn when we run errands, or when I have to fold laundry. She goes crazy for the monkeys on her crib mobile, legs are kicking so hard I have to clear her space so she doesn’t injure herself or anyone else. There is drool everywhere, I usually leave a bib on her (which she puts in her mouth) all day. Everything goes in her mouth so I’ve been washing toys more often lol.

Only things I’m concerned about on a regular basis is her eye. She still has the clogged tear duct, it’s yucky and I wish it would get better already. Not much can be done, we go through lots of washcloths cleaning and massaging it several times a day. Hopefully soon, her 4 month checkup is in a few weeks.

I can’t beleive how fast time goes by....I HAVE A 15 WEEK OLD!! She is amazing and even when I’m exhausted from a rough day, she still makes me smile. I love her so much it’s scary lol.