Two month update on Tulip

I cannot believe what I just titled this post. Oh my.

Yesterday, we hit the doctor for the fun (weight, height) and the not-so-fun (shots). Tulip did great, only crying actually before the shots and then she settled down quickly, with the help of her binky and some snuggles. She slept the rest of the day, with a few painful shrieks thrown in, and then she slept through the night too. Today it has been play, eat, nap, play, eat, nap. She's slept more than normal today but between the shots and a morning bath, I think she is just working it all out. The fun from yesterday revealed she continues to grow, albeit peanut size. She's now 10lbs. 3oz. and 22.6" long. She fell below the 50th percentile for weight this month, but she's above it now for length. Overall she's on the small side, but the doctor stated she is just a petite baby, and her size and growth is normal for her. We don't have to go back until July, for the next round of shots.

Tulip is eating 5-6oz. (mostly 6oz) at each feed, which she does about every four hours during the day. She can go close to five, but since she is such a good sleeper at night I feel the need to get as much in her during the day as she'll take. Speaking of sleep, we moved her to her crib in her own room upstairs just after she hit 6 weeks. She immediately started sleeping 5-6 hours and now, wait for it...she sleeps from 8-9PM until between 5-6AM. She has only woken once in the past 10 days or so to eat, and another two nights a binky settled her back to sleep. We are beyond thrilled with our little sleeper--and we are also aware it can end at any moment. Probably the week I go back to work, right? For now we go to bed when she does (or at least I do) and it has been wonderful to feel rested and together in the morning.

Tulip is a morning glory--which is good, because so are BigTex and I. She wakes with the most adorable smile and coos as I get her up for her breakfast. She usually goes down for a nap on her own around 90min. after her first bottle. She'll sleep for an hour or two, and then it is up and time to play! She'll eat and alternate catnap and play most of the rest of the afternoon (and eat again), and when BigTex comes home, he'll feed her dinner and she'll rest/nap in her swing while we eat and catch up on programs from the DVR. Bedtime routine consists of a bath every other night, a snuggle, a story in her room with or without music, another snuggle, prayers and into the crib while still awake. We don't put her down with the binky unless she seems to want it, I didn't want to get into the habit of running up and down stairs to put it back in her mouth when it fell out. She is great about cooing or sleepy moaning for a few minutes but then falling asleep on her own. If she does wake during the night, she either falls back to sleep by herself or she'll fuss loud enough for us to hear her on the monitor. We love watching her sleep...there is no prettier angel on the planet!

I am hoping to get some photos of her nursery up...we finally have all the pieces to finish it, I think. I received the last items for Mother's Day from my parents, and BigTex bought the glider/recliner I wanted for her room (or should I say Tulip got it for me?). We've been using a family heirloom rocker, which is awesome, but it's less than comfortable for long snuggles. I am excited to finally have my daughter's room actually look like a nursery instead of just a mumble-jumble of stuff.

Just to wrap things up, the following is from the March of Dimes--

By the end of their first month, most babies:

• Make jerky, quivering arm movements--Absolutely
• Bring hands near face--Loves sucking on right hand/wrist
• Keep hands in tight fists--Holds fists with thumb between index and middle fingers
• Move head from side to side while lying on stomach--Back and forth, back and forth!
• Focus on objects 8 to 12 inches away--Loves to lie on playmat with dangling toys
• Prefer human faces over other shapes--Will stop to look at you, no matter what else is in front of her
• Prefer black-and-white or high-contrast patterns--First favorite was a black-&-white penguin rattle
• Hear very well--Check!
• Recognize some sounds, including parents' voices--Knows Mom & Dad, loves water sounds

By the end of their third month, most babies: (which makes Tulip advanced, of course!)

• Raise head and chest when lying on stomach--Yes, but HATES tummy time!
• Support upper body with arms when lying on stomach--Sure enough
• Stretch legs out and kick when lying on stomach or back--Kicks so much you'd think she was going somewhere!
• Push down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface--Check!
• Open and shut hands--Getting very close, does this but it doesn't appear to have a trigger
• Bring hands to mouth--Oh yeah...can't get enough!
• Grab and shake hand toys--Will hold toy, but can't grab or shake just yet
• Follow moving object with eyes--Yep
• Watch faces closely--She is a very intense watcher
• Recognize familiar objects and people at a distance--Can see Mom & Dad across the room
• Start using hands and eyes in coordination--not quite
• Begin to babble and to imitate some sounds--Loves to talk and tell you about her day
• Smile at the sound of parents' voices --She has the most adorable smile!
• Enjoy playing with other people--She'll play with anyone who will pay attention to her.
• May cry when playing stops--Not really.