Geek Habitat

Sara had her first pediatrician visit yesterday for her two week post-birth checkup. She is doing terrific — jaundice is a non-issue now, and we’ve been cleared to start weaning her off the formula supplements and exclusively breastfeed as we’ve desired from the outset. She has not only met but exceeded her birth weight (6 lb 6.5 oz.); as of yesterday, Sara weighs in at 6 lb. 12 oz. on a medically calibrated scale, which isn’t that far off from our rinky-dink home scale which we tallied her weight on as exactly 7 lb. She is now 19 1/4 inches long, up from her birth height of 18.5 inches. And her head size is 13 1/4 inches — she’s got a good melon on her shoulders. In every way, she is doing terrific, and yes, she is continuing to spoil her parents.

The three of us actually left the house together today as a family! You have no idea how nice it was to drive around after 11 days cooped up in the house — even with the world’s cutest infant, that long a stretch is pushing it! Our first agenda item was to get Sara’s carseat checked by a certified carseat installer; thanks to Grandpa Blackburn’s carseat installation assistance, I’m pleased to say we passed with flying colors! Sara’s safe and cozy, and we can breathe a little easier knowing someone who does this more often than we do has checked it over as well.

It’s 1:35 AM and our Sprout is sleeping soundly in her bassinet by the bedside. She’s been cluster feeding since 9:30 PM or so; I just finished breastfeeding her and giving her a supplement of formula. I’ve been giving the breast pump Mom bought me for Christmas a workout, but haven’t yet properly timed my pumping to yield a stockpile of momma’s milk that we can use for the bottle-feedings. We’re supplementing with formula on the advice of our pediatrician, to combat the jaundice/high bilirubin levels Sara came home with. I suspect after we see the pediatrician on Wednesday, we may be allowed to greatly reduce or eliminate the formula feedings and rely on breastmilk. Sara’s an ace breastfeeder, and we’ve had no issues in that regard. She’s spoiling us!

This is an awesome time in our lives. Justin and I can’t remember a time we’ve laughed so hard so often, or found ourselves so lost in another soul’s eyes, as we do right now with Sara. Justin pegged it yesterday when he told me, “I could just sit/stand there and watch Sara sleep for hours.” She’s absolutely gorgeous, and she continues to be so very good to us.

Just a couple Sara videos to share:
Sara chillin’ in her Pack & Play (No sound)
Sara discovers a mirror

All three of us got better sleep last night — Justin and I did so because we are learning there is total truth to the “sleep when baby sleeps” advice; Sara slept better because we dressed her in something warmer than just a short-sleeved onesie last night (Thank you, Mom, for the baby clothing blitz so Sara has some footed “warmies” and extra newborn onesies!) Sara slept soundly except for feeding and diaper change requests last night, thanks to comfy more appropriate nighttime attire.

How strange and yet wonderful to receive the 38 week edition of the BabyCenter.com email newsletter I’ve been sharing with friends and family, and look over and see Sara sleeping after a successful feeding and her first bath since coming home. She is awesome and she is being SO good to us… Justin and I are convinced she knows just how clueless we both are and is having pity on her poor folks and being the most utterly sweet baby.

Check our Flickr feed for the latest photos. Justin’s been adding some periodically:
http://flickr.com/photos/wildtexas/sets/72157600002775429