1 month {Ava}

Happy 1 month to our sweet Ava. This past month of your life has been a busy one. It includes a trip back to the hospital for low weight and jaundice; not to mention several doctors appointments. You might be small but I can see how strong you are. Thankfully you have been a champ at gaining weight (you are weighting in at 7 pounds 4 ounces) despite your tummy/acid reflux issues. We are working with the doctor to ease your pain; I promise.  You have me feeling like a first time mom all over again....I am full of worry for you and all I want to do is take away your pain. I am waiting for your digestive system to catch up to you so we both can sleep better at night.

 Your first month hasn't been all  business; we celebrated your first Christmas and New Years and have slowly been easing into life as a family of four. We have seen your first smile, your brother kiss you for the first time (not prompted by us) and his concern when you are having a hardcore cry.  You are a snuggler and want to be held all the time. You won't let us put down; especially at night (so you are either sleeping on my chest or right next to me on your left side). You are keeping us warm while yo

u are comfy in the spot that gives you the most calm.  Needless to say your dad and I have had very little sleep since you have arrived. But in the light of day that doesn't matter to me; when I look at you I can't help but notice how beautiful you are. I love looking at all your tiny perfect features. Your lips are by far my favorite. You are a good mixture of calm and stubborn; making sure we know when you need something or aren't happy. When your eyes are open your focus is intense....I assume you are taking in your surroundings as much as you can. 

We are so lucky to be your parents!  We love you sweet baby girl; welcome to the world. We can't wait to see what joy you bring us in the next month. 

So Big...Happy One Month Birthday!

 Mason has officially hit the 1 month mark! 

He now weights 10 pounds 11oz and is 22.5 inches 

 It is shocking to me how much he has changed over this past month; smiling is no longer a sleepy reflex...he actually looks at us and smiles (heart melting really).  We are catching on to his cues and learning what he likes and doesn't like, for such a small guy he sure knows how to communicate with us.  While Mason was in the womb I spent most of my drives home from work listening to the Mat Kearney station on Pandora; one ear bud in my ear and the other on my belly (I also had the same station on in the hospital while I was laboring).  He must have grown a liking to the music on this station because when he is fussy it calms him down.  I now put on the station often; for drives to the burbs, for walks around our neighborhood & to dance around with him.  Mason is in love with Sophie the Giraffe, as a mom to be I did not register for this toy, however my mom friends were fully aware of the magic of this toy and we have received a couple of them (thank god, pretty sure we need one for every room in the house).  He also likes his time in the swing and bouncy chair, which allows Matt & I some time each day with our arms free.  Mason does not like tummy time, hats and waiting any period of time to eat when he is hungry.  

                                        

Just when the Murray family was starting to get into the swing of things Mason caught a cold (from Matt)!  I quickly learned how to use the nose aspirator (yes, the one from the hospital is WAY better then the one from the store, thanks to my mom friends for that piece of advise) and tending to a much more fussy Mason. The cold turned into blocked tear ducts and during this time we noticed blood in his stool.  So, last week all normalcy was thrown out the door and I started to worry consistently   This did not help in the sleep department for me, I felt like I was up all hours of the day and night trying to comfort him or worrying myself sick. Thankfully the cold is gone but we now have to massage his tears ducts every time we change his diaper, this will help unblock them....hopefully!  As far as the blood in the poop the doctor is thinking it may be a milk allergy.  We have had to switch to soy formula (smelly) and I have had to cut dairy out of my diet, at least while we continue to breastfeed.  Mason of course is doing wonderfully through all this it is, we however are drained.  Again, a huge thanks to my parents!  We stayed with them for a couple of nights to be closer to the doctor's office and to have extra set of hands.  This past week really made us realize our move to the suburbs can't come soon enough.  Not only are my parents going to be close by but it is easier to do everything in the burbs.  As an added bonus, most of our friends with children live out there.  We can't wait to have our friends over for pizza & beer on Saturdays nights.