"Tight Gut"

Well, Launa gave my my first baby-up-all-hours-of-the-night-screaming experience. Starlynn always ate and went back to sleep, no fussing. And this is the first time Launa has had a tough time with her tummy/gas.

That's the last time I'll forget to take my probiotics and enzymes. I saw the change (for the worse) when I knew I forgot to take them for a couple days.

I am so grateful for Dr Kais, our chiropractor/wellness practitioner. And luckily, I caught him before he leaves tonight on his 2 week vacation to Costa Rica.

He said Launa had a tight-gut and he massaged her intestines where they needed to be loosened up, and she got the cold red/violet laser on her tummy for a couple minutes, and then she had her sacrum adjusted. Let me tell you... it's like night and day.

Like I said, that was my first experience with an inconsolable baby last night and man was she GASSY. Poor thing.

After Kais worked his magic, she is back to being my alert and content angel looking around at everything, holding her head up because she's trying to grow up so fast. And then she slept in her car seat all the way home. Got home and fed her and played with daddy for a bit, hung out with mom on her computer for a few and now she's been sleeping for almost 3 hours... sleeping it off because she's comfortable again!

Thank you Dr Kais! And I promise to take my probiotics and enzymes religiously! It really does work wonders.

I read a parenting article recently about how to help colicky or generally fussy babies and two of the five things were probiotics and chiropractic care. Yay me. I can do some things right at least.

I love you Launa! I am sorry you had a tummy ache and I will keep you happier now!

(Oh, and I bought Hyland's colic tablets for if it happens again, and I bought baby homeopathic chamomile tablets to help her sleep if she's having a hard time.)

A Rough Day

Poor little girl had a rough day today. Little one--you're not even a 4 weeks old and you rolled over on the couch today. And since you are not SUPPOSED to be able to do that yet, mama was caught unawares and you actually rolled off the couch. Lot's of crying, but you're okay. Luckily we had a chiropractor appointment today, and he put you back to rights.

But then when we got home, your sister was sitting next to you with a hair brush and whacked you in the head. It was sad the way you cried.

I'm so glad you don't seem to remember things after the initial crisis has passed.

Poor baby girl. But I did get lots of time to cuddle you today and that made us both happy.

I love you and I'm sorry you have clumsy family members!

I put this "Little Sister" shirt on you today... and it was probably a day you didn't really like being a little sister. :)


And then I wanted to take a pic of your cute jacket and shoes!

Growth

Launa-

It's hard not to notice how fast you grow. When we brought you home from the hospital, the straps in your car seat were tightened all the way down and I could still fit a fist inside of them. Now, your shoulders stretch past the holes where the straps come out like they are supposed to. The newborn outfits aren't baggy on you anymore.

Today, I gave you another bath, this time in MUCH warmer water and you didn't cry at all but looked like you were rather enjoying yourself!

You and I struggle with nursing a little bit for the first couple minutes because milk doesn't flow fast enough for you at first, and then when it does, it's too much. But today, hopefully we had a break through because we had a no fuss, easy feeding.

People just stare at you and your precious beauty. Your lips are so full and cute the way you hold them.

I've been smiling at your hair today because after your bath, it is sticking up and looks soft and feathery, like a baby bird's.

I love you baby girl and I look forward to getting to know more about you every day.

Love,
Mommy

2 Weeks Old

I took even cuter pics than this one but my fancy camera needs a new camera card cuz when I plugged it into the computer I had this ONE photo. Sigh.

Launa continues to be my little angel. My grunty, squeaky angel. She doesn't cry. Except when she took her first bath.

It is truly incredible how fast they grow. All that eating, sleeping and pooping works some fast magic! The Newborn Swaddler diapers are tighter, she actually fits in the straps in her car seat now and mama's milk is putting a double chin right on that baby :)

She does twitchy smiles in her sleep which I love.

She's a great cuddler, but also will sleep on her own most of the night in the crib. Sometimes she'll go three or four hour stretches, but has mostly been doing the every two hour routine the last couple nights.

She'll take a bottle of pumped milk when mama is not around, and will sometimes suck her pacifier... but not very often.

I think that's all the 2 week old has to report!

She celebrated her 2 week mark by getting her first bath. I couldn't get good pics during it, but here is one after. All squeaky clean!

Essences of Launa

Genes are a funny thing.

Launa's big sister Starlynn unfortunately for her got her mommy's cowlicks in the front of her head. Makes for much difficulty with the bangs department.

Starlynn's Cowlicks:

Little Miss Launa got the shape of her daddy's head and his forehead and lucky for her, no cowlicks!!

Now, as far as hair color, this is my theory. Yes, it is dark just like Starlynn's was. BUT, I've been looking at photos of other newborn babies whose hair was dark and STAYED dark and the ones I have seen have dark eyebrows and lashes as well. As you can see above, Launa's are very light like Starlynn's were. I think we'll have a repeat falling out of hair and growing back in blonde, but that's just my theory. Daddy most likely trumps again with the blonde hair and blue eyes. Her eyes are blue now and we'll see around 6 months or so if they stay blue or change green.

Number 1 comment within just a minute of people looking at Launa, "Her fingers are SO long!" Yes they are. It was one of our first comments when we saw her for the first time too. She is very long limbed like her Auntie Rachel. My mom says Launa reminds her a lot of Rachel with her long, skinny limbs.



I love her skinny legs in her humongous newborn size socks. She is so teensy! Speaking of long limbs... when I took her to her checkup yesterday, they measured her at 18.5 inches. I watched them do it twice and it looked really accurate to me! I doubt she grew 3/4 of an inch in 5 days, so I am thinking the hospital might have got it wrong. Oh well! 17 3/4" is what's on her birth announcements!


Ok, then this is the one that flabbergasts me and is why I say "genes are a funny thing". The only place I have seen these ears is on my sister Carrie and her son Braydon. The "vulcan ears". I asked my mom where they came from and she has no idea! Just like we have NO idea where Starlynn's curly hair comes from. At first I thought her ears were just squished, but with the little ridge she has at the top of them I think they are here to stay. :D So cute.

Want to Remember

Dear Launa-

I cannot put into words how much I am enjoying your newborn days with you. You are so tiny and sweet and precious. I love your open little "birdy mouth" when you are hungry and looking for something to eat. I love how alert you are to movement and sounds. I love how you fall asleep so easily with me or your daddy. I love each tiny thing about you and just can't get enough. I feel empty without you nearby. Your sister loves you so much. Today she thought it was so funny to tickle your feet and kiss and nuzzle them. Daddy and I feel so blessed to have you. We think your name fits you perfectly. It is sweet, quiet, and beautiful just like you.

Love Eternally,

Mom

Launa Marie

Ok, on to more about Launa!

Launa is, so far, a soft spoken little baby. She barely made little squeaky crying sounds and then no sounds when they put her up on me. Just little cute baby grunts. She wanted to eat pretty quickly. Once off my chest to go let the nurses do their thing, she barely made a peep. Not during her bath, not even getting the vitamin k shot. At one point I jokingly look around and said, "is there a baby in here?"

Rachel, while watching her said, "she has a very calming presence". And she does. Maybe she is like her namesake (my mother) and is going to be a peace-maker type personality. I sensed this exact personality from her when I was carrying her and I was so happy that I seem to be right.

She does have a voice though, and she uses it to coo herself to sleep or to let me know she doesn't like the cold wipes, or that she is hungry, but she gives you lots of other signs first.

To everyone, she seems so much tinier than her big sister was. But according to the scales only weighs an ounce less and is 3/4" shorter. But I know that is just memory not serving very well. :)

She does not have the same cowlicks as her mommy or sister do. Lucky girl. Starlynn and I can both be jealous of her.

We were able to be discharged before 24 hours because that's what I really wanted, they had women laboring in the waiting room AND because Launa was being a champion. The lactation consultant was really pleased with her nursing ability and gave her the thumbs up. The neonatologist gave her two big thumbs up and I was doing really well too.

We love having our little bundle of joy. She is a really, really good baby so far and I look forward to every minute of her life.

As you know, Starlynn is in love with her too. I really hope they'll love each other as much as I love my sisters!