We Survived

The family survived my first day back to work. I was probably the most upset. Caterpillar Girl and Dad drove me to work, and she cried when I left the car and it broke my heart. We tested out her pacifier for the first time, and she quieted down, but she had spit it out before Dad arrived at Gran and Granddaddy's house. She was entertained by Granddaddy on his dulcimer. Dad kept her so happy that when they picked me up from, she was sleeping peacefully and except for some nursing she slept the rest of the evening.

Test Drive

Monday I start back to work part-time, and Daddy will be the main caregiver for three weeks. Today we decided to let CG try a bottle for the first time. I have been pumping a little milk every day for over a week and freezing it. So we had some breast milk ready to go, along with some BPA-free bottles.

I have to admit that part of me wanted her to reject the bottle completely. After all, how could a bottle be an adequate substitute for me? Not only do I have to leave her but our special bonding time will never be the same. Alas, after a few tears, she was drinking happily. And look how she watches her daddy while he feeds her!

She drank the entire 3.75 ounces in one sitting, which is more than I expected. I'm really not sure how much I'll need to pump for her, but whatever it takes to keep her well-fed with the most nutritious option.

Tomorrow, we plan a longer test. I will run errands alone while Daddy and Caterpillar Girl stay home.

So, unfortunately, this first big change can't be avoided, and I am certain on Monday, there will be a few tears of my own. But for now, she is back to nursing with her mommy. We will still have this time together.

Sling Shot

Before our Caterpillar Girl was born, I decided that I wanted to "wear" her, rather than using a car seat/stroller system. Of course, we do have a car seat for safe driving, but then I use my Maya Wrap to go to the store, park, library, etc. The Maya Wrap was a gift from my coworkers at my office baby shower, and I have used it almost every day. She usually falls asleep, comfortable against my chest. While wearing her at home, I can get more things done around the house than I might otherwise, and we still can spend time close together. I can chat with her about the things I am doing, and as she gets bigger and can hold her head up, I will be able to face her outwards so she can look at the world around her. I've read forums where mothers say they can't live without certain items and mine would be the baby sling.

Baby Mocs

The growth spurt has passed, and we are now enjoying comfortably proportioned periods of eating, sleeping, and squirming. That made it a lot easier yesterday for the second of two exterminator treatments in which everyone, including the 3 cats and 1 dog had to leave the house for 4 hours. It was chilly enough here that CG got to wear her baby moccasins, a gift from Gran and Granddaddy after their marathon trip to Alaska. They are an excellent design and remained on her feet all day, through all her squirming.

Arms and feet ablur!

In other news, she is 6 weeks old today!

Letting Go

Uncle M and Aunt J sent an awesome play gym off our registry, and Caterpillar Girl enjoys waving her arms under it. She looks like a zombie, the way she holds her arms stiff and moves them up and down, side to side, with seemingly little purpose. Then she makes contact and closes her tiny fist, like in the original Night of the Living Dead when a zombie's hands fasten on a living person--only not so scary.

The first time she grabbed one of the rings, she was so startled that she started to cry until she figured out how to let go. As Uncle M said, the little things are so amazing, such as watching her learn to "let go." As the numerous strands of my hair that end up in her little fists (and no longer attached to my head) attest, it's a lesson she is still working on.

The mobile over her bassinet is another place where she loves grabbing on and letting go.

Growing Caterpillar

If you didn't notice yesterday, Google changed its header to honor Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, published 40 years ago.



Coincidentally, my own little caterpillar has been ravenous. The past few days have been nonstop nursing and fussing. She will sleep only when I am holding her and, even then, not for very long. She has to be carried in the sling or my arms all day. Before this, she had been sleeping well, and our days have been filled with activites like neighborhood walks, yoga, and playing games. Fortunately, I think it's a growth spurt--right on time--around 6 weeks. My experience has been very similar to this Parents.com article "Grow Baby Grow". It should pass soon.

We were invited to stay this weekend with friends of Gran and Grandad on a river near Gainesville, but we decided it was too early for CG. As fabulous as it sounded, I am glad we decided to stay home after the difficulties of the past few days. Maybe next time (hint, hint)...

For now, I will just have to get CG a copy of the book, from the library, of course.

Welcome

These are the reasons I am trying out a blog instead of a baby book for our little caterpillar girl.

1. I confess, I still haven't bought a baby book.
2. Much of the family is far away, and it's difficult to share her stories with everyone separately.
3. I can type with one hand while nursing more easily than I can write in a book one-handed.

I want her to remain relatively anonymous, hence the pseudonym. I chose caterpillar girl because she has reached a stage of extreme squirminess that makes me think of a caterpillar and, in addition, the song Caterpillar by the Cure has always been a favorite. I find it endearing:

Flicka, flick, flicka
here you are
cata cata cata cata
caterpillar girl
...
You flicker and you're beautiful
you glow inside my head
you hold me hypnotized
I'm mesmerized...

She does hold us mesmerized. We can stare at her tiny face all day. Someday she will fly away. People says it happens so quickly. Therefore, I hope to remember through the stories I write here. Visit us when you have time and enjoy!