The Schmitt Family: February 2011

Two Months

"From the fullness of grace we have received one blessing after another." John 1:16

I can remember my dear friend Danielle asking me before her 2nd child was born, "How can I possibly love another child like I love my first?" I found myself asking the same question shortly before Haley was born. I am sure this question comes into your mind due to the anxieties of "neglecting" your first born after your second is born. And the fear of not giving him/her the same amount of attention as you are used to giving. I am sure all moms have this fear. I think it is similar to not really knowing and experiencing the love for a child until you have your own. You just don't know what it feels like until you experience it first hand. And now I know....

The answer I have for myself is that I do not love Haley like I love Carson. It is a completely different love. It is so hard to explain but I feel it. Its like the love I have for Brian. Its so different then the love I have for Carson and for Haley. I now know that different isn't bad, its SOOOO good. I am so full of love that I feel as if I am bursting at the seams. It is such a wonderful feeling. I know it sounds so cliche, but I do feel complete...

Weight
You weighed 12 lbs 1.8 ounces and were in the 75th percentile (down from the 75th percentile at 1 month)

Height

You measured 22.5 inches and were in the 45th percentile (down from the 75th percentile at 1 month). You had quite the growth spurt from 2 weeks to 1 month and seemed to have slowed down a bit.

Each month I plan to take pictures next to your "Haley Snuggie" (shown above). I got this idea from our friend Valerie (Thx Val!). This will provide a wonderful visual each month of how much you have grown.

Head

Your head measured 39.5 cm and were in the 80th percentile (still measuring in the 80th percentile). Poor thing, looks like you will have a big head just like your Mommy! We can thank Papa for that. Ha! I guess it doesn't really matter if you have a head full of hair to cover it. That is yet to be determined, your hair has yet to make much of an appearance :-)

Health
Unfortunately you got your first ear infection this month (right ear) :-( I certainly hope you don't follow in your brother's footsteps with 4 ear infections before he was 5 months old and got ear tubes at 5 months. You never let on that you were in pain, thankfully! You just had a little nasal congestion and runny nose and a low grade fever for one day (never over 99).

You are still wearing 0-3 month clothes however I have already retired a few outfits. I have on my To-Do list to get your 3-6 month clothes out of storage. You are still wearing size 1 diapers but I think we will be moving you up to size 2 before too long.

You still have a love for your hands. I just love to watch you clasp and suck on your hands. You never have really taken to a pacifier so you will just suck on your adorable little hands. I have tried countless times to get you on video when you start to smack on your hands when you get hungry. I have never succeeded since you always start to cry before I get the chance. You go from 0-60 when you decide you are hungry. Just like your Momma, when you are hungry...you want it NOW!!

Temperament

You are still a very easy baby (as compared to your brother at this age). You love to sleep and eat and that is pretty much all you do with exception to a couple more hours of wakeful time during the day this past month. You are starting to use your voice a little bit more. I just love it when you squeal and shriek. I look forward to hearing you more. Thankfully you are still pretty easy when it comes to trying to figure out what you want when you cry. Whether you are hungry, tired, hot/cold or have a dirty diaper it usually doesn't take us too long to figure it out and make you happy. And thankfully your "witching hour" has shortened drastically and sometimes is nonexistent. We have learned that you are just ready for bed! At this time we let you "cry it out" and generally it only takes about 5 min or so to soothe yourself to sleep.

Sleep

You are still a very good sleeper (our "angel baby"). Thankfully it appears you know the difference between day time naps and night sleep. During the day you sleep in your swing of which you absolutely love. You also sleep very well in your car seat. When its time for bed time you like to be swaddled tightly in your Miracle Blanket and laid down. We can lay you down awake and you put yourself to sleep. You sleep in the co-sleeper next to Mommy's side of the bed with the assistance of the noise maker. Your preference is the sound of the heartbeat. This puts Mommy right to sleep as well :-) You are consistently sleeping 5-6 hours the first stretch and then 3 hours at a time there after. And just recently you slept a 7 hour stretch. This makes Mommy and Daddy VERY happy!!!

Eating

You are still a wonderful eater. You have nursed extremely well from birth. You do spit up quite a bit though. I understand this is very common for breastfed babies. I am continuing to pump but I have reduced it to 1-2 times a day. Our freezer is packed full already!

Routine

3-4 am: Nurse, burp and diaper change. And right down to sleep again. This usually takes about 30 min.

6-7 am: Nurse, burp and diaper change. Mommy, Daddy and Carson get up and get ready for the day. You move from the co-sleeper to the swing when we head downstairs for breakfast and to get Carson ready for school.

9-10 am: Up for the day. Nurse, burp, bath and ready for the day. You are usually awake for a short period and then go down for a morning nap.

12-1 pm: Nurse, burp and diaper change.

3-4 pm: Nurse, burp and diaper change. You usually have a longer awake time between lunch and your mid-afternoon snack. You will move from your tummy time mat to your bouncer, the floor and the swing. Mommy loves to play with you and get you to coo and smile. This is usually when we do your daily "photo shoot" to send pics to the grandparents :-)

5-7 pm: Nurse, burp, diaper change and awake time. This is when we sit down to eat as a family and play with Carson. We like to go outside and watch Carson kick around a soccer ball, hit off his tee or take a few swings at his golf balls.

7-9 pm: This is usually your fussy time and we have discovered its because you are ready for bed! You generally snack a couple of times and then have one last long feed before bed time. You are changed for bed, swaddled and laid down in your co-sleeper. Mommy and Daddy usually find themselves getting ready for bed between 8:30-9 pm as well. Once you feed for the last time around 9, you usually stay asleep for a good 5-6 hours. Yeah!!

Moments/Things I Don't Want to Forget

I know all too well how quickly infancy goes by. I want to do my best to try and slow it down and embrace it all.

You smiled your first intentional smile on February 13th and it was for Daddy! We were all sitting on the couch that Sunday morning having our coffee and chocolate milk and Daddy had you propped up on his legs looking at you. I was happy I was there to witness it yet a little jealous it was for Daddy ;-)
You love to have your feet stroked. I didn't think babies like to have their feet touched but you love it!
When you get hungry you start to suck on your hands and when you get really hungry you make a loud smacking noise. It is so cute!!!
You love to watch your brother. You will follow him around the room. And he loves to entertain you!
Carson still has not shown too much jealousy towards you. Mommy and Daddy try real hard to keep him entertained and to share our attention so this doesn't happen. But there are a few times when he looks for attention. Just last night Daddy was in the kitchen cooking dinner and Mommy was nursing you. Carson wanted to play catch so he came up to me and tried to take the Boppy out from under you and laid his glove on you and said, "Here Mommy, play catch!"
Carson will always announce to us "Haley awake!" When he sees your eyes open.
When you are tired and I am holding you, you will try to burrow your sweet little head into my neck to get comfortable.
I love, love, love it when you fall asleep on my chest.

Here are a few (ha!) of my favorite photos from this past month.

You and Luke relaxing on the floor.

Lovin' from your brother.

More lovin'

I LOVE it when you fall asleep on my chest :-)

Sweet sleep.

Valentines morning...you weren't having it!

Daddy's Valentine! Haley and I surprised Daddy at his office with lunch and treats for Haley's first Valentine's Day.

Going out to lunch with the ladies :-)

And now a little comparison. Do you think Haley looks like Carson??

Carson - 2 weeks

Haley - 2 months

I think so!!!

One to Two Month Comparison

Our February was full and wonderful as we adjusted to being a family of 4!

Brian and I co-hosted a couples baby shower for Dina and Michael who are due with their first, a baby girl, in May. Unfortunatley Haley had a runny nose and the doctor suggested we stay away from large crowds with her so I went to help set-up and my wonderful husband stayed and helped with the hosting duties. He is the best!!

Here are all the ladies that co-hosted the party for Dina and Michael.

Carson had the day off from school for President's Day so we headed to Round Rock for a play date with the Gordon's.

The kiddos enjoyed lunch on the patio while Amanda and I caught up. How cute is this!?!?

Riggs was fascinated by Haley. Too cute!

Jerold and Johana joined the Schmitt Family for our first baseball game of the season. We went to a Texas State game in San Marcos.

I am not sure Brian got to see much of the game because all Carson wanted to do was through his baseball. I guess Daddy can't complain too much about that :-)

Haley enjoyed snoozing out in the fresh air.

Haley did sit and watch some of the game. She was very content. As she should be at a baseball game, it runs in the blood!

We have been enjoying the sping like weekends as of late. We have ventured out the last couple of weekends to our neighborhood parks. This past weekend Carson got a soccer lesson from his dad. He starts his very first organized sporting event in a couple of weeks - soccer! We are very excited!

And finally, Haley and I attended my monthly Girls'Nite event. Haley and 'lil Miss Charlee Kay (3 months) will enjoy these a little more in the future :-)