First couple of weeks

First, I would like to say that there is no way that I could have gotten through the first week without my amazing husband and my mother-in-law, Nancy. Adam was able to stay home for a couple of days at the beginning of the week to help everyone get adjusted. Nancy made plans to stay the entire first week with us.

I don't care how many times you have been pregnant and delivered a baby, the first week is always the hardest. The hormonal changes you are going through mixed with the sleepless nights makes it difficult. When you have older kids who need attention as well, it can make it even harder. I am so thankful that I have a great support system, because I wouldn't have been able to do it without them.

The key for us was making sure things went smoothly with Mason & Taylor and tried to keep their schedule the same. They were so excited about their baby sister, that they couldn't wait to go to school and tell everyone about Peyton. I loved seeing their excitement in their faces. It was precious to watch them announce to their classes and tell their friends all about Peyton.

Peyton has been a good eater from day one. The late night feedings were the hardest for me at first. I made sure to take advantage of the extra help at the house and take a nap during the day, when she was sleeping. I had to get my sleep, otherwise I would have been a mess. Thankfully, my body has gotten used to the late night feedings and it isn't as hard to wake up.

She loves to snuggle and to curl up in a ball on my chest. There is nothing sweeter than a tiny baby sleeping in your arms. For the first week, she ate every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night. The rest of the time she is sleeping. We've been using the miracle blanket every night and she loves it. Right now she is sleeping in our room. Until she is sleeping through the night, she will stay in there with us.

We've learned that she doesn't like her swing that much. She would rather lay on a blanket on the floor. Anytime we are in the car, she is out cold. The paci helps us out during diaper changes or if she can't get settled, but otherwise she doesn't use it too much. We haven't seen her suck her thumb or fingers since her 20 week ultrasound. I try to limit the paci use to a minimum because I don't want to get up constantly at night to put it in her mouth. The only time she really cries is during diaper changes or if she is really hungry and I'm not moving fast enough. 

At her one week checkup, she had gained all of her birth weight back and then some weighing 8lbs 13oz. Obviously she loves to eat. Her 2 week checkup is today, even though tomorrow she will be 3 weeks. Overall, the transition to a family of five has gone extremely well.