Autumn Haiku

Lakeshore. Waves crashing. 

Walking. Breathing in fresh air. 

Peaceful. Lily sleeps. 

So big!

Lily is two months old! She had a check-up with the pediatrician yesterday to make sure she was gaining weight. She's now 7lbs 5oz and 22 inches long. That puts her in about the third percentile for weight and 30th for height. She's very alert and is starting to smile at people. Her hands are humongous! She is definitely going to be a pianist. 

Most of her weight gain over the past week has been due to supplemental feedings of formula. I've been really conflicted about this. I really wanted her to be only breastfed until at least six months. However, as her recent weight gain shows, I am clearly not producing enough milk to satisfy her. When I would talk to people or read about breastfeeding, many sentences began with "After a feeding...". I never understood what they meant because Lily would actively feed for about 10 minutes and then she would fall asleep. I tried again and again to take her off the breast and put her in the swing, on the bed, or in Joe's arms. As soon as she wasn't sucking she would wake up and scream until she was back on me. So there never was an end to feeding. Using formula has changed all of that. After a few ounces, she has a while of happy baby time (usually 30 minutes to an hour) and then goes into a food coma for one to three hours. It's amazing. I can actually cook something or unpack a few boxes at a time. 

Last week she was on a pretty regimented formula schedule, plus breastfeeding whenever she was hungry between. Because she's over 7 lbs now, we can cut back with the formula to a more as needed basis. We'll still give it to her at almost every feeding, but only after breastfeeding first and only if she seems like she's unsatisfied. So far that has meant only two or three bottles a day as opposed to the six we were doing before. Also, I started taking fenugreek to see if that helps with my supply. It seems to be working so far. We just need to make sure that she keeps gaining at a good rate. Eventually, I hope to not have to use any formula. 

Last Sunday my mom threw us a welcome home party/baby shower. A bunch of friends and family came. It was a fun afternoon, and Lily got some really cute things. After driving home though, we were all tuckered out. We put Lily on the bed for a minute while we put some things away and she just passed out. Apparently I was pretty tired as well because there is no reason for this photo to be at this ridiculous angle. 

Sweet Home Chicago!

After about three weeks of near constant packing, driving, and unpacking we are finally moved into our new apartment in Hyde Park, a neighborhood near Lake Michigan on the south side of Chicago. We still have a ton of stuff in boxes, but it's all here and not in random storage facilities or my parents' house. We also have new furniture! This is very exciting to me because I have never had my own furniture, at least not since high school. Every place I've been since then has had furniture. But this time it is a blank slate. It's been lots of fun to furniture shop with Joe and Lily. 


Speaking of Lily, she is 8 weeks old today! I can't believe it's already been almost two full months since she was born. I guess the stress of packing and moving was too much for both me and her, because my milk supply dropped way low. Over the past three weeks she has only gained one ounce (she should be gaining between one half and one ounce per day). The pediatrician was rightfully alarmed and recommended we start supplementing regularly with formula. It breaks my heart to see my daughter so satisfied by a substitute and to know that I'm not enough for her. But I am determined to keep breastfeeding her as much as possible, and to stop or at least diminish the supplementation as soon as she is healthy again. 


Along with all of our moving adventures, we've made time to explore our new neighborhood a bit. Today it was 70*F and sunny so we took a walk to the Museum of Science and Industry, through Jackson Park, and back up along the lakeshore. All told, it ended up being just over 6 miles, which was possible only because of the new stroller that was a gift from Joe's mom. We got a jogger that a carseat fits on top of so you can use it with an infant. I'm not quite up to jogging with it yet, but I foresee many pleasant brisk walks this autumn. Here's a picture of little Lily fast asleep while Joe and I ate some pretty delicious Thai food before our stroll.