16 weeks

Today the Sibbster, El Sibonator, et al. is 16 weeks old. The cliche that time flies has never been proven so true until parenthood. Looking back on this blog, which has been woefully put aside since 1.11.11, I find it particularly hilarious to read my post on 1.10.11. I wrote nervously and you can tell I wasn't quite ready for the baby to come...but it was only a few hours later when my water broke. That is what I liked about keeping a blog/journal is that it takes you back to a certain time frame and state of mind which is very easy to forget. So with that said, and I am making no promises here, I hope to update this once a week...so at least I can remember the different struggles and milestones we met along the way.

Lessons Learned

If I could say one thing to Betsy Ward around week one or two of Sibby's existence, it would be the following: Give her a bottle earlier rather than later. The boob consultants told me to wait 4-6 weeks to introduce the bottle....well, now she won't take it. Hopefully I will remember this for round 2.
Also, if it is possible, try to hand your baby off to other people when they are around. Sibby is already showing MAJOR signs of being a mama's girl. I know it is cute, and I am ob.ses.sed with her....but I want her to like her daddy....and be happy with her grandparents, etc. There is a danger zone with being a stay-at-home-mom, exclusive nurser, baby-wearing fool...I am experiencing the repercussions now...Sibby basically only wants me (Uncle Trey is somehow excluded from the list of no no's).
Future self: Don't drop your baby in the water, hit her head on wooden objects or chandeliers. Be more careful!

Milestones
El Sib is probably going to be a petite lady. She is not growing like a weed, more like a small violet you keep indoors. She is 12 pounds, 22 inches at 4 months. I know people whose babies were bigger than that at 3 weeks. Heck, almost at birth. I am not worried; she has rolls on her small frame and is happy and content...but she might inherit her father's stature.
Despite her size, she is pretty strong for a young lass. She can roll over one way, and yesterday she even rolled from her back to her stomach. She can support all of her weight on her legs, and is a champ at neck control. She can follow us all around a room with her swively head and eagle eyes. The baby books keep mentioning "reaching for toys"...we don't really play with toys, so I am not sure about that one. If she is not napping or nursing, I am generally face to face with her, doing tummy time on a blanket, or she is in her vibrating chair watching me workout, clean, cook dinner, etc. Should I start giving here toys? I figure throughout history babies didn't really have toys...maybe a rag doll, or a wooden figurine...so she should be cool. I also detest plastic stuff strung around the house. Da Vinci didn't have vibrating, singing, multi-colored accessories and he turned out to be a pretty smart guy.
I might not be a fan of toys, but I am an idiot for baby clothes. I said (I love eating my words!) that is is silly to waste money on baby clothes, blah, blah, blah. I also assumed I would like more modern outfits....No, wrong, try again, go to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $100. I want Sibby to wear her smocked outfits until middle school (like I did)! I loved pantaloons, victorian collars and gingham. I want her to wear beautiful smocked clothes everywhere. And as she gets older I want her church dresses to be so old fashioned that she could have walked right out of a tin type from 1870. It is so funny to me that having a child changes so many ideas you might have previously held, and all of the ruminations you daydreamed of how you were going to raise your child changed the minute you actually saw that face. I willingly admit I was so wrong on so many things!
The little Niblet is awesome at the grocery store, shopping, etc. excepting the car ride. She is not a fan of the car seat. She loves to be outside and watch the bumblebees fight. I hope we have a budding animal lover (like mommy). I have a photo of her at 10 weeks old with a garden snake...I am sure most people find that revolting and want to call DFCS on me but I want her to learn the way I did, from experience, that all animals are awesome....even snakes and spiders.
Watching Benson with our daughter is the highlight of my life...especially on the weekends when she is in a good mood. When he comes home at night it is almost bedtime and Sibbs is not always so lovey dovey!
Sibby is mostly good at church. She has attended since she was 4 weeks and Easter is the only time I had to get up with her. Her schedule was way off on Easter, poor thing.

Ok, the little girl is waking up...Back to reality. I love you Sibby! Happy 16 weeks!