An Update

I can't believe how fast the last 8 weeks have flown by. Things here have been going really well as Erik and I are settling into our new role as parents and we are starting to get into a routine. I am getting used to being a SAHM, which I can now officially say is the hardest and most rewaring job in the world. I have a new respect for my parents, for all parents really. Being at home with Madeline is wonderful and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to be able to be home with her. And it sure has made life more interesting. Just going to the grocery store is an adventure with a little one.

Madeline is now 8 weeks and has grown and changed so much. She is becoming so alert and loves to give her mom and dad these funny gummy smiles. It's amazing to watch her becoming so aware of the world around her. Even after the hardest day, when she gives me one of her smiles it just melts my heart. At her one month check-up she weighed 10lbs 3oz and was 22 inches long. At 6 weeks she was 11lbs 8oz! She is already fitting into 3-6 month clothes. I have a big healthy girl with the chunkiest thighs in the world :)

We have been working for 4 weeks now to get Madeline to consistently take a bottle. She is a finicky little girl and has wanted her meals straight from the tap. Smarty pants! Well thanks to my wonderful, persistent, patient husband Madeline is now taking a bottle every time without fussing. I see a glimmer of freedom, or at least a night off, right around the corner. Yay!

Maeline has also amazingly enough been sleeping 7-8 hours every night for the last two weeks. Can you even imagine how excited Erik and I are!?! She goes to sleep around 10pm and wakes around 6am. She does really great at night although she doesn't really like to be put down for naps during the day. But we're working on it.

In other news, I starting running again last week. Man, has that been hard! I'm not used to being so out of shape. Seriously, my first run was the second hardest run of my life. The first hardest was the marathon I ran. It's a bit depressing but I'll get back to where I was. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight but it'll take awhile to back to where I was physically.

Erik has been competing in a paragliding competition called the So-Cal XC league. There is one more week of the competition this year and so far Erik is in 2nd place overall, and 1st place in his division! Way to go Erik!!! We are going to drive up to Santa Barbara next week for the last weekend of the comp and Madeline and I are going to cheer for Dad. Hopefully next year Erik and I will both be competing.

Madeline at 7 weeks

Daddy and daughter

Mommy and Madeline

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!. Many thanks to Gordon and Nancy for a great Thanksgiving meal yesterday.

The Kolberg Family

A Week with Mama

My grandma, Mama, came to visit Madeline and I last week. It was so wonderful to have her here, even if we just hung out around the house most of the time. And it was very special for Madeline to meet her great-grandmother. Thanks Mama for coming to visit! You are welcome anytime!

Madeline and Mama

At the beach in Cornado

Mama and sleeping Madeline

3 Years and 1 Month

Yesterday was mine and Erik's 3 year wedding anniversary. It has been a wonderful 3 years and I feel so lucky that I am married to the love of my life. You are my best friend, a wonderful partner and husband, and a great daddy.

Our wedding day

And yesterday was also Madeline's 1 month birthday. I can't believe that she is already a month old! It seems like just yesterday she was born. She is already growing up so fast!

Madeline at 1 month

Mommy Cried

Yesterday Madeline got her first bottle of breast milk. We had been advised and had decided to start giving her a couple of bottles a week so that she would take both the bottle and the breast. After I finally figured out how to work that darn breast pump we were ready to try the bottle. Erik tried to give it to her first. But I think she was a bit confused that Daddy was holding her when she was obviously hungry and so she didn't really understand the bottle. So then I tried and after a little fumbling she took right to that bottle. I handed Madeline back to Erik and again she took right to the bottle. Yay! Success!

And then I started crying. Seriously, just bawling. I couldn't help it. I was watching Erik and Madeline and it jut hurt that I wasn't the one feeding her. I know that its great that she will be able to take both. I do know that in my head. I will be able to leave her with Erik or a babysitter, I can get a night out, etc. But it still hurt. She's growing up so fast already...

Madeline's first bottle

Happy Daddy!

Green Poop

I have always heard from new parents that you become so fascinated with your new baby's bodily functions, particularly with their poop. I am here to say that it is so true! Erik and I have gotten so many laughs out of our little Madeline's gassy smiles, loud burps, and powerful poops. I think the triumph (yes triumph) we feel in all these things stems from the fact that all these little things let us know that our baby is functioning the way she should.

So imagine my surprise when I go to change Madeline's diaper and find green poop. Yep, green. Very dark and very green. Of course I freak out a little, call our pediatrician for the second time in two weeks, look all through my new bible (The Baby Book by Dr. Sears), and do a google search for "newborns and green poop". While I worried about allergies, food sensitivities, and a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance Madeline went on a breastfeeding marathon and 48 hours later the green poop problem seems to have corrected itself. I suppose that babies sometimes have green poop :) And yes, I am the proud parent of a baby girl who now has regular yellow mustard seedy poops!

On a different note, when Madeline was 10 days old we had some professional photos of her taken. Here are a few that I just love. Isn't she beautiful!!

Two Weeks

Madeline is two weeks old today! And we've survived! Madeline and I have spent the last two weeks getting to know one another and Erik and I have been learning our new parenting roles. We are learning all her little cries and noises, how she doesn't like diaper changes but she does like baths, she doesn't like her arms to be swaddled, and sometimes she just wants her mommy :) Madeline has changed so much in these two weeks and I can't help but take pictures of her everyday to capture all these changes. It amazes me that she already has a little personality. Erik keeps asking when she will start interacting and smiling, but I am enjoying the newborn stage and I'm happy to have her stay here for now.

On Thursday Madeline had her first photo shoot. You can see a sneak peak on my fabulous photographer's blog.

Mommy's Girl