Natalie--Week Three

Typical Natalie--arms and legs everywhere!  The girl does not like to stay still.

Natalie was still fairly fussy this week, but I felt that overall there was an improvement over week two, and we had a few good days thrown in, too.  Including my birthday, which was nice.  Natalie must have known it was Mommy's birthday, because she was an angel the entire day.

Natalie had her first real restaurant experience this week when Mark went out for my birthday.  I was a bit nervous going in, because she is not a kid who will just sleep through anything like Henry was, but she did great!  She didn't make a peep the entire time.  We got a few compliments from the wait staff/hostesses, who were probably just as relieved as we that they didn't have a wailing baby interrupting peoples' dining experiences.

Natalie has gotten more social, too.  I am convinced that she smiled for me the first time this week.  I had her in my arms, looking up at me, as I was walking.  I looked down and talked to her, smiling, and she gave a huge, dimpled, gummy grin in response!  I melted.  It made all of the fussiness worth it to see that smile.  Now, maybe it was just a coincidence, but I choose to think it was intentional.  She has done it a couple of times since, and it gives me such joy to see her smile.  I can't wait for the smiles to become a regular thing!

Natalie has gotten a bit better at sleeping in places other than in someone's arms.  I am trying to make it a habit to put her in her rock n' play for naps.  Sometimes she takes great naps there, sometimes she lasts five or ten minutes and then wails.  I think the more she gets used to it, the better she will do.

Natalie still hates the swing, unfortunately.  I just couldn't fathom having a child who didn't adore the swing, as Henry loved it so much.  But, each child is his/her own person, and I may as well learn and appreciate that now.  Natalie is doing better with the swaddle at night, although she doesn't love it.  I also found a brand of pacifier Natalie will take--MAMs.  She refused basically all of the other kinds I tried, including Henry's beloved plush animal pacis.  I actually had to order the MAMs after doing a search for pacifiers without holes in the front, because I suspected part of the issue was the pacifiers were allowing more air in Natalie's belly and complicating the gas issue.  She doesn't love the pacifier like Henry did, but she will take it most of the time she is fussy, and it typically calms her.

Meeting my Nana, my dad's mom, for the first time!

Natalie was more impressed than she looks.