Six Weeks with Bianca
Bianca at 5 weeks
We are having a great time. I still consider myself unbelievably blessed. Bianca is a fabulous baby. She is low maintenance and exceptionally happy. Brielle is a phenomenal big sister and everything is just going so much smoother than I ever expected. I couldn’t be happier. Here is the rundown of how the last 6 weeks has been (AP style).
Size
Bianca is huge. Everyone comments on how big she is. She has fat rolls on her fat rolls. 
Caring for her is sort of like caring for an obese person. I have to try to dry out her fat rolls after a bath and keep them clean in between. 
Despite my breastfeeding book knowledge, I still can’t wrap my brain around how a baby can get so fat on a liquid diet. Last I checked she is over 12 pounds and going strong.
One of the best comments I have heard so far is from some idiot who said “she looks so healthy for never having been to a doctor”. Ummmmm….yeaaahhhhhh…..right.
Development
In addition to being a great, big, healthy baby, she is also cooing and oogling and smiling already. She seems so much older to me than six weeks. She is also holding her head up and can move quite a bit. I have always felt that one of the perks of the newborn stage was that babies stay where you put them. Not this baby. My mom is worried that Bianca will roll off the couch and actually said the word ‘playpen’ and I freaked out on her (I hear “baby cage”). Not only that but I am trying to run a business in a 2 br apartment with five cats and two children. No playpens allowed. I just wont set her on the couch anymore. It is almost time to break out the Bumbo however, since she already has pretty good head control.
Elimination Communication
Brielle helping Bianca on the potty
Bianca is already “telling” me when she has to go with a certain sound. We are still at 100% success with poos and around 50-75% with the pees. She has had a number of totally dry nights (she uses the potty once or twice and goes back to sleep) and one night where she held it until morning. I have had 2 minor poo messes to clean up in the last 5 weeks but that is only because I took her off the potty before she was finished. It is tough to know when she is done since she has fallen asleep while pooping more than once. (She really is a great sleeper!)
There are times where I try to potty her, she doesn’t go and then she goes 2 minutes later. While that is frustrating, it is probably less frustrating than if she was 3 yrs old. Those obvious accidents are very rare. Usually any pee misses are because I am busy or not paying close attention.
At first I planned on EC-ing her for outings but that is more difficult because of all the clothing and the logistics of using a potty in a cold car. She still stays dry through entire outings about 90% of the time. It is utterly amazing to me. I was doing quite a bit of laundry at first from the diapers she sits on at home and now I am back to doing laundry every few days rather than a load or two a day. Again…amazed.
I have yet to change a poopy diaper which makes me ecstatic and I haven’t had an opportunity to use all the homemade baby wipes my mom made for me since the first couple of days. I also don’t need to cue her every time which I didn’t expect. The cueing for those of you who don’t know, is making a noise to let her know that it is time to “go”. I usually make a ‘psssss’ sound if I think she needs to pee. In the last couple of weeks I just have to set her on the potty and she knows what to do without being “cued”. Crazy. 
MOOOOOOOOOO
ME!
That said, I am not only nursing Bianca who is a hungry little tank, but often Brielle as well sometimes simultaneously. It is touching to see Brielle stroking Bianca’s hair or holding her hand while they both nurse. I do feel a bit “drained” once in awhile and need a break. I put a number of limits on Brielle’s nursing because she was always a bit of an addict. I don’t mind a 12 pounder latched on 24/7 but the 30+ pounder really takes it out of me. Needless to say, she is elated to be back in touch with boo again. I think we both really missed that relationship and I believe Brielle missed that nutrition as well.
Tandem nursing plus occasional pumping has turned me into quite the milk machine. I detest those little paper nursing pads so I only wear them when I leave the house. You would think that having a diaper free baby would be the primary source of dirty laundry but in my case it turns out to be leaky boo and spitup.
Mercifully, Bianca is not a non-nutritive sucker (like Brielle was) so I pretty much only nurse her when she is legitimately hungry. The tandem thing might be a bit much if both girls wanted to be hanging off me all day long.
Sleep
Nap with Brielle, Bianca and Sugar
Bianca is just an excellent sleeper. To make matters even better, she likes to sleep in. I often work until 1am or so and I am NOT a morning person. I reasonably expected Bianca to be up every day at 6am or so like most babies and she surprises me every day by sleeping until 10am. Now if I can just get Brielle to stay in bed with us.
Despite the fact that she is such a great sleeper, I am ashamed to admit that I have actually let her sleep in the car seat (after we are out of the car). I set two parenting goals while pregnant.
One to never use paper diapers and two to only have Bianca in the carseat if we were in a car. I am certainly not criticizing those who use disposables and carseats, I just know that it is an easy trap to fall into and one I would rather avoid. I am sure the carseat thing will be easier to enforce when it isn’t so freaking, ridiculously cold outside.
Pets
Sugar loves Bianca and seems to be very protective of her. The cats mostly ignore her but Baby Kitty loves her. He likes to lay near her and do pushy paws on her head. That isn’t so cool since he has razor claws. I will probably have to trim them because I don’t think I can keep him away from her.
Big Sister Brielle
Brielle making Bianca laugh
Bianca just lights up when she sees Brielle too. It makes my heart jump. Nothing makes me happier.
Big Sister Slideshow
Cow Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/videoplacebo/2837553477/ (Flickr.com)
3 Responses to “Six Weeks with Bianca”
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Tags: bianca, Breastfeeding, Brielle Jolie, ebf, ec, Elimination Communication, extended breastfeeding, newborn
January 21st, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Thanks for visiting my blog!
I loved the story of your UC- it’s always great to read a good birth story.
And of course, Bianca is beautiful!
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
[...] A Much Better Blog From the owner of A Much Better Way & Store, the personal blog about instinctive and gentle parenting choices, non-toxic living, single parenthood and independent, rational thought. « Six Weeks with Bianca [...]
May 29th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Babies are so precious and only should be taken care of in that way! Your post has allowed me to think up some interesting ideas, so thank you and please keep it coming!