Two Weeks and Growing!

At two weeks old, Mikayla earned another clean bill of health from her pediatrician. She is growing like a lovely little weed - already 9 lbs 8 oz, 22 inches long, and her head has grown to 14 3/4 inches around. This puts her in the 82nd percentile for weight, 96th percentile for length, and 79th percentile for head size. I believe the comment was, "She must be a good eater!" She wears 0-3 month clothing with ease, and her newborn outfits are a stretch, literally, because she is so long.

Here's our first of many teddy bear photos: (she was being a little cranky pants at the time, but you can still see the size comparison.)


Mikayla has slept for 6 1/2 hours at night in a single stretch (last Saturday, 1/22), but more often sleeps for 3-4 hours, waking to feed for about half an hour and then going back to sleep. She is a morning person so far, enjoying some wide-eyed happy time early each morning when mommy would rather be sleeping. Though she's also a night owl, preferring to go to bed around 11:30.

For the first week and a half, Mikayla preferred to sleep on mommy's chest. This made nighttime feedings super easy! For the past couple of nights, though, Mikayla has been sleeping like a big girl in her very own bassinet next to mommy's side of the bed. She enjoys a "modified swaddle" with one arm free, and her Nuk (pacifier) helps her fall asleep by herself. She is having more fussy times, letting her mommy know that she might just take after her strong-willed, assertive personality after all. But she also loves her swing, and no matter how fussy she is, she quiets down when mommy turns it on to speed 3 with the sound of rain playing.

The doctor recommended regular tummy time to help her develop her ability to hold her head up at this point. She is already bobbing her head up to look around, keeping it up for several seconds in a row before plunking it back down on mommy or daddy's shoulder. When she lies on her tummy, which is her favorite nap position, she easily turns her head from one side to the other (though sometimes she pauses in the middle with her face in the mattress, silly girl).

She got her first shot today and handled it like a pro - or at least, she turned a paler shade of green than her daddy did. He doesn't like needles. She only cried for a few seconds and got a cool Bugs Bunny band-aid to commemorate the occasion. Daddy didn't get anything but he was a very big boy and didn't have to leave the room at all.

I think that's it for our two-week update. Mikayla is a big girl and an even bigger blessing to her very grateful parents. Glory to God for His gracious gift of life, made real to us in this little person. We look forward to her baptism on February 13, when Mikayla will receive the sign and seal of the covenant to which she belongs, as we place our trust in God for His faithfulness to bring her to Himself through the regeneration of her precious heart. May she never know a day apart from Christ, her great savior and Lord.

SDG!