Hey guys, whattup!  Peanut baby in the house!

Wow – we hit not one, but two milestones recently – Peanut turned two months old and she passed her due date.  She’s officially supposed to be here now – woohoo!

The best day of Peanut’s second month was October 11, 2012 – Homecoming Day!  We had some indication a few days prior that discharge was in the offing, so we were prepared with a stocked nursery and a packed diaper bag.  Still, it was a shock how quickly the discharge happened, once the day dawned.  From the doctor’s final once-over to signing the discharge papers and walking out of the hospital, it was about 90 minutes.  Even with all the congratulations and goodbye waves and we’ll-miss-yous and come-back-for-NICU-reunions, hubby and I still felt like we were getting away with something when we carried Peanut out the doors!  And it was eerily quiet once we got her home – we weren’t used to hanging with Peanut without the sound of monitors beeping.  But we settled in quickly and we like this new, wireless home model baby even better than the fully wired hospital model.

Since bringing Peanut home, we’ve enjoyed several walks both around our neighborhood and through Old Town Alexandria.  After all those weeks of dreaming about pushing Peanut in her stroller (I had to have something to look forward to during those long NICU days), I’m still giddy with excitement every time we get the BOB out.  I think Peanut enjoys the walks, too.  She doesn’t seem to mind her carseat (there are tears when we put her in, but as soon as she starts moving, she’s fine) and we love showing her off to the neighbors.  We’ve had two pediatrician appointments since coming home, and they’re thrilled with her so far.

We’ve also done a few baths at home.  Peanut always finds a way to make those exciting.  I’m going to leave it at that, and let you use your imaginations.

Peanut at two months old…

Adjusted Age: 1 day
Length: 18 3/4 inches
Weight: 4 lbs, 12 oz (as of last pediatrician appointment)
Milestones: holds up head briefly during tummy time; grips a finger (and Nana’s necklace, Mommy’s hair…); focuses on a face (especially likes Daddy’s eyebrows and hairline, and Mommy’s glasses) or on her baby art cards
Likes: swaying back and forth in Mommy’s arms; snuggling and watching Mythbusters with Daddy; walks through the neighborhood
Dislikes: baths (still!); diaper changes (still!); bibs
Quirks: drama queen (acts like every bottle she gets is the first after a long famine); does a great duck face; clasps her hands together while eating her bottle as if to say “This is so delicious!”; tucks her right hand up under her chin

As for me… I’m basically recovered from the having-a-baby part of motherhood – physically, that is.  The emotional part of it, especially the drama of having a baby at 31 weeks, is still interesting.  (I’m getting to the point where I think I might write a blog post reflecting on the whole experience, maybe in a few more months.)  Now I’m thinking about getting back my pre-baby body and starting to try to incorporate more activity into my days and to focus on eating more fresh, whole foods and fewer convenience foods.  Hubby is encouraging me to take one afternoon “off” each week to go to yoga and recharge my batteries (isn’t he the sweetest?), so I’ve started to give myself “Sunday afternoons for Mom” while Peanut bonds with her Daddy at home.  And I’m really getting excited for the upcoming holiday season now that I’ve got my baby home and I’m starting to get a handle on this whole motherhood thing.

Month three will include Peanut’s first major holiday (Halloween!) and Mommy has some fun treats planned (no tricks though).  We’re looking forward to our first full month at home as a family of three.