7 weeks

Laine is almost 7 weeks and she is growing and getting stronger daily. I keep reading people's blogs about how their kids are sleeping through the night at 7-8 weeks, but I know she won't be doing that :(. Gestationally she is only 2 1/2 weeks old..so that means I've got atleast another 5 weeks or so until she starts sleeping more than 3 hours at a time. Being a mom of a preemie is hard work..not that being a mom of a full term baby is not, but there are differences. For instance, she has not yet smiled which is something I know most 7 week olds are doing..she isn't sleeping through the night, which I know alot of 7 week olds are doing. Ok, so that is only 2 things, but still all of the "average" milestones are going to take that much longer with her.

She is so sweet though and such a fighter. I just look at her and think how much she has overcome in her short little life and how strong she is now compared to how she was 6 weeks ago. One thing in particular that she does that I think is so awesome is how well she eats. I know alot of preemies have trouble latching on and staying awake through feedings, but she goes to town each time she is feeding. Her little mouth just sucks and sucks until I think there is nothing left. Sometimes we can feed for an hour and it seems like she is still hungry, so I give her a bottle of forumla. Her doctor told me to just keep nursing until I think she's full, but that could be an hour and a half later..which by then she's burnt out and so am I. I think that if she's atleast getting to nurse each feeding and getting something from it, it's ok to give her some formula too.

Last night at my mom's, my mom was holding her and she kept on looking over at me. My mom thought she was staring at me, but I thought it might just be the way her head was turned. We did an experiment and I took her and laid her in my lap the same way my mom was holding her in hers and she turned her head and faced me and stared...so maybe she is recognizing me after all. That is such an awesome feeling, especially since for the last 6 weeks it's been almost like she wasn't aware of who I was at all. All in all, she is an awesome baby and for the most part is pretty good! I am looking forward to what is in store for us!!