Two Months

Emily, you are TWO MONTHS old today!

At two months, you:

• weigh 12 pounds and are right at 22 inches long.
• wear a size one diaper and newborn clothes. Some three months clothes are starting to fit.
• are starting to wake up more. You still love your sleep, but you now have longer periods of awake time and sleep a little less. You take two lengthy naps during the day and then fall asleep for another "nap" around 8:00pm. I call this a nap because I have to wake you up to get in your last bottle of the day a couple of hours later. You wake up anywhere from 5-7am. It's a little early but I can handle it. Hopefully that stretch will get a little later very soon. 
• You have discovered your smile and now coo and talk to us often. 
• Your levels this month have been sort of a roller coaster. You started out this month in treatment range and then went below the treatment range. So now we are in the process of adding more protein and phe in your diet so that you have enough to grow properly. This whole PKU thing is taking a lot of figuring out and we don't have it all down yet.
• Speaking of feeding, I feel like that's all I do. We had to increase your consumption rate to accommodate for the greater amounts of protein you are getting (in order to raise your levels). And you just don't want it. Either you scream and turn your head every which way until finally you give you or you eat it all and throw it right back up. Sometimes both. I just feel terrible because I know you don't want it and you're full but you have to. You have to have enough calories for that little body of yours to grow.
• And oh the spitup. I go through clothes just about as much as you. And I'm convinced we're going to have to buy new couches and carpet in your room once you get older. Man, you puke on everything and everyone. It's terrible. But I probably would too if I had someone cramming food down me like I do. Depending on the week and what your levels are you take 5-6 ounces every four hours. It's actually 5 bottles a day because you've started sleeping for longer stretches! Yay!
• You've got great head control and a strong little neck. You like to push up off of someone's chest and show us how well you can look around on your own. You don't prefer tummy time but you are able to pick your head up completely off of a blanket and turn it the other direction.
• You've become a regular at the gym. Since you were seven weeks old (and Ella started back to school) you go with me three days a week. Mama's trainer, Ms. Kami, loves you, and begs to hold you any day she hasn't sweat the class before. You do great usually. Turn on the big fans and the music up, and you are out. Maybe you are used to the sounds? I don't know. It's working very well for me right now.
• You love the swing. Your big sister never took to it (because she couldn't fit in it in her cast) and you are the exact opposite. 
• You loved being talked to. I think you're going to be a talker because you are so used to everyone around you having conversations. Ella is never quiet!
• I can confidently say I am winning your heart over. Since Daddy hit the road and Mama assumed control of your care, you are quite the Mama's girl. You light up when you see me and rarely give me anything but smiles. As long as you're happy with others as well, I love it!
• You're growing so much so fast. You can tell from the pictures how you're fattening up. You are your big sister's clone and it amazes me how much you two look alike as babies. I can't wait to watch how you grow!