Pease Porridge Hot

...Pease Porridge Cold.... Pease Porridge in the pot.... Nine Days Old!

Shiloh is 9 days old today, and just the thought of that made a nursury rhyme pop into my head. Anyhow...

It has been a good, albeit sometimes difficult week. After several failed attempts at breastfeeding in the hospital, we had decided to be content with a bottle yet again. Every other baby we've had has done well with it. And then.... my milk appeared! I'm either a glutton for punishment, or overly optomistic, but thought we might give it another try. My very supportive and accomodating dear David dished out a couple of days' wages to yet another lactation consultant and we actually nursed! Twice. After that, Shiloh got really adamant about not nursing, fussy, gassy, diarrhea, bad diaper rash, and we won't even begin to discuss what was going on with me, but suffice it to say that after 5 days, I'm still trying to heal physically. Emotionally, I'm better, but I was a wreck. I do this every time. If I'm ever brave enough to have another baby, hopefully I will not repeat this scenario. Maybe in my case, the 5th time is a charm? We won't worry with that now, though.

So Shiloh is happily taking the bottle, but neither of us were very happy at diaper changes. On regular formula, she had very few wet diapers, but more than her fair share of dirty ones. Mucousy stools, a rashy bottom, and a screaming baby are not exactly anyone's cup of tea, I'd bet. We switched her to a lactose free formula and life is much much better.

So all feeding issues aside, the week has been good! I've marveled at how tiny she is and how big her siblings are in comparison. Shiloh has the same dark hair and blue eyes that all our children have had at birth. I wonder if her hair will fall out and come in lighter like her siblings? I wonder what color her eyes will be. I think she may have dimples! She has the same "stork bites" that our other kiddos had--above the left eye and at the back of her neck. Must be something about my pelvic structure. They've also all been born "sunny side up" as my mother-in-law calls it, just like their daddy. She makes all those cute baby noises and has that sweet baby smell.

Samuel calls her a sweet little darling. He likes to hold her and loves her soft hair. I think he feels a special connection to her, since he had issues with milk as well. :) Shiphrah says she's so cute and also likes to hold her. Solomon says, "Cute Baby!" as he pats her head. I enjoy our feeding times as we stare at one another absorbing everything about one another. I enjoy our snuggle times and co-sleeping, too. Daddy says there's nothing better than a new baby and just drinks as much of her in as possible whenever he can get me to hand her over! Good for him, I like long showers! Grandma Robinson also adores her and said she's worth putting up with me pregnant! Hmmmm....

We haven't had quite as much of Daddy this week, because even though he hasn't worked a full schedule, he has had to tend to several end of the school year duties. We all look forward to getting spoiled with Daddy time in the coming weeks, though. :)

Our church family has supplied us well with lots of yummy food this week, and I am ever so thankful!