Two Months Old

Our sweet baby Jena is two months old. She has changed our hearts and our lives forever and our family has grown both in size and in love since she has arrived.

Jill can't get enough of her...

Jill will say in her baby voice "it's okaaaaaay" and pat Jena's head when she cries. She now calls her "Nena" instead of baby or sometimes she will say "baby Nena". She constantly wants to kiss her and pick her up. So we have to constantly be aware of where Jill is because she is looking for any opportunity to do so.

Jane, the professional big sister, has been amazing. She asks to hold Jena daily and though I was concerned at first I have discovered that she can actually be a great help. In addition to getting things like diapers and burp rags, Jane also will hold Jena and rock her and sing to her while I pack our bags to get ready to go somewhere. Also, Jane can make Jena smile faster and bigger than anyone else. Jena will light up at the sound of Jane's voice. They have some kind of special bond. Maybe it comes from having the same letters in their name or from how Jena favors Jane.

At two months Jena is happy, except when she's not ;). She is cuddly. She likes to be held tight, I mean TIGHT! She likes to be upright, mostly I think because she is dealing with acid reflux. She is strong! She can sit up at more than a 45 degree angle and is always working on her "baby sit ups". She likes the swing and the bouncer but mostly she just wants to be held. She likes music and as I said the sound of Jane's voice. My voice is a favorite too. She likes her paci (just like Jane did) and is a good nurser like Jill. She loves it when Jay holds her up high like this...

She's had a lot of tests run since she was born. The latest one was a VEP (visual evoked potential) test in which she had electrodes hooked up to her head and a pair of special goggles on that flashed visual stimuli at her (see picture below). She was not a fan! This test is supposed to tell us if the pathways from her eyes to her brain are working. The hardest part in dealing with all of this is waiting to find out what we even have to deal with. We have discovered that test results don't come speedily. We've heard that the results went straight into files without being read, doctors are on vacation or just plain have forgotten to call. I feel blessed that God has entrusted us with the care of Jena and I know with the strong support system we have of family and friends that we can handle whatever is to come but like I said the hardest part so far has been the waiting.

It has been a very quick two months and I fear time only goes faster from here. Jena has already lost her "startle" reflex :( Those of you who have had newborns might recall it. For the time being I am soaking in every second of that baby smell that I can because alas it goes away too fast! We love you Miss Jena! Happy two monthiversary!