We had our first bath over the weekend.

You never know how a kid will react to water. Some scream, some don’t. Leina, however, took us by surprise.

We were all set. Tub was filled with not-to-hot water, baby washcloths, No-Tear shampoo, and a naked baby. We popped her in the tub and she didn’t scream so we thought we were going to have it easy. Little did we know she had other plans in mind.

We began washing when suddenly, there were bubbles coming from down below. Yup. My kid pooped in the tub. Tutu and I went into immediate evacuation plan A. Mom grabbed the kid and began cleaning. I dumped the water and went to work on the tub itself. Leina seemed to be enjoying herself immensely on the kitchen counter as she cooed to herself while Tutu and I set up bath time round two. This time, we put her in with a diaper on just in case.

She didn’t cry at all so I guess she’s going to be an aqua baby. All we have to work on is tub ettiquete and we’ll be ready to go. How cool is that?

Today we put her in a baby sling and she sacked out. I’m telling you, this kid is spoiling me. So far, she likes baths, slings, bouncy chairs, crib mobiles and being held. The only hurdle left is the crib. Don’t know what I did to deserve such a good baby but I’ll take her!

The Baby Leina Page has been updated. Check out pics from days 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Enjoy.

A huge debate is raging at the McLaughlin household. Baby Leina likes to swing from granny’s arms while lying on her stomach. Chrissie still calls her the "baracuda" because the little monster always wants to feed. But I call her the "jaguar" because she likes to laze about like a wild cat in a tree. Here’s a picture, you to decide – baracuda or jaguar? Which ferocious beast will our baby grow up to be?

It was a beautiful summer day here in Portland so my mom and I decided to take Leina on her first walk. Tutu bundled her up and popped her into her carseat and newborn stroller and we headed out.

Now, you must remember that for the last nine months I’ve been waddling around the neighborhood with Artie growing progressively larger and larger. We have a set routine and pass by the same houses day after day. I guess the people in the houses got used to seeing me plod along preggers because when we went by with the stroller, they came out in droves.

Everyone wanted to see the baby, asked how old she was, and commented on how cute she looks. I meet more people on that walk than I have since moving in here. This kid draws a crowd! She was pure sweetness and slept through the whole thing and before we knew it, an hour had flown by. Now all I have to do in integrate Artie in the routine and I’ll be ready to go. Of course, Artie would probably eat any friendly soul that tried to take a peek at her but we’ll cross that bridge later.

She is sleeping soundly in Tutu’s arms right now and every now and then, she’ll smile in her sleep. It’s heartwrenchingly sweet. I’m trying to catch a picture of it but so far, it’s too fleeting. However, at 2:30am when I’m tired and struggling to get her fed, seeing that grin makes it all worthwhile. Who needs sleep anyway?

Well, the second blood proved good news as Leina’s billirubin count dropped from 17 to 14 over the last twent-four hour period so it looks like she’s cleared the jaundice hurdle and won’t have to go for a baby tanning session. Phew. Even better, she has started gaining weight and is back up at 8lbs 1oz today which is another relief.

I had thought that birth was the hard part. Nobody warned me about this whole breast feeding thing. I guess I supposed you just kind of put them on the breast and nature took over. That would be incorrect… at least for Leina. There has been a very tough learning curve in this house. It’s so frustrating to hold this hungry crying baby in your arms, know what you need to do, but unable to do it. The worst is at night when you’re so tired and groggy. All I think about is her wasting away to a little stick baby becauce I’m unable to do my duty as a mom.

Thank goodness, Granny Tutu is here to reassure me that Suzy and Daniel went through the same process. Now, that kid is a chunker so I know there’s hope. Leina and I are just beginning to get our nursing grove together but there has been a price. A steep price.

My boobies.

Yes, I have sacrificed my boobies on the alter of motherhood. I know this because last night after nursing, Leina feel off the boob not with the usual milk mustache but a blood mustache. Horrified, we examined my poor mangled boob and sure enough, it had been sucked raw to the point that blood was flowing freely.

Upon seeing this, I immediately turned to Leina who was sleeping happily and said, “you mean baby, why are you hurting your momma?” My mom replied, “don’t blame Leina!” Well, who else is there to blame? Unless some other kid is sneaking in while I’m sleeping and nursing without me knowing, I’m pretty sure that my kid is to blame here.

You see, Leina doesn’t nurse. Nor does she suckle. Oh no, my darling girl guzzles. She claims down with gums of steel and sucks like a vaccum cleaner. I’ve started calling her my little Hoover but after that first blood, we’ve changed her name to the little baracuda. I wonder how you say baracuda in Hawaiian? We might be changing her birth certificate if she keeps this up.

The funny part was, after the initial shock, my mom and I thought, “quick, grab the camera a take a picture!” Our next thought, thankfully, was that maybe this wasn’t the sort of picture you want to send to friends and relatives. Good to know the lack of sleep hasn’t totally robbed us of all sense of decorum or you’d be starting at a digital picture of my left breast and trust me, it wouldn’t be anywhere near sexy.

Our first outing to the doctor is over. It wasn’t easy. Baby Leina is looking a little jaundiced so they ordered a blood test. Now, on a five day old baby, the only way to get blood is one drop at a time. Yes, you heard me. They pricked her little foot and then squeezed out her baby blood drop by drop. It seemed like it took hours for the tech to fill that little vial with enough blood for her test and boy did she scream! (Not that I blame her really.) The truely horrible part is that the test that she might be jaundiced enough to require sunlight treatment so today we are heading back to the hospital for a follow up test. This means another prick and five for agonizing minutes of watching her scream and kick. Poor little girl.

This is partly my fault, you see. I should have questioned Kevin much closer before saying “I do”. Turns out both he and his brother were jaundiced as babies and had to undergo treatment. Is jaundice inherited? I dunno but I’m thinking this doesn’t look good for my baby girl.