This month, we saw the doctor with Liv Marie at the Helsestasjon. She has gained weight again and at 6 weeks, she weighs 4.340kg! The doctor looked at her without talking or explaining anything. We were wondering. Then she just said everything was ok except for the belly button that had not closed itself. It seems to be an ombilical hernia that goes away by itself. We left unconvinced that this was nothing to be concerned about.
That same week, I went to see my homeopath to get a footsone therapy treatment - in other words, a one hour foot massage followed by a back massage. Liv Marie was with me and during the first hours she was on my chest sucking and sleeping the whole time! It was lovely to get massaged again and it reminded me when we used to go to get massages at Zender’s in Iowa City but this time I was holding on my chest.
One week later, I went for my postnatal doctor check up. The doctor looked at Liv’s belly button again and confirmed that there was a hernia and that there was nothing to do as it should grow closed by itself within the first year. She also recommended drops called antifoam that break down the bubbles that the baby swallows and that creates cramps.
Liv Marie is changing fast. During her second month, her face is becoming more full, her eyes more open. She is putting on more facial expressions and smiles on a daily basis. We are getting better at understanding her desires and pains and interpreting them. She still has colic fits about three times a week although it is getting more and more rare. When it happens, I hurry to make fennel or chamomile tea and crush some chamomile homeopathic granules to give her. We also carry her with the palm of one hand under her belly and her head on the other forearm or try to push her feet up to massage her belly. She eventually calms down after one or two hours and we are not sure our efforts really help.
She has seriously begun to smile and make sounds at her parents. When she has eaten and has no particular air or gas problems, she is happy and smiles and enchant us with mostly vowel sounds like “aahhh” “euhh” “areuh”. Those moments are special and precious.
In mid June, we took a day trip to Tønsberg, 1 1/2 hour south of Oslo along the western side of the Oslo fjord. It was a nice drive on a sunny day with big running clouds. Liv slept the whole way in the “maxi cozy.” We attended a cocktail party for the housewarming of a “konditori”. It was a guy that Kaspar had met in one of his courses. Liv slept on my chest through the noise of the crowd. We got to taste some chocolates and cakes for free. It was more tempting to the eye though than charming to the palate.
The following week-end, We took another trip to Bergen on the train. This time she did not sleep the whole way but woke up more often and slept a good deal on our chests. We took the train together on Thursday afternoon. On Friday, we visited Liv’s great grand mother quickly; just long enough to take a few pictures and drink half a cup of tea. (see next post for a more detail account of the time spent at the cabin).

I took the train back from Bergen with Liv on Tuesday afternoon after meeting Ninni in town. She helped me carry my luggage and saw me off to the train. About 45 minutes before arriving in Oslo Liv pooped! It was all over and I was out of wet cloths! I got the help of a woman with a baby on the train. Phew!
Ahaaa, the poop issue! Since the beginning of June, she does not poop as often as she used to during the first month. It was first every two or three days and the record now is one week! When it comes it is really powerful and covers almost all her body! So we rush to the changing table and the bath!
Liv is now 4,800 kg and two months. She sleeps better at night- between Kaspar and I- but still wakes up every two, sometimes three or four hours to eat but falls asleep again soon after. Often, I doze off and wake up to find her still attached to my breast a few hours later!
What is new is that she can spend a few minutes in bed awake and chatting without crying. She also seems to enjoy the little rocking chair (what is that called?) where I put her when I have breakfast. From there she looks at me and makes birdy noises. She is the cutest of all!
