3 things to teach your 3 week old

These weeks seem so go by so fast don't they?!  Hopefully you are feeling a little more healed and are still amazed at what you have accomplished (you just had a baby!!). At 3 weeks old you can still work with your baby on what they are learning from their previous 2 weeks of life and if you are feeling up to it adding a little more fun!

Eye strengthening
This sounds terrible but until I read about eye strengthening a couple weeks ago I didn't know why babies had mobiles.  Now I know.  It's another way for them to strengthen their eyes! They still can't see far away but they may be able to see a mobile above their swing or crib.  If you don't have a mobile you are in luck, they still prefer to look at your face so you can continue moving from side to side and letting them track you.

Tummy Time
**Please ask your pediatrician when they think you should start tummy time.  When you do, some more fun ideas to help that little noggin stay up is to put a mirror in front of them, and if they don't seem interested in the cute little baby staring back at them sit next to them so they can see your reflection in the mirror.  Whenever I try to get John to look at himself in the mirror his eyes only look at me.  It makes sense because he knows my face whether its a reflection or not, he has yet to figure out (and understand) what he looks like.
Another fun idea is if you have other children to get them involved in tummy time too.  Let them be on their tummy in front of the baby and talk to them in order to get their new sibling to look at them. The older sibling might as well get used to teaching the younger one, they will be doing a lot more as they both grow.

Outside Time
I was very blessed to have John in the spring.  I love to be outside and soak up the rays (my husband calls me a lizard).  Even though newborns' bodies can't soak up the rays (Vitamin D) yet, they can still enjoy being outside.  Take them in their stroller, or in a baby carrier, on a walk around outside. Tell them what you see, how you feel, and where you are going.  They will enjoy this (and you too) whether they are asleep or not.  It might even be the thing to get them to sleep! Layout a blanket on the lawn and an umbrella to shade your baby, let them breathe the fresh air and learn new smells (is someone mowing their lawn? Are flowers blooming?) and new sounds (bees going from flower to flower, cars driving by, or complete silence). If it is too cold to go outside or you don't feel comfortable bundling them up and taking them out for a short while then sit by a window and describe what you see, and soak in the window rays.  This will also help with any last bits of Jaundice.

Lullaby
This lullaby is "Lullabye" by Billy Joel.  The message is so sweet and I love singing this to John.

"Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)"

Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark
And deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on...
They never die
That's how you
And I
Will be