Crib napper?

OK, I have to confess. Ethan is coming up on 3 months old, and he still sleeps in his swing at night. Plus, he usually will only nap in the Moby, except for we're out and he falls asleep in the car or the handful of times I've gotten him to nap in the swing (but that only works when it's on). He seems to need movement and any attempt to get him to sleep in the bassinet or crib had failed so we just gave up. However, this week I became determined to at least try him during the day in the crib. It hasn't been easy. There have been tears (I only let him cry up to 5 minutes though, and earlier if he gets really upset, so it's not CIO), but as I type this, Ethan is peacefully slumbering in his crib.

Yesterday was the first attempt, and he made it through the 2 naps we attempted in the crib. He tends to wake up after 40-45 minutes, but I can sometimes get him back to sleep for another 45. Hopefully he'll keep going down in his crib and get better about sleeping longer stretches so we can soon eventually get him in his crib at night!

Tummy Time Developments!

On Thanksgiving, I glanced out of the kitchen while Ethan was having tummy time and saw him doing a mini push-up (propping his whole chest up with his arms) for the first time! When he gave us a repeat performance later that day, we were able to get some cute pictures, including the following:


The next day, we were able to Skype with my family, including all my brothers and my maternal grandmother. We decided to show off his new skill, and he decided to show off one of his own by rolling over for the first time! I was absolutely shocked, even though I knew he was getting close. Later that night, he did it again on the bed as soon as we put him on his tummy, so we knew it wasn't a fluke. This morning, he was in the mood to play after his first feeding since he'd slept an 8-hour stretch without stirring once. I got out a quilt and grabbed the Flip and was able to capture this:




He's growing up so fast!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think I'm doing pretty well for a new mom. This is our first Thanksgiving by ourselves so it was my first Thanksgiving to cook a full Thanksgiving dinner by myself. And I did it! And I did it all from scratch, too, which my mom has never done. We had turkey, cornbread dressing, sweet potato souffle, green beans, yeast rolls, and apple pie. The souffle didn't firm up on the bottom and the pie crust didn't brown, but everything tasted delicious, and we have plenty of leftovers! I started cooking on Tuesday (just prepping the beans and making the roll dough), cooked most of yesterday, and cooked all of this morning. I would feed Ethan, hand him over to Daddy, start working and do anything necessitating the stove/oven, and then put Ethan in the Moby once he got fussy and wanted to nap. It worked surprisingly well, and I even had time yesterday to work on his baby book, store his newborn clothes (which he's finally outgrown), put photos into his album, and wash a load of his clothes and diapers. I felt quite productive!

Plus, Ethan went down for a nap in the swing just in time for us to eat our Thanksgiving (lunch) dinner so we were able to relax and enjoy it without one of us holding him. I am so incredibly thankful for that little guy. When I think back to Thanksgiving last year and the depression of the day after, I can't believe how much things have changed.

So tomorrow, we'll relax. Maybe we'll have a fire in the fireplace, I'll definitely make myself some hot chocolate, and we'll begin decorating for Christmas, our first one as a family of three. Life is so very good!

Grandparents' Visit

This was a busy and fun weekend because my parents came to visit Ethan us (I didn't get a hug until the day they were leaving because they were so absorbed with him). It began on Friday evening with Ethan's first trip to the airport:


I don't think he's ever been this happy to be in his carseat. He was all smiles and was patient while we stopped at SmartMomma to get him more BG 4.0s (I'm so excited that he's fitting those now!). Once we got him back in the car and headed on to the airport, he cried for a few moments before falling fast asleep. He didn't stir when I put him into the Moby, and he stayed asleep while we waited for them to arrive. They got in a bit earlier than we were expecting, so they had already made their way down to baggage claim. We hadn't told them that Ethan and I would be joining in on the welcoming fun, so they were delightfully surprised to see him us. He stayed asleep, despite Grandmama's attempts to rouse him to get a better look, but once I got him into the carseat, he was up for good, and boy was he mad! Due to an accident on the interstate, we got stuck in bad traffic on the back roads, and he cried the whole way home. Poor baby! Thankfully, the unhappy baby didn't last long.

On Saturday morning, we ventured out to Ethan's first sit-down restaurant, going to Brigs with Grandpapa for breakfast. He did surprisingly well, though Calvin did have to take him outside a couple of times to swing him in his carseat and get him to sleep. Once he was asleep, he napped peacefully while we ate and visited. That afternoon, we headed to the church fall festival, where everyone oohed and ahhed over him and the grandparents beamed with pride. He slept through most of it, but after a snack upon our arrival home, he was happy to make faces with Grandmama while the cameras flashed:


On Sunday, we headed back to church for worship. Ethan had a harder time than usual so I had to sway with him in the narthex for a few minutes at the beginning of the service, but he eventually got to sleep and was asleep or happy the rest of the time. Afterwards, we got some pictures with him all dressed up and actually happy about it for once:


After his post-church meal, Grandmama and Grandpapa watched him while we ran out for some errands. It was only my second time being away from him, and our first time being out together without him, and it still feels so weird! He was well-behaved for them, and they loved practicing for when they'll be on their own with him for about 24-hours (!!!). Once we got back, it was time for another meal, a bath, and a nap in the Moby:


That night, we ventured out for a meal again, and, once again, he surprised me by not being too fussy. After a few minutes, I had to take him to the front to swing him to sleep, but then he was out for the rest of the meal. It must have been a tiring day because he slept a record 8-hour stretch on Sunday night!

On Monday morning, we headed out with Grandpapa again for breakfast. Since it was a weekday morning after 9, the restaurant was practically empty, and I was able to swing him to sleep right by the table since he wasn't actually fussing (though he did have the hiccups), and he was quite well-behaved the rest of the meal and even stayed asleep after we got home. The rest of the day consisted of cuddles, naps, meals, and pictures until we had to bid the grandparents farewell, armed with prints to show off and stare at until they return in less than 2 weeks.

Two month appointment

I'm a few days late with this, but oh well! Ethan had his two-month-old well child appointment on Monday, and it went really well. He was grumpy with me because he missed his nap due to sleeping later than usual and having to get to the doctor, but he fell asleep while we were waiting for the doctor so he got a bit of a nap in. He was in good spirits for the doctor, smiling at him and being absolutely adorable. I really like this doctor, too, by the way, so I'm quite happy with our choice of pedi offices. The doctor said he looked great, and he was happy with Ethan's growth, which of course is a huge relief. He was up to 9 lbs. as of the appointment and measured around 22" (the nurse couldn't get a good measurement because he was grumpy about being woken up and refused to have his legs stretched out). So he got a good report on growth, developmental milestones, and the physical exam. Then it was time for the shots.

Now, everyone talks about how horrible seeing their baby get shots is. Many mothers cry. I am not one of those mothers. I know that the shots are a momentary discomfort that are entirely worth it, no matter what those anti-vaccination nuts say. So when the nurse stuck him and Ethan's bottom lip puckered out and he did his wide-eyed cry/scream? Not only did I not cry, I had to fight back a smile because he looked so freaking adorable. I hate that he was in pain, of course, but my being upset about it would only get him more upset, so instead I spoke comforting words and promised to nurse him as soon as the shots were over. The nursing seemed to calm him some, and he happily accepted his pacifier as we left, but he began crying again when it fell out of his mouth and ended up crying himself to sleep on the short drive home. So, all in all, the actual getting of the shots wasn't bad at all.

However, seeing how pitiful and miserable he was with the ensuing slight fever was horrible! I just wanted to cuddle him all day and night. He cried unless he was eating or sleeping, and he would startle constantly during clothing and diaper changes because he felt so cold with his elevated temperature. He slept a lot, though, including a 7.5 hour stretch on Tuesday night, and by Wednesday morning, he was back to normal. Thankfully, we have 2 months before we have to do that again.

Overall, it was a great appointment. Hopefully he won't have to go back to the doctor again until his four-month-old well child check, which will most likely be the day after I start back at school (yikes!). I'm so thankful that he's finally thriving and can't wait until weight worries are a thing of the past!

Two Months

Dear Ethan,

Time is finally slowing down enough for me to enjoy it! While I still can't believe you're already two months old, this past month was full of smiles, "talking," playing, and moments that make me so thankful I get to spend all my time with you. You have such a personality and love showing off for visitors. You cuddle with your momma, smile for your grandparents over Skype, and make the cutest noises as you yawn yourself to sleep. You're also getting big. I swear you were trying to roll over during tummy time on your activity mat yesterday. Everyone says you look like you're already trying to talk. You slept 7 hours straight last night after getting yourself to sleep. And you fight me so hard to stand up when I'm trying to sit you to burp you that I'm worried you're going to take after your father and be walking by 6 months!

You're also (thankfully) getting big in the weight department. As much as I hate giving you formula, I love seeing those numbers on the scale go up. You've gained over two pounds since we started supplementing again, and you're beginning to plump out with chubby arms, thighs, and cheeks. You still have a ways to go, but it's so comforting to see you going in the right direction. And at least you're still getting all the good breast milk you want, and I still get that bonding time with you.

This next month holds more firsts. Your first Thanksgiving. The first time your maternal grandpapa will see you in person since you were 2 days old. And the first time we'll spend a night apart. I'm already dreading being away from you that long, but I know you'll be in good hands.

Keep growing, sweet baby! Your mommy loves you more than she can ever express.

Love,
Mommy

Eat, Sleep, Poop

Since Ethan is almost 8 weeks old (!!!), it's about time I had a real update. Since all newborns are supposed to do is eat, sleep, and poop, I thought I'd cover the past 8 weeks under those topic headlines.

EAT:
Ethan has been a great nurser from the start. Despite the lactation consultant in the hospital convincing me that we had a latch problem, my MIL and the LC at the pediatrician felt his latch was perfect and, sure enough, after a few days of nursing, the pain was gone, and he's been nursing like a pro ever since. Unfortunately, being a good nurser hasn't been enough to make breastfeeding a success. To begin with, my milk didn't come in for almost a week so Ethan not only lost weight, he also became borderline dehydrated. He was having about 2 wet diapers a day, including diapers with just "brick dust" so we had to supplement for the first time to get him hydrated and clear out the small amount of jaundice he had, just 1.5 oz/day via an at-breast tube supplement system. Over that weekend, my milk came in, and he gained 3 oz. in 3 days and never had an issue with too-few wet diapers again so we were able to stop supplementing. We thought that would be the end of it, but a week later, we returned for another weight check only to find that his weight had plateaued. The LC suggested several methods to ensure he received more of the fatty hindmilk, but unfortunately, a week later, he had lost an ounce. So back to formula supplements we went, this time giving 3 oz./day. We returned a few days later, and thankfully he'd gained .75 oz./day so the LC instructed us to keep up with the supplements and return for his 2 month well-child check. We decided to buy a baby scale to keep tabs on him in the meantime, and I'm sure glad we did! Daily weigh-ins revealed that Ethan's weight had stalled again, so, after much prodding, another call to the doctor was in order. His supplements were upped to 2 oz. after almost every feeding, and finally we began seeing results. He went from 6 lbs. 14 oz. to 8 lbs. 8.5 oz. as of today (granted, after a full feeding and right before a poopy diaper, but still, that's progress). He still has a ways to go, and I still hate that we have to supplement, but whatever it takes to make sure he's healthy. The pediatrician says we may be able to stop supplementing once he starts solids, so we'll see what happens.

SLEEP:
Because of his slow weight gain, we had to wake him every 4 hrs. at night for the first 4 weeks since he wasn't up to birth weight yet. The LC finally gave us the clear to let him sleep, even though he wasn't back up to birth weight, and that night he slept over 6 hours straight, thus "sleeping through the night." He continued to do so for over a week before cutting back to 5-hour stretches for another couple of weeks, and for the past two nights, he's back up to 6-hour stretches. He's always been a good sleeper. As a newborn, we would have to wake him to eat, and he'd usually fall asleep right after nursing. Now, he's up a good deal more, but he still takes a nap after most feedings, sometimes for only 30 minutes and sometimes for a couple of hours. Getting him to sleep can be a chore, though. Since we brought him home, he's been sleeping in the swing at night because it makes it easy to rock him when he stirs or if he needs help getting to sleep. (There were two nights right after he got his Hep. B shot where he actually spent the night in the Moby with me sitting up on the couch, attempting to sleep. Not good nights!) I know this is a habit we need to break soon, but I'm concerned he won't sleep as well once we transition him to the crib. We had planned on using the Pack 'n' Play in the bedroom instead of the swing, but I think the slight incline also helps him sleep better, so the PnP has remained unused in the corner. Most nights, Ethan either cries to sleep while being rocked or nurses to sleep. However, the past two nights, we've put him in the swing extremely drowsy (usually after he's been crying off-and-on since his last nursing session), and he's been able to go to sleep on his own with just brief rocking to start. Hopefully, this is the beginning of his being able to get to sleep by himself. After his middle-of-the-night feeding, I almost always nurse him to sleep, and I don't see this as being a problem, though it can take forever when he's being stubborn. For naps, Ethan usually sleeps in the Moby (that's what he's doing as I type this). A few times, I've gotten him to sleep in the swing for naps, but I have to turn the swing on and leave it on or else he wakes up. They say to do whatever you have to do to get a baby to sleep the first two months, but those first two months are rapidly coming to an end, so we're going to have to make some changes soon.

POOP:
Not too much to say here (I'm sure you're grateful). Ethan wets 10-15 times a day, which shows he's definitely getting enough fluid, even before supplementing. He's down to pooping about every other day, though he's gone 3 days before, which resulted in a massive blow-out and a thrown-away gown. I learned today that he's discovered the silent poop with the grunt and look of intense concentration, whereas previously his poops could be heard in another room and he seemed oblivious. This makes it harder to tell when it's happening, but, thanks to the formula supplements, it's generally discovered fairly quickly. Oh, here's a big one: We're cloth diapering. My family was extremely skeptical of this at first, with my brothers betting I'd give it up in a matter of weeks. Yet here we are, almost 8 weeks later (we started as soon as we got him home from the hospital, so 1 day old), and I love it! It's no problem to throw them in the wash every other day, and they're so cute and easy. Plus, once we have our initial stash, we don't need to worry about buying diapers again, AND they can be used for subsequent kids. I'm definitely a fan, and I can't wait for him to fit into his BG 4.0s.

So there you have it. The past almost 8 weeks summarized in the life of a newborn. Ethan is much more alert now. As seen in the previous video, he began smiling at exactly 1 month and does it more and more every day. He stares up at my face, grinning, while I read to him. He coos while he plays on his activity mat. He even smiles and talks to me when I'm changing him, something that used to bring nothing but screams! He's an absolute joy, rarely crying unless something's wrong or he's struggling to get to sleep. I'm completely in love.

Election Day