I can't believe my little peanut is a few days shy of 2 months old. He's growing and changing on a daily basis. I look down at him as I upload weekly pictures to the computer, and the pictures are already outdated. It's amazing.
Feeding is going okay - I've basically given up breastfeeding, but am pumping round the clock and supplementing with formula as needed. His feeding schedule is off since his last growth spurt at 6 weeks. Some meals he'll eat 6 or 7 ounces and others he'll just have 2 ounces. He is a messy eater so bibs have become a must.
My parents just moved about an hour away from out of state and it is so wonderful to have them here. P is about a week shy of outgrowing most of his newborn clothes, so I was able to go shopping for 0-3 month clothes with my mother, and I had an absolute blast. You don't realize how you missed those moments when I was pregnant until she is down here and it happens. I feel so blessed for P and for me that my parents are here with us.
P's two month appointment is on March 2nd and I am curious to see how big he has gotten. He was 9 lbs 1 oz (30% percentile), 21 inches (50% percentile) and a head circumference of 17.5 inches (50% percentile). He can track objects now, coos all the time and is constantly looking around. We have been taking walks in the sling so he can look at the trees and he really enjoys that. He is working on sitting up unassisted and loves his tummy time. He also makes the cutest noises when he is eating:
Friday, February 25, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
My Little Valentine
Things have been going really well lately. Preston and I are finding our groove with his feedings, and he is slowly taking a bit less supplementation after nursing sessions. He is becoming more alert and awake every day while still keeping his 4+ stretches at night. Actually, two nights ago he slept for 8.5 solid hours, from 10:30 pm until 6 am! I couldn't believe it! Alas, last night he was back to his four hour night time feedings, but it was a nice treat.
We have started reading to the little guy, and he loves Curious George stories. I named my first dog George after Curious George when I was little, so it is so fun to have Baby P learn the same stories. Goodnight Moon is next on my list to add to his nighttime routine. He is beginning to enjoy his evening baths as well.
For me personally, I have been enjoying taking him to the gym with me and out for walks with the dogs. The jogging stroller comes tomorrow and he and I begin our training for a 5k. I am a few lbs below pre-pregnancy weight, but still trying to find clothes that fit my new body properly.
I feel like I should have some amazingly worldly and insightful thing to say as a new mother of a 6 week old son. I really don't. I am truly enjoying every moment, every stage, and every smile.
We have started reading to the little guy, and he loves Curious George stories. I named my first dog George after Curious George when I was little, so it is so fun to have Baby P learn the same stories. Goodnight Moon is next on my list to add to his nighttime routine. He is beginning to enjoy his evening baths as well.
For me personally, I have been enjoying taking him to the gym with me and out for walks with the dogs. The jogging stroller comes tomorrow and he and I begin our training for a 5k. I am a few lbs below pre-pregnancy weight, but still trying to find clothes that fit my new body properly.
I feel like I should have some amazingly worldly and insightful thing to say as a new mother of a 6 week old son. I really don't. I am truly enjoying every moment, every stage, and every smile.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The First Month: Reflections
We made it through the first month! I've been told we are officially parents now. Our little guy is turning from a sleeping, pooping, eating infant into a full fledged newborn. Every day he is a little more awake, a little more interactive, and exponentially more enjoyable.
I've learned quite a few things in this first month - the most important being to trust my instincts. The husband and I haven't really ever been around kids, nevertheless newborns, before we decided to have a child. So what I knew about kids before I picked up my copy of "What to Expect the First Year" could have fit in a thimble. I'm pretty proud of myself.
Everything I read said breastfeeding was easy. Here are the positions, here's how to ensure a good latch, now sit back and enjoy the bonding time with your baby. I even read how evil you were if you didn't breastfeed. I always knew I would breastfeed...why not? It's free and easy and why not have that special bond with your child? Here's the thing no one told me: it's not always quite so easy.
Breastfeeding got off to an okay start. Since Preston was premature, I didn't get to have him placed on my chest after his was born. I honestly didn't see but a glance of him for almost two hours after he came out. I didn't get a chance to even try and breastfeed him for about 6 hours after he was born, which didn't go too well. Also, his blood sugar needed to be tested every two hours for the first 24 hours after he was born. Overnight during our first night in the hospital, his blood sugar dipped pretty low so we had to supplement with formula to regulate it. He was on both formula and a bottle from day one. By the time we got home, we were in a routine. He could latch on and eat away. But no matter how long he ate, he was always fussy ten minutes later. Everything said I read said that he wasn't hungry; that breastfed babies always eat until they are full. I checked my supply, I made all sorts of calculations...I fed for hours and hours and hours. But he was still always hungry. Luckily, even though it made me feel like a failure, my mommy instincts came in saying MY CHILD IS STILL HUNGRY and I fed him formula or pumped breast milk when he cried for more food. I feverishly researched it - everything told me I was over-reacting and that he wasn't actually hungry. I even was told the formula and extra milk I was giving him was stretching his stomach out and he would be obese for the rest of his life. Amazing what you find on the Internet, isn't it?
Besides a huge ego hit (why can't I satisfy my child? Why after hours and hours and hours of feedings is he still hungry? WHAT IS WRONG?), I was okay with supplementing. I just knew it in my heart that it was the right thing to do. I finally decided to see a lactation consultant to see what the deal was. She weighed Preston, let me feed him, then weighed him again. After over an hour of nursing, he only got HALF AN OUNCE of milk from me. No wonder he was hungry! I was right! He isn't able to get milk from me very well at all. We spent a lot of time re-training both him and me and it is a work in process, even now. Sometimes he will feed for 2 hours and then drink 4 oz of milk. It's astonishing to me. I go back for a follow up appointment tomorrow, but she said the best thing to me when I was there:
You did a great job listening to him. If you weren't in tune with his needs, he would have been in a lot of trouble because he's getting almost no food.
How great is that to hear? I did the right thing! How awesome was it when he was weighed and my little 6lb peanut was EIGHT POUNDS? I was so happy. And I will never again doubt that I have a set of mommy instincts.
Having a child has also made me fall in love with my husband all over again. Watching him interact with and care for his son leaves me speechless. Having him help around the house without me asking, or getting up to feed the baby in the middle of the night, or (gasp) staying up with the baby for the entire night so I could get a full night's sleep is the best. I couldn't imagine doing this without him. I would go crazy. He always seems to know when I am overwhelmed during the day and pops home for lunch without even talking to me. He walks right in the house, gives me a kiss, sweeps the baby up and tells me to make a cup of coffee and sit down and put my feet up. It's simply amazing.
Things have changed so much in the past month, and watching Preston grow and change every day has been the greatest miracle. Being at home with him all day and caring for him all night has its emotional ups and downs, but I can't imagine a better place to be in the world right now than exactly where I am.
To many more months and years with my two special guys.
I've learned quite a few things in this first month - the most important being to trust my instincts. The husband and I haven't really ever been around kids, nevertheless newborns, before we decided to have a child. So what I knew about kids before I picked up my copy of "What to Expect the First Year" could have fit in a thimble. I'm pretty proud of myself.
Everything I read said breastfeeding was easy. Here are the positions, here's how to ensure a good latch, now sit back and enjoy the bonding time with your baby. I even read how evil you were if you didn't breastfeed. I always knew I would breastfeed...why not? It's free and easy and why not have that special bond with your child? Here's the thing no one told me: it's not always quite so easy.
Breastfeeding got off to an okay start. Since Preston was premature, I didn't get to have him placed on my chest after his was born. I honestly didn't see but a glance of him for almost two hours after he came out. I didn't get a chance to even try and breastfeed him for about 6 hours after he was born, which didn't go too well. Also, his blood sugar needed to be tested every two hours for the first 24 hours after he was born. Overnight during our first night in the hospital, his blood sugar dipped pretty low so we had to supplement with formula to regulate it. He was on both formula and a bottle from day one. By the time we got home, we were in a routine. He could latch on and eat away. But no matter how long he ate, he was always fussy ten minutes later. Everything said I read said that he wasn't hungry; that breastfed babies always eat until they are full. I checked my supply, I made all sorts of calculations...I fed for hours and hours and hours. But he was still always hungry. Luckily, even though it made me feel like a failure, my mommy instincts came in saying MY CHILD IS STILL HUNGRY and I fed him formula or pumped breast milk when he cried for more food. I feverishly researched it - everything told me I was over-reacting and that he wasn't actually hungry. I even was told the formula and extra milk I was giving him was stretching his stomach out and he would be obese for the rest of his life. Amazing what you find on the Internet, isn't it?
Besides a huge ego hit (why can't I satisfy my child? Why after hours and hours and hours of feedings is he still hungry? WHAT IS WRONG?), I was okay with supplementing. I just knew it in my heart that it was the right thing to do. I finally decided to see a lactation consultant to see what the deal was. She weighed Preston, let me feed him, then weighed him again. After over an hour of nursing, he only got HALF AN OUNCE of milk from me. No wonder he was hungry! I was right! He isn't able to get milk from me very well at all. We spent a lot of time re-training both him and me and it is a work in process, even now. Sometimes he will feed for 2 hours and then drink 4 oz of milk. It's astonishing to me. I go back for a follow up appointment tomorrow, but she said the best thing to me when I was there:
You did a great job listening to him. If you weren't in tune with his needs, he would have been in a lot of trouble because he's getting almost no food.
How great is that to hear? I did the right thing! How awesome was it when he was weighed and my little 6lb peanut was EIGHT POUNDS? I was so happy. And I will never again doubt that I have a set of mommy instincts.
Having a child has also made me fall in love with my husband all over again. Watching him interact with and care for his son leaves me speechless. Having him help around the house without me asking, or getting up to feed the baby in the middle of the night, or (gasp) staying up with the baby for the entire night so I could get a full night's sleep is the best. I couldn't imagine doing this without him. I would go crazy. He always seems to know when I am overwhelmed during the day and pops home for lunch without even talking to me. He walks right in the house, gives me a kiss, sweeps the baby up and tells me to make a cup of coffee and sit down and put my feet up. It's simply amazing.
Things have changed so much in the past month, and watching Preston grow and change every day has been the greatest miracle. Being at home with him all day and caring for him all night has its emotional ups and downs, but I can't imagine a better place to be in the world right now than exactly where I am.
To many more months and years with my two special guys.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
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