3 Month Update

Weight: 13 lbs (we think, official weight will be on the 4 month update, after his pediatrician appointment)

Naps:  We are slowly starting to get onto a napping schedule.  We didn't actually start to tackle th nap schedule until the week before his 3 month birthday.  Which in reality makes no sense because we drove to California and screwed everything up the very next week :).  Either way, I discovered that Eli does best when he gets 2 two hour naps throughout the day and then an hour to hour and a half nap in the evening.  Hopefully we will really get this schedule down in the next month.  It makes planning a day and having people over to see him so much easier when we can anticipate when he will be awake and in his best moods.  

Feeding: Eli eats about 5 times a day and wakes typically wakes once in the night to eat.  It has been so nice feeding him less frequently because it means that I don't have to pump at work!  Breastfeeding is a no brainer and this great time to be forced to sit and rest, but I find pumping to be such a chore.  All you  exclusively pumping mommas out there are champs.

Clothing: 3-6 month with plenty of room to spare.

Bedtime: 7:30-8:30

Sleeping: Still a killer nighttime sleeper- Praise the Lord! Seriously I don't know how people survive the 3 hour wake ups much longer than a month.  Eli typically wakes up once a night to eat, however he was starting to wake up at 6/6:30 to eat and then wouldn't go back to sleep because it was so close to his real wake up time.  I consulted the world of mommy blogs and was super boring whenever he woke up- no eye contact, talking, smiling, etc.  and he transitioned back to about a 4:00 feed and then right back down to do a morning wake up at about 7:30.  I don't really know what to credit his amazing sleep with, but we do have a pretty set schedule for him and sleep routine; plus the end all be all- miracle swaddle blanket.  

Development: So much new! Kid is a talker, lots of smiles and trying to roll over.  We don't do a ton of tummy time (I know I know) so the rolling he tries to do is back to tummy.  Since he can't roll yet he ends up moving like a sundial shadow; his head remains stationary while his body rotates around.  Eli is also starting to grab for things and can pull his muslin blankets into his mouth to suck on.  He has recently become incredibly slimy, such a little drool baby on my hands!

Likes/Dislikes: Likes and dislikes are pretty much the same as last month. Naked naked naked baby! Still loving bath time and wanting to remain undressed.  Eli likes to be held facing out, he wants to see the world and be apart of all the action.

New this month: Eli met his third set of grandparents this month, My dad and step-mom. Only problem is that he was such a fussy little bugger, which happens anytime he is needing sleep.  Either way it was so great to get to get together and always wonderful to watch Eli get loved on.  We also celebrated my first Mother's Day, and Eli was again a fussy little mess. Hard to assure people that he really is such a wonderful little babe if he losses his mind each time we take him out in a group.

Mommy/Daddy Update:   Things are still going really well for the three of us.  Kenny and I seem to operate really well as co parents.  We each make a big effort to be really respectful of how the other cares for Eli and that has been the biggest help.  Its so important to remember that you're both new to this and truly just making it up along the way.  We also have made an effort to take full advantage of family being around and get out juts the two of us as often as we can.     

Musing on Motherhood Part 2

80% of the time that Eli gets bathed I'm in the water with him.  1. I love water.  2. I want him to be super comfortable in water and only feel okay about pushing his limits by being in there with him.  3. Time saver.  4. He is so snuggly and fun in the water.

Having bigger boobs has not been the great plus in my life I thought it would be.  Bigger boobs mean wearing a bra ALL THE TIME and shirts didn't fit the same, making my postpartum body look even bigger.  Thankfully they have calmed down to a reasonable b cup!  Happy to have found out this little tidbit without the breast augmentation that has been a thought I have occasionally entertained.

Speaking of post partum bodies, I would love to say that it has been easy to come to terms with allowing my body to get back to its pre-pregnancy state, but patience is not something I have and I am really trying to get rid of these last 5 lbs. I would never put this pressure on anyone else, but have a hard time extending that grace to myself.

Motherhood has been better than I thought it would be.  I never expected it to be bad, I just wondered if I would be good at it.  Turns out, being Eli's mom is the most natural thing in the world to me.

I am very laid back with Eli.  If he falls, he's fine.  I don't need you to wash your hands before you pick him up.  If his binky falls, just wipe off the hair and put it back in his mouth.  The cutest thing in the world is seeing the cat curled up next to him for nap time.

I feel like a fraud everytime I brag about Eli's sleeping through the night abilities.  We did no sleep training, no crying it out. We just got incredibly lucky and have a baby that sleeps through the night, waking once to eat.  So if anyone is looking for advice on infant sleep the best I can do is loose routine, generally the same time each night and make sure the hospital gives you a good sleeper.

Baby clothes are entirely optional, Eli is in nothing more than a diaper 70% of the time.

I clipped the tip of Eli's thumb the first time I cut his nails- I felt awful.  But then he spit up on me, so I figure we're even.

Eli doesn't spit up very often.... except the other night when I zoomed him in to kiss Kenny... I felt bad, but couldn't stop laughing :)

I want tons more babies.  I wanted more babies the day after I had him, I want them when he all of a sudden freaks out and screams, no matter what rough patch he has, I can't help but marvel and how much joy he has brought to our lives.

Kenny is a really good and natural father.  He is mellow and helpful and supportive of all my crazy ideas.  All it does is increase my desire to have more and more children; I doubt this has been his plan all along.

I thought Eli was the cutest baby when he was born.  I can look at his newborn pictures now and see that he was just really swollen and nothing to write home about.  Which gives clarity to how people with unfortunate looking babies can think they are so adorable.  That being said, I still think he is the cutest baby around and am okay with being super biased.

2 Month Update

I really did write this up, when he turned 2 months old, but I'm super slow at getting it on here, oops!

Weight: 11.5 lbs (33%)

Length: 22.75 inches  (33%)

Head Circumference: 15.75 inches (75%)

he got his papa's head 

Naps: Eli still struggles with daytime naps and we have had family in town the past week so scheduling has been all over the place, really hoping that we get him on a solid nap schedule during the next month.

Feeding: he's an eater! As evidenced by him growing so chubby.

Clothing: into all 0-3 month and I'm ready to start breaking out the 3 month duds!

Bedtime: 7:30-8:30

Sleeping: I would say that about 60-70% of the time we are getting that amazing 7-8 hour stretch of sleep from him.  I realize that I'm completely blessed that he sleeps so well, but I'm so spoiled that the night he wakes every 3 hours kill me.

Development: where to begin?  Eli has been changing so much!  He is smiling, making little noises with his mouth. He holds his head up like a champ and stands on our laps.  He likes to be held either facing out or over the shoulder enough that he can see what is going on.  He has started to notice the animals and really likes it when the cats pet themselves on his feet.  It has been amazing to see all of these changes.  Eli is so strong, I think we may have an early walker on our hands!

Likes/dislikes: still the same as last month, this kid loves bath time and being naked. He really likes people being super up in his face making faces and blowing in his face. He loves chewing on his hands and can find them much better now.  Not a huge fan of clothing changes, but I rarely put clothes on him so that may be changing.

New this month: Eli went to the zoo and -big news- had his first overnight trip! He stayed with my parents and we had a glorious night of sleep. It was much needed after a couple nights of his every 3 hour wake ups. Eli also got to meet some of his great grandparents this month and start going for runs.

Mommy/daddy update:   We are loving that Eli is so loved on and have a had a great time getting to see Eli interact with all his family.  Between family being in town and working more than usual, Kenny and I haven't gotten to see him as much, but we don't mind the break :).  Basically life is a good, busy mess and we couldn't  be happier.

Musings on Motherhood

I find few things more gratifying than getting boogs out of Eli's nose- grossest thing ever, but I hate listening to him breathe with a stuffy nose and he sleeps better when he can breathe.

Time both stands still and speeds by; life before him is this vague entity- because it doesn't feel weird to have him here. It feels very normal and right that Kenny and I are parents now. At the same time- 2 months old?! How? When? It blows my mind.

I stop being frustrated with Kenny the second he holds our son, the image of them being together makes me forget about the trash can entirely- magical powers.

I truly believe Eli is going to captivate the world,  I believe he is destined for great love.

Sometimes I don't like taking pictures of Eli or writing about him or to him because I don't know how I can accurately capture how I feel, what I think it or how he looks. It's all too beautiful and precious.

To get myself to not be a crazy person and check his breathing everytime he shuts his eyes to sleep, I get super morbid and remind myself that if he dies in his sleep, me checking up on him won't do any good. 

I don't know how terrible of a parent I would be if Eli was a normal sleeper, but I'm guessing awful.  Eli typically sleeps at night for a 6.5-9 hour stretch and then wakes for a 3 hour stretch. He has done this for weeks. On the nights that he is an average baby and wakes up every 3.5 hours, Kenny typically takes him from me because he can hear me begging the baby to go to sleep. To all you mamas dealing with the torture that is sleep deprivation and haven't snapped- I applaud you.

I rarely call Eli by his name, typically, he is just "the baby." Eli sounds a little too formal.

6 Weeks Old

This kid has rocked my world.  He is starting to smile and interact with Kenny and I;  It's so much fun and so gratifying to get a response from him.  Eli has also started to snuggle into us;  He will nuzzle right into a shoulder or neck.  I'm loving the little baby cuddles.  Eli will track me across the room now and I love being the favorite right now. I know that sounds bad now, but I know that Kenny will be the favorite as soon as I'm not the only source of food, so for now, I'll soak it up.  Kenny and I are starting to get into a routine with Eli and figure out how to co-parent and remain in our roles as husband and wife.  This week is going to be our first real week, with Kenny training newbies and me working 4 shifts, wish us luck!  Fortunately, family is headed out here in 10 short days and we will steal away for a long awaited date.  I've worked a couple shifts so far and have to say I don't miss Eli a ton.  I know that when the time comes that I get to stay home with him full time (which will be amazing!), I won't be able to ditch baby responsibility for 25 hours a week.  I think what I've been surprised about the most with Eli is how very much I love him and how completely different that love is over any other that I feel.  I don't know quite how to describe that love, but once I complete his birth story, maybe I'll be able to articulate it through that post, which should be coming on Sunday!

Taking out the BOB! Eli and I both love this stroller and if the weather would start to cooperate, we would be taking walks in it everyday.

Its a little dark and grainy, but Sam loves Eli's crib and tolerates nap companions.

"Helping out" in the bakery

He's quite happy once fed and changed

Baby shoes before he outgrows them, I feel like he is going to be tall and broad.

Getting to know each other

Snuggly Saturday

Smiles!

Gah! Is this the cutest thing ever?

One Month Update

Late Updates!

Weight: 9.8 lbs (50%)

Length: 22 inches (75%)

Head circumference: 15 inches (75%)

I struggled with publishing this post (which is why it is so late) because I figured, who really cares?  But I loved reading other people's updates about their babies, so maybe someone beyond Eli's grandmas will love it as well!  Fortunately, I wrote this at one month so everything is written in that perspective.  In keeping with the theme of stealing other people's brilliant ideas, our monthly updates are going to be stolen from www.oaklandavenueblog.com, another Eli baby :)

Naps:  Eli's naps are all over the place. He doesn't sleep a ton during the day and usually takes his naps in his vibrating chair or in his car seat while I'm running errands. Rarely ever will he nap in his crib, but I would love to transition him over to crib naps. Part of the challenge with getting him to nap is that he can get out of just about every swaddle and smacks himself in the face every time :). That newborn reflex is no joke.

Feeding: With that giant weight gain, I'm sure it's clear that Eli loves to eat.  He is exclusively breast fed but I'm pumping at night when he is asleep to build up a bit of a freezer stash for when I head back to work. We've introduced a bottle to Eli and he is not picky at all.  He will take a bottle no problem and doesn't care if the milk is hot or cold.

Clothing: the sizing on baby clothing is laughable. He fits into the onesies and shirts or pants for 0-3 months, but all the footed Jammies are too big.  He is still fitting into some of his newborn clothing, but he is about to start hulking out of those clothes. 

Bedtime: he goes down for bed between 7 and 8. Our new bedtime routine is to take him for a walk in his fluffy bear outfit, he falls right to sleep.

Sleeping: Eli is a champion sleeper at night. At about 2 weeks he slept for a six hour stretch and scared me to death.  After that we realized that he is fine and now when he goes to bed, he sleeps for about 6-7.5 hours and then wakes up to eat and goes back down for 3 hours.  We also have im sleeping in his crib.  At about 10 days Kenny suggested putting Eli to sleep in his crib for the night and I protested that he was too little.  A couple days later I tried it out and that was when he slept for 7 hours, no going back now.  Sleeping in his crib works for us because our house is so small and he is so close that its not an ordeal to go get him and we are all sleeping better because of it.   

Development: he is starting to give us smiles and make noises, not just crying. I can't wait to start to see him really respond and interact with us.

Likes/dislikes: Eli likes baths, being naked, eating, grabbing my hair and daddy's beard, the vibrating chair, windows and pacifiers. He dislikes getting dressed and undressed.

New this month: everything. Eli has had his first restaurant experience, started cloth diapers, met people from both of our jobs, had doctors appointments, went to church, everything new!

Mommy/daddy update:  We are doing so well.  The other night I told Kenny that I completely understand why people keep having babies.  Eli has made everything perfect.  It is hard sleepless nights, constant care and an unbelievable responsibility; but the world seems like a better place and there is a feeling of peace and joy that pervades everything.   In other words, yes there will be more children for the Platts! We are just loving him and loving getting to know him. 

And then since we are so behind:

While Eli has reached three weeks, I could just as truthfully post a picture of Kenny and I with the same caption; for as much as a child entered the world, so did two parents.  I have so much to say and just cannot come up with the right words.  Suffice it to say, this life that I'm living is amazing, humbling, grace filled, exhausting, messy, wonderful and a million other sentiments.  Each day we wing it with this parenting thing and each day we get a little better at it.  I was feeling a little stagnant in our life, Eli has quickly cleared up that misconception!
  Not a lot of words this week, but lots of pictures and next week we will have a full Eli update and hopefully have his birth story finished up!  

Here's what we've been up to these past couple weeks

Checked out our play mat, learned mom can get about 20 minutes of hands free time.

Tried out cloth diapers for a day and then stopped to let a diaper rash finish healing up (should be all better in another day.)

Got all bundled up for a chilly walk around the block that promptly put Eli right to sleep. 

Worked on our modeling poses

 

Made Gibby extra jealous with all the attention Eli receives.  Just a quick size reference, this is our small cat.

Till next time!