Dear Ty: four months

Dear Ty

Four months has flown by so quickly. You are growing so fast and it is both very exciting and sad for Mommy. I want to cherish each little moment but am also excited to see you and your brother becoming closer each day. Now that you are a little bigger and more sturdy you guys have been interacting more. You obviously love your big brother very much, it was obvious from day one. I still think you must have recognized his voice from when you were in my belly. You are more interested in playing with toys now, your favourites are your two little balls that have lots of places to grip and chew. You spend most of your awake time either laying on your play mat or in your swing. both have mirrors which you love, and you also grab at the toys that hang down. This month we will be introducing you to your exersaucer for even more fun, possibly even the jolly jumper. You are still as smiley as ever and just days before you turned four months you finally laughed for the first time. Mommy was so happy to hear that wonderful sound and to actually catch it on video at the same time! You don't give out those laughs too easy though, you make mommy and daddy work for them! You make a lot of silly noises and "talk" all the time. It might be because of all the extra drool but you now blow bubbles and raspberries, I think you like the noise it makes because you often do it when you are alone. Speaking of the drool... it's like Niagara falls in that mouth of yours! Mommy may need to start putting you in bibs because of how wet your shirt gets, you have also been chewing on anything you can put in your mouth so it is looking like you have started teething. Luckily you are a happy teether, very wet but happy. You are not sleeping as well lately, I am not sure why. Nothing much has changed but we may need to be a little more strict with our bedtime routine, I think we may also wean you from your night feeds. You seem to want to sleep with mommy's boob in your mouth all night and this means mommy does not get much rest. Hopefully this is all just part of the teething and we can get back to some good quality sleep soon. Mommy needs it.

Monthly Stats

Weight~ 13lb 12oz
Length ~ 72cm

Hair/eyes ~ your hair is slowly growing back, it still has a bit of reddish hint to it when the light hits it a certain way but is mostly brown. Your eyes are becoming a lighter blue as well.

Feeding ~ you are still on breastmilk only, we have beaten the thrush and mommy is almost healed completely. It still hurts a bit to nurse but you haven't had any bottles this past month and mommy has not pumped either. You are eating on demand which most days is around every 3 hours.

Sleeping ~ you still fight going to sleep and are no longer sleeping as long, we are averaging around 4 hours at night at most. naps are still inconsistent as well. You are still sleeping in mommy and daddy's room in your wicker basket for the first half of the night and then in bed with mommy for the last couple hours before we get up.

Milestones/other ~
* you are officially in size 6 month clothing, you have a 9 month one piece jumper that fits as well.
* diapers are size 3 and we are starting to prefer pampers. They seem to have the least amount of blow outs which is difficult for mommy to accept since we hated them for your brother.
* you like playing in your swing, playmat and sitting in your bumbo. You sit in your bumbo every night while we eat dinner and eagerly watch us. I have a feeling you are going to be a very eager eater when the time comes.
* you still do not like being alone for too long and love being social with people.

Dear Ty: Three months

*I thought I forgot to write this post but it turns out I just forgot to post it.. oops blame it on mommy brain ;)

Dear Ty

You have started to "speak up" a bit for yourself this past month, and I'm not refering to the adorable baby coos you make all the time. You are still very relaxed and easy going but you also are making it known when you want something. Usually it's that you want to eat (you eat a lot!) but also when you're tired, or you don't want to be in your swing or playmat. Sometimes you just want someone to pay attention to you don't seem to like it if you think you are alone and would rather be in the middle of the commotion. You are probably one of the happiest babies ever. It's one of the most common comments people give when they see you. You are always smiling. You also giggle (sounds more like a grunt) when something is really funny. Mostly you just laugh silently with a gigantic smile. You love your play mat and we play there a few times a day, the mirror is your favourite part still but now you also will reach and grab at the toys that dangle down. You are still sleeping well most nights and mommy is very thankful, now if we could just get you to stop fighting sleep than we would be so happy. The minute you realize it's time for bed your eyes pop open wide and you start to fuss, mommy has started letting you have one arm out of the swaddle to see if you prefer that, so far I'm not sure. 

Monthly Stats: 

Weights - didn't measure*

Length -  didn't measure*

Hair/Eyes - Your hair is starting to look brownish red and eyes are still a dark blue but now easier to see the blue in photographs 

Feeding - breastfeeding is still painful for mommy but we are getting by, we are still averaging every 3 hours. I'm pumping less because there just is not time, it takes a long time to pump such a tiny bottle. 

Sleeping - You fight going to sleep but once down you still are sleeping very well, usually only waking once a night and than again around 5-6am which is when daddy gets up for work so I'm sure he's waking you accidentally. You are almost too big for your Moses basket and will have to move into your own room soon. Naps are a bit of a challenge, the only place you will sleep for a lengthy time is in your car seat.

Milestones/Other - 

* you have move up to size 3 diapers, no preference for brands yet they all seem to work. 

* you are on the verge of fitting into your 6 month pants and outfits 

* fave toys are your playmat, swing, and little rubber ball.
* your neck is getting stronger and you are supporting yourself much better.
* giggles/grunts

Things to remember

Mav's current obsession with the doctor. 

Everything needs to be fixed by the doctor, every little fall, bump, bruise. He probably suggests we go to the doctor at least twice a day. Today I even pretended to call the doctor who of course gave advice over the phone on how to treat the bump on Mav's head lol meanwhile he was sitting there wide eyed watching me waiting for me to tell him what the doctor said. 

Kid turns 2 next week (crazy!) I really hope grandma finds him a toy doctor kit. :)

I used to be in love

In love with breastfeeding. 

With Mav it came almost effortlessly,

Aside from a few minor latching troubles in the beginning I was completely head over heels about breastfeeding my baby.

 

It was easy, it was free and painless. It helped me bond a deeper love for my son than it ever thought possible. When he started to wean off his night feeds at 13 months I was even sad. 

Breastfeeding Ty had been a completely different experience. 

I've done this before. It shouldn't be this difficult. 

I've actually told my husband more than once I don't want to do this anymore... But I still am going .. Strong.. 

I cringe when he wants to eat, there have been moments where I have even cried. It hurts so much. I've tried different positions, I know how to line myself up, everything starts out promising and as soon as he takes that nipple into his mouth he does something that hurts so bad at times I lose my breath. Short of using a x ray to see into his mouth there's not much else I can do. 

I use nipple cream like its a drug, I must have it . Missing? Find it. Can't find it? Quickly go buy some more. 

Dry cracked nipples? Yup got them. 

Thrush? Yup got that again too. 

Mastitis? For the second time yup have that too. 

I've tried a nipple shield but it doesn't help in the long run because he won't empty the breast and that creates more problems. 

He's almost 3 months and I am having a difficult time seeing myself continuing for much longer. The thought of stopping even makes me happy... Happy until I really think about it and then I feel horrible. 

I've spoke with my doctor and she had nothing useful to say and so I suppose I will humor myself with a visit to the breastfeeding nurse. I say humor because I was trained to teach new moms when I was a student.. But until I've tried ansolutely everything I will has to carry on. It has to get better at some point... Right? 

Things to remember

Watching Mav breastfeed a stuffed puppy and bear, then burp them both and lay them down to sleep. Making sure to tell me "shhh" so I don't wake them ;)

Sidenote* we are going thru an anti clothing stage. Shirt with the diaper was a compromise lol 

Dear Ty: Two months

Dear Ty

Another month has flown by and you have grown so much! You feel much more solid now and your neck is getting strong. You still resist tummy time by burrowing your face into the floor but you hold your head up pretty well when you are held. You still sleep a lot but are spending more time awake and interacting with us. There is no denying you love your big brother and enjoy just being near him. You smile and coo when he is near I'm sure it's only a matter of time before your laughing at his craziness. You seem to be becoming more comfortable with your daddy as well, you will now allow him to soothe you and put you to sleep. It makes your dad very happy when you aren't screaming in his arms. You have been sporadically sleeping 7-8 hour stretches, the first few times happened after you turned one month and again recently. Mommy can hardly believe her luck when she wakes after one of those nights feeling much more rested. Thank you. 

You are still a big eater and are taking bottles every few nights. I would like to get you on bottles every night but you eat so much mommy hasn't been able to pump much. I feel like time is just flying by and I can't wait to see how much you change and grow this month. <3 

Monthly Stats: 

Weight ~ 11lb 12oz

Length ~ 63 cm

Hair/Eyes ~ Your hair thinned out but is already starting to grow back. It's not as dark as it was but still brown. Your eyes are starting to lighten, but still mostly dark blue

Feeding ~ You are doing very well with your bottles, I'm still not pumping enough for nightly bottles but slowly getting there.  You are breastfeeding on demand which is about every 3 hours or so and lasting approx 20-40 minutes

Sleeping ~ You sleep! I still can't believe it but you are sleeping 7-8 hour stretches multiple times a week. This past week I have noticed you seem to be having a nice long nap (3-4 hours) mid day. 

Milestones/Other ~ 

* You rolled front to back again! This time on video! 

* You love to sit in your swing and state up at the mirror on the mobile, you are not that interested in other toys yet so mommy lets you sit there as long as you like. 

* You are very gassy, you cry out in pain sometimes. I think you still have reflux as well.

* You're fitting into 6m size sleepers already but everything else is still 3m size

Happy 2014

Happy New Years 

I hope everyone's year has been off to a great start. Life is just getting back into routine here, it's hubby's first day back to work after a two week holiday. It was nice to have him home but it's pretty nice to have him go back. Routines are always slightly off when he's home all day. 

I decided no resolutions this year, instead just some plans. Sort of a bucktlist of things I want to do over the year. Some things are just places to visit, fun things to do and others are larger tasks like reading more (or specially a goal number of books). 

One thing I decided for sure was that 2014 would be about making some changes. 

My first big change happened last week. It was terrifying and exciting. 

I've always loved funky pixie cuts and secretly wanted to try one. Well I finally got the courage and am starting the year with a whole new look :) 

Excuse the lack of smile selfies are not my strong point. Apparently I can take the photo and smile lol 

Its a nice fresh start and motivates me for many other changes both personal and at home that I plan on making this year. 

Happy New Years!