CHAP 2.0: March 2013

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Week 8 and 9

Since our pregnancies were so close together, Anna did not get to visit at the birth of Monty and I was unable to travel with a newborn to meet Henry. Instead we decided (during our pregnancies) that I could road trip when possible and break up the trip by going through Augusta. I hoped that would keep Monty happy enough for the car rides while letting us hold the others baby.

During Chris' first trip away from us, I took the opportunity to make this trip a reality. With the feed, wake, sleep program he is currently using I calculated a feeding and then jumped in the car towards my parent's house. I knew if I didn't hit traffic that I wouldn't hit another feeding and Monty enjoys sleeping in the car while cruising on the interstate.

The plan worked perfectly.

I spent Wednesday night at my parents house. We watched as the new pope was elected and had dinner together. The following morning we repeated the trip plan with Nana and headed towards South Carolina.

Monty and I had a great time visiting cousins. Henry and Luke are so special to me- I LOVE being Lee Lee!! The kids all did well in the shared space and did not disrupt each other. We had a lot of naps and feedings to consider so we didn't really get to leave the house a lot. We made a trip to the outlets and took a walk around the neighborhood, but our big pleasure was watching season one of Downton Abbey together. It was perfect family time.

Luke dyed Easter eggs too. That was fun to watch him participate in a big boy activity.

I returned through Augusta on Sunday and then back to Cumming on Tuesday.

Chris came home on Thursday evening after a 10 day trip away from home. I can't imagine what it must have been like for him to be away for that long! I pushed Monty's schedule by 30 minutes so that he would be awake to see his daddy for just a bit before going "night night". Chris arrived 10 minutes earlier than scheduled and was able to wake Monty up himself. It was so special to see that baby smile behind a pacifier and those legs kicking as he woke up to his daddy's face and voice.

Monty had his two month check up today. He weights 10lbs 10oz and is 23 inches long. His head circumference fell to the 50th percentile (now his head is normal and not like mine!). She was proud of his growth and she was impressed he was eating just shy of 5oz bottles. The doctor was shocked at how he was sleeping though the night (I told he r

before he was on a schedule! I guess she thought I couldn't implement or he wouldn't accept it!). She said my next child won't do that!

Monty got three vaccines. The second Hep B and DTaP were administered after the oral Rotavirus vaccine. He swallowed happily and afterwards she have two quick pricks in his thigh. He SCREAMED one of his full lung cries and I slipped him a pacifier. I brought a bottle in case it was needed (it was meal time too) but he calmed within seconds. He didn't even need me to pick him up. I gave him some pain medicine when we got home. He hasn't appeared to have any grogginess or crabbiness. She said since he got half the normal amount of shots he would probably be a happier kid. He will get the remaining two shots in three weeks.

She commented on the strength in his neck and said she thinks he will reach gross motor milestones faster than average if this continues :) She recommended we start treating him as if rolling over is about to happen and to watch him more carefully for safety. Apparently Chris started walking at nine months! Yikes!!!

Since we left the doctor's office he has made it a point to demonstrate his ability to roll over. He did it twice on the floor mat with me this afternoon and three times this evening before bed.

I will upload images from the travel (and videos) when I have a moment!!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

ides of march

Ok so it was the first of the month, but saying Ides sounds more dramatic. This is my messiest "mom"ment to date- and boy was it bad!
So I had thawed some breast milk I had stored. I didn't use it when planned but I didn't want it to go bad. So I decided to replace Monty's 3pm meal with a bottle. One ounce of the 5 ounces was my first pump ever it was probably transition milk. With the four ounces of regular milk it mixed much thinner. Maybe it wasn't as thin as I thought it was...
So I put it in a newborn flow bottle and we are ready to go. Monty ate well at first (or it appeared as much) but then he started FREAKING OUT. Sucking for a little bit then screaming. So I checked the bottle out. Looked normal to me so I placed it back in his mouth. Again- sucking a little then freaking out. After several attempts I determined the milk was just not going through the nipple's small hole (at least not very quickly). So I carried my screaming baby to the kitchen and try to change bottles. I screwed the lid on tightly and tried to feed him. Calm and eating! Finally!
After a few moments I felt warm on my chest. The bottle was leaking! Milk was EVERYWHERE! His clothes were saturated and now I was getting wet. He was eating happily in spite of the mess.So I remove the bottle from his mouth. He proceeds to scream again. In an effort to stop the mess I strip him down to his diaper. I remove my shirt.
The new bottle has 1 ounce left. Between the first bottle and second bottle I have no idea how much he has actually eaten. So I decide I will let him nurse as long as he seems interested. He likes to over eat but I hoped I could judge with a little time management and observation.
While he ate I examined the mess. We are both pretty covered in milk and all the burp rags around me are soaked as I wiped our skin dry.
He ate very well for about 20 minutes. i was just starting to think he would be satisfied. Just as I am processing this, he proceeded to throw up. Clearly he has over eaten. He's happy but now our bare skin is covered in milk, and my pants, and my sofa. We are GROSS. It's in his hair and mine. He is laughing.
So we moved bath time up early- for both of us.
I had to laugh. It was just the biggest freaking mess and he was as happy as a clam.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Traveling Daddy

So Chris finally had to leave his post at home. He has a variety of events in Utah for the next ten days. It has been such a blessing for us that he didn't have to travel until now. He was "grounded" before Monty was born (just in case!) and hasn't had to leave till 8 weeks post delivery.
For 8 weeks we all went to bed and woke up in the same house. We spent most of our days together (Chris working but still in the house!). I almost forgot what it was like to send him out on the road.
So here are some last minute pics of M and his daddy :)

Thursday, March 7, 2013

7 Up

We have made it to seven weeks! I have been able to get out of the house with Monty weekly. We have been able to run errands at stores like Target. I have been able to go into dressing rooms with him (so we are able to take our time!). He has been to a few restaurants too. He joined us for our Valentine's day celebration, a dinner with cousins Jason and Mandy, and a girls night with friends Brooke and Andrea. We went on a walk with Rhonda and Charlotte at the mall. We discovered a really nice mothers room in one of the stores so we can stay out and get a meal in (without having to nurse in broad public, which is nice!). Chris and I have started planning to be out of the house for several hours at a time. We run errands, eat lunch and feed Monty, and then continue with errands. It makes it feel like a "before Monty" weekend (almost) when you can accomplish so much.

Monty and I have both done well with our doctors visits. He has gained weight, we learned about clogged tear ducts together, and we learned he has his mother's large head! I got a clean bill of health too. That meant I could go back to the gym (boo) which is conveniently located in the basement. During my first week I got in three days of work outs. I am hoping to do the same this week.

Monty has been doing really well with the routines of our daily life and has even proven that he can sleep through the night. This week (week seven) he has slept through the night 3 consecutive days. I am sure we will have some trouble days pop up, but so far so good. I can't believe I have a seven week old that sleeps through the night. Seriously- bless the authors of Baby Wise and Mom's On Call. You changed my life.

Chris has been fantastic. He takes Monty every morning so I can get a little extra rest or grab a shower. He plays with him every evening after work and puts him down to nap so I can get a work out in or do some chores around the house. We try to take turns with the bedtime routine, but regardless he is in there for some good night kisses. With Monty's current schedule, he is going to sleep around 8:30 and he isn't waking up until 7am.

Monty has really started to enjoy tummy time. His first few rounds were crying fits. He hated being on his stomach (and since he had reflux I couldn't blame him!). But he tolerates it really well now. He does it a couple of times during the day (if it's a good day) and then we always have an end of night session (to burn any extra energy we may have!) before we slow down our day and read a book.

Chris likes to have him try on his glasses. Since both of us have had glasses it is pretty much a sure thing that Monty will need a pair of his own one day. Maybe we can convience him glasses are cool at that time by reflecting on these images.

Swaddle FAIL. This caused much sadness and woke Monty up.This was a daddy purchase and it was a little too big!

Tummy time in his room before bed. See how much he is enjoying it now!!

Morning with mommy. About to pass off to daddy for morning routine.

Tummy time during the day. When he wants to he can get some big ups. He is always on the verge of rolling over (finally able to on 3/3 and 3/4 but haven't seen it since!).

Night nights in the crib. Mom pulled the swaddle and he still slept!

A few pictures after eating. The top ones are in the morning. The bottom ones are in the middle of the night. I will miss some of the sweet midnight smiles!

Faces with Chris. I have to say the bottom lip out is pretty amazing. So glad I was able to capture them both doing it!

Playing with Chris' glasses again. These give the Clark Kent look. We really liked the last one. Really was a superman picture!!

We went to our first movie! They have a cinema that welcomes mommies and their babies on the first Tuesday of the month to a selected movie. We can walk around, Change diapers, make noise, eat a meal- IT ALL GOES. And Monty slept through the entire thing. Well when he wasn't getting into the popcorn...

Busted! Catching some nap time with Dad!

Snuggles with dad in the early morning.

Tummy time!!

Post feeding and totally content!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Monty's PIcs for 5 Weeks of Life

So these are images that I captured with my cell phone during Monty's first two months of life. Not everything has a caption, but it tells the story of what he has been up to recently (which is mainly eating, sleeping, and being held)

I tried to organize them by age and make columns but blogger was being difficult. I think with this much data in the page my computer is finding it difficult to keep up! So they got a little out of order, but I will try to do better next time!

Enjoy weeks 1-5. Now I need to catch up on the last two (almost three!) weeks!!