matthew: 3 months update

So these updates have been sitting as drafts for way too long now. So Im going to try and bust them all out over the next couple of weeks because honestly 1) i forget all the specific details (ironic b/c thats why i wanted to do these in the first place) and 2) i want to talk about whats been going on in our lives today. meaning you know hes already almost 8 months. yes Im very behind.

So quickly........

Matthew turned 3 months on September 4, 2012

~*Baby Stats*~

 

weight: 14lbs 15oz

height: 25 in

diapers: size 2

clothing: 3 month

~*Sleep*~

We officially moved you into your nursery. I think mommy took it harder than you did. I wanted to transition you to your own room before I went back to work. So we decided to start a week before my maternity leave was up. Coincidentally, it was also during a tropical storm. I think that added to me freaking out a little. Not only were you no longer right next to me, but I chose to do this during a tropical storm? But you were awesome. We're still swaddling you because if we dont you tend to wake yourself up and not be able to put yourself back to sleep. But with you being swaddled, you really do sleep well. Only waking up usually once during the night to eat.

~*Feeding*~
You're still doing a little bit of both breastfeeding and bottle. More so on the bottle. When you do drink bottles we've been giving you about 6 oz. Yes, you are already my chubby little man. I was trying to pump more to build up a stash of breastmilk for when I went back to work, but I think since we introduced the bottle early on, my supply isnt as good as it should be. I really enjoy the time we spend together when im breastfeeding you, but it has been cut back drastically. I only feed you this way when you wake up in the middle of the night now. I dont know if its more of a comfort thing, for both of us, or if its a convenience thing for me (who wants to have to make a bottle in the middle of the night?)

 

 
~*First*~
We took you in the pool for the first time. Aunt D's pool to be exact. Mommy had been wanting to take you in for a few weeks now, but every time she got a chance to, daddy wasnt able to be there. So we made sure to wait until daddy could watch mommy take you in for the first time. We decided to just go in the little hot tub part of the pool (dont worry the heater was off). We knew you would love it. You already love your baths and in this case it was literally just a big bath tub. I already cant wait until summer comes next year and we can really have some fun in the pool or at the beach! hhhm sand, i wonder what youll think of that?!?!

 

 

 

First professional family pictures. As per usual I found a great deal on groupon for a sears photo package and decided to try it out. Ill admit, the lady taking the pictures was really weird, but we got a lot of great pictures out of it.

 

 

 

 And yes I truly believe its our duty as parents to teach our kids young who their teams are ;)

 

 

~*Other Details*~
You've been a strong lil boy since the day you were born, trying to hold your head up from the beginning. But this month you are completely holding your head up by yourself. We've been doing tummy time so I think that helps you develop those muscles even more. Speaking of muscles, your lil chubby legs have started kicking away! We actually bought a carseat toy bar and we adjust it so its down by your feet. And let me tell you, you just kick away at it. Good thing too because you dont really have the hand eye coordination yet to play with it any other way. You've also started to suck your thumb every now and then. Its the most adorable thing in the world, but we dont want you to become a "thumbsucker" so I make sure to pull it out when I see you doing this. They always say "You can throw away a pacifier, you CANT throw away a thumb!" Another big thing this month, youve really started trying to giggle. I cant wait until I hear you giggle. Like full on belly laugh. For now these little tiny giggles will have to do.

You still very much enjoy taking baths. And your daddy still very much enjoys giving them to you. We kind of make it a whole family effort because we know that you enjoy this time so much. Dad loves pouring the warm water over you but always makes mommy do the washing duties. For now we use your baby bathtub right on top of the kitchen counter top. You dont seem to mind ;)

 

 

matthew~
I cant believe you are already 3 months old. It feels like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant. Everyday you amaze me with the things you do. You have the sweetest smile I have ever seen. You love your daddy so much and I can tell by the way you already look at him. I cant believe Im not going to be spending every waking second with you when I go back to work in just a few days. I cherish these past three months that we got to spend the days as just you and me. Waiting for daddy to get home from work. Now it will be you waiting for mommy and daddy to come pick you up from aunt d's. I know she will take good care of you, but I still just cant imagine not being with you all day. I love you so much!
<3 always
mommy

ok so maybe that wasnt so quickly, but its hard to stop writing when I get started! ;)

matthew: 2 months update

Written on Matthews 2 month birthday August 4, 2012

~*Baby Stats*~

 

weight: 12lbs 2oz

height: 23 1/2 in

diapers: size 1

clothing: 0-3 month

~*Sleep*~
You're starting to sleep longer stretches at a time, sometimes you even go 4-5 hours in the night. We still swaddle you to put you to sleep because you tend to wake yourself when your hands are free. We've noticed that you also tend to sleep longer if you've been outside during the day. Daddy seems to think this is because you get more oxygen by being outside. Not sure where he came up with this theory, but it sounds good, so we'll stick to it. You also love to fall asleep while being carried around in the baby bjorn by mommy. Other places you love to fall asleep include in anyones arms, on their chest, or in your swing. We've also started putting you on your tummy in your crib for naps. I think this helps you sleep a little longer too, but mommys still a little scared to let you sleep like this through the night. Only when Im awake do I let you do this. You look so cute when we let you sleep like this, you tend to stick your tushy in the air!

 

 

 
~*Feeding*~

You're gaining weight steadily, so we know you're a great eater! When you are breastfed you go about 2-2.5 hours in between feedings, but when you're bottle fed with formula its closer to 3-3.5 hours, if were lucky sometimes 4. This also helps daddy feel a little bit more involved since he can help feed you bottles. We kinda got a system going where we feed you a 4 oz bottle right before you go to bed around 8-8:30 and then you sleep till about 12am or 1am, and then mommy gets up and breastfeeds you, then again breastfeeds you at around 5am. It just seems to be much easier to do this than wake up and make a bottle for you. Daddy seems to think that youre not getting full from the breastmilk, but I have to keep reminding him that you indeed are, just it takes longer for formula to digest than breastmilk, which is why you have to feed more often if Im breastfeeding.

~*Firsts*~
You are actually smiling now. Daddy and I have been saying youve been smiling for a while now, but Aunt Denise kept saying it was gas. But were now sure it is definitely smiles! We've found that if we make the sound "whooo" like an owl, you smile real big!

 

 

Technically I guess you were 1 month for your first 4th of July, but Im going to include it here since I didnt have the pics until after your 1month post. We hung out at Gee-Gee & Poppys (thats my parents) during the day and had a bbq with the family. Then we went to a friends house that lived on the water where we got to see the firework show on the beach with a spectacular view. Although you couldnt really enjoy them, you actually jumped a little in with each *boom,* I cant wait until your old enough to "ooooohhh" and "aaaahhh" at the lights!

This month (7/14/12) your umbilical cord finally fell off! hallelujah! it felt like forever. The doctor actually had to use nitrate on it twice to help it finally come off.  But this meant we could finally give you your first "real" bath. And oh my, you loved this so much more than your fake lil sponge baths. You were actually smiling as daddy poured the warm water over you. Daddy really enjoyed it too. You can tell by the way he interacts with you while giving you a bath, that this will probably become something that the two of you enjoy doing together.

We also had your very first sleepover with your cousins this month. Both Andrew and Jenna slept over. You may not have been able to do anything but sleep on the air mattress between them as they watched a movie, but they both enjoyed it very much. I hope as you grow older you'll learn too love hanging out with them. They may be 11 & 5 years older than you, but they are already totally in love with you. Jenna promises to babysit you, she would right now if we let her, and Andrew says hes going to teach you to throw a football! He even got you your very first football!

~*Other Details*~
We've noticed that you're trying to hold your head up alot more. We all agreed that you have a very strong neck for such a lil baby and the doctor confirmed this as well at your appointment. We've been doing tummy time on mommy and daddys bed during the day. So this is probably whats strengthening those muscles. Sometimes you love it and your lil head bobbles around. Other times you get fussy after only a few seconds. This is normally when your tired. We've also started putting you on your activity mat. You dont reach for things yet, but you like to look at the lights and listen to the music. Besides these two activities, you enjoy being outside alot. We've started taking you for walks in your stroller, even if its just to Gee-gee and Poppys house 2 blocks away. You stare up into the sky like its this unbelievable greatness.

 

Some funny things this month, your cousin Jenna says that she loves when you cry. I asked her why and she said because she loves the sound of your cry. I asked her what it sounded like and she answered with "A' la, A' la, A' la." Surprisingly she is right. Even your crys sound like sweet lullabies. I know this wont stay like this forever, so Im enjoying while I can. Also, we've come to the realization that you dont really enjoy the car or your carseat. Well, i guess we cant really say that. As long as the car is moving your fine. But red lights? Definitely not for you. You freak out when the car is stopped. Which has made for some very difficult car rides.

Uncle Billy finally held you for the first time this month. He was too scared to in the beginning, with you being so small and fragile. We told him that we trust him completely with you, but he just wasnt comfortable. But now you can tell he loves you just as much as the rest of your family. He says he cant wait till youre old enough to "go fetch him a beer." lol.

 

matthew~
You are growing before my eyes. Every day that passes by, I see all the changes your are going through. Your smiles, coos, and every cries melt me. You are such a lucky boy to have so many wonderful people already loving you so much. Not only do you bring a smile to my face, but many others as well. You're learning new things everyday. Even if its just kicking or following my voice, every little bit amazes me. I want you stay this small forever and already long for the days that you were just a few days old. But that doesnt mean I dont look forward to the many new things ahead of us. You may grow old, but you will always be my baby boy.
<3 always
mommy

Sorry for the long post and major photo dump, but I already feel like I havent captured every sweet precious moment. Matthew will be 5 months this weekend, and these months are just flying by. I want to make sure I remember every sweet little detail.

matthew: 1 month update

post has been sitting as draft since July 5, 2012. Exactly 1 day after Matthew turned a month old.

~*Baby Stats*~

 

1 week measurements

weight: 8lbs 10oz

height: 21 3/4 in 

3 weeks measurements

weight: 10lbs 2oz

height: 22in 

1 month measurements

weight: 11lbs 2 oz

height: 23in

~*Coming home*~
Leaving the hospital without you was one of the hardest things Ive ever had to do. I knew you would be in good hands but I longed for the day I could bring you home. You spent a total of 6 days in the NICU, originally being put in for respiratory distress. Later things like a high temperature, low resting heartrate, and jaundice kept you in for longer than the initial 3 day requirement.

Mommy was discharged on Wednesday June 6th, and you were discharged on Saturday June 9th (my original due date). When they gave us the news  you would be able to come home, daddy & I were both excited and nervous at the same time. Once we got you home we new our lives would change and that there would be no nurses around to help for middle of the night feedings. ;)

~*Sleep*~
You're such a sleepy little boy. You sleep for about 2.5-3hours stretches. Only waking to have your diaper changed and get fed. I know this is normal for babies this age, but I cant wait untill your up and interacting with us for longer stretches of time. You take alot of naps in your swing and bouncy seat. And at night time you sleep right next to mommy in your co-sleeper. For a week, you actually slept in your bouncy seat, in the co-sleeper, because we couldnt get you to stay asleep. But I guess the vibration of the bouncy seat handled that for us. Then one night you just decided you didnt like that anymore. So we tried swaddling you and that seemed to do the trick. You originally didnt like being swaddled because when you were in the NICU you didnt need to be swaddled. You were stretched out with your arms out on a heating pad with a heat lamp above you.

 

~*Feeding*~
Well, during your time in the NICU, since you were required to wear a breathing helmet over your head, they wouldnt let you feed from my breast nor a bottle. Instead you were receiving all your nourishment through an IV.  Since my milk hadnt come in yet, this didnt bother me quite as much. But I still diligently pumped every 3 hours, and would have the nurse bring even the tiniest bit of colostrum to the NICU for them to freeze. Once you were able to take the helmet off, and my milk still hadnt come in fully yet, they unfortunately needed to supplement with formula. Not that I think anything is wrong with formula, but I really wanted to at least try to exclusively breastfeed you. The day before you were released, I was actually able to feed you myself for the first time, but still it was with a bottle. Luckily by this point I was producing enough milk to give you at least some breastmilk.

 

The day that you were released, the nurse suggested that I try getting you to latch. You did so good! And boy was mommy relieved, both mentally and physically (note: i suffered from engorgement the last two days he was in NICU). Once we got home and settled into somewhat of a routine, you were breastfeeding about 10-14mins on each side every 2-3 hours. Mommy started to get very exhausted, so we decided that we would do every other feeding with a bottle & formula. When you got a bottle it would be about 3 oz and you would sleep closer to 4 hours. We talked with the peditrician and he said as long as we didnt let you go past 4-5hours, when your blood sugar levels get low, then we would be fine. This made things alot easy, however, I did feel as though I had given up to quickly with the breastfeeding thing. I knew I was still doing it at least half the time, but it still made me sad some days. I feel like the time I spend feeding you is so much of a bonding experience for the both of us.

~*Other Details*~
Although you've always been a bigger baby, and mommy thought you would never fit into newborn clothes, you are still currently wearing the newborn sized clothing and diapers. Your umbilical cord still hasnt fallen off. Dr. Mirza says for some babies it just takes longer. Although its not the prettiest thing in the world, it doesnt really bother me, except for the fact I still cant give you a real bath. We can only give you sponge-like baths until it falls off. But boy oh boy, was the first sponge-bath at home quite interesting. Aunt Denise was here to help, as usual. And you didnt know if you liked it or hated it. We shall see how that goes in the future ;)

 

matthew~
since you came into mommy and daddy's lives, you've filled our hearts with more love than we could ever imagine. Your complete our family and bring smiles that could last us eternity. We love you so much and cant wait to watch you grow.
<3 always
mommy & daddy

As I play catch up with mothly update posts, please bare with me. At least you get to see a bunch of cute pictures right?!? ;)