Expecting our Little Brother in November!
Showing posts with label Milestones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milestones. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Six Months Old!
My darling James David is six months old today.
As I had written about on Monday, six months is a mile-stone to me. When he really starts to eat food and not just play with it; sitting up . . . A six-month old is a big baby (to me)--looking more like a 12 month old than they do a tiny newborn . . . (especially next to his Great-Grandma Rosemary (GG) teehee):
What this means for my boy is a will and an energy that cause alternating joy and frustration. He is fascinated by everything. Anything new is amazing. If there is nothing else to look at he will scratch and pick at whatever--the wooden side of his changing area, the leopard print comforter (a legacy of James' life pre-me), the couch, his clothing, us, you name it.
With desire comes frustration. I am pretty responsive to him--fetching toys that go out of reach, whatever he needs. But I'm realizing now that I need to let him be frustrated. That is what is going to drive his muscles to develop so that he's actually able to do the things he wants. Like crawl and roll and reach and all these other things. So I'm starting to put things JUST out of reach now, to motivate him.
He is THIS CLOSE . . .
. . . to rolling over from back to belly, but no dice yet. He definitely got a lot better at the tummy-to-back roll. I'm still not sure if he actually does it consciously, but he definitely does it consistently, whenever I put him on his belly now, within a few minutes. Big improvement from a month ago!
And we have a sitter! He can sit independently for longer and longer stretches--which is still usually only a second or two--but that is improved from milliseconds only a week or two ago so it's very progressive! Now he wants to sit all the time and isn't as content to lay down.
He also still loves to stand. He will stand on the ground while holding our hands, stand on our laps while we hold his hands or legs or sides . . . he even stood holding on to a cabinet handle (WITHOUT me holding onto him!) for a half-second a few times over the last few days.
Crawling, not so much. He won't even get up on his hands and knees. But he's starting to do that slouchy tripod sit that is "on the way to hands and knees" . . . hehe.
He had his first real cold last week, runny nose, coughing, fussy, etc. I got WAY WAY sicker than him (yay breastfeeding)!
He REALLY found his tongue recently and now is obsessed with sticking it out, chewing on it, biting it while focusing, blowing raspberries with it out, you name it. It is very adorable. I have yet to get a good pic of it, though.
What isn't as adorable is the yelling and screaming that have also been a new little habit. It is probably related to the will, the frustration, the not-content-laying-down, you know, the whole bit. Just today I left the guy yelling to himself in his swing for a few mins while I took a break. It is just too high-pitched to even handle.
He is still nursing but his pattern has finally changed from pretty much every 2 hours. Now it's more like he'll have a snack every two hours, and maybe stick around for one letdown, or more if I am sitting in a silent and still room. But most of the time he is too interested in the world to get a good meal in him. He makes up for it, though. He has a nice LOOONG breastfeed when he first wakes up, and then usually has at least one or two long sessions throughout the day before naps, when he's sleepy. And then sometimes he has a long meal before bed but often not. Sometimes I feed him when we go to bed between 10-12 but not always.
And I am hesitantly saying that I have a 9-times-out-of-10 sleep-through-the-nighter if dawn is considered "morning", and you don't count that last night feeding (when I'm going to sleep or sometimes earlier) that he sometimes has . . . but again I'm not getting attached to this schedule. If he continues the way he's going, he's going to need to make up calories at night if he's too distracted to nurse enough during the day . . .
All-in-all, I think the last couple weeks have been an interesting look into the things to come! I was so excited for him to be able to do more stuff but now I'm ambivalent, haha. I just can't believe how much changes every single month!
Happy half-birthday, my darling baby!
As I had written about on Monday, six months is a mile-stone to me. When he really starts to eat food and not just play with it; sitting up . . . A six-month old is a big baby (to me)--looking more like a 12 month old than they do a tiny newborn . . . (especially next to his Great-Grandma Rosemary (GG) teehee):
What this means for my boy is a will and an energy that cause alternating joy and frustration. He is fascinated by everything. Anything new is amazing. If there is nothing else to look at he will scratch and pick at whatever--the wooden side of his changing area, the leopard print comforter (a legacy of James' life pre-me), the couch, his clothing, us, you name it.
With desire comes frustration. I am pretty responsive to him--fetching toys that go out of reach, whatever he needs. But I'm realizing now that I need to let him be frustrated. That is what is going to drive his muscles to develop so that he's actually able to do the things he wants. Like crawl and roll and reach and all these other things. So I'm starting to put things JUST out of reach now, to motivate him.
He is THIS CLOSE . . .
And we have a sitter! He can sit independently for longer and longer stretches--which is still usually only a second or two--but that is improved from milliseconds only a week or two ago so it's very progressive! Now he wants to sit all the time and isn't as content to lay down.
He also still loves to stand. He will stand on the ground while holding our hands, stand on our laps while we hold his hands or legs or sides . . . he even stood holding on to a cabinet handle (WITHOUT me holding onto him!) for a half-second a few times over the last few days.
Crawling, not so much. He won't even get up on his hands and knees. But he's starting to do that slouchy tripod sit that is "on the way to hands and knees" . . . hehe.
He had his first real cold last week, runny nose, coughing, fussy, etc. I got WAY WAY sicker than him (yay breastfeeding)!
He REALLY found his tongue recently and now is obsessed with sticking it out, chewing on it, biting it while focusing, blowing raspberries with it out, you name it. It is very adorable. I have yet to get a good pic of it, though.
What isn't as adorable is the yelling and screaming that have also been a new little habit. It is probably related to the will, the frustration, the not-content-laying-down, you know, the whole bit. Just today I left the guy yelling to himself in his swing for a few mins while I took a break. It is just too high-pitched to even handle.
He is still nursing but his pattern has finally changed from pretty much every 2 hours. Now it's more like he'll have a snack every two hours, and maybe stick around for one letdown, or more if I am sitting in a silent and still room. But most of the time he is too interested in the world to get a good meal in him. He makes up for it, though. He has a nice LOOONG breastfeed when he first wakes up, and then usually has at least one or two long sessions throughout the day before naps, when he's sleepy. And then sometimes he has a long meal before bed but often not. Sometimes I feed him when we go to bed between 10-12 but not always.
And I am hesitantly saying that I have a 9-times-out-of-10 sleep-through-the-nighter if dawn is considered "morning", and you don't count that last night feeding (when I'm going to sleep or sometimes earlier) that he sometimes has . . . but again I'm not getting attached to this schedule. If he continues the way he's going, he's going to need to make up calories at night if he's too distracted to nurse enough during the day . . .
All-in-all, I think the last couple weeks have been an interesting look into the things to come! I was so excited for him to be able to do more stuff but now I'm ambivalent, haha. I just can't believe how much changes every single month!
Happy half-birthday, my darling baby!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Five Months Old!
My darling baby is five months old today.
I can't believe it. In one more month he will be half a year old! And so much is changing so quickly it's hard to imagine what he'll be like in 6 more months when he's nearly a year old!
Some of James' new things this month are blowing raspberries/spit bubbles. As if he didn't drool enough already, now he can send even more massive amounts of liquid out of his mouth. He sure is proud of himself when he does it, too, LOL!
While I wrote last month that he has just rolled over for the first time the day before, now a month later he still has yet to do it more than say, half a dozen times (from front to back). He has not yet rolled back to tummy either (but I think he is getting much closer!). He IS getting slightly more fond of tummy time but I've neglected to do it very often, so that's a goal for this month, hehe.
He is getting better at sitting, needing less and less support from us or cushions and chairs. I think he is THIS close to "tripod sitting" (supporting himself with his hands).
He now REALLY REALLY loves his bouncer, and has now figured out that he can turn it totally around to sample the different toys that are there--he is really into it. We still need to prop a book under him so he can reach the ground (and blankets around him so he doesn't topple), but he is really loving it.
And he LOVES "standing", with his legs straight and his arms and/or body supported. Sometimes when we try to make him sit he refuses to bend and will only stand, LOL.
He is also getting better and better at using his hands--he can grab, say, the handle of a cup with a targeted motion with both hands. And he LOVES his Tommee Tippee Sippy Cup. It's almost too stimulating for him--he gets frustrated and over excited with it after a while and I need to take it away to let him calm down, haha.
He is starting to get better at "playing" with food, as I wrote about before . . . he's still not really to the eating stage but he's nearly there!
We've continued his nap routine (change diaper, read books, nurse, rock to sleep/put in swing) with some diligence. At the very least he is definitely getting more patient and focused about reading. Now we can read for short periods from books with hardly any pictures. For example, I read him a mini-chapter of the Little Prince during many of the reading sessions. He really loves the simple squishy page books, or board books, though. James was telling me that he would even turn the pages himself if presented with them . . .
He continues to be an interminably happy baby. He barely ever cries and just laughs and smiles and plays and is a baby all day long. Cutie.
He is starting to be a distracted nurser...
...(look for my Wordless Wednesday post tomorrow for more), which means that for a lot of his feeds he is not getting a full bellyful. I guess he makes up for it at other times? Unfortunately that often means during the night, but it's okay.
I am now a pro at nursing lying down and pretty much exclusively do that at night. We are still swaddling him but I'm THIS close to stopping swaddling and starting to transition to full-time bed-sharing (he's up until now been in an on-the-bed co-sleeper, swaddled).
Everyone just loves him so so much.
I've been falling more and more in love with him recently, as his personality grows and his good humor shows through more and more. Sometimes we snuggle and he just laughs and touches my hair and face, I LOVE HIM!!
I can't believe it. In one more month he will be half a year old! And so much is changing so quickly it's hard to imagine what he'll be like in 6 more months when he's nearly a year old!
Some of James' new things this month are blowing raspberries/spit bubbles. As if he didn't drool enough already, now he can send even more massive amounts of liquid out of his mouth. He sure is proud of himself when he does it, too, LOL!
While I wrote last month that he has just rolled over for the first time the day before, now a month later he still has yet to do it more than say, half a dozen times (from front to back). He has not yet rolled back to tummy either (but I think he is getting much closer!). He IS getting slightly more fond of tummy time but I've neglected to do it very often, so that's a goal for this month, hehe.
He is getting better at sitting, needing less and less support from us or cushions and chairs. I think he is THIS close to "tripod sitting" (supporting himself with his hands).
He now REALLY REALLY loves his bouncer, and has now figured out that he can turn it totally around to sample the different toys that are there--he is really into it. We still need to prop a book under him so he can reach the ground (and blankets around him so he doesn't topple), but he is really loving it.
And he LOVES "standing", with his legs straight and his arms and/or body supported. Sometimes when we try to make him sit he refuses to bend and will only stand, LOL.
He is also getting better and better at using his hands--he can grab, say, the handle of a cup with a targeted motion with both hands. And he LOVES his Tommee Tippee Sippy Cup. It's almost too stimulating for him--he gets frustrated and over excited with it after a while and I need to take it away to let him calm down, haha.
He is starting to get better at "playing" with food, as I wrote about before . . . he's still not really to the eating stage but he's nearly there!
We've continued his nap routine (change diaper, read books, nurse, rock to sleep/put in swing) with some diligence. At the very least he is definitely getting more patient and focused about reading. Now we can read for short periods from books with hardly any pictures. For example, I read him a mini-chapter of the Little Prince during many of the reading sessions. He really loves the simple squishy page books, or board books, though. James was telling me that he would even turn the pages himself if presented with them . . .
He continues to be an interminably happy baby. He barely ever cries and just laughs and smiles and plays and is a baby all day long. Cutie.
He is starting to be a distracted nurser...
I am now a pro at nursing lying down and pretty much exclusively do that at night. We are still swaddling him but I'm THIS close to stopping swaddling and starting to transition to full-time bed-sharing (he's up until now been in an on-the-bed co-sleeper, swaddled).
Everyone just loves him so so much.
I've been falling more and more in love with him recently, as his personality grows and his good humor shows through more and more. Sometimes we snuggle and he just laughs and touches my hair and face, I LOVE HIM!!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Movie Monday: James Rolls for the Camera!
Okay people in reality it is 8:11 on Tuesday Morning. But I had technical and personal (i.e., falling asleep at 9pm) difficulties! And I already did this once last week (and missed Movie Monday all together) and I didn't want to skip it again, so here we are, pretending I really published this last night . . .
So James has been rolling for a while now but I swear I might have been the only one ever to see it, LOL!! When he's too interested in what's going on he's less likely to wiggle (as can be observed in the beginning of the video), so basically if anyone else is here except me that is too interesting.
SO I FINALLY have proof! I took this on Wednesday . . . (oh and sorry for the TV blaring in the background--Scrubs--it seems super loud on here!!)
So James has been rolling for a while now but I swear I might have been the only one ever to see it, LOL!! When he's too interested in what's going on he's less likely to wiggle (as can be observed in the beginning of the video), so basically if anyone else is here except me that is too interesting.
SO I FINALLY have proof! I took this on Wednesday . . . (oh and sorry for the TV blaring in the background--Scrubs--it seems super loud on here!!)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Four Months Old!
James is four months old today!
A lot of new things happened this month!
First, James started to get really good at using his hands! Now he has a lot more control and LOVES to bring things to his mouth and chew on them.
Therefore he is really starting to enjoy his little "Lester", and his long gangly, arms, legs, and tail are perfect for grabbing!
In general, he is getting much better control over his hands, feet, and whole body. He now seems to really know that all the parts belong to him, and he is fascinated. He now spends some time daily staring at his feet.
We got James this new toy this month, and he loves it, especially in combination with his bird whose tail is perfect for chewing on!
James is starting to get much more attached to me and his Daddy! Especially to me, I guess, which makes sense because I feed him and take care of him most of the time. When other people hold him now, he looks over at us bewilderingly.
On the heels of this new attachment are the beginning of "hugs" and snuggles from my adorable little man. Which I am totally loving.
Just yesterday, he rolled over for the first time! And he not only did it once, he did it three times (maybe even four)! I was so proud of him!
He is starting to get a real sense of humor and sometimes laughs at unexpected things, like some movement or gesture of me and his Dad--it is so cute to see him smile when he sees us and suddenly laugh and really enjoy our company.
James and I are just loving him so much and so thrilled to be his parents. Happy four month birthday, my darling son!
A lot of new things happened this month!
First, James started to get really good at using his hands! Now he has a lot more control and LOVES to bring things to his mouth and chew on them.
Therefore he is really starting to enjoy his little "Lester", and his long gangly, arms, legs, and tail are perfect for grabbing!
In general, he is getting much better control over his hands, feet, and whole body. He now seems to really know that all the parts belong to him, and he is fascinated. He now spends some time daily staring at his feet.
We got James this new toy this month, and he loves it, especially in combination with his bird whose tail is perfect for chewing on!
James is starting to get much more attached to me and his Daddy! Especially to me, I guess, which makes sense because I feed him and take care of him most of the time. When other people hold him now, he looks over at us bewilderingly.
On the heels of this new attachment are the beginning of "hugs" and snuggles from my adorable little man. Which I am totally loving.
Just yesterday, he rolled over for the first time! And he not only did it once, he did it three times (maybe even four)! I was so proud of him!
He is starting to get a real sense of humor and sometimes laughs at unexpected things, like some movement or gesture of me and his Dad--it is so cute to see him smile when he sees us and suddenly laugh and really enjoy our company.
James and I are just loving him so much and so thrilled to be his parents. Happy four month birthday, my darling son!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Movie Monday: James Can Use His Hands!
On Saturday, something clicked and James figured out how to grab things (or, bat at them, at least)!
Here's a video of him "reading" with Daddy!
Weeeeelll, apparently blogger is having issues, so I'm embedding from Facebook. If you aren't friends with me on FB you probably can't view it. SOOORRRY. I will try to change it in the future. Anyway, here we are!
Here's a video of him "reading" with Daddy!
Weeeeelll, apparently blogger is having issues, so I'm embedding from Facebook. If you aren't friends with me on FB you probably can't view it. SOOORRRY. I will try to change it in the future. Anyway, here we are!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Three Months Old
Yesterday James was three months old!
The day before his three month birthday, he started holding onto and playing with toys. I was very excited and happy about this.
Today I put a little warm water in a sippy cup and let him chew on it. He really liked that a lot!!
It is starting to get warmer and I'm starting to be able to take him out a bit more. I can't wait for all the snow to melt and to really be able to take him on longer walks!
I can't believe it is nearly March, and that my baby is already three months old!
He is starting to babble more and have a lot more to say. Still no rolling over, which is aokay with me! He is starting to get better at holding up his head and shoulders during tummy time, though, which is nice. He still really doesn't like tummy time but hopefully now that he is getting stronger and can hold on to toys he'll start to enjoy it more.
I am really enjoying being home with him. I love hanging out with him and he has recently started to laugh, which is really fun and motivating, hehe! His Dad is really good at making him laugh!
It is awesome to watch him learn and grow and change so fast--I can't wait to see what he'll be doing a month from now!
The day before his three month birthday, he started holding onto and playing with toys. I was very excited and happy about this.
Today I put a little warm water in a sippy cup and let him chew on it. He really liked that a lot!!
It is starting to get warmer and I'm starting to be able to take him out a bit more. I can't wait for all the snow to melt and to really be able to take him on longer walks!
I can't believe it is nearly March, and that my baby is already three months old!
He is starting to babble more and have a lot more to say. Still no rolling over, which is aokay with me! He is starting to get better at holding up his head and shoulders during tummy time, though, which is nice. He still really doesn't like tummy time but hopefully now that he is getting stronger and can hold on to toys he'll start to enjoy it more.
I am really enjoying being home with him. I love hanging out with him and he has recently started to laugh, which is really fun and motivating, hehe! His Dad is really good at making him laugh!
It is awesome to watch him learn and grow and change so fast--I can't wait to see what he'll be doing a month from now!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Our First Date!
So as I had said, last night we went out for the very first time together without the baby.
And?
We had a great time!
My sister got to my house around 6 and we left around 7. I was very nervous trying to set out James' PJs and night-time diaper and swaddle blanket, and explain about heating up the milk and everything. He was fussing a little when we left and it was heartbreaking to just leave him and walk out the door. As I was waving to him from the doorway I swear he was looking at me forlornly.
I promised myself I wouldn't text my sister for at least a half hour, so I texted my Mom instead (so romantic, LOL): "He was fussing when we left!"
When I did talk to my sister though, she said he was fine and they were playing with his toys, so then I felt a little better. I swear, though, I nearly had an anxiety attack as we were driving--I knew he was fine but I just missed him so much and it's hard to trust someone else to be his sole caretaker when up until now it has only been me and (Big) James. I mean, I OBVIOUSLY trust my sister but clearly, no one knows James and how to comfort him and all of his signals better than us, his parents, you know?
Once I heard that he was fine, though, and especially after we got to the restaurant, it was fine, and fun, to be alone with James. It was strange to feel like I was relaxed in a way without having to take care of him for a few hours straight, but worried in another way from being apart from him!
Anyway, when my first glass of wine showed up it helped a lot, hehe.
I recalled to James that for the last 3 or 4 years, when we were out for our Valentine's dinner, I would say: "This might be our last Valentine's Day alone together before we have a baby/before I'm pregnant!" And depressingly, it was never true. Another year would come and go and I would still be saying that. So it seemed so significant and special that we'd finally done it! We had a baby at home waiting for us! It was like celebrating the accomplishment of finally reproducing!
Hehe. Okay, my entire date post probably shouldn't be about the baby. Here's what we had for dinner (I was on a gluten-free break):
Adrienne: Vegetable dumplings, beet/tofu/fresh basil ravioli with asparagus and garlic greens, and double chocolate "teasecake" (Cheesecake made of tofu).
James: Lentil Soup with bread and carrot/miso spread, Spicy Tempeh sandwich with sweet potato fries, and he shared my teasecake.
I also had TWO glasses of wine in a row for the first time in almost a year!! I just wish I'd dranken them faster so I would have gotten even more tipsy, hahahaha.
I feel like the names of the food does not do it justice. The beet raviolis especially were TO. DIE. FOR. They were handmade from pasta made from scratch and sweetened with beet juice (so they were pink, how romantic, LOL), and then the stuffing was tofu in a ricotta style with fresh basil. And there was some sauce, probably also made from beets--the flavors were just ridiculous. And the teasecake, too. When you think of a cheesecake made out of tofu you are not picturing the delicacy and deliciousness of this cake. It was almost the consistency/flavor of chocolate mousse, with a graham cracker crust . . . it was SO good.
So we left home around 7, got seated around 8, left around 9:45, and got home about 10:30 and thanked my sister and sent her on her way. James was asleep in his swing, so we left him there while we finished up our date upstairs. (Teehee)
As I had mentioned before, it was our first time "together" since James was born, and it was honestly fine! Even fun! I'm really glad I waited as long as I did, though, because I was definitely still nervous when THE moment came, hehe. It definitely felt different but it didn't hurt, so it was a relief to face my nervousness and "take the plunge", so to speak. ;-)
And then we retrieved James from downstairs, put him in his co-sleeper and cuddled up and fell asleep! So all-in-all, a great Valentine's day! :-)
And?
We had a great time!
My sister got to my house around 6 and we left around 7. I was very nervous trying to set out James' PJs and night-time diaper and swaddle blanket, and explain about heating up the milk and everything. He was fussing a little when we left and it was heartbreaking to just leave him and walk out the door. As I was waving to him from the doorway I swear he was looking at me forlornly.
I promised myself I wouldn't text my sister for at least a half hour, so I texted my Mom instead (so romantic, LOL): "He was fussing when we left!"
When I did talk to my sister though, she said he was fine and they were playing with his toys, so then I felt a little better. I swear, though, I nearly had an anxiety attack as we were driving--I knew he was fine but I just missed him so much and it's hard to trust someone else to be his sole caretaker when up until now it has only been me and (Big) James. I mean, I OBVIOUSLY trust my sister but clearly, no one knows James and how to comfort him and all of his signals better than us, his parents, you know?
Once I heard that he was fine, though, and especially after we got to the restaurant, it was fine, and fun, to be alone with James. It was strange to feel like I was relaxed in a way without having to take care of him for a few hours straight, but worried in another way from being apart from him!
Anyway, when my first glass of wine showed up it helped a lot, hehe.
I recalled to James that for the last 3 or 4 years, when we were out for our Valentine's dinner, I would say: "This might be our last Valentine's Day alone together before we have a baby/before I'm pregnant!" And depressingly, it was never true. Another year would come and go and I would still be saying that. So it seemed so significant and special that we'd finally done it! We had a baby at home waiting for us! It was like celebrating the accomplishment of finally reproducing!
Hehe. Okay, my entire date post probably shouldn't be about the baby. Here's what we had for dinner (I was on a gluten-free break):
Adrienne: Vegetable dumplings, beet/tofu/fresh basil ravioli with asparagus and garlic greens, and double chocolate "teasecake" (Cheesecake made of tofu).
James: Lentil Soup with bread and carrot/miso spread, Spicy Tempeh sandwich with sweet potato fries, and he shared my teasecake.
I also had TWO glasses of wine in a row for the first time in almost a year!! I just wish I'd dranken them faster so I would have gotten even more tipsy, hahahaha.
I feel like the names of the food does not do it justice. The beet raviolis especially were TO. DIE. FOR. They were handmade from pasta made from scratch and sweetened with beet juice (so they were pink, how romantic, LOL), and then the stuffing was tofu in a ricotta style with fresh basil. And there was some sauce, probably also made from beets--the flavors were just ridiculous. And the teasecake, too. When you think of a cheesecake made out of tofu you are not picturing the delicacy and deliciousness of this cake. It was almost the consistency/flavor of chocolate mousse, with a graham cracker crust . . . it was SO good.
So we left home around 7, got seated around 8, left around 9:45, and got home about 10:30 and thanked my sister and sent her on her way. James was asleep in his swing, so we left him there while we finished up our date upstairs. (Teehee)
As I had mentioned before, it was our first time "together" since James was born, and it was honestly fine! Even fun! I'm really glad I waited as long as I did, though, because I was definitely still nervous when THE moment came, hehe. It definitely felt different but it didn't hurt, so it was a relief to face my nervousness and "take the plunge", so to speak. ;-)
And then we retrieved James from downstairs, put him in his co-sleeper and cuddled up and fell asleep! So all-in-all, a great Valentine's day! :-)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Two Months Old
Today is January 19th, meaning that James David is two months old today!
We had his two month appointment today. At birth, he was 8 lbs 7 ozs, and 23 inches long. At one week he was 7 lbs 12 ozs (it is normal for them to lose weight at first). Today, at two months, he was 12 lbs, 6 ozs, and 25 inches long! He is in the 60th percentile for weight but the 99th percentile for length/height.
He also got two shots today--Pneumococcal and Hib, to prevent meningitis and influenza type B, both of which are life-threatening and common diseases for infants. He was supposed to get another shot that was like 5 more vaccines, but we want to space them out, so we only got two today. (Our whole vaccine stance could probably be it's own post, so I'm not going to go into that now).
All in all, James David is a healthy and growing boy! We go back in two more months, I can't wait to see how big he is then!
We had his two month appointment today. At birth, he was 8 lbs 7 ozs, and 23 inches long. At one week he was 7 lbs 12 ozs (it is normal for them to lose weight at first). Today, at two months, he was 12 lbs, 6 ozs, and 25 inches long! He is in the 60th percentile for weight but the 99th percentile for length/height.
He also got two shots today--Pneumococcal and Hib, to prevent meningitis and influenza type B, both of which are life-threatening and common diseases for infants. He was supposed to get another shot that was like 5 more vaccines, but we want to space them out, so we only got two today. (Our whole vaccine stance could probably be it's own post, so I'm not going to go into that now).
All in all, James David is a healthy and growing boy! We go back in two more months, I can't wait to see how big he is then!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
James Being A Smiley Boy
James will be two months old tomorrow. Here's a video I took of him today where he is being so smiley!!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Resolution Day 3 Update
As I discussed here, my resolution this year is to practice Yan Xin Qigong every day for the rest of 2011.
My first goal to meet was three days and this is the third day.
So far? I'm feeling good!
What I notice the most is that I've had more energy. I stayed up until 1 and 2 o'clock the last two nights. I thought that I would feel tired the next day but I didn't really . . . furthermore, I've been able to be pretty productive in these late nights with writing and working on my blog, so that's an additional benefit.
I also notice that I'm feeling a little more emotionally/psychologically stable. I am someone with a history of depression, and pregnancy was like this golden land for me where I didn't need to manage my state of mind--my emotions and hormones were so level, it was great. But I knew that after I had James, eventually I would return to being the slightly-a-wreck person that I have always been, and the last week or so I really felt like I was slipping out of the smooth seas of my pregnant emotional state, and I knew something needed to be done. Hence the resolution. So, it seems to be benefiting me in this area as well!
I also feel confident. In the past when I've made promises to myself like this it has felt SO HARD to do it, and even as I made the promise I doubted it. But this time it is different, and I'm really appreciating that.
My next goal was one week, so I will update again when I hit that next milestone!
My first goal to meet was three days and this is the third day.
So far? I'm feeling good!
What I notice the most is that I've had more energy. I stayed up until 1 and 2 o'clock the last two nights. I thought that I would feel tired the next day but I didn't really . . . furthermore, I've been able to be pretty productive in these late nights with writing and working on my blog, so that's an additional benefit.
I also notice that I'm feeling a little more emotionally/psychologically stable. I am someone with a history of depression, and pregnancy was like this golden land for me where I didn't need to manage my state of mind--my emotions and hormones were so level, it was great. But I knew that after I had James, eventually I would return to being the slightly-a-wreck person that I have always been, and the last week or so I really felt like I was slipping out of the smooth seas of my pregnant emotional state, and I knew something needed to be done. Hence the resolution. So, it seems to be benefiting me in this area as well!
I also feel confident. In the past when I've made promises to myself like this it has felt SO HARD to do it, and even as I made the promise I doubted it. But this time it is different, and I'm really appreciating that.
My next goal was one week, so I will update again when I hit that next milestone!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
1/11/11 1:11:11 Resolution
So Yan Xin Qigong (the meditation/life practice that I study) has been on an official hiatus--my understanding is that they are reorganizing, which is probably a good thing, but we haven't had official chapter meetings or regional events in nearly a year.
I've observed that people who have continued with daily practice and study (writing reflective papers and making life or mind changes as a result) have done fine, and even gotten great benefit over the last year. My little family has certainly benefited and many of our friends as well.
But personally I have trouble practicing every day. I am good at writing papers and reflecting (but I should do more), and I try to practice de (virtue) in my daily life, and I think I do okay at that too. But I rarely practice on my own.
When we were having weekly and biweekly meetings, I would practice at least once or twice a week, but now it's been almost a year since I had that support. James practices daily, and so he is our rock in terms of maintaining a basic level of practice in our home.
However, I think I realized today that our house, our families, our bodies (health), and minds (health) are not as strong as they have been and can be, and now there is a third person here to support.
The conclusion? I need to start doing my part. I need to start practicing every day.
So this is my resolution. For the rest of 2011, I will practice every day. This will be an experiment--what can one year of Yan Xin Qigong inspire in a person's life? How will my life and the lives of my family and friends change?
My first goal will be three days, then one week, then one month, then three months, then six months, and then a year. I will try to update about how I am doing and what is changing. It is like breastfeeding--every day, as much as I can do it, as long as I can do it for, it will benefit my family. I can breastfeed, so I can do this, too.
This is my resolution.
I've observed that people who have continued with daily practice and study (writing reflective papers and making life or mind changes as a result) have done fine, and even gotten great benefit over the last year. My little family has certainly benefited and many of our friends as well.
But personally I have trouble practicing every day. I am good at writing papers and reflecting (but I should do more), and I try to practice de (virtue) in my daily life, and I think I do okay at that too. But I rarely practice on my own.
When we were having weekly and biweekly meetings, I would practice at least once or twice a week, but now it's been almost a year since I had that support. James practices daily, and so he is our rock in terms of maintaining a basic level of practice in our home.
However, I think I realized today that our house, our families, our bodies (health), and minds (health) are not as strong as they have been and can be, and now there is a third person here to support.
The conclusion? I need to start doing my part. I need to start practicing every day.
So this is my resolution. For the rest of 2011, I will practice every day. This will be an experiment--what can one year of Yan Xin Qigong inspire in a person's life? How will my life and the lives of my family and friends change?
My first goal will be three days, then one week, then one month, then three months, then six months, and then a year. I will try to update about how I am doing and what is changing. It is like breastfeeding--every day, as much as I can do it, as long as I can do it for, it will benefit my family. I can breastfeed, so I can do this, too.
This is my resolution.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Our first normal week
This week was our first "normal" week--no days off, no holidays, and no holiday preparations.
James was at work and I was at home, trying to pick up after Christmas and get Little James and myself into a routine.
I recorded what James was doing so that I could pick up any patterns. I already knew:
-That James usually naturally fell asleep "for the night" between 11 and 1 (usually closer to 11 or 12), and that he would sleep usually for 5-7 hours after that.
-Then he would wake up between 7 and 9, eat, get changed, we'd both "get dressed", come downstairs, settle in (have tea, start fire, do a couple chores)
-Then he would want to be changed again, eat again, and go down for his first nap about two hours after he woke up. I put him in his cradle swing downstairs for his naps.
-He will sleep for 1-2 hours, then wake up and want to eat and be changed again.
After that I wasn't quite sure what happened. The evenings are a little unpredictable--he sometimes will eat for a long time and then just sleep for a few mins and then be up again . . .
But during this week I recorded what he was doing, and basically the rest of the day follows a similar pattern:
--Sleep for 1-2 hours
--awake for 1-2 hours: eat, change, "play", change, eat
--back to sleep for 1-2 hours.
So normally if he gets up at 8, he'll take his first nap at 10, his second nap around 1:30, and his third nap between 3-4. He'll sleep each time for at least 45 mins, usually an hour, sometimes longer.
The evening is still really unpredictable, but I'm glad that the whole morning and afternoon are becoming a little more predictable.
The only problem I'm having now is trying to establish an earlier bedtime. The times I have gotten him to fall asleep around 7-8, he'll wake up many times throughout the night, or else wake up again and not go back to sleep until 11/12 anyway . . . I have some ideas for improving that, though.
My goal is to have a pretty good schedule by 12 weeks. So, 5 weeks to go!
Anyway, it was really nice just being home with him and doing chores and starting to establish what our normal life will be now together!
James was at work and I was at home, trying to pick up after Christmas and get Little James and myself into a routine.
I recorded what James was doing so that I could pick up any patterns. I already knew:
-That James usually naturally fell asleep "for the night" between 11 and 1 (usually closer to 11 or 12), and that he would sleep usually for 5-7 hours after that.
-Then he would wake up between 7 and 9, eat, get changed, we'd both "get dressed", come downstairs, settle in (have tea, start fire, do a couple chores)
-Then he would want to be changed again, eat again, and go down for his first nap about two hours after he woke up. I put him in his cradle swing downstairs for his naps.
-He will sleep for 1-2 hours, then wake up and want to eat and be changed again.
After that I wasn't quite sure what happened. The evenings are a little unpredictable--he sometimes will eat for a long time and then just sleep for a few mins and then be up again . . .
But during this week I recorded what he was doing, and basically the rest of the day follows a similar pattern:
--Sleep for 1-2 hours
--awake for 1-2 hours: eat, change, "play", change, eat
--back to sleep for 1-2 hours.
So normally if he gets up at 8, he'll take his first nap at 10, his second nap around 1:30, and his third nap between 3-4. He'll sleep each time for at least 45 mins, usually an hour, sometimes longer.
The evening is still really unpredictable, but I'm glad that the whole morning and afternoon are becoming a little more predictable.
The only problem I'm having now is trying to establish an earlier bedtime. The times I have gotten him to fall asleep around 7-8, he'll wake up many times throughout the night, or else wake up again and not go back to sleep until 11/12 anyway . . . I have some ideas for improving that, though.
My goal is to have a pretty good schedule by 12 weeks. So, 5 weeks to go!
Anyway, it was really nice just being home with him and doing chores and starting to establish what our normal life will be now together!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
My Big Boy in and out of Clothes and Diapers
So this morning I went through James' clothes and put away the stuff that was too small--he is already out of most of his newborn sized clothes and into 0-3, 3 month, and 3-6 month clothes.
Plus he is already too big for the 12 newborn sized prefolds that I bought when he was born and the regular sized prefolds were WAY too big. Now I've taken those out again and I bet they will fit him just fine.
Also he is almost grown out of the three extra small size happy heiny pocket diapers, and fits really nicely in the three small sized ones I have. I really like these diapers more, though, and I bet small will fit him for awhile because he has a little butt, so I've been looking for more size small happy heinys on ebay . . .
It is crazy that he's already out of his smallest sized clothes--he is growing and changing so much, I can't believe it.
Plus he is already too big for the 12 newborn sized prefolds that I bought when he was born and the regular sized prefolds were WAY too big. Now I've taken those out again and I bet they will fit him just fine.
Also he is almost grown out of the three extra small size happy heiny pocket diapers, and fits really nicely in the three small sized ones I have. I really like these diapers more, though, and I bet small will fit him for awhile because he has a little butt, so I've been looking for more size small happy heinys on ebay . . .
It is crazy that he's already out of his smallest sized clothes--he is growing and changing so much, I can't believe it.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
One Month Birthday
James is one month old today.
I can't believe how much and how fast he is changing. He is getting so much fatter and being able to eat more and more at one time. We are definitely starting to get into more of a routine, understanding each other better, sleeping better, etc.
James goes back to work on Monday fulltime. He went in for the mornings on Thursday and Friday, but that was easy, because (lil) James usually sleeps from 9:30/10 until 12/1 . . . so I only needed to take care of him by myself for a couple of hours, which I've done before when James has gone shopping or out running errands anyway. So Monday, being by myself with him all day, is going to be pretty different--the first time that has happened . . . I know it will be fine but it seems daunting right now!
But nursing is getting easier and easier and James is sleeping better and better, taking more predictable naps, so I'm sure we'll get into a good routine in a week or two. And even though I'm nervous, I'm also excited to find a new normal with James as part of our life.
I can't believe how much and how fast he is changing. He is getting so much fatter and being able to eat more and more at one time. We are definitely starting to get into more of a routine, understanding each other better, sleeping better, etc.
James goes back to work on Monday fulltime. He went in for the mornings on Thursday and Friday, but that was easy, because (lil) James usually sleeps from 9:30/10 until 12/1 . . . so I only needed to take care of him by myself for a couple of hours, which I've done before when James has gone shopping or out running errands anyway. So Monday, being by myself with him all day, is going to be pretty different--the first time that has happened . . . I know it will be fine but it seems daunting right now!
But nursing is getting easier and easier and James is sleeping better and better, taking more predictable naps, so I'm sure we'll get into a good routine in a week or two. And even though I'm nervous, I'm also excited to find a new normal with James as part of our life.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
My Baby is 3 Weeks Old!
James David is three weeks old! He is continuing to grow and change so much--it is just crazy. I feel like his cheeks and arms and legs are getting chubbier--slowly, but surely!
I was thinking the other day how a month ago I was hauling my huge stomach around. I was getting into bed, holding James in my arms, and I pictured myself when I was still pregnant, climbing awkwardly into bed . . . So much has changed in so short a time, it almost feels like another person's life. James David has changed us so fundamentally . . .
I had this same feeling when James and I fell in love--a few days after, we walked hand in hand, and I struggled to remember the events from before I loved him. It felt like someone else, the person I had been "before". My life had been cleaved open by this monumental event--and now it has happened again, with another little James coming into my life, coming into my heart . . .
Now my heart will never be the same.
I was thinking the other day how a month ago I was hauling my huge stomach around. I was getting into bed, holding James in my arms, and I pictured myself when I was still pregnant, climbing awkwardly into bed . . . So much has changed in so short a time, it almost feels like another person's life. James David has changed us so fundamentally . . .
I had this same feeling when James and I fell in love--a few days after, we walked hand in hand, and I struggled to remember the events from before I loved him. It felt like someone else, the person I had been "before". My life had been cleaved open by this monumental event--and now it has happened again, with another little James coming into my life, coming into my heart . . .
Now my heart will never be the same.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Two Weeks!
It was two weeks ago today that I gave birth to my precious son!
In that time, he has already changed and grown so much! He is back up to his birth weight (or very nearly)--he was 8 lbs 6 ozs this morning and 8 lbs 7 ozs at birth.
He is getting to be a bit fussier than he used to be--I find myself so thankful for nursing because he will instantly stop crying, usually just from being put on my lap on the boppy, because he knows he will get to eat in a minute. And nursing stops him from crying no matter what, and usually puts him right to sleep--though of course he will wake up again a few minutes later unless he is actually tired . . . I wonder how formula feeding Moms do it, because I'm pretty sure you can't just give tons and tons of formula to a baby as a fix-all solution the way you can with nursing.
Anyway, I think the little chap is rather gassy--he burps and farts A LOT, and even if I burp him multiple times while eating, it doesn't seem to help. He just tends to swallow lots and lots of air--both while nursing and other times. I actually don't even know how he does it while nursing--isn't there supposed to be a vacuum in his mouth?
So while he's awake he is often fussy, but as long as I feed him often enough I can keep him from crying. It's going to be interesting when James goes back to work, though, and I can't just feed him all the time! Luckily he still sleeps well--both at night and takes long naps during the day. I usually have to wake him up from naps at least once a day because I don't want him to sleep so much that he doesn't sleep at night.
It's starting to be a bit more real that I'm a Mom and he's my baby. I don't know if the full reality has REALLY hit me, but it's getting there.
On a final note, we have such such amazing friends and family. As if the tons of things we got for his baby shower weren't enough, we've gotten tons of presents from the most unexpected people in the last few weeks . . . everyone has been so generous--and not only with traditional gifts but with food, helping us clean up, and so so many visits. It just feels like this huge outpouring of love, and it makes me just swell with thankfulness.
Then again, who could resist loving him?
I really can't believe how fast he is changing--he already looks so different and so much older than he did two weeks ago. I keep meaning to take videos of him and most days, forgetting. It just feels like everything is happening so fast and before I know it, he'll be a man.
In that time, he has already changed and grown so much! He is back up to his birth weight (or very nearly)--he was 8 lbs 6 ozs this morning and 8 lbs 7 ozs at birth.
He is getting to be a bit fussier than he used to be--I find myself so thankful for nursing because he will instantly stop crying, usually just from being put on my lap on the boppy, because he knows he will get to eat in a minute. And nursing stops him from crying no matter what, and usually puts him right to sleep--though of course he will wake up again a few minutes later unless he is actually tired . . . I wonder how formula feeding Moms do it, because I'm pretty sure you can't just give tons and tons of formula to a baby as a fix-all solution the way you can with nursing.
Anyway, I think the little chap is rather gassy--he burps and farts A LOT, and even if I burp him multiple times while eating, it doesn't seem to help. He just tends to swallow lots and lots of air--both while nursing and other times. I actually don't even know how he does it while nursing--isn't there supposed to be a vacuum in his mouth?
So while he's awake he is often fussy, but as long as I feed him often enough I can keep him from crying. It's going to be interesting when James goes back to work, though, and I can't just feed him all the time! Luckily he still sleeps well--both at night and takes long naps during the day. I usually have to wake him up from naps at least once a day because I don't want him to sleep so much that he doesn't sleep at night.
It's starting to be a bit more real that I'm a Mom and he's my baby. I don't know if the full reality has REALLY hit me, but it's getting there.
On a final note, we have such such amazing friends and family. As if the tons of things we got for his baby shower weren't enough, we've gotten tons of presents from the most unexpected people in the last few weeks . . . everyone has been so generous--and not only with traditional gifts but with food, helping us clean up, and so so many visits. It just feels like this huge outpouring of love, and it makes me just swell with thankfulness.
Then again, who could resist loving him?
I really can't believe how fast he is changing--he already looks so different and so much older than he did two weeks ago. I keep meaning to take videos of him and most days, forgetting. It just feels like everything is happening so fast and before I know it, he'll be a man.
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