April 2008 Moms: Our babies have arrived!

[April08Moms]

updated to here :)

[twinnyme]

Took Bridget today for her 2 month WBV. She's doing great!

Weight: 11 lb. 8 oz. (gained 6 oz. since last Thursday). Her sister was 13 lbs. at SIX MONTHS.
Height: 23 inches - gained 1.75 inches since birth (if the measurements are accurate)
She got 4 vaccinations.

Both girls did great at the doctor's. I had Becca bring a doll and her Sesame Street doctor's kit and though she didn't use either, she did great. She was very sweet to Bridget at the doctor's, sitting on the exam table with her when she got her shots and afterwards, even though she'd been asking for a sticker for herself the whole time (they get a sticker at the end), when she got to pick one, she gave it to Bridget for "being so good at the doctor's" - she put it on her chest. It was SOOO sweet and I was so proud of her. I talked with the ped. a bit about Becca's sporadic aggressiveness with Bridget and he didn't really give me a whole lot of advice except to validate that I can't really trust Becca and Bridget alone right now (no kidding).

I also spoke with him about Bridget's sleeping habits because the last two days she's napped REALLY well during the days and then only slept 6 hours at night. Although my motto is to never wake a sleeping baby, he did suggest limiting the naps to a reasonable time limit during the day in the hopes she'll sleep 8 hours again at night. So we may try it - but not tonight. Tonight we'll do whatever. She got the shots at 10:30ish and I gave her Motrin right before. I had both her and Becca asleep at 2:30 and then Bridget woke at 2:35 screaming in pain. So at 3, I gave her more Motrin and we'll just do what we need to do to get her to sleep well tonight.

[FoxyBlue]

WBV: I almost forgot to brag!

Dawson was 12 lbs 6 oz and 23.5"! (at just shy of six weeks).

Melissa: That's scary! Is it common for them to feel pain that long after the shots? I gave Dawson his Tylenol right before he got his shot (only 1), and we had no problems the rest of the night. Should I expect more pain when he gets more than one shot?

[kenswife]

I feel like I haven't posted in forever.

Brayden had his 2 month WBV visit on Thurs. He grew a TON:

Height: 24in. (up from 20in. at birth ~ that's 4 inches!!!)
Weight: 12lb. 7oz. (up from 7lb 12oz at birth ~ almost a whole 5lbs!)

They said he looked great. I did ask about his wanting to always arch his back and look to one side. It turns out he has a tighter neck muscle on one side than the other. But she said he had a mild case and that it looks like he's trying to self-correct so no need for PT. Otherwise, he's great! I couldn't ask for a more well behaved baby...seriously! I can't believe he's already over 9 weeks old. Time has just flown!

Here's a recent one of him ~ Please do not post this on the front page (I'll be taking this off shortly)
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/kenswife/beach4.jpg

[Chelsea524]

Kenswife He i so adorable! Wow, he sure did grow a lot!

Fountain Peers:My first two boys were and I would always put a wipe over it while changing, that way I could just toss it and not have to wash it like I would if I used a washcloth

fathers day I am taking the kids in the day before to kiddie kandids, but thats more for me than him, I'm going to try and find him a Star Wars Lego set tht he doesn't have yet(yeah right) since he is a nerd and collects those

Me~ both babies are good, growing like crazy. One problem that just started this week is that Avery will no longer take the bottle, I don't know what to do about it since I work, the 3 days that I worked this week she wouldn't eat until I got home and just spent most of the day hungry and screaming. Normally I only work 6 hours so she would go 7 between feeding which isn't terrible but still a long time for a 2 month old, but I work a 10 hr day every once and a while, including this week and that would be at least 11 hrs between feeding, my babysitter said she ate a total of 2 oz that day. Any ideas what I can do? She has been taking a bottle since birth because of being in the NICU, I had 6 days off in a row and so she didn't get a bottle during that time and now she woke take it at all.

[Gabe's Mom]

Chelsea - I would try and have your husband give her a bottle for her first feeding of the day. That is usually when they are most hungry. I wouldn't even show your face to her until he has tried b/c if she sees/smells you, she might be less willing. Last night, I tried to give a bottle to my son and he totally refused 3 times. So, Jeff tried and he guzzled down 2 oz. Worth a try. Good Luck!

Kenswife - SUPER cute baby!!! Wow!

Kissmary - You (and so many others) have wonderful sleepng babies at night! I am sooooo envious. Hopefully it stays that way for you.

Jenjunum - I'm like you. No schedule at all. Feed on demand (ie...all day) and sleeps when needed. Am trying as of the last day or two to have him up for 2 hours and then have him take a nap. But haven't been too consistant, I admit. And like you, my baby sleeps on me best by far. OTherwise, ti's in the swing for catnaps only. 20-30 minutes. I sooooo long for 1-3 hour naps for him but it's not happening. Hey, I think you delievered at the hospital I used to work at in Westwood. When is the new one opening??? They stared construction in 2000 when I was working there! Crazy how long it has taken.

MrsSpenser - I'm sorry to hear all you have gone through but it truly sounds like things are improving for you. Hopefully last night went well for you too.

I've not posted as I have soo little time. My little guy is admittedly "high maintenance". Like I mentionned before, he hates to be put down. I did get a Moby wrap and a Bjorn and use them a bit, but still can't really cook or clean or do a whole lot with him on me. That is partially b/c he LOVES the boob. Truly. Nurses all day. It can be a bit insane. I kept track on Thurs and we nursed 16 times. He also weighs a ton and has 8 bowel movements per day and is gassy etc...and I did some reading on the internet (never good) and sounded like I was overfeeding him. So, called the peds office and the nurse told me to bring him in. So, saw the ped yesterday but he says I am not overfeeding as he doesn't spit up much. He thinks its reflux and that Lucas is comfort sucking. He also thinks it might just be Lucas's way of staying close to mom. He offered to try meds but we are not really wanting to do that...yet.

6 week stats: 13 pounds 9 oz
22 3/4 inches
2 month wt: 15 pounds 4 oz


QOTD: What time does your baby go to sleep at night?? We can't seem to get Lucas to go to sleep any earlier than 11:30 PM!!! Even if we keep him up from 7:30 PM.

[FoxyBlue]

Well, DS goes to sleep usually around 9 or 10 pm, but since we aren't going to bed yet, I don't count his bedtime until WE are ready for bed.

He wakes up again and typically doesn't go down until 12 or 1 am. Last night he went to sleep at 1:49 AM!!! I was not too happy, but it's a weekend and we were up late.

I hope this doesn't screw up his schedule... well, the schedule I hope we will establish before I return to work.

[MrsSpencer]

Good night last night too, woke up twice and then woke at his normal 6-6:30 but since it was saturday DH and I went back to sleep after he was fed :) Got up at 8:30 fed again and then he slept as we did errands and went to a birthday party for my cousin's little boy of course everyone loved him, hey what's not to love?? :)

[Gabe's Mom]

MrsSpenser - Wow, things really did turn around for you! That is wonderful!

Foxy - 9 or 10 PM is my goal. Tried to rock my little guy to sleep starting at 9:50 PM. I layed him down 3 times by 10:30 PM and each time, he woke up within minutes!!! Uugh. I was starting to get frusterated and have a back ache since he is a butterball and finally had to put him in his swing where he is now...sleeping.

So, maybe I can also add to my QOTD: HOW do you put your baby to sleep (self soothes, rock, swing etc...) and what time? (I think my older DS was easy with night time sleep - don't remember having such issues!)

[SiValleySteph]

QOTD: Sleep - DS goes to sleep for the night between 8 and 9. He nurses and may fall asleep, or then I have to put him on my shoulder and walk around for a while. If he gets hiccups or something, forget about it. We have to start over with the nursing again.

[FoxyBlue]

DS goes to sleep on his own if he is dry and fed. Either he's already asleep after being fed, or he's sleepy and I put him in his bassinette and he'll fall asleep on his own.

Lately, he's more awake so he'll sometimes stay awake (but happy) and then when he fusses again he needs one more feeding and then he's off to sleep.

I guess it's self soothing?

[coquelicot]

QOTD: I usually start feeding DD sometime between 8:30-9 (last night was 9:25, though, because we were out), and she more or less falls asleep at the boob. DH will rock her for a while just to make sure she's truly done. Then one of us puts her down. That usually ends up being between 9:30-10. Most nights, she'll sleep 4-5 hours before needing to be fed again. I try not to let her fall asleep while nursing, but yeah, it usually happens. Sometimes she'll fall asleep in the swing while we're eating supper, but that's more like a catnap.

[kenswife]

If he gets hiccups or something, forget about it. We have to start over with the nursing again.

LOL! The same thing with us. If Brayden gets the hiccups, I have to wait for them to be gone then try all over again.

Brayden falls asleep nursing almost every night. I try to put him up on my shoulder after to get any burps out that we can. When he's able to sleep through being put up on my shoulder I know he's ready for bed. He sleeps in his bassinet for a good portion of the night.

[kissmary]

Sleep - He usually doesn't sleep until we're in bed, which lately is anytime between 8 and 9. (Exceptions occur, of course, because last night he was asleep in his crib around 8 and didn't even want to eat beforehand!). We swaddle him and jiggle him until he's sleepy then slow to rocking only. In the middle of the night he almost always falls asleep nursing so we just wrap him back up and lay him down.

[summerbride2005]

QOTD:DD has her last feeding between 10 & 10:30 and she'll fall asleep after the second boob while I'm burping her. I'll hold her for a while to make sure she is asleep and then DH and I swaddle her then put her in her co-sleeper. Her next feeding usually isn't until 7 or 7:30a the next day. In the last 2 weeks I've only had to feed her early one time at 5:30am. I hope she keeps waking to eat at 7 or 7:30a. It makes it so much easer!

[jaredsgirl]

QOTD I normally get DD down around 10-11pm after some nursing and rocking. We have been working on her doing the whole night in her crib. She is now up to 7 hours of sleep in there. But I am hoping she will be moving her bed time more to 9-10pm. I would like to have a little time alone with DH at night.

[MrsSpencer]

He goes to bed with us in his cradle beside the bed about 10 when we do. Gets up at around 12:30-1:00 for his first feeding and goes till around 4:00 before he wakes again and then at 6:00 he eats again and I lay back down till DH goes to work at 7:30.

[tgr68]

Father's Day~Okay, I've got most of our plan in place. The only thing I need to figure out is how to incorporate DS into the plan. I'm going to buy him the Clorox Armor All Car Cleaning Kit with Caddy (http://www.armorall.com/products/giftpacks/), so he doesn't have to go borrow ILs set everytime we want to wash the cars. I'll also do my usual 5X7 pic of DD in her "Daddy's Girl" shirt and a card.

MrsSpencer~I'm so glad DS is sleeping better for you!

Jenjenum~I know what you mean about letting things get out of control with the housework. I'm spending the day in our bathroom/utility room/cat room trying to get things done because it was just plain gross in my book.

Twinnyme~Sounds like Bridget is doing great! As far as Becca goes, I know it's frustrating, but if you look at things from her point of view (having you all to herself for over 3 years and now having to share you 24/7), it might be a little easier to deal with. {{HUGS}}

FoxyBlue~Wow!! He's a big boy!

Kenswife~He is so cute!

QOTD: Bedtime~DS gets his last feeding anywhere between 10pm-12am depending on how tired DH and I or he is. We'll feed him, burp him, change his diaper, dress him, and then put him down with his mobile and CD going. We started bedtime stories with DD about this age, so we'll probably be adding that to the mix soon as well. He typically sleeps in anywhere from 7am - 8:30am depending on how late he went to sleep.

Okay, off to finish cleaning!

[Crystal_Orchid]

DD's last feeding ranges from 8pm - 10pm. Her routine is taking her vitamins and her antibiotics (to prevent infection of her kidneys). She falls asleep after the last feeding. If not then I rock her to sleep. She either sleeps in the snuggle nest or next to me, depending on how hard it is for her to stay asleep and not wake up.

I have a question to add.. How many total hours of sleep does your DC get per day? DD is a few weeks older than 2 months and she gets definitely less than the recommended 14-16 hrs of sleep per day. If I am lucky, she gets about 12 hours of sleep per day.

Also another question... How often do you give your DC bath? We give her a bath every 3 days, but I am thinking we should step it up.

[lee60657]

I am so out of the loop! I did go back to read the last few pages in an attempt to catch up!

DS had his 2 mth WBV last Thursday = he was 11 lbs 10 oz and almost 26 inches long. He got 4 shots :( and had a terrible reaction - it was awful and scary. He is fine now, but I need to speak with the ped about coming up with an alternate vax schedule - they have to be spaced out b/c I will not put him through that again - it is SO sad.

Sleep I would say that DS gets about 15 + hrs of sleep a day. We put him down awake each night after his last feeding which is usually around 8 or 8:30. He then normally makes it until close to 5.

BathDS gets a bath every night - he loves it and it calms him and gets him ready to sleep :)

Father's Day Nothing done yet - ack!

[jess&dan]

kenswife: Adorable picture!

Chelsea: That's rough that Avery won't take a bottle. Have you checked the nipple flow on it? Maybe it's that it's not moving at the pace she likes? Other than that, maybe work with her at home on taking a bottle. I wish I had better suggestions.

Gabe's Mom: Sorry that he's running your rampid. I hope that things calm down soon. If it is reflux, they tend to out grow it as their digestive system matures.

Sleep: Aaron goes down anywhere between 8:00 and 9:00. He'll then sleep until anywhere between 5:00 and 6:00, eat, then sleep again for another hour or so. At 7:00 every night, he starts getting extremely cranky until we get him ready for bed or a bath. We then feed him and then we rock a little bit before lying him in his crib and he then puts himself to sleep. He gets about 12-15 hours a day...depending on his nap mood.

Bath: He gets one almost every night...he loves them and it lets him know it's bedtime.


Things are going pretty well. Aaron is pretty good, except for the days his big brother is home. He's so much more fussy on those days. Maybe because I can't get to him right away like I can when it's just him and me. He had his first trip to the zoo on Saturday and slept pretty much the whole time. :p He's been sleeping through the night for a week straight now (minus an overnight trip) which is so nice! He's not as good of a traveler as DS1 was, but he did okay while we were at my parents' for the weekend. He just didn't like sleeping in the PNP and wouldn't put himself to sleep in it like in his crib and woke up more often. So my plan is to have him nap in it for one nap a day at home to get him used to it. His napping is getting a little bit better, but nothing consistant in terms of length. Still working on that! But all is going pretty well. He's a major talker and is constantly speaking up! I think it's to be heard over his brother! ;)

[Gabe's Mom]

Summerbride - Wow, I am envious of you and your sleeper!! Awesome!

I am trying to get my little guy to bed a it earlier. The last 2 nights, it's been around 10:15PM. I've tried to swaddle/rock him but he weighs so much I can't carry him for the 15-20 minutes it takes to make him go to sleep so have ended up putting him in the swing and my DH transfers him later. Hate to use the swing, but no choice. He's sleeping until 2 am now with a second feeding arund 5:30am. Goes back to sleep uintil about 7:30 am. Not great, but not aweful.

Feeling bad - Lucas has his first cold. uugh. Just 2 months old! Big bro has a bad one. I have a feeling I transferred it by taking care of both of them. It's not awful (yet) but I fel so sad for him.

Lee - I might try your idea about a bath every night. Maybe it'll help our poor sleeper. Sorry to hear about the reactions son had. What happened?? And 26 inches!! Wow, he is tall!! Our ped feels it is reflux. I am hesitant to start meds though. Yesterday I almost called as it was a bad day but today, no problem.

QOTD - Bath - I give DS a bath twice per week it seems. Per his ped though, we only use soap once per week.

QOTD - Sleep - I have no clue how much sleep he gets. About 9 or 10 hours of interupted sleep at night for feeds and many catnaps during the day as he is poor at taking long naps.

QOTD - Fathers Day - Nothing done/thought of yet. Ack!

[meatpie]

Bath Every third night. His skin was really dry for awhile and our doctor does not recommend a bath everyday. But my nieces get one every night - I know it helps with their bedtime routine.

I'm so jealous of all your sleepers. Max is a few days shy of 2 months and is going to bed between 9-10:30 and most nights sleeps until 2 then up again at 6. I need more sleep. Last night he was up at 1 and 5 and we managed to get him to go anojther hour to 2 and 6 by putting the pacifier back in. What I would give for 5 hours of straight sleep...check that. What I would give for 4 hours...off to nap

[MrsSpencer]

Nicholas gets bathed every other to every third day.

[phart]

meatpie~~If it makes you feel any better I've had maybe 2-3 hour stretches in nearly 8 weeks. The rest is foggy:) And I can't nap most days especially now that the 2 year old is boycotting her naps:(

[Crystal_Orchid]

DD reverted back to one month last night. Waking up every 2-3 hours at night and fussing tons and won't go to sleep. :( I fed her four times last night.

[twinnyme]

Ugh, Crystal, I'm sorry. That's not fun. I'm wondering if when I go back to work and/or Bridget starts hitting the 3-month growth spurt/ milestones if she'll start waking up more, too. She's sleeping well now but my first DD did too at this age and then it all started falling apart. So we'll see. I do think Bridget's personality lends itself to her still doing okay on sleep, though, even then. Time will tell, I guess.

QOTD - Sleep - not sure in total how much she gets because I'm not tracking it as much as I did with DD1. But she has been sleeping 8-9 hours a night (with sometimes 5-6 hours a night). Napping is hit or miss - some days she'll nap all day, seriously, but some days it's catnaps. I've been noticing that the days she hasn't pooped in a couple of days and is probably constipated and uncomfortable are the days that she doesn't nap as well. So we are starting to give her prune juice those days and hopefully it will help.

Bath - maybe 2 or 3 times a week, usually with soap. I tend to bathe her when I bathe my older DD, which is more often in the summer. In the winter, I bathe her only 2 or 3 times a week, too, because she hates the bath. But in summer, with sweat, sunscreen, running around, etc. she needs it more. I also bathe Bridget when she projectile vomits, of course, which last night - just for fun - she did RIGHT after I bathed her. So she got 2 baths last night. :p

[MrsSpencer]

Prayers needed for my little ten-year old cousin, who I've watched grow up, helped raise. He had a seizure Monday afternoon, and was taken to the hospital (generic hos. I hate that place) they did a ct scan they said they couldn't find anything. But then called yesterday morning and told them to take him to children's hospital that they found something. So there in the waiting room of children's he had another seizure. They still aren't sure what caused it, they think he may have epilepsy (which runs in his side of the family not related to me). Please keep him in your prayers...

[Maggie8202]

QOTD: Sleeping: DD has been sleeping for 12 hour stretches. That is with waking 2-3 times though. I just started to swaddle for naps, and her little cat naps have turned into 1-2 hour long naps!!

QOTD: Baths: We bathe her almost every day because of spit-up in the neck issues. Ever since the rotovirus, she has been spitting up after every bottle. Needless to say, she will not be getting that one again. Her poor neck is raw because I can not catch every spit up and the bibs aren't catching it all.

QOTD: Father's Day: I am in the process of getting my DH 8 NY Yankees bleacher tickets with a limo ride to and from the game. This is something he has always wanted to do, and with it being the last year in the stadium I thought it would be a ton of fun. I also got him a dad frame and put a picture of him and DD in it!

Ella is doing great. We had her Christening on Sunday and it went great with the exception of the church being 98 degrees. I felt so bad for her because she was soooo hot, but she still did a nice job! The party was even warm because the air couldn't keep up with the heat outside and the amount of people in the room. I purposely planned the christening in early June to avoid the heat, oh well!

My golden is starting to become obsessed with Ella. She is such a good dog, but wanted little to do with Ella at first which was fine, but now she will not leave Ella alone ever! It is very cute and I am very happy that she is being so good. We were a little worried because the dog was the center of dh's and my world for 5 years and was so spoiled.

[kissmary]

Mrs. Spencer, sorry about your cousin!

Crystal_Orchid, sounds like she's going through a growth spurt or some other milestone is about to happen! Hope she goes back to more sleeping at night soon!

Bath - We pretty much do this every other day, unless he's sleeping when we want to do the bath. He's relaxing more and more each time he has a bath, which is good!

This morning I put Henry down for tummy time, after he played, ate and played some more. (I think he's a morning person, since he's so happy in the morning). He started sucking his hand... which led to him falling asleep!!

Photographic evidence, since I didn't believe it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2570558094_6c2a0497fa.jpg

Naturally he woke a few minutes later and lost a grip on his hand and I had to put him to sleep in the crib, but this is great! Now if only he could keep that hand in his mouth instead of flailing about.

[Chelsea524]

Bath- twice a week usually, that is what the NICU nurses suggested, though they do get wiped down with a wash cloth on their hands and face daily

Sleep- Harrison will go until about 4am most nights unless I don't get to Avery before she wakes him up, she wakes up at least twice a night still, but she is still under 10lbs and just doesn't have the extra reserve to make it longer yet. So most nights I am still waking up at least 3 times

Kissmary- that is a really cute pic of Henry, so sweet

Marissa- thanks for the advice on the BF thread, my babysitter used the dropper last night and was able to get an once down, not much but at least its something

So Avery still is refusing the bottle, yesterday the babysitter used a dropper to give her milk while she was screaming, I went out and bought a couple different nipples to try, maybe the flow is to fast for her so I bought a slow flow nipple and then another one that is supposed to be just like the breast, we'll see if either works.

[meatpie]

Crystal_Orchid and phart So I am not alone...he did ok last night...i'm just so tired. Hus has a new job and can't help like he did with jack. i miss that help.

MrsSpencer thinkin of your family...

Chelsea524 we use bornfree bottles to some success!

[twinnyme]

MrsSpencer - I'm sorry to hear about your cousin; I hope it is something that can be treated.

Kissmary - so cute! Bridget has fallen asleep a couple of times during tummy time, too.

On Monday, I took Bridget to my office (along with Becca) to visit, and she was smiling up a storm. I thought it was because she particularly liked this one woman, who is a very warm, sweet person and a mother herself, because the second she was placed in her arms she started smiling like crazy. But, really, I think she just started smiling then because when she's awake and interacting with us, she's been smiling like crazy. It's SOOO cute. I'm doing everything in my power to keep that smile going!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2570486419_bf63181550_m.jpg

Also, here is the progression of her monthly photos (she turned 2 months on Monday) - first 2 months, then 1 month.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2565505555_e76be763bf_m.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/2480844071_593305d38f_m.jpg

[Crystal_Orchid]

Bridget is adorable!

Last night was a little better, relatively I guess. She woke up tons, but instead of feeding her many times, I fed her twice, once at 1am and once at 5am. I slept sleeping upright. Rocked her numerous of times to get her to sleep only for 15 minutes and rocked her again. When she woke up at 5am, it took me another 2 hours to get her to sleep only one hour.

[MrsSpencer]

had my pp appt. still 15+ pounds away from pp weight:( was referred to a therapist so we'll see how that goes. Still no word about my little cousin, hoping that means good news.

[MrsSpencer]

Oh my dr. did say that I wasn't completely healed yet?? Apparantly I was "injured" more than I knew, she said there was only a "small area" that wasn't "fixed up". Why wasn't I told, she said she only had to do a couple stitches?? That sounds like more than a couple stitches to me! Nicholas is starting to calm down now, he didn't take a nap from 8-1pm today, he was sooo cranky! Going to get my hair done tomorrow soo excited then stopping off at my old job to show him off again, hopefully he's in a better mood. They are pretty sure my little cousin has epilepsy..which sucks, but at least there's medication and there's a cause

[tgr68]

Bath~Our ped said to bathe DH no more often than every 3-4 days and apply lotion everyday, but that was primarily because of his horribly dry skin.

Sleep~He goes to sleep around 10:00-11:00am these days, and sleep until around 8:00am. Then he takes a nap around mid-morning, shortly after lunch, and again in the evening. I would guess that he gets closer to the 15 hours per day mark.

Kissmary~What a sweet picture!

Chelsea~I hope you can find a nipple that works for Avery. That has got to be so stressful. :(

twinnyme~What a sweet smile Bridget has!

MrsSpencer~How odd about the spot your doctor missing fixing up. :confused: Sorry to hear about your cousin. Luckily there is something that can be done about his condition.

DS is doing great! Today during tummy time, he really worked on his neck muscles. At one point he had his head and legs up off the floor! :eek: Most of the time is spent kicking his legs nad turning in circles, so I have a feeling that he'll be crawling much earlier than his sister did.

Speaking of DS, he just woke up and is asking to be fed. ;)

[Chelsea524]

I'm going to attemp to post the photos we got done at Kiddie Kandids today, trying to get four kids to look at the camera at the same time is not an easy task! The babies are in their blessing outfits that my mom made.
http://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/scratch/8J63TZ9HI4QBPYX6-K75J6.jpghttp://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/scratch/8J63TZ9HI4QBPYX6-TDXXB.jpg
http://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/scratch/8J63TZ9HI4QBPYX6-9N54Y.jpghttp://mystudio.kiddiekandids.com/scratch/8J63TZ9HI4QBPYX6-WQP3X.jpg

Yay, I can see them, I hope everyone else can

[MrsSpencer]

They are gorgeous children Chelsea

[MrsSpencer]

Was wondering if he's still sleeping okay, and doesn't have his inconsolible (sp?) as often (although at least once a day for a few hours off and on). He's still throwing up an awful lot (even with the cereal), and having a hard time pooping easily unless I give him a suppository once a week or so?? Should I call his dr and see what she says? I've done everything I could think of, he seems happier but not content if that makes any sense?

[twinnyme]

Chelsea - great picture! Your kids are beautiful and I love the outfits.

MrsSpencer - I'm not sure if you should call your doctor.... I usually do even if I think I shouldn't though this time around I'm a little less likely to call. :p Hope DS feels better soon. What suppository do you use for constipation? Bridget had a rough day yesterday because she'd been constipated for a couple of days. We are just giving prune juice occasionally - diluted in water.

Tgr68 - DS sounds very active!

Happy Father's Day, everyone. Have a great day!

[coquelicot]

Bath--we bathe DD about every 2-3 days. Last night, though, I just ran her under the warm water because she seems to like it. I'm trying to get into the habit of wiping off her face, neck, and diaper areas daily, but I've struggled with that.

Sleep--I'm glad to report that on her 2-month birthday, DD officially STTN. I BFed her last night starting at 8:30 and put her down around 9:20 (I swaddle her and change her diaper before the feeding starts). She slept until about 6 am! Then I fed her again and she went back down. She didn't go right back to sleep, but neither did she fuss or cry. She was back up around 9 am. Five of the past 6 nights, she has slept until 4 am or later before needing to be fed. I hope this is a good sign.

Father's Day--I got DH a Baby Bjorn. Just waiting for him to get home to open it. His own dad had open-heart surgery recently and has been in the hospital locally. To allow his mom to go back to their hometown to spend the night, DH spent the night in his dad's room. So Father's Day is going to be somewhat disjointed. I obviously can't take a 2-month-old to a hospital room (well, I shouldn't, anyway), so everyone's going to have to go there, and then if they want to see DD and me, make a separate trip here.

Loving all the cute baby pictures. Need to post the ones I took yesterday of DD at 2 months old.

[FoxyBlue]

Here is Dawson at just shy of 7 weeks!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c268/FoxyBlue827/DawsonD70-LR15-1.jpg

[Chelsea524]

Foxy aww he is so cute!

OK, I just went back and tried reposting the pics, for some reason only the group shot was showing

[kissmary]

Chelsea - Yours babies are cute!

Foxy - Dawson looks so grown up in all his clothes! :)

At his 2 month visit this morning, Henry is 12 lbs and 24.5 inches. He's still tall and lean like his dad. He got his shots and cried during, but was okay afterwards. He nursed himself to sleep when we got home (after dropping DH off at work), so we'll see if he has any reactions later.

[jess&dan]

Chelsea: They are adorable!

FoxyBlue: He's so cute! Great picture!


I hope everyone's hubbies had a nice Father's Day! It was a pretty good day for mine. :)

Aaron slept from 8:00 last night until 7:30 this morning! The day before he slept until 7:00! I'll take it!!

Here's a recent pic. :)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/jpillera/June13200803.jpg

[FoxyBlue]

Jess- Aaron is such a little man! He's adorable :)

Our boys definitely look like boys, don't they? I hope that if DH and I get a girl next time that she looks like a girl!

[coquelicot]

Here's DD at 2 months old! Won't have a WBV until next Wednesday because the ped is on vacation this week. Keep pic off front page, please.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/coquiekat/SFak-ywlrsI/AAAAAAAAAoA/CXiqY7KHKbA/s288/DSC03532.JPG

[phart]

Who else is dealing with nursing every 1.5-2 hours still and a baby who does not want to be put down while awake? Malcolm is nearly on his way to formula and CIO;)

[MrsSpencer]

I know Nicholas is about the youngest, but he will sleep ONLY beside me, till his next feeding. I ff him too, so now he goes 3 hours, if I bf then it's less.

[SiValleySteph]

Who else is dealing with nursing every 1.5-2 hours still and a baby who does not want to be put down while awake? Malcolm is nearly on his way to formula and CIO;)

:p Funny girl. Damon likes to nurse a ton during the day and doesn't like to be put down. Actually, he likes to nurse, then spit up everywhere, then nurse some more, then dirty his diaper, then spit up some more, etc. so it is very exhausting when he's not sleeping. When he's sleeping, it's really easy having a baby. :cool:

At night, he sleeps pretty decently, for 3-4 hours at a time. I still feel like a zombie, though!

[FoxyBlue]

I'm lucky to get Dawson down in his crib for one or two hours a day, lately.

[coquelicot]

DD won't sleep in her crib much during the day anymore. I pretty much have to nurse her into a nap on our bed unless an errand in the car falls around her naptime. And I can't move her or she'll wake up. Luckily she sleeps in her crib just fine at night. I've even had times where she's gone in there awake but drowsy and she falls asleep. When she's awake, though, yeah, I feel your pain with the nursing. Seems like she constantly still wants to eat. I asked someone at a picnic today with a 5-month-old how much she was nursing, and she said every 3 hours. Unless DD is napping, I can't get a stretch like that.

I am happy to report, though, that DD has been consistently sleeping until after 5 am for nearly the past week (we put her to bed between 9-9:30). I'll nurse her again and put her down. She seems to be asleep when I do so, but then wakes up and coos and grunts. She eventually falls back asleep, letting me sleep about an extra hour and then shower et al. Usually she'll go about 3 hours at that point before needing to be fed again.

[Gabe's Mom]

Phart - I'm pretty much with ya still. But, at night, we are getting longer stretches. Usually 3-4 hours. BUT last ngiht, he slept from 8:45 PM until 9:15 PM. Nursed. Slept from 9:45 PM until 4:20 am and back to bed from 4:50 am until 7 AM!!!!! My best night ever! I LOVED it. I am hoping to put him back to bed early tonight and see if we get a similar result.

During the day though, we feed every 90 minutes to 2.5 hours.

As for being held, can RARELY put this child down! It's hard to get ANYTHING done. And naps are still only 40 minutes or so.

[tgr68]

Chelsea~Adorable!!

MrsSpencer~If I get the feeling that maybe I should call the dr, I always at least call and talk to the nurse, getting her opinion on whether or not I should take the kids in.

FoxyBlue~I love the pic!

Jess~Cute!

Coquelicot~She is sweet!

I'm finishing up day 2 of the roughest 2 days of parenthood I've had so far. Between these two kids, I have NOT had a break at all! :( Plus, with DH OOT, I'm not sleeping well and am sooooo tired. He's supposed to be home tomorrow, and Thursday afternoon I'll be putting DS down for a nap in his crib and demanding some one-on-one time with DH.

[FoxyBlue]

Plus, with DH OOT, I'm not sleeping well and am sooooo tired.

I am terrified of when DH goes OOT. I'm not sure when his next trip will be, but they're usually 2wks +.

I hope they have the common sense not to send him anytime soon.

[kissmary]

I'm not looking forward to DH being away for 5 days/4 nights starting next Friday! I guess I could have gone with him to this conference and stayed with my BIL, but I didn't want to fly right now.

[phart]

Damon likes to nurse a ton during the day and doesn't like to be put down. Actually, he likes to nurse, then spit up everywhere, then nurse some more, then dirty his diaper, then spit up some more, etc. so it is very exhausting when he's not sleeping. When he's sleeping, it's really easy having a baby.

We are living parallel lives;)

[Gabe's Mom]

Well, seems like I'm finally having some success in the sleep area. I've put my little guy to sleep by 9 PM the last two nights and he's slept much longer stretches and to 7 am both days!!! Nursed twice each night but guess we are technically STTN!! Seems like the earlier bedtime was the trick. AND now I have ME time/free time!!! :)

Kissmary - Sorry you'll be on your own. That is tough. Do you have any family who can help you?

QOTD: If you occasionally give your DC a bottle, how much is he/she drinking?? Lucas seems to be at 4-5 oz. Wondering if that is a normal amt.

[Chelsea524]

QOTD: If you occasionally give your DC a bottle, how much is he/she drinking?? Lucas seems to be at 4-5 oz. Wondering if that is a normal amt.

My babies have one bottle a day and usually take 4 oz, sometimes Avery won't finish hers and Harrion will take the extra, o I guess 3-5oz

[SiValleySteph]

QOTD: If you occasionally give your DC a bottle, how much is he/she drinking?? Lucas seems to be at 4-5 oz. Wondering if that is a normal amt.

Sounds about the same here. Usually I just him 2-3 oz every other day just to keep him used to the bottle and then he still needs to nurse afterwards. To fully replace a feeding 4-5 oz seems about right. I did a weigh-feed-weigh a few weeks back and he had 5oz in like 5 minutes, so it seems he gets quite a bit breastfeeding.

Of course, that may explain why he spits up everywhere. :p

[phart]

bottles~~Malcolm eats 2-3 ozs. I think his belly is just dang on tiny still!

[Marisa]

QOTD -- the few times Teddy's had a bottle, it's been about 3-4 oz. I remember that Joey never took more than 4 oz. at a time until he was 4-6 months... and at that point he never took more than 6 oz. ever.

I know you've all got your own cuties to look at, but I thought I'd share a video of Teddy, talking to his BFF the ceiling fan (if you're on my LJ you've seen this already). I can't get over how it sounds like he wants to say "hi". :)

http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm305/marisa724/?action=view&current=MVI_1614.flv

DH and I put him on the mailing scale again this weekend, and apparently the chunkmonster is over 14 lbs. now. He was just 7 weeks yesterday. He's already outgrowing a few 3-6 month clothes, at least in length (he's got a long torso, plus the cloth dipes).

[phart]

Fattyboombalatty! Malcolm was 10-10 last Friday at 8 weeks!

[Chelsea524]

Marisa Cute video! Both of mine love the fan too, its great at keeping them happy for 10 mins while I am doing stuff

Harrison went to the dr yesterday, he has in-grown and infected toe nails, they are so sore, got some antibiotics and cream for them and I have to soak them every day and try to lift the nail above the skin. His big toes skin grows half way across his toe nail so I knew this would happen but didn't think it would this early, poor baby.
Both babies started laughing this week, it is so cute I can't get enough of it, especially Harrison, his is such a deep belly laugh, I'll have to try and catch it on video. They turned 3 months on Sunday, crazy how time is just flying.

[twinnyme]

Marisa - adorable video of Teddy! He's so happy.

Jess/FoxyBlue/Coquelicot - great pictures!

Tgr68 - sorry for the rough days - hope yesterday/today is better.

Sleep - still GREAT nighttime sleeping (in a pac n play), thankfully, though daytime is a crapshoot - short naps, mostly held (in arms or carrier), swing, or car.

Bottle - we formula feed and Bridget usually takes 4-5 oz. At one point for a week stretch or so she even took 6 oz. a couple of times but we're back to 4-5 oz. as a general rule. She's been having some constipation issues lately that we're dealing with. Chelsea - I love that Harrison will finish Avery's bottle if she doesn't; so cute.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, we head to NJ this weekend - Bridget's first trip there. Becca is now a seasoned traveler there (to my family) so I'm hoping Bridget will be the same. We plan to leave as early as possible in the morning. We usually leave around 7-ish and are there by noon with a stop or two. We'll be there Friday through Sunday, and then I return to work on Tuesday. :( I work part-time at a university, Tuesdays/Thursdays full days, plus Wed. mornings - and Wed. afternoons and during naps/weekends, I freelance edit. So I'll still have Mondays/Fridays (and the weekends) with my girls, but reality is approaching. I dropped off most of Bridget's daycare supplies last night (and checked out the room with Becca). I've also bought her "lunchbox" for her bottles, etc. I can't believe it's Tuesday!

[coquelicot]

QOTD: We gave DD a 4-oz bottle of EBM last night for the first time. She struggled to finish it after having eaten 2 hours before. But she was hungry again within 2 hours. We'd been doing 3.5 oz before that, and it didn't seem to hold her for very long. So I guess our aim is somewhere between the two amounts.

[Marisa]

twinnyme -- we head to Boston this weekend! We'll have to wave at each other as we pass on 95 or 84 or one of those. :)

[tgr68]

FoxyBlue~Ick! I don't think I could handle him being gone for 2+ weeks. I'm just dreading next weekend. He's wanting to go to Atlanta for a conference, and I want him to stay here and go to his 10-yr class reunion.

Kissmary~If my DH takes off, we can whine together! ;)

QOTD~Last time DS had a bottle (2-3 weeks ago), he had between 3-4oz.

Marisa~I can't see the video. :(

Chelsea~Poor little guy! :(

Twinnyme~Good luck on the upcoming roadtrip! Crossing my fingers that Bridget will be as easy a traveler as big sis is!

Yesterday was pretty rough. With DH OOT, she decided to kick the trying threes into full gear the whole time to protest his absence, so by the time we got to yesterday, the two of us had had enough of each other. DH thought it'd be a good idea to send her to dinner with ILs to give me a break, and they went ahead and got her ice cream and cake since it was her birthday.

Today has been much better. DS has been a sleeping machine, and DD is spending her afternoon at her great-grandparents house as usual. I've been able to relax and get some much needed housework done!

[jenjunum]

Marisa That video is hilarious. I wish we had a ceiling fan. I think we're at about 11 1/2 pounds at 6.5 weeks. That's what we get with late-ish babies.

Lily's getting shots on Wednesday. :( She's getting them at 7.5 weeks instead of 2 months b/c we're going to Maui the following week so I wanted a full week before that to make sure she's not fussy on the plane or in case she has some kind of reaction. My ped usually does all the normal shots on the regular schedule. I think we're just going to go with that. I need to go over what's on the list though. I'd think about delaying but she'll be in daycare so I don't really want to delay with her around all those (potentially sick) kids.

Had a good conversation with MIL today. She's really been getting under my skin lately b/c she's a little overbearing. I think it's really about 90% my own problem and 10% of her being annoying so hopefully I'm turning over a new leaf.

We go to Maui in 2 weeks. I need to start getting some things together. I have no idea how many diapers to bring and things like that. I think I'll bring 1 pack (of like 54 I think) and one box of wipes. We can always buy more. I'm looking forward to and dreading the trip all at the same time. Our 1st flight is in the evening which is Lily's fussy time and the other is a red eye, so not looking forward to that.

[twinnyme]

twinnyme -- we head to Boston this weekend! We'll have to wave at each other as we pass on 95 or 84 or one of those. :)

How funny, Marisa! Have a great trip!

Tgr68 - Happy birthday to Shylah!

Jenjunum - how exciting to be planning a trip to Maui. Hope you have a good time.

[phart]

Aaahhhh...Maui! We honeymooned on Maui and hope to get back as soon as the kids are older. You have a much shorter flight than we do! Have a wonderful trip:)

[summerbride2005]

jenjunum- Maui sounds perfect right now. I can't wait to get back to Hawaii. Have a great time!

[tgr68]

Twinnyme~Thanks!

Jenjunum~Have a great time in Maui!!

Big news here...CAEDMON ROLLED FROM BACK TO TUMMY TWICE YESTERDAY!!! I had a feeling something was coming with as fussy as he's been lately. I was still surprised though when I went to check on him during his nap to find him laying on his tummy babbling to his lamb.

[MrsSpencer]

new pic...

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm318/NicholasHaroldsmommy/003.jpg

[kissmary]

MrsSpencer - Cute picture!

Jen- Have a great time in Maui! We might got there the next time we make it out to Hawaii, which we're not expecting any time soon!

Henry had his first long car ride yesterday, at 3 hours, and he only slept for a half hour! Granted, he didn't cry until he got tired and then hungry, but I had hoped he'd sleep more than that. We are at my parents' and he only took half hour naps or less all day yesterday! But he was having so much fun when he was awake. Smiling up a storm and moving like crazy! He loves being outside, too.

tgr - I'm expecting rolling over any day now with all the moving Henry has been doing, but I'll still be suprised.

[coquelicot]

tgr68 - WTG on the rolling! DD is trying to roll back to belly when on her activity mat. Just can't seem to get over that arm in the way. Since your baby is a couple of weeks older than mine, the rolling might be right around the corner for her.

MrsSpencer - adorable pic!

jenjunum - I'm so jealous of your trip to Maui. Have a great time!

kissmary - DD loves being outside too. In the afternoons, when she gets fussy inside, it seems like the second we step onto the front porch or rear deck, she stops crying. DH is worrying about her getting sunburn, but I keep her in the shade as much as possible. Maybe our house is too cold for her. :)

2-month WBV stats:
Weight: 10 pounds, 9.5 ounces
Length: 23.25"

Scrolling through those who have posted 2-month WBV height stats, I've got the longest baby on here thus far! :) She's grown 2 inches in a month. Holy moly! No wonder I have trouble putting her on her side and doing HBOTB movements with her when she gets fussy. I can't seem to find anywhere to put her legs! She's made up some ground on her weight, going from 25th to 50th percentile. Guess she's getting plenty to eat. With her being 75th percentile in length, though, she doesn't look like she's over 10 pounds. She may never be a "chubby" baby, although her face is filling out.

[jess&dan]

tgr68: Yay for the rolling over! Aaron rolled over from belly to back twice, once at 5 weeks then again 2 weeks later, but nothing since.

MrsSpencer: Adorable!

kissmary: We have our first 3 hour car ride the July 4th weekend and I hope Aaron sleeps a lot of it too! Sorry that Henry didn't do that for you. We've taken 2 hour car trips and he sleeps or plays, so we'll see what happens!

coquelicot: Sounds like she is doing great! Aaron was 23.75 inches at his 2 month, so I'm there with you on the lenght thing!


All is well here. Aaron is so much more animated and such this past week. He's really started to hold onto and play with small toys. It's really nice! He laughs at himself in his little mirror that hangs from his playmat and talks constantly! His eating is getting better and he doesn't fuss as much, which is nice. The little piggy is taking about 5-6oz. a bottle! We've also tried sitting him in the jumperoo and exersaucer since he has such excellent upper body control and he seems to really like them and getting to be upright to look around. His sleeping is great and he's slept from 8:00 to 8:00 twice now! Most of the time it's 8:00 - 7:00/7:30. I love it!

And because I can't resist, pictures...one in the jumperoo and one smiling. :)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/jpillera/June20200812.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/jpillera/June19200803.jpg

[Gabe's Mom]

Jess - That second picture is AWESOME! You should blow it up and frame it! Very cute. And an impressive sleeper!! Can he come and teach Lucas how to sleep like that? I'm still up at 2 am and 5 am every night. (And sometimes 4 am, 5 am and 6 am.)

coquelicot = Congrats on the rolling over! He's making progress!

Am I the only one out there who's baby does not like tummy time at all?? We are NO where near rolling over.

[kissmary]

Gabe's Mom - Henry only likes tummy time because it's easiest for him to suck on his hand then. :rolleyes:

coquelicot - Henry was 24.5 inches last week, and I hope he hasn't grown more in the time since! DH is 6'4" so I see where he's getting it! I never know what to do with his legs, either.

Jess - Yay on all accounts!

[MrsSpencer]

So at 2 months they are allowed to be in the jumperoo? Cause for the last month that's all he's wanted to do was bounce!

[Marisa]

Mrs. Spencer -- I'm sure Jess will elaborate since she actually has one :) -- but if it's anything like the exersaucer they're really not supposed to spend a long time in these toys until they have really good head control. For DS1, we started using the exersaucer after about three or four months. But it might be fun for him to sit in there for a minute or two, with your supervision of course, and some serious propping.

Gabe's Mom -- we don't do tummy time at all. He winds up on his tummy sometimes, but I don't make a point of it. I didn't with DS1 either, and somehow he managed to learn how to move and roll and do all that stuff. :)

[MrsSpencer]

Thanks Marisa...I've been meaning to ask you he's been really really fussy and only wanting to eat (bottle and breast)..any ideas?

[jess&dan]

Marisa is right. Aaron was in there for all of 5 minutes. He has excellent head control, but still isn't ready for any extensive time in it. I set it up and put him in there so he could have the chance to look around a little bit from a different perspective. I did the same with DS1 also. Aaron is 3 months on Friday and is already 12 weeks...so he's not too young. I didn't have to prop him since he's great with his head, but I only do 5 minute time periods when he's sick of his playmat/swing/bouncy seat. :)

[FoxyBlue]

Mrs Spencer: Is it possible he's bored?

Our sons are pretty close in age, and I know mine is starting to need a LOT more direct attention and interaction. I have to talk to him and interact with him a lot while he's awake.

If it's not that, (for us) it's gas. I don't know if it's something I'm eating or what, but he is happier when he farts (lol) or when I pump his legs for a few seconds.

Just a few thoughts... Hope you figure it out!

[MrsSpencer]

I know part of it's gas..I sing and make him dance ;), swing, seat, and his playmate. I'll get a bouncer to see if he likes it a few minutes a day:)

[Marisa]

Mrs Spencer -- do you think he's having a growth spurt? I feel like Teddy missed the six week one, but the last few days or so he's been doing the same thing all evening, just wanting to eat and doze off, then wake up and eat again... Anyway, I realized this morning that his clothes are fitting a little differently, and his face looks even fuller (if that's possible!) so I'm thinking he's decided to have an eight-week growth spurt instead!

[phart]

Still here...still reading along! Malcolm is needier than I recall the other two being so I do a lot of one-handed surfing these days:) I get tired of trying to type a lot one-handed!

QOTD~~How long are your babies awake before ready to go back to sleep?

Malcolm does not have a lot of awake time still. A lot of times he's ready to go back to sleep after an hour which sounds great but it's not like he just "goes to sleep" then stays that way...lol! Just curious to know what your kids are doing.

He still nurses all the dang on time and often it's hard to do it so much with the older kids wanting me. I hate saying "in a few minutes..." all day:( At least he's pretty fast when he does nurse. I've tried to get him to stay on longer hoping he'd be able to go longer than an hour before needing to nurse again but it's just not happening.

I'm tired and cranky today:(

[MrsSpencer]

Actually now that you mention it he is fitting in his bigger clothes better, and his onesies (0-3) the walmart brand only, are getting small. Maybe that's it? He did let me sleep till 10 today, so not complaining right now;) Still, I'm gonna ask for either meds or the test (if they won't give him meds) for his reflux. I think it has something to do with it. He was doing great for a while, then the last two weeks has gotten worse. He'll be sleeping and wake up then scream bloody murder, then I sit him straight up and he quits. I always have him at an angle, NEVER flat.

[twinnyme]

QOTD: Wake Time ~ It depends. Some days more than others but definitely getting more interactive. And definitely NOT within the two-hour window that I have tried to go by. Seems to be more a 3-hour window - i.e. up for 3 hours or so before going back to sleep. But it depends because when we're out and about (movement) she seems to sleep more. At home, she seems to sleep less. So it's hard to tell.

Bridget started daycare yesterday, though, and was up for only 3 hours there, they said - which was unusual for her, but maybe the new environment.... She also then slept at home from 9pm to 5am. This is great! :) Let's hope it continues. She's such a good sleeper. She did great at daycare. They said when she was awake she was very content and happy and looking around and smiling. She did throw up once, and I hadn't mentioned that in my notes to them, which I felt bad about. She threw up for so long (basically 1x or 2x a day for the first two months) but in the last week or so hasn't and I guess I've ingrained all the tips and tricks for her not to do that, so much so that I forgot to mention it. Whoops. I felt bad about that. She's at the same daycare as my older DD.

Me, I didn't do as well :( - had a very rough day (especially morning) yesterday. Cried all the way to work, cried when I got in to work (in front of co-workers, but they were all very nice). They put up a welcome back sign, everyone stopped by to say hi, they took me to lunch - that really helped a lot. It still was very very hard, but at least I'm home with them four days a week still. And it was nice that Bridget clearly knew me when I picked her up and at home - she smiled a lot last night. I also held her a lot last night.

Our trip to NJ and my family this weekend was a lot of fun. Between that and starting daycare, I've been nervous to see what happens to Bridget's good sleep but so far so good.

[Gabe's Mom]

twinneyme - Sorry to hear it was a rough day. Totally understandable. Hang in there...it gets easier. And it sounds like Bridget is in great hands and happy.

MrsSpenser - Maybe you can look into getting a wedge made for your baby for reflux. We were sent to Children's Hospital OT and had one made. NOt sure what the medical name is for the wedge but he is now at 45 degrees for sleeping and it works GREAT. It takes up most of the crib but well worth it.

Phart - I feel for you and can identify. My baby is sooooo needy and still can't be put down for long. It's really hard. Did find he loves the mobile and will lay in his crib for 15 minutes and watch that - it helps 2 or 3 times per day.

QOTD - Luas is up for 2-3 hours most of the time and very alert. Last ngiht he was awake from 5:30 PM until 9:30 PM and we couldn't get him to go to sleep. Tried off and on and finally, my husband got him to sleep about 11 PM. He does sleep GREAT when we got out in the stroller.

[coquelicot]

Sleep QOD: DD wakes up sometime between 7-9 in the mornings (after one overnight or early morning feeding) and usually stays awake until her next feeding 2-3 hours later. She might doze off sometime in there if we go on a car ride or a walk in the stroller, but not more than 15-20 minutes. She usually sleeps immediately after her next 2 feedings. Her longer nap tends to come after the later feeding. Luckily, these days she's sleeping pretty long stretches. The longer nap can be 2+ hours! Sometime between 3:30-5, she wakes up for another feeding and is pretty much awake until we put her down for the night, between 9-9:30 most nights. She might fall asleep in her swing while we're eating supper, but like with the car or stroller, it's just a catnap.

This leads me to another QOTD that some of you have alluded to on here: What sorts of activities do you do with your DC when he/she is awake? I feel like I'm repeating myself with the routine of swing, bouncy seat, activity mat (back and then tummy), tummy time on the Boppy, awake crib time with the mirror and mobile, walks in the stroller, and then just holding her and singing, talking, reading, etc. I want to be sure that I'm doing enough to let her develop her motor skills but at the same time not let her get too overstimulated, as she does get fussy at times.

[jess&dan]

Sleep QOTD: Hmmm...he tends to do 2 hour spurts. He's starting to do 3 hours in the evenings. He likes mini sleeps to break up the wake times!

Activity QOTD: We spend the day alternating between playmat, bouncy, swing, singing and talking together, going for walks, etc. I had just popped out the jumperoo and exersaucer to give him little 5 minute times of viewing the world from a different angle (which he LOVES). He has excellent head control, so he loves to be sitting up to see the world. He'll be content just sitting on my lap with a small toy, fiddling around with the toy while checking out everything around him. And he loves when he's in the jumperoo or exersaucer and the dog comes right up to his face for a kiss. :)

[FoxyBlue]

Goodness coque! You make me feel like a bad mother :)

Dawson gets the swing and bouncer (for my sanity), and Boppy time till he fusses. Lately I'm trying to add some floor time. But I don't have a rotation routine.

I do try to make sure I spend some time 'talking' to him. He's so cute! I wish I knew what he was 'saying'!

Mrs Spencer: On the gas thing, I really think the vibrate function on our Rainforest Bouncer is something that Baby likes, especially if he is a little gassy.

[SiValleySteph]

I'll be back to answer the QOTDs.

Here is my sweet pea at 8 weeks old (Monday):

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/SiValleySteph/P6238981.jpg

I had been saving this outfit (3-6 months) and I think this might be the only time he gets to wear it. The legs are cut straight across and cut into his thunder thighs. :p

[phart]

Steph~~Super cute! I got in on a HGB coop recently and got that l/s set with all the fixins...for Fall though.

[SiValleySteph]

QOTD - sleep - Hmmm, I'm not sure. Should I know? :p He can be awake as many as 3-4 hours at a time with just a little cat nap. Like, he'll fall asleep while nursing and then wake up as soon as I try and do anything else, like, um, move, and then won't really nap for another couple hours. Night time, he pretty much solidly sleeps from about somewhere around 9 until 6:30 or later, with 2 wakeups usually. Last night, only one! :eek:

QOTD - activities - We just took a walk. He's been spending a lot of time these last two days with fence contractors as we're putting in some new fencing. hahaha We also went to the lumber store today. He has just recently starting tolerating his play mat, his highchair, his bouncy chair, his swing, etc. for up to 10-15 minutes at a time. He has always loved his changing table and the mobile above it and has now starting liking his crib mobile more. He like songs. He went to a clown at the library yesterday and did a nice job watching along. Basically whatever. He has become a lot more content recently.

shannon - Aren't HGB clothes ridiculously cute? They had a booth at this "green fair" I went to a few weeks back, so I got this outfit and one for fall in the green-yellow-brown colorway. If you hear of another co-op, let me know! :D

[phart]

Steph~~Jealous of that sleeping! The coop was on LJ and was 50% off and I still spent $50!

activitied~~Mal doesn't do anything, really. He tolerates the floor sometimes but not for very long. Hates the bouncy seat that his brother and sister loved. Same for the tiny love mobile that no child hates! Erg. He is starting to fall for the ceiling fan though:) He had about 5 minutes of tummy time (total) when he rolled front to back a few times so that just goes to show ya that these kids don't need it like "they" say they do. I thought the third kid was supposed to be the most laid back. He was in the very early days but now if proving to be a stinker.

[Marisa]

Sleep -- Teddy is great in the mornings - up for an hour or so at 6:30, then back to sleep until 9 or so. Afternoon/evening can be trickier, he'll be up for two hours or more sometimes. Last night was particularly bad because the motor on our central air is blown, and it was pretty warm here (luckily not super-hot). We all had trouble getting comfy. Thank goodness they're coming out this afternoon with the replacement part!

Activities -- Teddy likes his cradle swing (it has a mobile attachment with little birds/bugs that rotate) and has just started to tolerate a few minutes on his floor mat. There's nothing like a crazy big brother for entertainment, though -- he'll be content for ten minutes or more just sitting in the bouncy seat watching Joey. And he loves being outside in the shade, watching the leaves on the trees.

[kissmary]

Sleep - Usually he starts to get tired after being awake for an hour and a half, but has longer stretches, too.

Activities - He loves being on his back, whether it is on the play mat, a blanket on the floor and sometimes his crib. He LOVES being outside on a blanket and we have been taking him for walks in the stroller lately. He seems okay with sitting in the high chair while we eat, and yesterday he started holding onto a rattle we put into his hand and stayed happier there longer. He'll only tolerate the swing or the rocker for a few minutes at a time before he cries. He seems pretty content in the car, too, if he has just been fed and is not yet tired. And he likes to be supported sitting in our laps so he can look around and smile.

Well, today is the first day of DH being away. He won't be back until Tuesday night. His flight this morning was canceled due to a mechanical problem so they put him on a shuttle to another airport (we're a college town, here) to catch a different flight. I'll miss him more than I'll miss his help.

[FoxyBlue]

Dawson was:

14 lbs, 4 oz (95%)
24" long (90%)
16" head (ha! only around 50%)

So now we laugh about his 'tiny' head :)

Apparently now the city/county (?) makes you sign a waiver if you choose not to give ALL the shots they want... Boo, hiss. I understand the good intentions and concern for child welfare, but there is such a thing as civil liberty too.

[twinnyme]

Activities: Hmm, basically whatever DD1, DH, and I are doing. :) Though she does like to hang out in the bouncy seat or on her back on the ottoman (with us right there) or floor, just checking out the world. She has been holding on to things more a bit, so I'm giving her rattles every once in a while. She doesn't hold on to them for long! She also loves tummy time and a toy mirror we have - she really seems to like looking in mirrors. She also loves to sit on our lap face to face while we try to make her smile/laugh.

Steph - great picture!

Kissmary - hope you're doing okay without DH.

FoxyBlue - glad you had a good appointment.

Bridget went on her first swing ride today. Here are some pictures (small ones for these):

http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/melissakelleher/th_029.jpg http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/melissakelleher/th_030.jpg

And a smile - sorry for the huge photo but I want the smile to show. :D I'm having trouble with Flickr right now, so I used Photobucket, and can't remember how to make them medium-size. Her hair is also really growing in now - seems like it's growing fast and furious this week for some reason.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e160/melissakelleher/023.jpg?t=1214784078

[Gabe's Mom]

Bridget is way too cute!!! Great smile!
I have yet to capture Lucas's smile on camara!

[MrsSpencer]

wish us luck..dr appt at 10:15, I think I'm more nervous about this than giving birth! lol!

cute pics twinnyme!

[tgr68]

MrsSpencer~Such a sweet pic! Good luck at the dr today!

Kissmary~I'm glad your DS did so well on his first long car ride! How are things going so far with DH being gone?

Jess~OMGosh! His smile just kills me! ITA that you should have that pic framed!

QOTD: Awake Periods~DS is staying awake now anywhere from 1-3 hours after eating. It all depends on what time of day (more active in the mornings), how busy we are, and how well he slept the night before.

Twinnyme~Glad you & Bridget survived her first week of daycare! I hope things continue to go well. Love the pics!

QOTD: Activities~DS loves his floor gym, so I'll often do tummy time there. We also have a set of blocks that I bought from a friend's Etsy store - Boogaboo Babies (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5141631) - and a few rattles. I just pulled out a bunch of DDs infant toys. I still need to clean them from being in storage and put them in his toy bin. We've also started reading to him. His two favorites so far are "Speedy Fire Truck" and "Bumpy Tractor". He's not into the reading as much a DD was though.

SiValleySteph~Adorable pic!! Your DS look really good in blue!

We just finished up another crazy week in our household. We had a friend from GA visiting to meet DS and see DD and the ILs. Plus, DH ended up staying in town, so we attending his 10 year class reunion. It also happened to be our group's turn to clean at church! :eek: Anyway, I'm pretty tired now, but I've got a TON of cleaning to do to recover from the weekend!

DS is doing really well. I think he might be rolling the other way. I checked on him last night, and he wasn't quite rolled to his tummy (half on his side, half on his tummy). Then this morning I found him on his back! DH was already up but insisted that he hadn't messed with him at all.

[FoxyBlue]

Ahh! I hate seeing anything happen to kids (tv, movies...)!

I watch a lot of Law & Order while I'm home with DS, and it just tears me up to see anything with kids. Just watched Without a Trace and was tearing up.

Anyone else this way, or am I just a sap? :)

I'm a goober :D

Cute pics! Steph, where is the outfit from? (Pardon the grammar!)

[tgr68]

FoxyBlue~I am the same way! I love the Pirates of the Caribbean series, but I have a really hard time watching the first one because of one scene. When the pirates first show up to kidnap Elizabeth, there is a shot with this little boy standing in the middle of the chaos just screaming and crying because he's so scared. I literally have to close my eyes or fast forward through that scene because it just kills me to watch it. :(

[MrsSpencer]

2-month check-up

11 lbs. 2oz.!
23 1/2 inches!

She said he looks awesome! Shots were horrible, I never heard him scream like that :( But I changed my mind and stayed with him, he grabbed me when they went in, I wanted to cry but didn't. He calmed down quick though and has been asleep since.


Yeah, I cry at anything dealing with kids :(

[phart]

Foxy~~I can answer since I have it too...it's from Happy Green Bee. I know they sell some of their items at Whole Foods.

[MrsSpencer]

got a pic of his smile!

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm318/NicholasHaroldsmommy/nicholas063.jpg

[tgr68]

MrsSpencer~Cute! We have the PJs that match that onsie! :)

Teething~I think it's starting here. I'm almost certain I saw some teeth. :eek: It's weird though because they aren't in the front. There are two hard white things on the front side of his gum up top on the right and another spot on the left. They feel like teeth, but it seems like a really weird spot for them to be coming through at (think at the #2 and #3 positions on the front of the gum rather than the bottom). He also has a hard bump on the bottom back almost where the molars are. On top of what I can see, he's been super fussy, not wanting to nurse, and chewing on his hands like crazy!

[kissmary]

I am doing okay without DH. For some reason the first day was the hardest. Today Henry had a 2 hour nap and a 3 hour nap!! And I have to change my answer to the awake times, because he's starting to stay awake for 2-3 hours at a stretch now. Babies change so quickly! Plus he was up at 6 am all happy and wanting to play. DH's plane gets in tomorrow around 9pm, so I still have a night and a day left! At least I'm going out to pick up our farm share produce tomorrow so I have no excuse to stay in!

tgr - Teething already? I can't believe you saw teeth! Henry tries to chew on his hands but he's been doing that for two or three weeks.

MrsSpencer - aren't baby smiles great? :)

twinnyme - love the pictures.

[twinnyme]

MrsSpencer - great photo! And it seems like he's doing great in terms of his WBV.

Thanks to everyone who commented on Bridget's smile/photo. I love the smiles but they are so hard to get on camera, especially the really good ones.

Tgr68 - yay for DS rolling! Try to get some down time soon.

Kissmary - glad you're doing okay without DH. Hopefully time will fly until tomorrow night.

Teething - no teething here, but I don't expect it for a really long time. DD1 didn't get her first tooth until 13.5 months - although she drooled excessively for months and months before that (starting very early).

[tgr68]

Kissmary~I'm not 100% sure it's teeth because of the location, but it looks an awful lot like it might be.

Twinnyme~The teething thing definately has me surprised because DD didn't get her first tooth until around 13 months as well.

[twinnyme]

Twinnyme~The teething thing definately has me surprised because DD didn't get her first tooth until around 13 months as well.

I guess you never know. Bridget and Becca are SO different I wouldn't be surprised if one more difference were that she gets teeth early, too!

[jess&dan]

Steph: He's so cute! That outfit is great!

FoxyBlue: What a big boy! Sounds like he is doing great. Weird about having to sign the waiver. My only guess is that it's to cover their butts should a child catch one of the illnesses they are being vaccinated against. But I agree with you, you shouldn't have to sign that.

Melissa: The pics are soo cute!

tgr68: Thanks about the pic! And yay for rolling over!

MrsSpencer: Glad he's doing great! What a cute picture!

Teething: I'm there with tgr68 and am pretty sure it's starting. He's all of a sudden a drool monster, constantly chewing on things, chewing on the bottle nipple, and is being more irritable. I swear I see something shining through, but feel nothing yet. It's not unheard of in my family...my one aunt had her first tooth at 3 months. DS1 got his first tooth at 5 months, so we're early teethers here. The only issue is that they can be teething for months before the actual tooth comes through!


Aaron turned 3 months on the 27th! I can't believe it's been 3 months already! He's doing very well, minus the recent probable teething. His sleeping is fantastic and he'll go to bed at 8:00 and sleep until at least 7:00, sometimes 8:00! Bottles are still an adventure, but he's definitely eating. According to our scale at home, he's about 14 pounds. He's super long and some of his 3-6 month clothing is reaching the limits length wise. Crazy! He's so animated lately and babbles up a storm and loves to smile. He does make you work for a giggle, though. But when he does giggle, it's deep belly giggles. I love it! His hair is falling out rapidly and he's going blonde!! Yay for me! I love that I make my boys blonde! :)

Here's the 3 month picture from home.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/jpillera/June27200808.jpg

And we went to Portrait Innovations later that day.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/jpillera/June27200809.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/jpillera/June27200803.jpg

[FoxyBlue]

OMG! He could be a year old! And he's adorable :) What a heartbreaker! I kind of want a second boy now that I have mine and see them here...

[Marisa]

Just a quickie post! Teddy finally had his 2m visit (a week late) and he is

24" long (about 75%)
16 lbs, 9 oz!! (off the charts!)

Dr. says he's doing great, and I agree. He's an awesome kid. :)

Here are some pictures of my boys:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/mtreglio/SGfVi9yhKgI/AAAAAAAAAL4/lyuBfpehQBU/IMG_1631.JPG?imgmax=640
Joey and Teddy, doesn't Teddy look thrilled? A friend made those matching shirts for them.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/mtreglio/SGfZAphFQ5I/AAAAAAAAAU0/eNkeWSNvvh4/IMG_1674.JPG?imgmax=640
One of the most recent pictures I have online right now. I call this one "Mama Said Knock You Out". :D

[twinnyme]

Great pics, Jess and Marisa!

[MrsSpencer]

Took Nicholas to his first ballgame tonight! (not to mention took him shopping alone! yay me). He did fabulous only woke up to eat and hung out in his carrier on DH and it was a work thing for DH (they bought tickets and gave us 20.00 to spend and catered dinner) and everyone was ooh and ahhing over him it was great! It was nice to get out and have some good time with DH.

[twinnyme]

I'll bump us up with a picture post. :) Hope everyone had a happy 4th! Everything is status quo here - we've had a busy few days and I think it's overstimulating Bridget a bit but she's still been great. Yesterday we were at a barbecue for hours and she didn't cry once - everyone was saying what a good baby she is. And she is! We're very blessed. Today at another barbecue she was a bit fussier, which is why I think she may have been getting a bit overstimulated, but we still had a fun day.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2639989617_09e050f4c1_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2639990211_9f520c63bc_m.jpg

And this is what the poor baby has to deal with on a daily basis.... :rolleyes:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2639990711_79d36ca413_m.jpg

And this one shows how much her hair is growing in (and a fun expression!):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2639990211_9f520c63bc_m.jpg

We have a baptism tomorrow morning, so our busy weekend continues! Again, hope everyone had a good holiday.

[kissmary]

We had Henry's baptism today, and he cried the whole time, mostly because he was tired! Then when we were driving back from my parents he didn't want to sleep and practically cried himself to sleep-wouldn't let us help soothe him much at all. He did finally sleep for the last half hour. Everyone loved seeing him, though. He slept for an hour in my mom's arms after baptism and then nursed and got to be passed around.

Melissa - love the pictures. Hope Bridget's baptism went well!

[twinnyme]

Kissmary - sorry Henry cried through his baptism. Rough for them with all the attention. Poor little guy. :( But I'm glad everyone loved seeing him. We didn't have Bridget's baptism today (hers is scheduled for 8/24) but a friend's daughter. In fact, I really have to start planning it now!

[Chelsea524]

kissmary, we had the twins blessings done at church yesterday and Harrison cried the whole time too, it was pretty funny actually, especially since they had a microphone, it was loud. Avery did great for hers and slept the whole time. Here's a pic of them in their blessing outfits.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m242/chelsea524/8J63TZ9HI4QBPYX6-J5TWN.jpg?t=1215438963

They both slept through the night Saturday night, it was a good birthday present to me yesterday, but I woke up at 5am leaking like crazy with my BBs throbing in pain because they were so full, I had to get up and pump. Harrison slept from 8 to 8 and Avery from 9 to 8:30.
Forth of July was fun, the babies went to the parade and fireworks at the park, Harrison loved the fireworks but he clung to my arm for dear life the entire time. Avery liked them but freaked out for a couple minutes because of a really loud one.
This is from the forth
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m242/chelsea524/IMG_1776.jpg?t=1215439621
This one I took to see if anyone could tell them apart wearing the same shirt, my family got it right, in-laws got it wrong
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m242/chelsea524/IMG_1752.jpg
Harrison is on the left, Avery is on the right

[MrsSpencer]

everyone's dc's are adorable!

[phart]

Lol...even I got it right:)

I'm here reading! All the pictures are great...I love seeing all the babies as they grow.

[summerbride2005]

Everyone's babies are adorable!

[kissmary]

Chelsea, the babies are looking so cute!

In Henry's (never ending!) quest to get his hands in his mouth, he is always rubbing his face and his eyes. Anyone else's DC do that? My DH said there was some kind of rash on his eyelids from this! I assume it's from all the drool he gets on his hands and spreads around.

[MrsSpencer]

Kissmary Nicholas does this...I think it may be from the drool (which he's always done) glad to know he isn't the only one.

Just got the BEST smile picture of him..will try and post!

[MrsSpencer]

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm318/NicholasHaroldsmommy/nicholas089.jpg

[twinnyme]

MrsSpencer - great smile!

Chelsea - happy birthday! And what beautiful pictures of the babies. I love them all. They're very photogenic. :)

[coquelicot]

Lovin' all the baby pics!

kissmary - DD does this, too. It's why I have to swaddle her while she's sleeping, otherwise she wakes herself up from poking herself in the eye. I hope she gets the hang of "hand in the mouth" soon. :)

[Chelsea524]

MrsSpencer He is so cute, great smile!

kissmary Avery does that a lot too, she has actually got the hang of it finally and is a big time thumb sucker, its so cute because she doesn't curl up the other fingers, they just cover her entire face.

OK, so I am not sure what to do with Avery and sleep, she refuses to sleep in any position other than her belly, which honestly doesn't bother me, her materess is very firm so I don't think she will bury her face in it, I just make sure there is no blankets in the way at all. The problem I am having is she scoots in her sleep big time lately, I will start her at the very end of her crib with her feet touching the end and in a couple hours she is screeming because she is stuck up at the top cornor of the crib, I have bumper pads on and I think I should be taking those off because of this but then the top of her poor head will probably have huge indents of the crib bars. I tried last night to switch her to her side or back and she would have nothing of it. Any advice? I have a feeling she will be crawling early with as much as she moves now.

[jess&dan]

Chelsea: The babies are adorable! And I got which was which right! :) I wish I had advice for you on the sleeping thing. DS1 was very much like that too and we just waited for him to get over it. Aaron sleeps on his belly too and scoots, but doesn't seem to care when he gets to a corner. I hope she either stops caring or you figure out something soon.

MrsSpencer: Adorable picture!

Mary: Sorry he cried the whole time. Aaron's is in about 3 weeks and I have a feeling he'll be doing the same!

All the babies are so darn cute...and growing like weeds!

Aaron is doing well. His eating has been a pain, though. He still fusses through feedings, but I'm thinking that now it might be because he doesn't want to eat as often. I'm going to try to feed him every 4 hours and see how that goes. But he's definitely growing is over 14lbs. according to our scale. He's so animated lately and talks up a storm. He loves the exersaucer and just talks and talks to the fish that is on it. His sleeping is great and he's down by 8:00 and awake anywhere between 7:00 and 8:00. Love it! Although, every now and then he'll roll over onto his back and can't roll back, so he gets angry and we have to go rescue him. I hope he learns to roll the other way soon! Lately he's been big on standing up. I'll be holding him on my lap and he'll push up until he's standing. He loves going for walks around the lake behind our house and starts squealing and kicking his legs like crazy as soon as he gets in the Bjorn. I love how interactive he is now! We had a long weekend where we had to travel 3.5 hours to get to Johnstown, PA, but he did very well with the drive, hotel stay, and all day picnic with people in his face. His Baptism is in 3 weeks, so I'm working on pulling that together.

Here's a picture of him after taking a dip in the pool.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a265/jpillera/July05200899CE.jpg

[summerbride2005]

jess&dan- That is amazing that Aaron sleeps so well. I thought DD did a good job, but I wish she could go 8p to 7a! How did Aaron do in the pool? I've been wanting to take Camryn in a regular pool but haven't done it yet. We have only taken her in a little blow up pool with water from the hose.

[twinnyme]

Jess - great picture of Aaron!

Summerbride - so far I've only put Bridget in a little baby pool, too. I wanted to put her in my mother's pool but my mother discouraged me....

Bridget is 3 months today! Time is flying! Here are some comparison photos of her from her monthly photos (in order of July, June, May):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2652639045_50273a5ab8_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2565505555_e76be763bf_m.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/2480844071_593305d38f_m.jpg

Some quick highlights:

* sleeps 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. to 4:45-5:00 a.m. Seems to be moving her bedtime earlier now. Sleeps in pac n play still.

* eating between 4 and 5 oz. most of the time. Hasn't thrown up in quite a while, either.

* generally a very laidback, content personality.

* responding more to DH, me, and DD1. Coos and smiles a lot, has laughed once or twice.

* holds her head up well, likes tummy time, loves to be "free" - laying down on a blanket with toys and kicking, strains her head forward in the car seat a lot. No attempts to roll yet.

* has hands in mouth much more now - trying to hold onto things but can only for a brief time so far and not very often.

[jess&dan]

summerbride2005: Aaron was not a fan of the pool. ;) He loves his baths, but not such a fan when it comes to a giant thing of cold water. :p He was only in for maybe 5 minutes.

Melissa: She's just too darn cute! Getting so big!

Aaron is doing so much better on this 4 hour schedule now. His naps are spectacular and he's eating much much better. I hope it keeps up. And having 4 hours between feedings is sooo strange...I have so much more time! It's weird!

[FoxyBlue]

I just figured out that my stinkin milk has too much lipase! DH said DS wouldn't take his bottle, it tasted metallic.

So I googled and lo and behold- too much lipase is the problem.

Now I'm scalding anything to store for longer than 24 hours. I still need to experiment to see how long it's good for. I'm hoping that I can still pump him SOME fresh milk.

Just wanted to post this in case anyone else is having issues with babies not liking expressed milk. :) Scalding is supposed to solve the issue.

[SiValleySteph]

Foxyblue, I was convinced I had too much lipase last kid. I scaled, compared, etc., made DH taste it... the works. In the end, DS eventually took the bottle again and all was good. I would totally have given up if I really had to scald all the time. My baby now is resistant to bottles, but will take them reluctantly. I know he'll do better when I'm back at work and he has no choice. Good luck!

twinnyme, Bridget is getting so big. Sniff, sniff. How are our babies growing up so fast?

jess&dan, Cute post-swimming picture! :)

Okay, that was all the replies I could manage. I am exhausted. Super tired.

Baby went on his first flight last week. He & I flew to Colorado for a wedding. It was super fun, but I've felt REALLY tired since. Today, I exerted myself trying to get a passport picture of him and I've given up. I was getting too much shadow, maybe, and I didn't want to risk it getting sent back since we're going to do a rush passport. We decided to go to Mexico next month. We also decied to go to Disneyland & Legoland at the end of this month. My almost 4 year old is SOOOO excited.

Here's one of the passport picture rejects...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/SiValleySteph/P7149057.jpg
I would have cropped it to the proper size/proportions, but I think there might have been too much shadow. I decided to go to Costco tomorrow instead.

[SiValleySteph]

marisa, I love the matching outfits. I'm a major sucker for matching outfits and so is my older DS. We have 5 sets of outfits. :)

Here's one my mom made from a few weeks back:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p12/SiValleySteph/P6158930.jpg

[twinnyme]

Steph - well, even if you didn't get a passport photo, that's one cute photo! As is the matching outfits one - I'll have to post my next matching outfits photo - we have quite a few as well, mostly gifts, but I love them!! My older DD lately has started to ask to wear their matching outfits sometimes. Enjoy your trips. Legoland looks so great!

[jess&dan]

Steph: That is an adorable picture, even if you can't use it for the passport! And love the pic of the boys in their matching outfits! Enjoy your upcoming trips!

[MrsSpencer]

cute pic steph

eta- Belm in the June mommies little boy has to undergo surgery tomorrow I believe just wanted to ask you all to keep them in your thoughts and prayers that everything comes out okay.

[Chelsea524]

Steph your boys are so cute!

My babies turned four months yesterday, I can't believe that, 1/3 of the way to a year, scary! They don't go in for theire WBV until next week. Avery almost has both of her bottom teeth, you can see them and feel them but I think they are still just barely under the gums, probably will be breaking through in 1-2 days, Harrison doesn't seem to be getting any at all yet. I got the excersaucer out yesterday and they both love it, I put one in it and the other one I put in the bouncy seat sitting up as much as it goes right next to it and they sit there talking to each other, so cute.

DH is looking into applying for a promotion, the bosses told him to apply, and I know he would almost certainly get it, he has a ton more experience than anyone else. It would hopefully make it so that after Averys surgery I could stay at home with the kids but DH isn't sure he wants the job, longer hours and everyone in this position has quit within 1-2 years because they hate the manager that much but I am still hoping it will work. I never before had much interest staying home but after the twins I just feel like the kids don't get much mom time let alone 1 on 1 time and I just need those extra hours in the day.

[twinnyme]

Happy 4 months to Avery and Harrison! It must be fun to watch twins interact. Chelsea - I hope that if you continue to want to stay home that it works out for you and DH!

Question: Does anyone use Similac Advance? I have three packages of the Powder Sticks (2 oz. each, and the packages have 16 sticks each) at home that I no longer need. They're good for tossing into the diaper bag when you're on the go. I accidentally bought the case of 6 (so, 16x6) a while ago and have only gone through three. We've switched Bridget to Good Start and she's doing well on it, so I'm trying to declutter the house a bit. I'm happy to send them to whoever wants them (first come, first serve) for free. Let me know. And then we can PM addresses or whatever.

[MrsSpencer]

Twinnyme- I wish....hard to find people giving away nutrimegen..lol

[FoxyBlue]

Chelsea- I hope you can stay home!

I was getting cabin fever, but DS is getting to be so much fun... just as I have to go back to work (one week). :(

I hope it's not too hard for me. We don't have a choice right now.

On the up side, my mom will be watching him! She seems to handle him well.

[Chelsea524]

Foxy sorry you have to go back, we have no choice at the moment either, thats why I am really hoping that DH applies and gets this new job, me quitting would still probably be 6 months away but at least the option might be out there.

twinnyme I use that formula but have I think 6 cans and haven't even made it through one yet so I don't think I would need it, thanks though

[Gabe's Mom]

Foxyblue - I, too, have to go back to work in 2 weeks. Am not looking forward to it. Just as DS gets to be more fun. I did it with my first son too so know it's hard but possible. Those first days are though, but after a few days, it gets easier.

[MrsSpencer]

Nicholas slept from 11-6! Hope it continues!

[summerbride2005]

FoxyBlue & Gabe's Mom- I'm sorry that you have to go back to work soon. I freak out just thinking about going back to work, but I don't go until September. Like Gabe's Mom said, I heard it gets easier after a while.

[jess&dan]

Sorry to those of you having to go back to work. I know what it's like and it's not easy at all. I'm going back on September 2nd and already dreading it. I'm hoping to work out a part-time schedule. The first time around I had maternity leave for 4 months and then when I went back full time DS1 was in the daycare at my office...so it didn't really bother me because I went over there a lot to feed him and be with him. This time around, we're not using the office daycare, so I took 5 months off this time to bide myself more time.

[summerbride2005]

What bottles are you using? I am still breastfeeding, but we are trying to get DD to get use to taking a bottle so it will be easier on her once I return to work. I just found out that the Breastflow bottles that we are using once a day are not BPA free. I'm not sure which bottle will help her switch back and forth from the breast to the bottle (I would like one that is BPA free). Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

[SiValleySteph]

summerbride - I was using the Evenflo glass bottles with the Nuk silicone nipples, but then my BF baby started refusing them. I got a lot of advice to use the Playtex drop-ins, so I'm now using the Playtex drop-ins with the latex nipples. DS is taking a bottle again, thank goodness!, although reluctantly. The nipple and the drop-ins are BPA free. I just got the adapters so I can pump directly into the drop-ins. I'm not sure about those yet. I was so desperate to get the baby to take a bottle that I bought a Breastflow bottle even though I knew they were not BPA-free. He wouldn't take it, which was a relief in a way (b/c of the BPA thing).

Going back to work - I'm starting to get to the point of counting down and I'm feeling a bit down. I have 6 weeks left off work. :(

[twinnyme]

Bottles - we use the MAM Ultivent plastic bottles, recommended by Jess! :) They work great for Bridget and are BPA-free.

Work - I'm sorry that everyone going back soon (and relatively soon) is dreading it. I've been back for almost a month now and although it was very very very hard the first day for me, it's been easier - but it's my second child and I know the place/people where she is so that's helped a TON this time around. It's also helped that I now have a 20-minute commute vs. a 1.5 hour comute each way this time! And that everyone's been in and out on vacation, so it's a slow time and a very nice way to ease back into things. But, yeah, it is especially tough to return JUST as the baby is getting more interactive and fun, because it seems like the reward for the rougher first few months and you feel like you're going to miss a lot. But you'll still see SO much! Good luck to everyone returning.

MrsSpencer - yay for good sleeping for Nicholas!

[Parrothead]

Bottles - We are using the new polypropelene, BPA free, Dr. Brown's bottles.

[summerbride2005]

Thanks ladies! We went to BRU and purchased a pack of 3 Anti-Colic BPA free MAM bottles and a pack of poypropelene BPA free Dr. Brown's bottles. We also got an Adiri bottle which is supposed to be like the breast. Hopefully DD likes at least one of these.

[MrsSpencer]

Sorry to those of you going back to work :( I feel so blessed to stay home. I'm going to start babysitting a six-month old the 18th of aug for some extra money.

bottles- we use drop ins the playtex ones they are bpa free.

Well, I believe bfing is over...I'm really sad, as it never went the way I wanted. He has refused to nurse for a week, and is happy with his bottle. I am going to try pumping and mixing it with formula so he gets some..what do you all think? I'm so depressed about it cause I loved nursing him at night, he is only waking once now about 4-5 to eat...he wakes at 1-2 but will just take his paci.

[Chelsea524]

I'm sorry about BFing MrsSpencer, how often have you been pumping/Bfing? I know you were feeding fomula as well right? I personally would try to offer the breast each time before the bottle, and before he is to starving and upset to try. That will help with your supply and hopefully help him get back to the breast as well. If that doesn't work I would absolutely pump and use as much BM as possible, there are women the exclusively pump and it does work, if you don't have enough of a supply then mix in with some formula but also there are many things you can do to increase your supply, check out the BFing thread for some tips.

Well, I tried cereal last night, more milk than cereal but just wanted to have them try out eating with a spoon. Harrison did great, made a mess of course but he loved it, Avery screamed the entire time:rolleyes: Overall it was a pain and a waste of 2oz of my BM but thats ok, I really would prefer waiting on solids until 6+ months but the babies are having a hard time waiting until I get off work to eat again, I work 6 hrs and only get one break so they get one bottle, which makes it 3.5 hrs between feedings which isn't bad but by the time I get home they are a mess so I thought if they could have some cereal to tide them over it would be better. I don't know, I think I will put it off for another week at least, Avery was just hating it.

[MrsSpencer]

He wouldn't take it at all (the breast) before the bottle, he used to bf at night and has refused. I haven't pumped in a while cause he won't take strictly bm in a bottle? So I was thinking of mixing. I'm gonna get some stuff to help with my supply. He has to have cereal mixed in with his bottle otherwise it ALL comes back up.

[twinnyme]

QOTD - just for fun - what thing do you do (or someone else) that can make your DC laugh or smile?

For us, it's tickling her chin. That definitely seems to be a happy spot for her. We're getting many more laughs out of her and it's so much fun. (We're experimenting now with other ways to get her to laugh/smile, too.) I love this age. Yesterday she was sitting in her bouncy seat while DD1 and I sat on the floor reading books. She was chatting away and swiping at the toys on the bar above the bouncy seat and every time she reached one and gave it a push, either I or eventually DD1 would say, "Good job, Bridget." It was so cute, I wish I'd gotten it on video. But I didn't want to ruin the moment! :p

She also LOVES her bath, which for us is very different from DD1. She doesn't smile during it much unless we do something to make it happen but she is SO relaxed during it.

She also gives a huge grin when she first spots me if I've been away (i.e. picking her up at daycare) or in another room and I come back. I LOVE that!

[MrsSpencer]

sticking out your tongue, singing, dancing, making funny noises, flapping his arms real fast..he loooves that, I call it flying:) kissing his tummy, and blowing up your cheeks and making him "pop" them with his hands!

[Parrothead]

How to make DC smile - DD is a really smiley kid. She smiles for just about anything -- my voice, DH's goofy faces, anything that DD#1 is doing and DD#2 is watching...

So, DD#2 is almost 3 months old. She's always been a great night sleeper (up 1x usually, even from birth), but the last 2 nights she's been up 3+ times. It is hard to say for sure if she is hungry b/c she is ALWAYS up for nursing. I have tried a pacifier (in fact, many kinds) but she's just not into them. I am thinking this is a growth spurt and temporary, but fear that she's starting a bad habit of wanting/needing to nurse to soothe. She does love sucking her hand. Perhaps I should swaddle her w/ her hand out? Any thoughts/advice on my rambling would be great :D

[twinnyme]

Perhaps I should swaddle her w/ her hand out?

Funny you should ask that. I think I asked the QOTD because I'm focusing on the good stuff today since, after being a fabulous sleeper for the past three months, for the last couple of weeks or so, Bridget has gotten up once a night, around 1 or 3 a.m., to eat. I really thought it was the 3-month growth spurt but since it's been about two weeks now, I'm not sure anymore.

I was thinking tonight of doing the same thing as you - unswaddling her hands as she has also found her fingers lately. She hasn't escaped from her swaddle in quite a while but perhaps that's it. She also seems to have had a runny nose for a few days, so maybe that's it, too. Plus, she did start daycare a few weeks ago, so that could be it, too. And we moved her to the crib a couple of weeks ago, too (she slept there quite a few times from 8 to 6 without getting up to eat), but I've been thinking of moving her back to the pac n play until we figure this all out. I've been just trying to run it out and see what happens but now I also don't want to start a middle-of-the-night feeding habit if I can help it! We went that route with DD1 for way too long (IMO) and I really don't want to go down that road again. I might also turn the monitor off so I don't hear the "small noises." We have a very small house and I'm sure that I'll hear her very quickly if she needs us - as I did with DD1.

[Chelsea524]

Well, babies had their 4 month WBV today
Avery is 12lb 10oz(30%) and 23