baby boy update

i meant to write a blog post awhile ago, but my little man has kept me very busy.  these last 12 or so days has been full of tears (mine and his), nursing strikes (his), and refusal to sleep (his).  there were a few days where he just refused to nurse, i basically had to force him and it was heartbreaking.  i think it was because he was so impatient, he just wanted milk without having to do anything.  which is weird because he rarely gets a bottle, so it's not like he is spoiled with it.  then there have been the nights and days trying to get him to sleep.  he has never really been a great napper, but now it has become such a huge issue.  if he doesn't nap during the day then he won't go to sleep at night until reaaaaalllly late.  so i have been trying my hardest to get him on a nap schedule.  i read some different opinions and suggestions and decided to follow when he is normally tired or naps on his own and then try to stick to that, making the environment conducive for him to sleep.  sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  but I have been trying whatever i can-putting him in his carrier or wrap, car seat, you name it.  and we have also been struggling with getting him to sleep at night at a reasonable time, i.e. before 2 am.  we figured out that we have to start the bedtime process around 9 pm with nursing, jammies, dim lights and no visual stimulation. then around 10 we bring him to our bedroom, put him in between us and sing, hold his flailing arms down and give him his binkie.  after about an hour of this he falls asleep finally.  i sometimes have to walk him around or rock him.  once asleep i put him in his pack n play next to the bed.  so far that has been working and there is a certain amount of fussing and crying from him but we just let him fuss and cry.  i really don't get him sometimes because he is tired--but won't sleep!  crazy guy.  anyway i don't know if it is because there is so much going on that he wants to check out, growth or developmental spurts or what but it has been challenging.  other than that, he is pretty cool.  when we get him to sleep at night he sleeps about 6-8 uninterrupted hours.  and then is so super charming in the morning, smiling and giggling at mama.  so, here is the update:

pensive look

put your dukes up

-feeding: still nursing, mostly all is good except when he strikes and doesn't want to nurse, then i have to trick him into it.  but he loves his milk.

listening to grampa wisdom

 -growth: he is growing and developing like crazy.  i weighed him on our home scale and if it is to be trusted he is 12-13 lbs. last time i weighed him on it he was 10 lbs, so in 3 weeks or so he gained 3 lbs.  he no longer fits his newborn clothes and is now in his 0-3 month ones.  his arms and legs are usually too long for his clothes but putting him in 3+ month clothes has helped.  when I pick him up, he definitely feels chunkier and he is starting to get more fat on his legs and arms, and he is growing another chin.  i just love a nice chunky baby.

this is how he sleeps

listening to grama

with his giant bear

-development: he is so strong.  he kicks hard and tries to launch himself in the air, he punches with a good amount of force, he pulls himself up sit-up style with his ab muscles, he tries to sit and stand.  the kid is busy.  he now smiles easily and cooes and makes other cute baby noises.  he still grunts a lot.  he has giggled a little, is right on the verge of really laughing.  he mimics facial expressions, too which is pretty cute.  he recently found his hands and has been putting his little fists in the air in front of his face, watching them move and staring at them, and he just recently found his feet and have been staring at those.  he likes to be sitting up and facing out to see what's going on in the world.  i decided to get him a bumbo chair, i think he would enjoy it.  he is so wiggly, flailing his arms and legs around like he is flying or swimming.  if i have him the bed with me, he moves so much he ends up right up next to me, pushing me over to the other side.   it is really amazing watching him figure stuff out on a daily basis.

-sleep: as stated above, hard to get him to nap and get to sleep at night but once asleep does great.

-diaper situation: have been using the cloth bum genius diapers for about 3 weeks now and i really like them.  there was a learning curve and it took me a couple days to figure out that they were leaking because i wasn't fastening them tight enough.  but now it's all worked out and they are just great, rarely any leaks.  they are a bit bulkier than disposables but who cares?  we have 24 and i wash every other day.

cutie in his bum genius

 -baby's temperament: he is still a grumpy guy, but now with moments of giggles and smiles.  he loves to be held and played with, he loves attention and does not like to be left alone.  he doesn't really have a favorite toy or book yet, but he does really like his Jacques the Peacock stroller toy, especially when i squeak it, he almost laughs when we do that.

things that mr. Z likes: baths, baba washing his face in the morning, staring at lights and high contrast objects, baba flying him around the house like an airplane, being held, playing

things that mr. Z doesn't like:  being alone, napping, getting his face wiped, when we put a shirt on him and it has to go over his head

-me: getting more confident in my mothering abilities and don't have a panic attack now when i take him places.  i have lost about 15 or so lbs, am still up about 20 lbs from my pre-preg weight but i am not really doing anything about it a this point.  still need to get back on track spiritually as i am not doing any kind of reading, etc., i'm lacking in that aspect and can feel it.

-parenting a two month old: hmmmm, i'd say a little more challenging than parenting a newborn since he is more alert and sleeps less.  but there are moments when he can entertain himself for 15 minutes at a time, which is nice.

well, i guess that is it for now.  if anyone has ideas for getting babies to nap please let me know! i've tried swaddling, walking, rocking, car rides, car seat, mamaroo, carrier, moby wrap, cry it out, nursing, on and on and nothing is a sure fire way.  I take him to his 2 month checkup in a few days so hopefully i can write a post afterwards. :)