On the lake

Same tricks, different year. 

Come on, Dad, step it up a notch.  Wink.

For the record, he didn't get up on his first try.  Second.  And he was aching the next day.  Suppose that's what happens when you take a year off...and get old(er).

Rub A Dub Dub

My three men in a tub.

Bathtime for Hansie!  Freddie is getting his shower a day, but would not be left out of climbing in the tub with the other guys.

8 Weeks

We're at the lake.  Sorry for the lack of updating.  I'm sure the pictures speak volumes....Hans is "bulking up" and getting lots of love from his brother.

He's on vacation and living it up sleeping next to Mama.  Hoping we can get back to a better routine when we return home, but he is managing his naps.

 

He's smiling lots and crying a whole lot less, with the exception of the past few days.  Perhaps this is a result of my binging on Bison Crunch ice cream cones.  I'm off the ice cream and he seems better already.  Coincidence?   

2 months of tummy brother under our belt and things are getting easier each day.  It feels good to have him here.  Love our boys. 

Lovin

• Rock collecting
• Feather, pine cone, acorn, and stick collecting
• Morning walks
• Low humidity
• Sunshine
• Sleep when its offered
• Smiles
• Spontaneous "I love you, Mama"s
• "I wanna kiss Hansie"
• An emptied dishwasher
• Iced mocha with soy milk
• 2 sleeping babies

7 Weeks

• Filling out
• Sleeping more (6 hours at night!)

• Solid naps (2 naps, 2-3 hours each)
• Fussing less, perhaps

• Smiling
• Watching
• Cooing

• Thumb sucking
• Needing to be held
• But enjoying the bouncer
• Fuzzy hair

The Mama

• Dr. H has lifted all physical restrictions, as in there is no excuse for not losing these last 10 lbs. He was pleased with his work, noting that the scar would fade over a few months.  When he asked if I was happy with it I told him I haven't seen it because of the fat roll sitting on top. 
• My uterus is all back to normal, and the minimal bleeding I am having should resolve itself within the next week. 
• I am pretty bummed about not losing any more weight since giving birth.  
• The boys and I go out each morning for a walk.  Granted it's only 3.5-4.0 miles and a leisurely pace at that, but it's something.  And I am pushing that beast of a stroller.  Still not losing any weight.  I'd like to increase my activity level but right now time doesn't permit.  I've already pushed both boys to their stroller sitting limits with the hour long walk in the morning, and I am not jogging behind that thing.  
• Time doesn't permit a lot right now.  My legs need shaving, my eyebrows need plucking, and I'd like to do something other than sit with one baby on my boob while the other does flips off my lap for attention.
• When Freddie was 6 weeks old I thought about how that is the time most mothers return to work.  I couldn't fathom going back to work and thought about how probably all the ills of American society are rooted in the disregard for motherhood and lack of support for new families.  Well, darlin, what I wouldn't give to get dressed and walk out of this house at 7am with a tall coffee in my hand and return home to 10 hours later to two children and a husband happy to see me.  This is some hard work.  I cannot fathom anything more demanding. 
• I don't really want to leave the boys full time.  Ok, sometimes I do, but my desire to figure something out for myself has never been stronger. 
• I'm going to Dr. H in November to discuss having my tubes tied.  How's that for doing something for myself?

6 Weeks

Nighttime sleep:  You're still managing 5 hour stretches most nights.  I think you'd go longer but you usually wake the both of us up with some poots.  After that first stretch, you seem to sleep in 2-3 hour stints.  We're trying to dial back your bedtime to around 7pm.  And I'm working hard on being consistent.  Freddie gets in the bath about that time, so I'm hopeful we can spend some time unwinding in the rocker and get you down for the evening.

Napping:  Getting about two naps a day.  One nap is in the stroller during our morning walk and you seem to doze off and on.  The other is in the afternoon for 2-3 hours and typically overlaps with Freddie's nap by about an hour.  You could usually use, and never get, a late afternoon/early evening nap but I am hoping an earlier bedtime makes it unnecessary. 

Temperament:  You are finally starting to smile.  Thank the lawd.  Just when Mama thinks she cannot go any further you start doing that.  You still cry a great deal, but maybe we'll turn a corner with that this week?  You don't seem to mind tummy time, and maybe this is because it helps your tummy feel better.  It surprises me that you don't immediately get angry when I place you on your stomach the way Freddie did.  When you're worn out you soothe yourself by sucking on your wrist and can even soothe yourself to sleep.  As much as I hope you're not a thumb sucker, I hate to discourage your self soothing.  I'm also not sure how to handle this at sleep time since I want to swaddle you but hate to take your arm away from your mouth.

Health:  You nurse a lot, but I mostly offer you the breast to shut you up.  If your mouth is full you can't cry.  You're only pooping once a day, and that can be kinda scary.  Your chest still sounds a little congested to me but I'll wait to ask about that at your next well visit.

I'm holding his head, Mama.

Little brother:  Oh goodness, I sure hope you're a patient, easy going kid.  Freddie is all over you and you seem unfazed by it currently. He paws ("pets") you pretty frequently and loves giving you snuggles which can pretty much be described as you getting mauled. 

1 month well visit

At 5 weeks, 1 day:

Hans' stats:
Weight: 9lbs 1 oz (15th percentile)
Length:  22.25 inches (80th percentile)
Head circumference:  37.5 cm (25th percentile)

Vaccinations: 

• Hep B (2nd dose)

(Want to compare to Freddie at this age?  Weight is similar, head is smaller, and he's taller than F was at this age.)

I had no concerns, really.  I did mention his gagging/gurgling on a little spit up or something in the back of his throat every once in a while.  Reflux, she said, but just like our other pediatrician had said, it's part of being a baby and unless he's refusing to eat or showing extreme pain, she'd rather not treat it. 

She said she's not concerned yet about his weight, although she seemed to be a little.  She gave him a look over and commented that he didn't "look skinny."  Sorry folks, I just don't make babies with luscious fat rolls.  I imagine we'll follow his weight for some time like we did with Freddie, and I also imagine he's fine and will follow the growth curve. 

I forgot to give her the info to check the results of his newborn (pku?) screening with the state, so I imagine I'll be walking back over later this week to double check that.

As with Freddie, she recommended vitamins, specifically vitamin D.  I suppose I'll head over to the drugstore for that this week as well.

And as I was leaving she gently placed a pamphlet in my hand about calming a fussy/colicky baby.  Yep, he's a screamer and hard to console.  Funny thing is I don't think he's nearly as bad as Freddie was.  With Freddie I gave up dairy and felt this helped and, lo and behold, it's noted in the pamphlet as something to try.  I suppose I'll be picking up some soy milk at the drugstore as well. 

5 Weeks (and 1 day)

• A day late.  Sigh.
• There's been no sleeping the past couple of nights.  You're up every hour. Perhaps a growth spurt, although I wasn't expecting that for another week.  

I'm just hugging Hansie, Mama.

• Naps aren't really going down either.  The morning nap in the stroller is garunteed but the rest of the day is hit or miss.  When I finally get a minute to read your cues and actually sit down to help you wind down, there always seems to be something that interferes.  And that something is usually generated by your big brother.
• I think you're pretty cute.  Your ears kinda bend at the tops.
• Your hair is soft and fuzzy and filling in.  It looks like a nice reddish brown.
• Your eyes are dark.  A brown eyed boy you will most likely be.
• Although you're still not crazy about the swing you'll sit for a while in the bouncer looking around.

• I'm sorry I didn't take any pictures this week.
• You still scream an awful lot.
• Pooping and passing gas seem to stand between you and sleep as well.  You have this knack of waking the both of us up from deep sleeps with a giant poot.

Announcement

Monday Evening Exchange

Freddie:  Text message, Mommy.
Mommy:  Hand me the phone so I can read it.  Must be from Dada.
Freddie:  No. Mines.  I read it.
Mommy:  Ok.  Well what does it say?
Freddie:  I love Freddie.

The First Born

My boy loves his Tummy Brother.  He's dedicated, caring, and loving.  I think he loves his mama as well, but vying for attention has brought out some attempts for attention, both positive and negative.  He loves getting and giving cuddles, snuggles and kisses. 

He's not really napping lately, in part because our routine isn't set with visitors, but if Hans isn't sleeping he surely isn't going to sleep either.

He's a full blown chatterbox.  Some of his phrases, which he's picked up here and there, always put a smile on my face.  Some of what he's saying...

• I'm worried about you.
• Understand me?
• Check it out.
• Perfect.  Perfect. Perfect.
• How'd you sleep, Mama?
• Beat you! (Learned this from Aunt Lizzie fussing at her dogs and he uses it in the appropriate context, i.e. when he's angry with Mama.)
• Oh man.
• I'm so glad you're here.
• How was your day?
• Love you.  Whole World, Mama

He has a basket for all of his "treasures," and they are definitely treasures.  I wonder what we'll do once this treasure basket is overflowing with rocks, acorns, feathers, and sticks.  I'm secretly moving the larger sticks back to the yard.

He is also a dancing fool.  He loves to turn on his ipod and dance the afternoon away.  

He's experiencing a "regression" with the potty, but I am not sure I'd call pooping in the middle of the living room a regression.  It's actually genius I'd say.  He accomplished his mission:  Get Mama's Attention, STAT!

My favorite thing currently is his imagination.  He can keep himself busy for hours with *nothing.*  A few months ago he used "props" to create meals and fish and general pretend play.  Now no props are necessary.  He sits in his beach chair to fish in the living room and watch the dolphins swim by.  He hands me baby foxes wrapped up in blankets to care for while he rescues the baby dragon on the other side of his bed. 

So much happening with my little guy.  The change from one day to the next is amazing and makes me a little sad as well to watch everything change so quickly.  He's something else.

4 Weeks

You're a month old! Seems like forever that you've been around, Tummy Brother.  You're definitely ours.

Your legs look so long and your toes even longer.

Freddie's taking great care of you.  He checks on you each time you cry and likes to help change your diaper.  He loves on you lots, maybe a little too much?  Thanks for being so patient with all of us.

I suppose it's easy to tell that you're the second child since you just got your first bath at 3.5 weeks.  I am trying to figure out how to fit everything into our routine.  You enjoyed the bath more than I remember Freddie enjoying his first bath.  I guess being a bit older helps.

You're spending longer and longer awake during the day and keeping most of your sleep to the evening hours.  The 5+ hour sleep stretches in the evenings have returned and I am ever so thankful.  You sleep most of the night in the cosleeper next to the bed, swaddled up tightly.  I usually pull you in to bed with me in the early morning for some cuddles.  Amazingly, this seems to be the soundest sleep you get, unswaddled, lying cheek to cheek with your mama.  I don't sleep so soundly, but am enjoying feeling each little breath on my face. 

Your eyes are dark and are looking like you'll be a brown eyed boy.  Your soft fuzzy hair is filling in on top.  

 

We love you, Tummy Brother.  

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

This morning while I was nursing Hans in my room Freddie pooped on the living room floor.  He nonchalantly led me to the mess after I finished up with Hans.

This afternoon while I was nursing Hans in my room Freddie peed on his bed.  He nonchalantly asked for Mickey undies and led me to the mess after I finished up with Hans.

Ice Cream in Central Park

He was a bit unsure of the frozen Sponge Bob confectionery he selected.  I'd even say his licks were dainty.

I took over with Hans and put the Daddy on the ice cream situation.  Charlie wiped and wiped and wiped with each drip so there wasn't a massive mess at the end.  Freddie actually appreciates clean hands along the way.

He didn't mind sharing at first but it quickly became "mines."  I'm not sure why I was surprised when he asked for another after he finished.

Another promised for next weekend, but I'm going to angle for something chocolate.

3 weeks (and 1 day)

I have a feeling that your weekly photo may end up being weekly + a day (or two or three) given how my afternoon looked yesterday:  you screaming inconsolably and Freddie hanging on my leg doing the same because he wanted to be held as well after being told I couldn't attend "the party in his bedroom" until you had been fed.  I'm trying to allow that scene to be normal so I'm not rattled or in tears.  Sigh.

I made the mistake of mentioning you were sleeping from 8.00pm-1.30am for a handful of consecutive nights.  That, of course, was enough to put an end to that.  Perhaps your 3 week growth spurt has begun, but you are not interested in sleeping, just nursing and crying. 

We've been using the Daddy's morning momentum to get us out the door each morning for a walk and some playtime.  You're awake for about half of our walk and have been pretty patient at the playground while Freddie gets some of his energy out.

You impress me with your head control already.  You work to lift it and look around at your surroundings.  I suppose your head being on the small side helps.  We've got out a few toys to get tummy time started.  I think Freddie will be the biggest entertainment to keep you motivated during tummy time.  He's definitely interested in all things Hans.

You've been left to cry more than Freddie ever did.  Sorry about that.  Things are rough with two of you and only one of me.  Something tells me you'll be ok, and maybe you'll even be more relaxed because of it.  As comfortable as I feel with this Mama thing, I don't feel as though I remember much from when I did it the first time around, although it is slowly coming back.  You're healthy and nursing and loved.  All the other stuff I'll figure out eventually, I promise.