Sleep

This strange phenomenon has happened the last week or so. Nick has been sleeping through the night. He has been staying up more during the day, then he goes down around 8-8:30, and sleeps until 6:30-7:00am. He hasn't done it every night, but most of the nights in the last week or so. I know that sounds great, but I still wake up. I guess he has gotten me on his schedule, so I still wake up. The first few nights, I flew out of bed to check on him. The heart pounding awaking I had did little to help me fall back asleep. So while he is sleeping more, I think I was actually getting less sleep.

We are better now, and I am getting used to this whole sleeping through the night thing. Please tell me this is it. I know there will be occasional nights were he will wake up during the night. I have heard horror stories about teething. But, for the most part, can I consider him as a "sleeping through the night baby" RIGHT?

I guess it doesn't really matter how many times he wakes up when he looks like this when he does wake up:

More Advice... Even Though You Still Didn't Ask For It.

A few weeks ago, I posted things I have learned, and the knowledge I hoped to pass along to other new moms, or soon to be new moms. I recently have thought of another tip or two...

When you go to register for all your goodies, and you are trying to pick the car seat. Pick up the car seat, walk around with it. Try out other brands. Then, buy the lightest! Nick is pushing 11 pounds, but I swear when I put him in that car seat, suddenly, he is 20 pounds.

Speaking of registering... you really never know what your baby will take to. For instance, I registered for and received a beautiful bassinet as well as a bouncy vibrating seat. Both, before I had Nick, moms told me how invaluable those two items were. How needed they were, and how they would make my life SO much easier.

He refuses to be in either. I don't know why. The bassinet, I think maybe he got used to the hospital crib being so hard, then the bassinet was too soft, and he didn't feel comfortable. (Just a theory). He sleeps great in his crib, but refuses the bassinet.

The bouncy seat. You don't know how many times I heard over and over what a life saver this was. He does not like this one bit! Not sure why. Even when it is vibrating away, he really doesn't like it. He can sit in the swing for ever and be perfectly happy, but don't bring out the bouncy seat.

So, while you think all these things are going to help make your life easier, really, it is your child that will dictate what he/she/they will like! Maybe that should be the moral of the story or advice I am giving today... Really it doesn't matter what you think, want, plan, or try. Ultimately, your child will really be the boss.-

That concludes today's advice. I will share more tidbits of advice as I learn it... given that I have only had 2 posts of advice, I don't appear to have much more knowledge than any of you!

MOMS: Post your best advice to new moms to be!

Updates

Nick had a doctor's appointment on Friday. Actually, he had a doctor's appointment today, however, last Thursday, he was coughing and sneezing a lot, so I called Friday morning to see if I could get him in Friday. All was well. He probably has allergies, however, he is still too little to get allergy meds. Hopefully, allergy season will be over soon.

Nick has been doing really well. The doctor was happy with his weight gain. As of Friday, he was 10lb 8 oz. He gained 1lb 4oz in a month. While he is small for his age, he is gaining well, and that is all that matters. When his age is adjusted for the prematurity, he is in the 25th percentile. While that is still small, considering he was in the 11th percentile when he was born, we are heading in the right direction.

Nick is really eating well. In the last few weeks, he has started taking 3-4 ounces every 3-4 hours. His appetite is really growing. He has also entered into a new sleep pattern, which I hesitate to talk about for fear of jinxing it. Lately, Nick has been awake more during the day, and sleeping more at night. Before, he woke every 3-4 hours to eat. Meaning he woke 2-3 times a night. Now, he generally goes to bed somewhere around 8:30-9:00 and sleeps until 2-3. Then goes back to sleep until about 6:30-7:00. That has been a really nice sleeping pattern.

He is talking and cooing so much now. He loves to be talked to. He loves to talk back to you. He just smiles and smiles, when he is talking too you. It is amazing the changes that he is going through. He is getting so big, and starting to change his habits. I can't believe how far he has come. I can't wait to see what comes next!

Nick's Room

I realized the other day I never posted photos of Nick's room. I am still not completely done with it, but thought I would share a few photos anyway. I am almost done. Just have the curtains to get, then hang. His room is kind of cowboy, but not over the top. I love it, and hope he grows up to love it as well...

His crib. The saying above his crib says "Every child is a story yet to be told"

The view into his room... crib is on the right, changing table on the left. I know, I know I still need curtains on the window. In the corner is his book shelf. It holds a few toys, some stuffed animals and LOTS of books. Nick loves to be read to.

Above the window, is his name in wooden letters, with little "cowboy" trinkets on the letters

Changing table (did you really need to see that? probably not, but enjoy it anyway)


A closer look of the shelf above the changing table.

For those of you keeping score, he did finally find his thumb. He loves it! He seems to always be sucking his thumb now. Funny thing is his hands are always in this position. Right hand, thumb in mouth, fingers extended. Left hand behind the head. The hands behind the head is SOOO a Brennan trait! They all do it. Obviously some traits are encoded, not learned.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers and soon to be mothers! Up until now, I thought Mother's Day was about telling your mom how much you loved and appreciated her. While that is still the case, it also made me stop and think about how lucky I am to have Nick. How grateful I am that this gift was sent to me. He couldn't give me anything better than his love. The way he looks at me and smiles, that is truly the greatest part of my day.

So, to all of you mom's again, Happy Mother's Day. Your job is truly the most fantastic one of all.

Advice... Even Though You Didn't Ask For It.

A few of my friends are about to have babies of their own (even twins!) So I thought I would share some of my new found knowledge. Every day is a new learning expierence, so you never know what new advice I might pop up with. Here is what I have learned so far...

1.) You can function on far less sleep than you think you can. Sometimes it may feel like you can't, but you can. I promise

2.) Things you need LOTS of: bottles and nipples, burp clothes, thin blankets (for swaddling). All of these things you go through many throughout the day. You won't want to spend all of your free time (ha ha that is funny) washing bottles, or laundry. Bottles and burp clothes especially, even when you think you have enough... buy some more! Also, diapers and wipe... buy they big packages, you will use them!

3.) Some how, some way, they always know when you are wanting to eat, or get something done. That is always the time they throw a fit, are hungry, or need a diaper change. The more important the thing you need to do, the bigger mess you have to deal with. (As I am typing this, Nick is on my shoulder)

4.) You will get surprisingly good at doing things 1 handed. Start practicing now.

5.) You really can function on less sleep than you think you can!

6.) Sheet Savers are wonderful things. If the baby spits up, you just change that instead of changing the whole sheet. Sometimes, crib sheets are a pain to change.

7.) Sleep outfits for baby should be, and ONLY be, either the sleep dresses, or zippered. Snaps are not your friend at 2 in the morning. It took one night for me to figure that out the hard way. Make sure you have easy access sleep clothes.

8.) Baby Einstein DVD's are awesome. You wouldn't think a baby would watch them for 30 minutes without making a peep, but they do. It is great when you need a few extra minutes to eat, do laundry or one of the many other things you will need to do.

9) Babies do generate a LOT of laundry. It is amazing how something so little can go through so much laundry.

10.) You really can function on less sleep than you think you can. Just keep some caffeinated drinks handy.

11.) You can never understand the love you will feel for your child until you meet them for the first time. You hear people tell you that all the time, and you think you understand it, but when you first see your new baby, you will be amazed at how true those statements are. You really can't understand it until you meet them.

12.) No matter how little sleep, how many time you get spit up on, or peed on. How many meals get interrupted, nothing will make you smile more than seeing that cute little face smile. The first time is special, but every time in amazing!

Good Luck! I know you will all make great mommies! I am always here if you need anything!

5 months

Dear Nick,

5 Months??!!! Have 5 months already passed. Just the other day I was looking at a video from the day I first got to hold you. My how small you were. At that point, I couldn't even imagine you as a 10lb baby. Back then, you were barely 2lbs. You were hooked up to a lot of machinery, and still in a very fragile state. I remember the first time I got to hold you. It was so bittersweet. I had this tiny delicate baby in my arms. It was the most wonderful, and scary experience of my life.

Finally, I get to hold you everyday. I get to witness all the wonderful things you do everyday. It has been an amazing gift to see you grow and change. You have changed so much in the month and a half you have been home. You seem to always wake up in a good mood. That is your most smiley time. You love to smile and coo at me when I talk to you. It seems like everyday brings more and more smiles. You can be such a happy baby!

There are times when you can show your temper, sometimes, seemingly for no reason at all. You can go from this:

to this:

and I am at a loss for why. I do know what will make you happy. Any time you cry, if I put you up on my shoulder and pat your back, it is instant calm. That is your favorite spot. You could and would stay there for hours if I let you. (Sometimes I let you stay there for hours and hours).

Right now, your swing is still your favorite spot to be, if not being held. Really, anything that moves it good for you. You hate being in your car seat, unless you are actually in the car and it is in motion. Unfortunately, red lights produce screaming fits sometimes, but once the car is moving again, you are usually content. I don't think I could get out of a ticket if I ran a red light, sorry buddy.

You aren't too sure you like your bath time yet. You don't cry, but you don't smile, or kick in the tub either. Once you get out of the tub, you are usually very happy. I love the way you smell when you get out of the bath.

Ms. Stacy watches you during the day while I am at work. She is a wonderful gift. She just loves you, as do her kids. They all dote on you all day long. It has been a blessing to find someone so loving to care for you during the day. Don't get me wrong, I hate leaving you with someone else. I remember the first day I dropped you off, I cried half way to work. I wasn't really expecting that reaction from myself. After all, I left you in the care of others for 3 1/2 months. The first day I dropped you off, you were asleep. I hated to think of you waking up and not knowing where you were, and with someone you really didn't know. You seem to do just fine though. You are happy with Ms. Stacy all day. Even better, Ms. Stacy is an Aggie! So between my brain washing ( you will know the fight song soon enough), Uncle Buddy, and Ms. Stacy, you are destined to be an Aggie. (If you decided to go to Harvard, Yale, or Rice, I would be okay with that, anything else may not be acceptable.)

Nick, I know that you are destined for great things. You were born to fly. I know you are going to be a strong willed and determined little boy. I could see that from day one. You put up such an amazing fight in your first few months of life. You can't do anything now but succeed. That strength and fight will carry you so far in life. I know that I will spend the rest of my life being proud of you.

The last month and a half has been the most tiring stressful time I think I have ever had. I know that more times like that will come. It has also been the most exciting, fulfilling, and blessed time I have ever experienced. What ever stress comes, I know that the blessings are 10 times more bountiful. Not having you home every day for the first few months has made me appreciate you every minute you are here... even at 2 in the morning. (Smiles at 2 am are always welcome!)

While I can't believe it has been 5 months already, I can't wait for the next chapters. I can't wait to see what you do next. I know that one day I will look back on this and wish to come back to this time. I know you will grow up far too quickly, but for now, I can't wait for you to witness life.

I pray every night that you have a blessed and happy life. Please know that I will do everything in my power to see that happen.

I love you little man.

Mommy