A few cute pictures to get your weekend started…
Thank goodness it is FRIDAY! A happy 18th birthday to my niece Megan!
We’ll be spending our weekend doing errands & cleaning. Hopefully our little spitter will calm down so we won’t have to do so much laundry!
We hope you have a great weekend!
Its been what, two weeks since I last posted? Life is chaotic and Jonathan has been super needy lately. He’s refusing to nap most days, and doesn’t sleep long enough on days he does nap. As a result, he tends to be a little cranky and he won’t let me put him down. For now though, he’s laughing up a storm at his grandpa, so I figured I would hop on here, renew my WordPress account for another year, and post a little!
Last week was really busy for Joe, so I went to visit my family in the Charlotte area. Lets just say my child came back ten times as spoiled as he was when we left home! My mom would get up around 3-4 am when I was finished feeding Jonathan and rock him to sleep for me (and then let him sleep on her chest while she was in the recliner). It allowed me to get a little sleep (because we all know he doesn’t like to sleep!). My nieces all took turns spending the day with me, each one playing with Jonathan, feeding him bottles for me, some getting him to sleep. It was nice because some days I could grab a short nap or at least take a normal length, non-rushed shower. My sister, dad, brother-in-law, brother, and step-mom also added to the spoiling!
My mom and sister spoiled me a little too while I was there. On Sunday they shipped me off to Ballantyne Spa for a massage while they watched Jonathan for me. It felt a little weird to be honest with you, but I enjoyed the relaxation. I was also treated to a new hair style during the week (Disclaimer: Chris, if you read this, I promise I’m not cheating on you! You’re still my favorite stylist!) .
Now we’re back home and trying to get into a groove, despite the fussiness. The past three nights Jonathan has…wait for it…. SLEPT! Last night wasn’t quite six hours, but close. The two nights before have been six and six and half hours. Praise be to God! The days, however, are long when he doesn’t nap. I’ve not gotten a ton accomplished because he wants to be held all the time. But honestly, I don’t mind one bit. I will drop almost everything (we need clean clothes, dishes can’t pile up, food has to be made some days, and I do have to use the bathroom on occasion) if he wants to be held. I know these days are numbered and soon I won’t be able to cuddle him in my arms. I’m trying to treasure each one of them!
I’m in love with my little guy, more than words can describe. He’s the answer to years of prayers and I cannot begin to thank God for this blessing. I thought infertility was tough, but I never realized how hard being a mom could possibly be.
I always envisioned lots of cuddles (which happens routinely), a fun and playful little baby. I imagined singing lullabies to Jonathan and working with him to learn new skills. Playdates with all of our friends who have little ones, trips to the parks, and lots of fun. I never imagined the difficulty that came with motherhood.
Some moms have it easy. They have an easy baby who sleeps and is all around happy…all the time. People always said “I hope you don’t have a colicky baby.” I never really understood what they meant and figured I would have a pretty laid back little guy.
Now I understand.
Jonathan has had a rough few weeks. We’ve finally gotten the reflux pretty much under control with medicine. After a little trial and error, I’ve found that if I consume dairy, his poor little body suffers. Add dairy to the list of foods I can’t consume- along with tomato (pasta) sauce, citrus, garlic, and caffeine. I’ll gladly give up whatever I can if it will help soothe him. Naps have been short and not frequent enough. And then the nights…
We’ve had so many sleepless nights. Jonathan has had nights where he would eat for 45 minutes, sleep for 45. Repeat, repeat, repeat. It’s incredibly difficult on anyone to have that schedule…adults and babies alike. You get to the point where you can barely function. Sure “sleep when baby sleeps” is great advice that I try to take whenever possible, but it isn’t always possible. Sometimes you need to shower…since it has been three days since your last one. Letting a tiny little baby “cry it out” isn’t good advice, but sometimes you have to put them down for a few minutes to use the bathroom. Or you have to put them down so you can change your clothes, since they just spit up down your shirt…for the fourth time today.
Then there are days like this past Monday. Jonathan wasn’t just fussy, but he refused to nap. And by refusing to nap, I mean he was pretty much awake for 15 hours straight. He’s two months old, not an adult! He needs his sleep! Sleepiness + fussiness = exhaustion for both baby and mom!
Relinquishing “control” has been so hard. I know I’m normal. I’m finally accepting the need of having to ask for help. Friends are watching him or going to the store with me and I’m going to visit family during one of Joe’s hectic work weeks. Having battled infertility and desperately wanting a child for so long and finally being blessed with one, I’ve felt like I should be able to “fix” my child. It’s almost as though I’m failing to provide the needs of the blessing I was given. I know Jonathan isn’t to blame for this. I know I’m not to blame. I know that he’ll grow out of this in a “short” amount of time. The days may be long, but the years are short. Even in the exhaustion and fussiness, I’m trying to savor the moments. I’m trying to not forget the hysterical laughter he has in his sleep or the fact that he’ll stick out his tongue for me on cue. I’m trying to get in all my kisses and cuddles now while I still can because I know one day he will be “too big” for them.
Here is an article that explains colic and the emotions that go with it so much better than I can!
Jonathan,
Happy 2 months (and 4 days) little guy! The past month has flown by, yet crept along, all at the same time. Last week I had to pack up all of your newborn clothes and some of your 0-3 month things. It made me a little sad to have to put them away, but at the same time I’m looking forward to the days ahead! This past month has been filled with a few new things for you.
- You took a bath in your whale tub for the first time
- We recently started putting you in cloth diapers. When you were in your very first one, you decided to have a nice big blowout. I wasn’t prepared for that! But it has gotten a little better each day!
- On a few occasions, you’ve started rubbing your eyes to indicate that you’re sleepy.
- You still hate the pacifier, which I’m ok with. It will be one less habit we have to break in the future!
- You have become fascinated with the little birds that hang from your bouncy seat. Because of this, we have set up a play gym on the floor for you and put your mobile up in your bed. You love looking at the toys hanging above you, and find yourself amusing in the mirror. Your play gym has a little piano that you love to kick, but you’re not always fond of it making music.
- You have developed the need to grab things! Most of the time it is my hair or shirt, but we’re working on grabbing other things too!
- You do not like excessive noise. For example, if the tv is on or is on too loud, you get quite fussy! You tend to enjoy it being quiet much more!
The neatest thing that happened over the last month was that your baby Spock picture went viral on the internet. Actor George Tekai, who played Sulu on the original Star Trek posted your picture on his Facebook page too! People from all over the world saw you when you were only 6 weeks old!
The things I’ve absolutely loved? Your smiles and laughs, even at 4:00 in the morning when you’ve not let me sleep very much!
The main challenge this past month has been with your sleep! You still do not like sleeping at night, and honestly some days don’t like sleeping then either. I guess you’re fascinated with the world around you! You did give your mama a nice three and a half hours a few nights, but that was sadly short-lived! Most nights it ranges from 45 minute sleep intervals to two and a half hours. We feed you like crazy, especially before bedtime, hoping a full belly will help you sleep better. We’ve tried white noise and silence, night light and darkness, motion and stillness. You’ve developed a true hatred for swaddling and fight to get free, but without being wrapped in some way, your hands and legs fly freely about and you keep yourself awake. Part of the problem lies with your reflux & gas, but I just think you are curious and don’t want to miss a minute of the world around you!
Yesterday you had your two month doctor’s visit. You’re doing really well and gaining weight like a champ! You weigh 11 pounds and 13 ounces and are 22 inches long. You had a few shots yesterday too, but took them like a champ and only cried for a minute.
This coming month I pray for you to develop more skills and your curiosity to grow even more! I’m also continuing to pray for much better sleep habits! While I’m looking forward to 4-5 hour stretches of sleep, I’m mostly looking forward to being a better mama, which will come when I’m more fully awake, not stumbling through life barely able to open my eyes and in pain from the exhaustion.
Love you little one!
Here are pictures from when your Grandma and cousin Katie came to visit!
