It amazes me how he grows and changes every day. He is becoming very alert, especially in the mornings and late afternoons... he will just smile, coo and kick his feet. He moves his little mouth around like he is trying so hard to talk.
Grant's first tractor ride!
When he was about 3 weeks old until he was 7 weeks old we had a little rough time in the evenings where he was fussy and just not content no matter where or what I was doing with him. I thought it was a touch of colic, because it was most nights of the week and would last for about 3 hours. I tried multiple things: babywearing (carrying him in his little carrier on my), lavender essential oil, mylicon drops, Gripe Water, baby massage, and the 5 S's (swish, suck, stomach/side, shush, and swaddle).The lavender oil, baby massage and 5 S's seemed to be the most calming for him. I think ours maybe contributed to a little "fourth trimester." I was reading where babies can often act "colicky" because it is very disorienting for them to be out of the womb where it is dark, swaying, warm, and special noises.
He quickly adjusted though, but man that was a trying couple of weeks because NK was cutting a few teeth during this time and was extra clingy. There were honestly some evenings when I would just be in tears by the time Matt got home to help me with them (which he was planting/transplanting tobacco during this time so if was often 9-10 at night!!)
NK thought Grant needed decorating with some 'tickers!
We made it through that time and NK is adjusting better and most importantly I am adjusting better. Poor little Grant- he probably thought his Mama had lost it there for a little while.
Grant still isn't sleeping through the night. Last Saturday he gave me the longest stretch which was from 11-5:35! That was impressive. He will at least fall asleep at 8:30-9 then wake up to eat again around 10:30-11 and then sleep until 3:30. BUT he then wakes up again at 5:30-6. I would love to either get a longer stretch at the beginning or skip that 5:30 feeding. Hopefully soon :)
He is still sleeping in his monkey cradle beside our bed. I usually put him in his crib to sleep at 8:30 or so and he takes a short nap, but he don't sleep long in there so I am letting him sleep in the cradle (ensures longer sleep for us all... I just don't have the energy right now to fight it). He also may or may not end up in the bed with me during some part of the night (I honestly try not to!) I go back to work next Tuesday so I am hoping for better nights soon!
He nurses about every 3 hours during the day and is still only nursing on one side at a time. He takes a bottle several times a week and does great with it. (Him and NK just started going to the babysitter last week to adjust before I go to work, so he is taking bottles a little more).
He started smiling a lot about 2 weeks ago and it is SO sweet. His whole face lights up.
Grant has also learned to pitch a fit...he started when he was colicky. I mean he would scream so hard and loud he would turn almost purple and gag and cough. He also gets sweated down... poor baby. I hate when he does it, but sometimes I can't get to him right away (i.e. when bathing NK) so he just cries it out a little.
He loves his swing and laying on the floor looking a ceiling fan. I put him on his tummy some, but he don't like it for long.
He also likes to be held up on my chest and carried against my chest in his carrier. I have a Baby K'tan carrier and he goes to sleep in it every time. Babywearing is definitely the way to go with baby #2!
He is filling out 3 month size clothes and I am about to switch to size 2 diapers when we finish this pack of size 1's. He is growing, growing, growing!
Also, just a note to my future self... don't stress about a schedule. I started trying to get Grant on one when he was about a month old and it was a disaster (it did nothing but stress us all out). He is slowly forming his own schedule, and it is working out great!
7:30- wake up, nurse, play on floor
8:30- get in swing for nap
10:00-nurse then nap again
12-1- nurse and play for about 30 minutes, then nap
3-nurse, he is getting to where is stays awake some days from now until bedtime other than cat naps and sometimes he sleeps hard... depending on his mood.
6-nurse then play in bouncy seat while Mama cooks and me and NK eat supper
7-bathtime then settle down for bed
8-nurse and rock for bed
8:30-lay down in crib for bedtime.
Grant,
You are growing up so fast sweet boy... again reminding me how precious this time is. I love you so, so much and pray daily that I am a good enough Mama for you and Norah Kate. I pray for God to guide me to teach you and your sister the right things and to most importantly show you the love I have for you both. Hang in there with us, Buddy, Mama is still learning how to be a Mama. You two are my whole world and my whole heart! I love you so much already.
Love,
Mama
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