Yesterday was not a good day for Lina

(side note: I just wrote my name as "Linda" -- give you any insight into how I am doing?)

Yesterday was the first day that Miles and I had on our own... or at least it was supposed to be. After probably a total of 4 hours of sleep, being awake for 8 hours by noon, and 4 hours of Mile's wailing inconsolably, and baby puke to write home about, it seems I needed rescuing. Right about the time that I sent the SOS, I actually got the situation under control. When Tim came home at 3:00, we were both napping upstairs and Miles awoke in a delightful mood.... which he stayed in through Grandma and Grandpa's visit. In fact, he was a little angel until about 8:00 when he got over tired and fussy again.

I headed to bed early and let Tim give him a bottle at 9:00. The two of them came to bed around 11:30 and we had (another) fitful night. It seems our boy has taken to squeaking throughout the night. It might be somewhat cute, except that it robs us of sleep. Tim was "on call" or should I say "on squeak" until 1. Then I took over from 1 - 5. And Tim was back on from 5 - 7. On squeak doesn't take much except putting a hand on our sleeping boy. He stops squeaking when this takes place and we get more sleep. We may need to revisit our sleeping strategy as being on squeak doesn't yield much rest, regardless of whether he quiets down or not.

This morning started before 7:00 - but the good news is that I got a shower in! At 8, a fed Miles and I drove Dad to BART in Millbrea and headed home. He got home pretty fussy, but I got him into the baby bjorn and now he is zonked out on my chest. I got some paperwork organized and have been on the phone with insurance companies all morning (isn't our health care system lovely?). It's now time for another feeding, but this day is off to a far better start then yesterday! If you read this, send me good thoughts - Tim won't be home until late!!

Growing up so fast!!!

This past weekend, Tim and I started to notice that our little man is getting bigger before our eyes. While this is thrilling in that he is hitting his milestones, it is a little sad to think that he will never be as little as he is right now!

We went to the pediatrician this morning and it seems that he is gaining weight nicely! He is now 8 lbs 8 ozs (up a pound and a 3 ounces in 2 weeks!) and also grew more than an inch. The doctor says he is looking good and everything is on track. He now gets to have some tummy time every day and start taking some vitamins to supplement his milk.

Today is also the first day that Tim is back in the office. I lay in bed last night feeling like it was the last day of summer vacation. We miss him dearly and I am a little nervous of being on my own to handle this slightly-bigger-little man. After the doctor appointment, I dropped Tim off at the train and headed back to our now quieter home. I fed the little man and then convinced him to actually hang out (literally) with me in the sling - which is a baby carrier so I can have 2 arms free! Taking advantage of my hands, I made up the bed in the guest room and have been on the phone with our benefits administrator, not to mention getting online to check email and blog! The little munchkin is starting to wake, and I want to eat my lunch before he does - so I am off!!

Miles after a feeding...

4 Weeks Today!

Right about now, 4 weeks ago, our little man came into the world to us. It has certainly been a blur, but a completely wonderful one. It's hard not to fall more and more in love with our handsome little man.

Over the last week, Miles has been cooing even more. Yesterday we had a full on "coo"nversation (get it?) where he would speak and then I would speak and so on. We went back and forth about 6 times, and my heart just melted. He's reflex smiling all the time now, but it's getting to seem a little like he knows what he is doing. Either way, seeing him smile is amazing.

Yesterday I went out to lunch with my mommies group for the first time. 3 of us have kids, while 2 more have yet to deliver. Only 1 of the pregnant women could be there, as the other 3 of us huddled our strollers around a small table for lunch. It was nice to hang out with some women exactly in the same situation as I am in. Lots of chatting about breast feeding, sleeping, and useful devices around the house.

Speaking of which, it seems that our Miles is a "hold-me" baby. Temperamentally, he needs right now to be held. He could be dead asleep and if you put him down, he wakes right up. He hasn't taken to the swing or to the rocker yet and seems to know it is not a person holding him. I am hoping he grows into them as it is a little tiring only ever having one arm. Everything I have read has said that he should grow out of it, that you can't spoil them this young, and to enjoy the time while he wants to be held because it will change so quickly.

He is sleeping great for a 4 week old... provided that he gets some holding throughout the night. If we put him just in the crib, he will wake up every 2 - 3 hours. But if he gets to sleep on Tim (literally on Tim's chest) he can sleep upwards of 5 - 6 hours. This won't last once Tim goes back to work on Monday (so said for me), but I am enjoying eeking out the last of the long-ish nights while I can still get them.

Massive Blowouts

Seems our little handsome-pants is busy evacuating some very large loads of baby-processed milk -- to the point where he has soiled 2 outfits, Tim's shirt and pants (unfortunately Tim was holding him during the first one), and also peed on BOTH of us while we gave him a bath.

Well, as evidenced by what is coming out the other end, we're pretty sure he is getting enough to eat...

3 Weeks Old!!!

Miles is 3 weeks old!! Actually, 3 weeks plus 3 days. (I am a little behind on everything these days, including sleep!)

Some thoughts / observations on our little man:

• - His belly button is looking great! (I only mention that because it was a little irritated and bloody. We went to the pediatrician who cleaned it up and told us to watch for some things which never took place. A couple days later, it looks great and he is going to get another bath today!!!)
  
• - He is starting to coo. It is really fun listening to him start to discover his voice. 2 or 3 times a day, he is incredibly awake and active after a feeding. At this point, we play with him and he is starting to play back with us. It
  
• - I think he smiled at me... I am sure it was gas, but I looked in at him today while he was in his car seat and he smiled. I almost melted. He is just the most handsome little man ever!! Apparently, this is a milestone that we should see soon, I am really looking forward to it.- He is healthy and gaining weight... but he doesn't look too terribly different from what he looked like 23 days ago -- not that I do, either though! He is starting to smile in his sleep too. Could he be more cute!!!
  
• - He has had some really bad sleeping nights in a row - always hard on us. (We'd get about an hour of sleep for every 2 hours on night.) But last night, he was our perfect little angel! He fell asleep around 9, we quickly followed his lead. We were all in bed by 9:15 and didn't stir too much (parent's woke up a couple of times quickly) until 3:00 am!!! Whoa. Big stretch. He then went into a wakeful period after his feeding and we all stayed up and doted on him for the next hour and a half. I fed him again at 4:30, we slept a bit from 5 - 6 when I fed him again. And then he was down until 9!!! I think this was the most sleep that Tim and I have gotten in about a month.
  

We just fall in love with him more and more every day.

Cluster F***

No, not that one. We're in the midst of cluster feeding - which, for those of you who don't know, basically means that we are feeding our little man every 2 hours at the most. Miles has been attached to my boob for more than 20% of my waking day -- and that is just exhausting! He had us up every 2 hours last night, which means that we got about 1 hour of sleep at a time. Needless to say, we've had a less than productive day. Tim took the first nap while I took Miles at 7:00 am. I took the next nap while Tim watched over our little man at 11:00. And then the 3 of us, all tired, slept from 3:30 - 5:30. Our strategy was to get the sleep we can today, as we may not get any more tonight. Yippie.