The first 8 weeks are in the books!! I'm amazed how time is moving. I'm also very glad the newborn phase is over. I'm not a huge fan of the newborns...the sleep deprivation and the fragileness of the baby, the irritability with my toddler, the uncertainty in every decision I make. Parker is a pretty good baby though, he was eating about every 2-3 hours and gave me one longer 4 hour stretch at night. Soon though that got really old. He was a very efficient nurser and only took about 10 minutes to feed him. At night he went back to sleep pretty easily. Even with all this being 'easy' I was still pretty much over breastfeeding. I made it till he was 7 weeks and holy cow, I feel like a new woman, or just my old self ;)
We started formula and he now eats about every 3 hours and is going longer stretches at night. Being able to have Jason feed him and being able to just grab a bottle instead of setting up my nursing station and using both hands. I know some people say its just easier to pull a boob out, but I disagree, I will wash bottles till the cows come home instead of dealing with him on my boob. It didn't hurt really, nothing like with Alyssa, but the letdown was painful and Parker was a messy, loud eater. And I needed both hands to keep everyone in position. So I'm a happy camper. And Parker took the Costco formula just fine.
Nighttime feedings were getting really annoying, I know, I know, Mom of the Year Award for thinking its annoying to feed my kid. But seriously, I know he was able to sleep longer...he just wasn't...so I got on my mom group, asked for some advice and came away with trying the swaddle again, and setting up a solid routine...bath, bottle, bed...same time every night. First night I got his bath in the sink (we had been using the bathtub and he hated it!) got his bottle and I swaddled him. His eyes were closing so I pushed his rock n play into his room and left him there...and he fell asleep!! First night he woke up 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30. Second night he woke up at 2, 5:30 and 8:30. Third night, last night, he woke up at 3:30...He gave us a solid 7.5 hours!! Having him in his own room is so amazing too, we don't hear all his loud grunting and noises all night. We sleep so soundly now. Its like how it used to be. So nice.
I will be forever grateful for Tristan and Michele for letting our little family stay with them a few years ago when we brought Alyssa home but holy cow! Its amazing having our own place bringing Parker home. I can park in the garage when its raining, and he takes his naps in his own crib in his own room. We aren't worried about keeping someone else awake if the baby is cranky. Its just us, living our everyday life.
Some things we have learned with Alyssa that we are doing differently with Parker.
1. Put the baby down!! He is not held all the time. He has floor time and swing time and boppy time. If he falls asleep in our arms, we put him down to sleep.
2. Put him down to sleep still awake. He does sometimes get full naps in my arms when its convenient, but if he is sleepy and his eyes are closing then I put him down and pat him, shush him, or rock the rock n play till he sleeps. Now at night I can just feed him, change him, swaddle him and put him in his bed and leave. He goes to sleep on his own.
3. We don't feed him to sleep. Alyssa was a terrible sleeper. She would take a bottle till she passed out, then we would not move for 15 minutes until she was good and out, then we would slowly make it down the hall to her bed and try to put her down, if her head popped up then we started all over. With Parker we are on a fed, play, sleep routine. So he wakes up, gets his bottle then we play until he is tired then put him down.
At my 6 week appointment we talked about birth control, I am not prepared to get my tubes tied but I'm NOT ready to have another baby, possibly ever. So my options are kinda limited. I've heard all sorts of things about IUD but I'm nervous about he complications and the hormones. Dekay talked me into trying things out, so I'm on the mini pill right now, just progesterone. Its not as effective as the combo pill but not by much. Its about 92-94%.
School is going well, solid C in Law and a B in IS365. Not too shabby for not going to all the classes and not really focusing!
Swimming!! Its back in the pool for me! I signed up for another 1.2 mile swim in Tahoe at the end of Aug. I'm pretty excited. I'm also going to do a 1.2 mile swim the weekend that Stacie and Jason do their Lake Tahoe Marathon weekend shenanigans. Pretty cool to join in their fun. I need a wetsuit though, so that's my latest project, finding the best option...sleeves, or no sleeves, best brand...a lot of research.
This weekend is our first family of 4 trip. I'm actually pretty excited...makes it better that the boy is sleeping so I wont be a total troll. Jason and Stacie are running a 50 mile race from Sacto to Auburn. We are staying with Stacie in a carriage house with a pool and hot tub and acres of green area for Alyssa to run in. Should be fun :)
Love all the pictures!
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