9 weeks

9 weeks tomorrow....yipee!! I am beginning to realize just how quickly they grow up!! I got a little emotional with him today as I was rocking him to sleep and just tried to capture the moment in my mind. He's so precious and definitely a gift from God!

All is going well! He is becoming a little less fussy these days and more content which is really great. I'm sure it's due to his little tummy maturing and just him growing up! We have fun most days doing a variety of activities such as swinging, watching a mobile, vibrating in a chair, hearing stories, riding in a sling, going outside either on a walk or on the deck, bouncing on an exercise ball, running errands, and napping (as short as they are)!!! This week we hung out with friends Vadsana, Da & Emily. This weekend Aunt Holly & Uncle Chris are here to attend another friend's wedding-Sarah Koehler. We can't wait to attend her reception tomorrow!!

Oh, and Eli was weighed today and he weighs 13 lbs. 15 ounces-almost 14 lbs!!! He is quite the eater!

Daddy wanted pictures of me in my sports attire before I grow out of it. I never even got to wear my Royals outfit and now it's too small!!

Enjoy your weekend!!!

2 month doc appointment

Quick post about Eli's doc appointment today:

1) Weight: 13 lbs. 11 oz. 90th percentile!
2) Length: 24 1/3 in. 95th percentile!
3) Head circ: 16 3/4 in. 95th percentile!

Eli got his first round of vaccinations today and didn't like it at all!! He did well at the visit up until that point. Poor baby. I just held him and then gave him his paci, which helped. He slept the whole way home and is sleeping again now. So, hopefully it will just make him sleepy and not extra fussy.

Doc said he is doing very well and is meeting all his milestones with flying colors. I explained that he still hates tummy time and she tried to put him on his tummy and got to see his reaction. She just said to try 5-10 minutes a day and see if he gets better. I've been doing this but he just doesn't like it. She thought maybe it was because he likes to look around and know everything that is going on around him that he gets mad when he can't. Eli has a little cradle cap which she said to put baby oil on before a bath and then use a soft brush and shampoo to get the dry skin off. I've been doing the soft brush and shampoo but not the baby oil. Eli and his mommy have been a little snotty lately, too, and she told me to buy the saline drops to put in his nose to help.

I also asked about his short cat naps during the day vs. longer naps. She said that is probably just normal for him and that unless he just acts exhausted to not worry about it. I wish he would take longer ones, though, so I could sleep, too!!

He returns at 4 months for more shots and a check up!

We have a thumb sucker!!

Eli started to try to suck his thumb awhile ago but never got it. We've tried to help him as he has such a strong desire to suck that it would be a way to self soothe himself without having to always give him a pacifier. Well, he is better with it now but still needs some guidance. How cute!!

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8 weeks!

Elijah Lee is 8 weeks today and he has grown so much! He is now only able to wear 3-6 month clothes (some of the 0-3 month clothes he didn't even get to wear because they were more winter type clothes....they are all sized differently even though they say they are the same size....so annoying). Yesterday he weighed in at 13 lbs. 6 ounces! He has 2 month appointment on Monday where he will get his first vaccinations....I'm concerned that it may make him really fussy all day afterward...I pray that it won't!!

I would say we are feeling more in sync with breastfeeding now. We introduced a bottle for the first time last night. We are using the Kassing method of bottle feeding so he can easily go back and forth between breast and bottle. The bottle we chose is the Soothie bottle which has the same nipple as the pacifier he loves so it works well. He cried at first and was a little confused but it helped because Eric fed him and not me. He drank all the milk that I pumped right before the feeding but wanted to feed again after about 30 minutes, so I breastfed him. Right now it is just to get him accustomed to a bottle once in awhile so he'll get better. We plan to give him a bottle about once a day or a few times a week.

He continues to look at us when we speak and follow objects really well. He is such a talker it is hilarious. He is always making noise, even while breastfeeding and sleeping, so once he can talk, I'm sure he'll just be a jabber box. We both have a little cold that we've had for a few days and he gets a little snotty, especially at night. We have a humidifier in our room to help. We also have to suck snot out of his nose a few times a day. Not sure where we got the cold, but we are about over it now. Mommy's going to ask the pediatrician about getting a flu shot for myself so that I can at least stay healthy (or I hope!!). Last year I got a bout of the flu (thankfully only about 48 hours worth) in December 2 days after I found out I was pregnant with Eli. It really freaked me out as I wasn't sure if it would affect him, but the doc said it wouldn't as long as I stayed hydrated.

Eli's sleeping is about the same. He gets up to eat about 2 times in the night. He has a harder time napping during the day now, though. I've read this is common due to him growing older but I have to help him go to sleep during the day and this naps are cat naps-lasting only 10-20 minutes a few times a day. I wish he would take longer ones so I could sleep too!! I'm going to ask the pediatrician about this on Monday.

Well, here are some pics and videos to enjoy!!

The official 8 week (2 month) picture!!

Sorry, I don't mean to brag....

....but aren't I cute??

The above 2 pics were so funny because I kept telling Eli to smile for the camera....and he did over and over!!

We are trying out different slings to see which one we like. This one is a Moby Wrap that Da is letting us borrow. He likes it for about 20 minutes and then cries to be let out. At his age he's supposed to face inward or be lying down but he hates that. He likes to look out so I just have to make sure his head doesn't wobble too much. I ordered another type of sling to see if he likes it so we'll see!!

This was the first time he liked being on his tummy and actually fell asleep. I kept a close eye on him, though, since they aren't supposed to sleep on their tummies.

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7 weeks (tomorrow)

I'm posting today as I know I will be too busy tomorrow to due to family being in town. Today Eli was weighed at my breastfeeding group and he weighs 12 lbs. 12 ounces. On Monday he weighed 12 lbs. 9 ounces so he gained 3 ounces in 5 days. We are doing better with breastfeeding as I am now only nursing on one side per feeding to help with my overactive let down. This should help him not get so frustrated while feeding. I've seen improvement already so hopefully this will continue. The lactation consultants said once I return to work that my flow should even it's self out.

I return to work in 5 weeks (November 19th). I am so thankful I took the full 12 weeks as I cannot imagine returning any sooner, specifically due to our breastfeeding issues and his fussiness. He has improved with his fussiness over the last couple of days and seems a lot more content. Hopefully the combination of him growing older and his tummy maturing and working on the overactive let down that he will feel better. He still must be entertained a lot, but he seems to enjoy each activity a little longer and with a happier attitude. Also, he has a hard time falling asleep unless he just nursed or is "bounced" to sleep, so I'm trying to help him take better naps during the day. I say this because I think part of his fussiness is just being tired. When I return to work I will have to wake him to nurse before leaving for work and nurse him when I get home. I'm nervous about everything working out with pumping, him taking the bottle, his fussiness, engorgement, etc. so wish us luck!! I will introduce a bottle to him starting either this weekend or on Monday (since family will be here I might wait until Monday) once a day or every other day at least. Eric will have to do this as babies can get confused if mom is giving them a bottle. I will pump before his evening feeding and then Eric will feed him. I hope he takes it okay. I'm thinking he should since he loves his pacifier so much. Only this fake nipple with have milk!!

As you could see in the pics and videos Eli is smiling and cooing a lot more. The only time I've seen him laugh was while he was asleep but Eric said he laughed out loud once this week while he was holding him. I didn't see it, though, so hopefully he'll laugh with me soon :) He is just too adorable when he smiles and he is so active!! He kicks and moves his arms around like crazy when he is happy and excited. I know he'll only get cuter and I look forward to seeing him grow!!

His sleeping is not quite on a consistent pattern but it either consists of sleeping after his 7/8pm feeding and sleeping until midnight when he feeds, and then feeds again at 4ish and again at 7ish. Or, he'll sleep until around 2am and then feed again at around 4am and then 6/7am. It's as though if he sleeps until 2am, he then starts to want to feed every 2 hours as he does during the day to make up for it. Then during the day he feeds about every 2 to 3 hours, usually closer to 2 unless he is napping. I usually go to bed around 9:30pm and take 1-2 naps during the day which helps me feel more awake. It's hard to nap, though, as my day just flies by and we can only really handle 1 outing a day. My body is more adjusted to less sleep (don't get me wrong, I'm still tired, just not exhausted!), which is great, but when I return to work, it will be all messed up again. Can't wait!! :(

Our days fly by as a typical day is as follows (sample only as each day has different timing):

6:30am Feeding, diaper change, feeding again
7:30am Sleep
8:30am Feeding, diaper change, feeding again
9:30am I try to eat breakfast while Eli enjoys his mobile in his crib...don't always make it all the way through breakfast, though, before he is sick of it
10am Entertain Eli
10:30am Feeding, diaper change, feeding again
11:30am Entertain Eli and try to shower and be presentable to the world. When I shower I put Eli in his papasan chair and bring it in the bathroom with me. Thankfully he likes the sound of the water ;)
12:30pm Feeding, diaper change, feeding again
1:30pm Entertain Eli or if lucky, he is sleeping. If sleeping, I either nap with him or try to do some sort of clean up activity around the house or run an errand
2:30pm Feeding, diaper change, feeding again
3:30pm Entertain Eli or nap. If napped at 1:30pm, usually doesn't nap again.
4:30pm Feeding, diaper change, feeding again
5:30pm Entertain Eli and try to put together dinner which usually doesn't happen so Eric has to do it when he gets home or he takes Eli while I do dinner.

See a pattern???

Outings always take much longer and before I know it it is 5pm. Eli usually doesn't enjoy his car seat so I try to make sure he is happy and has his pacifier to help. But, of course, it always pops out and he cries again. I've learned to drive and lean back to put it back in by having it clipped to his car seat where I can reach. The things mommies do!!

Okay, enough. Eli is napping which has allowed to vacuum, load dishwasher, and do this post. I am going to try to lay down with him but with my luck he'll wake up as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Fun video....

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Just some fun pics

I love my rainforest play mat!!

I'm so handsome...or so my mommy tells me!!

My mommy also says my smile is irresistible....she gives such good self esteem!!

Go Royals!!! (I look EXACTLY like my daddy in this picture...don't ya think??)

Napping on my tummy for the first time...normally I hate being on my tummy!!

The soothie pacifier sure makes me feel better....

Aunt Emily calming me on my tummy....I loved it!!

Mr. Zebra....I love you so much!!

6 weeks!

I won't write too much but thought I would post some pics and videos of our beautiful boy!!





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This one's for Grandpa Bidney (Dennis ;)

I'm ready to go sailing, Grandpa!!!

Sorry for the delay.....

....but all is still good here! I think that posting once a week will be all I can do, Eli just takes all my time!! Here is a little update:

1. Eli weighed 11 lbs. 4 ounces on Friday. We'll see what he weighs this Friday! He is 75 percentile in weight, 95 percentile in length at 23 inches, and 90 percentile with his head circumference at 16 inches. We have a big boy!

2. Breastfeeding is overall improving. He still is fussy during feedings about half of the time and I believe it is due to abundant milk flow, gas, thrush, and being tired. Hopefully this will improve soon. It could also be reflux or lactose intolerance, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.

3. We are STILL fighting thrush. It has improved, but is not gone completely. We are trying a new treatment this week and if it doesn't work, I will probably do Dr. Newman's method

4. We have gone out of the house a lot more and are getting used to this. Eli likes the car seat for the most part but sometimes can have a fit while in it. This is especially fun when I am driving and won't be at our destination for awhile :O We have even breastfed in the car a few times!

5. Eli can no longer wear his newborn clothes and is in 0-3, and some 3-6 month clothes. He is just too long for the tiny newborn clothes!!

6. Eli is smiling and cooing a lot now. I rarely have the camera ready to catch them, though. One time while taking a nap after breastfeeding, he laughed out loud!! It was so funny and I tried to wake Eric to tell him, but he missed it. He is too cute and I can't wait for him to smile, laugh and coo even more!

7. Eli is great at tracking and looks us directly in the eye now. He still loves his changing table which is where we get most of the good times. We read to him, massage, and practice tracking on the changing table, so it's fun.

8. This weekend we got see Grandpa Bidney, Aunt Sarah, Aunt Stephanie, Aunt Holly and Uncle Chris. While it wasn't for a happy occasion, it was good to see everyone. My great, great aunt passed away last week who would have turned 100 last Saturday and everyone was down to help clean out her apartment. She was a great woman who was ready to go, so it was a happy/sad occasion. We celebrated her birthday anyway with relatives and had a good time!!

Here are a couple of pics of Eli enjoying his mobile. We'll update in about a week!!