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.