What a difference

This is a picture of Oliver's hand on the day he was born.
This is a recent picture of his hand. What a huge difference! I hadn't realized he was so skinny when he was born until I looked at these pictures.

 

Snuggling with Daddy

I like snuggling with my daddy - he's so warm and cozy! Mom got this picture when we were taking a nap together.
 

awwww!

He looks like a little adult!
 

chillin'

Here I am chillin' in my boppy. This is a good way for me to practice lifting my head up and moving around. I have lots of fun in the boppy!
 

Thanks Aunt Sarah!

Here is the outfit that Aunt Sarah gave me. What a cute monkey! The shirt is cute too...hehehe!
 

Tips and Tricks...

In the past month I've learned so much about taking care of a baby. Here are a few of the things that have worked for me.

Get a boppy pillow!! This makes breastfeeding so much easier because it puts the baby right at breast level and you don't have to support his weight.

Get a pump!! This helps so you don't have to do all the feedings. It's especially nice at night so Dad can help, or so you can leave the house.

Swaddling - it's hard! I haven't learned to do it properly, he always kicks out. I've started just wrapping him up like a burrito instead - just wrap the blanket around and around.

Cosleeping! So many people say this is such a bad thing, but after your baby fusses and won't sleep in the bed for a few nights you might decide to try it. I lay him longways on my belly (head at my chest, feet at my hips) and prop myself up a little bit. That way he feels secure and I can sleep.

Getting burned out! To avoid this, you have to take time away from the baby. WHAT?!?! TIME AWAY FROM THE BABY?!?!!? Yep, that's right. Even though you are the mommy and probably the primary caregiver you have to take time for yourself. Take a shower, take a walk, go grocery shopping, get out of the house. Looking at the same things all the time and doing the same exact thing every day gets frustrating.

Housework! It has to be done, but when will I ever find the time? Do the most important things first - dishes, laundry, etc. It only takes a few minutes to throw dishes in the dishwasher or clothes in the washer. Dusting and vacuuming can wait. Also, let hubby help!!

Diapers! don't move that old diaper until you are ready to put the new one on. Babies seem to like peeing and pooping on you, their clothes, the changing table, and pretty much anything else.

Bathtime! wait until ther baby has already pooped - poop in the tub is icky. Also, make sure the towel is ready before you get baby wet. They hate being cold and wet! Wash his hair last so his head isn't cold while you wash the rest of him.

Playtime! Get a boppy!! Sit the baby in it backwards and bend him over the edge. He lifts his head and turns it. Sometimes he even lifts up his chest off the boppy, too. Also, thing with sharp contrast. Oliver's favorite is the ball in a gew of the pictures I've posted previously. It's 6 or 8 dollars ay Target.

rocking, swinging and vibration! my glider rocker is my best friend when Oliver won't sleep. I feed him there at night and rock him back to sleep. We haven't tried the swing yet, but the vibration of his bouncy chair is wonderful. It's very relaxing for him and usually puts him to sleep.

Burping! It's hard to get that burp out sometimes. If the over the shoulder patting doesn't work I sit him up, lean him forward and pat his back. If that still doesn't work I just hold him up in a sitting position and he lets it out.

Temperature! How do you know if he's too hot or cold? As a general rule dress him how you'd dress yourself. If you are wearing shorts and a T-shirt then so should he. If you are wearing a sweater and jeans, bundle him up, too.

Sick? How do I know if he doesn't feel well? Well, if he's not eating, not acting like himself, and fussy. If he's hot to touch. Ollie hasn't been sick yet, thank goodness!

Blocked tear duct! His eye got goopy and then crusted closed. Just wipe it with a warm wet washcloth until he can open it again. If it's really thick then drip a little bit of water on his eye and leave it there for a minute to moisten the goop, then wipe it away. Rub down the side of his nose from the corner of his eye to try to clear the duct.

Fussy? Is he hungry? wet? dirty? bored? tired? overstimulated? or just plain fussy? I check the diaper first since it is the easiest. Then I try to feed him. If neither of those work then I try playing with him (playmat or his favorite ball). Sometimes he just wants to be snuggled or talked to. If I was playing with him and he gets fussy then I stop for a while, he's probably getting too much input. If he's just fussy for no reason other than that he likes to fuss I just hold him and rock him until he is ok again.

Oliver's 1 month visit...

He is 9 pounds 2.5 ounces!!! He is 21 inches long!!! WOW!!!

Everything else is normal...he's healthy. He has a heart murmur, but she said that should go away as he gets older. He has a little bit of hernea under his belly button, but she said that will go away by itself too. He had to get a shot for Hep B, and he cried so hard...I cried too - poor baby!

Congrats!!

Hooray for Joe and Elizabeth who had their baby yesterday (on their due date, amazingly). She was 7 pounds 8 ounces and 18 inches long. Mother and baby are both doing well. What a sweet picture!