Charlie | Month One

M O N T H

O N E

It is hard to believe that this sweet Charlie boy has been with us a month already. While on one hand it's been a long, tiring month, on the other, it has flown by! 

Even in just 4 weeks he has grown and changed so much! 

But I am just basking in all his sweet chubbiness. All those chins, (yes, plural) those sweet, kissable, puffy cheeks, the arm rolls, leg rolls and chubby feet. Gah I just love it! He loves to put his arms up like he's flexing those manly arm rolls for me. Gets me every time! ;) 

Unfortunately we missed his one month appointment since we were in the hospital, so all of his stats and "official" photos are a bit after the one-month point. But, such is life! 

But Dr. Ross still did all his weighing and checking when we had our follow-up with her after his hospital stay. She commented on how alert he was and how well he locks his gaze with others. She said she bet he'll start smiling soon enough
can't wait for those little smiles! 

Stats: 

he's sitting pretty in the 90th percentile! 

 Weight:   11.9 lbs
 Height: 23.6 inches

Everything looked good and here at 5 weeks he is a healthy, happy baby boy! 

E A T I N G

Charlie is a bit of challenge in the nursing department. Lucy nursed like a champ - Charlie takes a bit more work which has been a bit frustrating and confusing.  He really only nurses a total of 10-12 minutes, total! (And that's a good session) But... he seems to be gaining and showing all signs of eating enough so... maybe he's just super efficient. 

When we had our first appointment about 20 hours after coming home from the hospital there was "concern" that he had only gained a few grams...

I panicked... for like a second until I remembered that I gave birth to an almost 10 lb baby, and really... it's only been maybe 20 hours since we left the hospital. How much weight is he supposed to gain in less than a day?

But hey... what do I know? Sure, I'll pay a $20 co-pay to come back for a weight check in 2 days. 

annoyed face. 

So 2 days later I schlepped the poor 5 day-old back to the doctor to make sure he wasn't wasting away.

a little bit of sarcasm. 

The result:
Birthweight. 

BAM. 'atta boy! 
6 ounces gained in 2 days. 

No more weight "concern"! 

A this point we are on a 3 hour schedule for the most part, though sometimes it's 2.5 if he's hungry earlier. Which is such a relief! With Lucy at this age it was 2 maybe 2.5 hours because she was such a rough napper we had to feed earlier constantly... I felt like I never stopped nursing! So with Charlie having that stretch of time between is really nice!

Thanks, Kid!

Unlike Lucy this boy LOVES his paci! Lucy never took one so this is a bit of uncharted territory for us. I am trying to be careful and wise about the use so to not create a paci-obsessed monster, but... we use it a lot and it's truly a God-send. Oh how I wish Lucy had taken one, those early days may have been a little more bearable! I know people have strong opinions about the paci but.... in this house, we love the paci! 

It's survival mode, so... 

Cheers for the pacifier! 

W A K E    T I M E   /    P L A Y

Not too much "playing" going on quite yet, but he has definitely woken up more in this last month! He is finally making eye contact and I feel like he finally sees me! I love when he just stares at me. 

swoon!

He locks eyes with Lucy too and seems to love to watch her. He loves to look out windows and at lights! He is mesmerized! I've started to read to him once or twice a day. He doesn't so much look at the book, but he listens well! Lucy likes to get in on the action and read with us! He loves his bouncy seat and to be held. Ohh how he loves to be held! And because he has spent a lot of time laying on our chests belly down (and in his crib....... shhhhh) his neck control is super impressive! He'll push up and look from side to side. Even laying on his back propped on a pillow he has all but sat up! This is one tough guy! Love those broad shoulders and I love to day dream of what kind of young man he will grow up to be. So strong, like his daddy! 

Truthfully, most of his entertainment comes from his big sister. She is on him like white on rice and we really need to be vigilant about making sure she is being gentle and careful with mama's baby. 

she loves to show him everything! 

Lucy: "Look Baby Charlie you see my phone? You want to make a call? I'm calling daddy. You see, see, see??"

Mommy: LUCY! - step away from your brother and stop bouncing him so hard in that bouncy seat, have you never heard of shaken baby!? 

patience. deep breaths. and lots and lots of patience. 
and wine. 

S L E E P 

We got really used to a sleepy newborn those first two week. Our memories of Lucy as a baby are a lot of wakefulness and crying. So when Charlie came home and napped like a champ we were rejoicing. However, as babies tend to do, he woke up! :) So... his sleep is now not as thrilling. His favorite place: laying belly-down on someone's chest. He could literally be screaming in his crib / swing / bassinet and as soon as you lay him on your chest: all is calm, all is right in his little world. Very, very cute and cuddly... but very challenging for mom who is chasing after a 2 year old and trying to get things like laundry accomplished. But, I am trying to remind myself that this stage is short and soon he will be big and grown and won't want to cuddle with his mama. 

Maybe that won't happen and he'll be gleefully dozing in my arms as a teenager ;) 

But in general he much prefers his tummy to his back! He hates his back really... I think this is one reason why nights are so rough right now. He hates the swaddle and hates laying on his back. He loves to be able to move his legs at will, and these swaddle wraps just don't permit it... so mom 2-day shipped from Amazon a swaddle that wraps the arms but gives the legs room. We've only used it once, but he was MUCH improved and seemed grateful for the change! :) 

 We nap him on his belly (shhhh) but not at night when I can't constantly check on him. But he is definitely a belly-sleeper at heart. 

Biggest struggles? 

I think one of the hardest things for me is sibling comparison. I know this is a common issue parents have, but it has already begun for me! My only experience is Lucy - and she was a very, very big struggle for the first 3 months: Colic, little to no sleep during the day or evening and lots, lots, lots of crying. So I was literally holding my breath for fear Charlie would be the same. So when he proved to be much more chill and calm all day and evening I was thrilled... but then through the night he wakes much more than Lucy did at this age and just seems to struggle to settle after he wakes up. Lucy was stellar at night - at 5 weeks she was going 5-6 hours and would eat and go right back down. A CHAMP. So now... in this aspect I want to be more like his sister. 

Mom is never satisfied it seems. 
I'm growing in motherhood. 
It's hard, ok? 
Learning curve!

Poor Charlie is also having a rough time with gas. We are doing it all... gas drops, bicycle legs... started a probiotic (for baby and mom) and he'll be going to the chiropractor here soon. Poor little buddy just seems to be in so much belly pain sometimes. And oh his toots! haha - they are so loud! Is that a boy thing? It's gotta be! We die laughing... except that he's in pain, so it's not funny... but the middle school boy that I live with can't help but crack up.

:)
Parenting is an adventure!

Charlie boy, 

   My heart swells to think of you, little boy. I am so thankful to God for blessing us with a precious little boy! I daydream of the man God is forming you into. I see those broad shoulders of you and pray for what they will carry one day. I pray you are built like your daddy as his shoulders seem to hold the world without breaking. You are so precious to us and we are thankful continually for your life. You gave us a scare in your early weeks with a fear of Bacterial Meningitis. Those were hard, hard days my love but by God's grace and his mercy we all came through it. I pray that that same grace and mercy will follow you all the days of your life and that you will recognize the hand of God on your life in a very real, tangible way always. 

   In this first month your favorite things are: being held, your pacifier, your sister (even though you often barely make it out with your life when she is playing with you) and lights. You have locked eyes with me recently and it makes me heart melt. You really are not a fan of diaper changes, gas (which you have a lot of, sorry) and not being able to stretch your legs! You are not shy about letting your feelings known - you found your voice and use it with force and regularity! We joke that you sound like a Pteradactyl when you get mad, because you have this shriek you like to make. You haven't smiled yet, but I think you want to! Mama can not wait for that little smile to come through! You have a sweet soft blanket that you love to snuggle with for every nap! It's like you know it's cuddle time as soon as that thing touches you. You are already growing and changing before our eyes. I am anxious to see what the next months bring as you grow and change, but sad knowing you will indeed grow and change. You are our precious little man and we are over-the-moon thankful for you!! You have made us a family of 4 and it is perfection!