Owen: Three Months

03.01.15

Dear Owen,

You are now three months old!  It is so hard to believe you are a quarter of the way through your first year of life.

You are now 8 lbs!  You still fit into newborn clothes, but your long legs are getting squished in footy PJs.  Mommy tried 0-3mo clothes on you, and they are just too big still.

You have become quite the little sleeper at night!  Around 8-8:30pm you start to get very sleepy, and if we wait too long, you get CRANKY.  This is how you let us know you are ready for bed.  So, Mommy feeds you, and then you get changed and swaddled.  We can usually put you in your Rock’n’Play awake, and you will fall asleep all on your own.  You also tend to stay asleep until early morning, sometime between 3-5am, when you wake up hungry.  After you eat, its back to sleep for another 2 hours or so, and then it’s time to eat again.  Mommy and Daddy are LOVING this long stretch of sleep every night!  You also still nap a lot during the day, but you tend to only take one really long nap and then a few short cat naps.

You gave us your first smile this month!  It is such a sweet, gummy grin, and we will talk to you in as silly of a voice as necessary to see that smile.  You also are getting better at tracking things with your eyes, and you love to look for us when you hear a voice.  You happily play on your piano mat, and your little legs just kick and kick to play music!

You are still a great eater, and have stuck to your every-two-hours routine during the day.  Breastfeeding is starting to feel much easier, although I still get nervous about my supply, making sure you are getting enough, etc.  You are not a huge fan of bottles/formula, but with a little work we can convince you to drink it.  We are hoping to discontinue your preemie formula at your 6 month birthday!

We took you to Walla Walla this month on your first vacation, and you did great!  You slept a ton in the car, and were a great sleeper in the hotel too.  We even got to walk around town in the stroller and enjoy the sunshine with Nana and Great Grandma Kathi.

We are loving watching you grow and develop, and can’t wait to see what next month brings!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Owen: Two Months

01.30.15

Dear Owen,

You are now two months old!  It doesn't seem quite possible though, because we missed out on having you home for almost a whole month.

You are still waking up every 2 hours or so to eat at night, and sometimes even every hour.  While I would much rather you sleep, I know your tiny tummy just can't hold very much yet, so waking up often is necessary.  You prefer to be swaddled in your Halo, and sleep in the rock'n'play right next to our bed.  You have also taken a few naps in your swing and in your crib!

You still haven't shared any smiles with us (besides gassy ones while sleeping), but that doesn't keep us from trying!  You now "talk" to us, and love to be held up against our shoulder so you can look around.  Your tiny neck muscles aren't very strong yet, and your heavy head swings around and hits us in the face.  :)  You are not a fan of being on your belly, unless it involves lying on Mommy or Daddy.

Your big brother Lane just adores you, and is so proud to tell everyone that you are his brother.  He holds you every day, and is great at giving you back your pacifier!

Breastfeeding has continued to go so well for us.  You have a great latch, are a quick eater, and are able to take two bottles each day (of your special preemie formula) with relative ease. You definitely get impatient when its time to eat though!

At two months old, you now weigh 7 lbs 12 oz, and are 21.5 inches long.  You are still so tiny, but have grown so much from birth!  You are still in newborn clothes, and I anticipate you will stay in them for a lot longer.

We have battled an icky rash on your belly and face/neck, and Dr. Huang thinks it might be related to a dairy allergy.  So, Mommy is going dairy-free, and we shall see if that helps.

We do plenty of babywearing every day, especially with your brother at home!  You have already been lots of places too, including the Children's Museum!  You so far love all of our carriers- ring sling, Moby wrap, and Boba.

We can't wait to watch you continue to grow, and am hopeful for a smile soon!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Owen: One Month

Dear Owen,

Today you are one month old!  It is hard to believe you have already been with us over 4 weeks, but only home for less than one week.

Now that you are home with us, we are getting to know your personality so much more.  You are calm and quiet, and happy to just look around and observe.  Your time in the NICU has made you independent in that you don't need to constantly be held to be happy, and you fall asleep on your own so easily.  I'm sure that will change as you get used to us holding you more often than we were able to at the hospital, but we will gladly hold you as much as you want.

You have always been so strong physically, and like to lift your head up off our shoulder.  You also try to push off with your legs, and even got your little butt in the air while on your stomach in your incubator.  Your name means "little warrior", and that is you to a "t".

Breastfeeding is going exceptionally well for us- you are eager to eat, have a great latch, are a fast eater, and I haven't had any supply issues like I had with your big brother.  We have a freezer full of breastmilk, and I will continue to add to our stockpile.  You do get two bottles each day of a special high calorie/high nutrient formula, but we hope to be able to discontinue that in the next few months.

You absolutely love your bathtime!  You cry when we undress you to get in, and cry when you get out of the bath, but while you are in there, you are so calm and relaxed.  Giving you a bath is one of Mom's favorite activities!

Your big brother loves you so much already, and is very concerned with taking care of you.  He is a great helper, and instantly gets our attention if you start to fuss even a little bit.  He is proud of having a baby brother, and loves to show you off.

Your newborn clothes are still a little big on you, but you don't fit into any preemie clothes, with the exception of onesies.  You have skinny, wrinkly legs, but an adorable round belly.  I'm sure in time you will chunk up quite a bit!  You are now 6 lbs 8 ounces, and 22 inches long.

We are so thankful you are a healthy, strong little boy, who was just too excited to meet us to wait until your due date.  We love you, Owen!

Lane: 6 Months

(written March 28, 2012)

Dear Lane,

Oh Little Mister, how is this even possible?!  You're half a year old!  You are getting closer and closer to your first birthday, and farther and farther away from that newborn baby you once were.

You have started sleeping so much better, often only waking just once in the night to eat.  There are even rare nights when you don't wake at all!  I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, in terms of interrupted sleep every night.  We are now co-sleeping full time.  You sleep on my pillow with me, with your little face smashed up against my face.  You also want to hold onto my face while you fall asleep.  Its so funny how much you associate our bed with sleeping now; at bedtime, as soon as I put you in bed on the pillow, you roll onto your side, close your eyes, and start reaching for my face.  I feel like I spend so much time away from you during the week and the day, that nighttime is our time to "catch up" on our snuggles... its definitely a special time for you and I.

You still love your special little blankey, and it goes just about everywhere with us.  The nice thing, however, is that you also do fine without it.  This comes in very handy when we have forgotten to bring it, or its being washed!  You also love chewing your hands and feet still, as well as anyone else's hands!

You continue to have about one cold a month, but I'm just attributing that to daycare, it being cold season, and you putting everything in your mouth.  I know there's no way to fully protect you from getting sick, and none of your colds have been nearly as bad as your very first one.

You still don't have any teeth, but that's okay.  We love your gummy smiles!

You're mostly in 6 month clothes, although some 3 month onesies still fit you (but just barely!).  At your 6 month checkup, you were 18 lbs. 5 oz, and 28 1/4 inches long.  You are still long and strong, with chubby little legs and a round belly.  We're still going strong with your cloth diapers too, and definitely have our routine figured out with regards to that.

We've slowly started introducing more foods to you, including oatmeal, sweet potatoes, avocado, and squash.  The oatmeal, sweet potato, and squash are all winners, but you despise avocado.  (Dad and I don't like avocado either!)  I'm looking forward to expanding your food menu!

We're now counting down until your first birthday, although we don't want these next 6 months to go by too quickly.  You're so much fun right now, and this is honestly one of our most favorite stages you've gone through.  We are so proud of all of your accomplishments, and we just love you so, so much!

Love,


Mom and Dad 

Lane: 5 Months

Dear Lane,

Wow! Five months already!! I know I say it every month, but I still can't believe how quickly you are growing up.

You have most definitely grown out of the "newborn" phase, and are full-blown little boy now.  You are becoming more opinionated and vocal, and are testing out all the different sounds your mouth makes now.  You often look us in the eye and "talk" back to us, with a look on your face that seems to say, "Can't you understand what I'm saying?!". 

You are becoming more attached to certain objects, like the bear in your monthly photos, and the small, soft security blanket we got you.  You chew on them both, and open and close your hands when you see them, as if you just can't wait to get them in your hands.

You still LOVE sleeping in our bed, and I still love having you in there.  Sleep hasn't been going great the past month or so, but we're just dealing with it.  You must be going through a growth spurt, as you wake up ravenously hungry at least once or twice each night.  You spend much less time swaddled now, and instead want a blanket to hold on to (and cover your face with- much to the dislike of Mom!). 

You have recently discovered your feet, and can now get them in your mouth.  When you're sitting in your Bumbo or bouncy chair, you're always leaning forward to grab at them.  You also really pay attention when Dad or Mom leave the room, and try to twist around in your seat to watch us.

We recently tried rice and oatmeal cereal, but you're not a fan of either of then.  You do love sitting in your highchair though! 

You learned how to roll from your back to your belly this month, and now will do so as soon as we put you on your back.  You also pull your knees up with your butt in the air, and I know it won't be long until you're trying to crawl. 

You are such an active and strong little boy, and everyone comments on that fact.  You just want to move.  You're chewing on EVERYTHING, and your shirts are always covered in drool.  You don't have any teeth yet, but I'm thinking we might see one (or two) soon.  For now though, we are loving your big gummy smile.

You are majorly ticklish, just like Mom and Dad.  Your main tickle spots are under your neck, and all around your ribs.  Tickling one of these spots leads to major cackling on your part, and great entertainment for Mom and Dad.

Your 6 month appointment is in just a few weeks, and we're anxious to see just how much you've grown since your last appointment.  You're still in 3-6 month clothes, and this is the longest you've ever stayed in one size. 

We are still cloth diapering you, and your little butt looks so cute in a brightly colored diaper.  Mom gave up pumping this month, and you've always done just fine with formula.  I didn't quite make it to my 6 month goal, but we were close!  I will always love those hours spent nursing you, and that special bond we formed.  You really gave me a love for breastfeeding.

Keep up the growing, little man, and know Mom and Dad love you beyond measure!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Lane: 4 Months

Dear Lane,

 You are now a third of the way through your first year of life.  Unbelievable!

You are changing weekly now, always gaining some new skill or losing one of your newborn attributes.  Every time someone sees you now that hasn't seen you for a week or two, they are so surprised by how quickly you are becoming a little man.

You are so much more active now, and have a near-constant need to be entertained by someone.  You want to be held much more now, but that's just so you can sit upright, or stand on your feet.  You love being quickly lifted into the air, as it tickles your tummy.

You have almost figured out how to roll from your back onto your tummy, but all the necessary motions haven't quite come together yet to make you successful.

At your 4 month checkup, you were 26 1/2 inches long (5 inches longer than your birth length), 15 lbs 1 oz (about 6 1/2 lbs more than birth weight), and a little advanced in your development (way to go buddy!!).  Dr. H suggested we start feeding you rice or oatmeal in a few weeks, just to see how you like it.  We're going to hold off on any other foods until closer to 6 months though.

Sleeping is going just the same- you're still in your bassinet at night, as Mom isn't ready to move you yet.  We're still swaddling you most of the time, but sometimes you fall asleep without it, so we don't risk waking you to do it.  You would still much rather sleep in our bed though!

You still love the TV, and are becoming more and more aware of your surroundings.  You now notice Molly and Maverick, although you're not too sure about them yet.  You also really like your hands, and they are always stuffed in your mouth.  You love chewing on anything you can find, and I don't think it'll be long before you're teething.  You often pull on your legs down, and lift them up into the air.  You're slowly finding your feet, but they still aren't as neat as your hands.  

You've slowed down on your growing, and I think you'll be in 3-6 month clothing for a little longer than any of the other sizes you've worn.

You love to cuddle your teddy bear now, and also your "lovie" or "snuggly", which is a small blanket with a teddy bear attached.  You cover your face with your blankies now, and rub your face into them to fall asleep.  It's adorable!

You survived your first cold, and boy was it a doozy!  You had a horrible cough, a congested chest and head, and to top it all off, Mom had it too!  We spend many hours sitting in the bathroom with the hot shower on, making our own steam room.  We had to take you to the doctor once, and then to the Emergency Room when you started throwing up from coughing too much.  Luckily, it was just a virus that ran its course, and you were soon back to being our happy, healthy baby.

Lane, we are so proud of the little boy you are becoming.  You are giggly, flirty, happy, active, cuddly, and just all around perfect.  We are so blessed to be your parents!

Love,

Mom and Dad

 

Lane: 3 Months

 

Dear Lane,

 

This has been a big month for you!  Your personality now shines so much, and its neat to see you becoming your own person.

The weekend after your 2 month checkup, you decided to roll over from your tummy to your back.  It was so exciting to watch you accomplish this milestone, and now you hardly stay on your tummy at all.

You are still sleeping well in your bassinett, with the exception of some late-night snuggling that Mom likes to sneak in.

You also LOVE the TV- anything that's on catches your attention.

We celebrated your first Christmas this month, and you were spoiled with lots of new toys and clothes.  One of your favorite toys in your new activty mat from Great Grandma Caroline.  It has toys that hang down that you can reach, and a "piano/keyboard" at the bottom for you to kick with your feet.  You'll spend up to an hour there if we let you, kicking your legs and grabbing at the toys.  It brings all of us lots of entertainment!

You are now mostly in 3-6 month clothes, due to your long legs.  We believe you're around 13-14 lbs, although we haven't weighed you recently.  We're getting better at staying happy when clothes are put over your head, and when its bathtime and time to get dressed.  You've taken a few showers now with Mom, and are slowly becoming used to the spray of the shower on your little body.

Dad is still staying home with you Monday-Friday, and he's really enjoying getting to spend one-on-one time with you.  He takes great care of you, acts goofy to make you smile, and loves to cuddle with you at naptime as much as Mom.

As you transition out of your newborn phase and into a more mature infant, its hard to believe you were once so small.  Packing away too-small clothes makes us miss that tiny, sleepy new baby, but we also love how fun you're becoming, and how much you interact now.

We love you, Baby Lane!

Love,

Mom and Dad

 

 

 

 

Lane: Two Months

So I wrote this post on Lane's two month birthday, and thought I hit "publish".  But evidently, I just saved it as a draft.  Which is why its so late!!

Dear Lane, 

Today, you are two months old.  Time is FLYING!  This past month has brought so much change for you.

You are now an awesome sleeper at night, most of the time.  You typically go down between 8-9 PM, and will sleep to between 2-4 AM, when its time to eat.  You then go back to bed for another stretch, anywhere from 2-4 hours more.  We swaddle you tightly, give you your pacifier for a few minutes, and put you in your bassinett half-asleep.  In this past month, you've decided sleeping on your back isn't all that bad.  You still end up in our bed sometimes, but that's just because Mama wants to snuggle you.  :)

Being on your changing table brings out the biggest grins. We still don't know quite why you like it so much, but we love changing your diaper because of those big goofy smiles.  And speaking of smiles, you gave us your first REAL smile this month, and its now easy to get you to grin in reaction to us.

You are so much more active now, and much more alert.  You love flinging your arms around, and are much better at getting your hands to your mouth.

You also love having us quickly lift you up into the air, as it tickles your tummy.  When you're upset, that is one of the easiest ways to get you to calm down.  You also love it when Dad "flies" you around the house; he puts you on your tummy in his arms, and then races around the house, taking you on an aerial "tour" of the couch, your bouncy chair, the bed, Molly, and whatever else crosses your path.  This is something special that you two do, and its so fun listening to Dad narrate for you. 

You are almost over the getting grumpy when you wake up phase, and instead just slowly wake up, stretch, and then look around to see where your food is.  You are still an impatient eater, though. 

We had your two month checkup today, and you weighed 12 lbs. 1 ounce, and are 24 1/4 inches long.  You are in the 90% percentile for weight, 75% for length, and 25% for head circumference.  You also got all of your required shots, which you were not a fan of.  However after just a few minutes, you stopped crying, and were sleepy for the rest of today.  You are a champ!

You are quickly outgrowing clothes, and your newborn clothes are already packed up.  I can tell you won't be in 0-3 month clothes very long either, as your long legs just won't fit. 

You love being in the Beco baby carrier, and almost instantly go to sleep in it.  Its so nice to be able to take you places in in, and this month we ventured out to watch your cousin Jack wrestle, to do some shopping at the mall, and to go to a Christmas bazaar.

You hold your head up so well now, even while on your tummy.  You can get your top half rolled onto your side, but your butt and legs are still stuck.  It won't be long now until you're rolling over!

Dad and I are loving all of your changes, and seeing you grow and develop is so neat for us.  I'm sure this next month will be even more exciting, as we get to experience your first Christmas.  We love you, baby Lane!

Love,

Mom and Dad