Five Months

It has been a big month with lots of changes including new room, new bed, daycare, bottles, and solid food.

On New Years day we moved Owen out of our room and into his own room as well as out of the pack 'n play and into his crib. The transition was very smooth - I think we are all sleeping much better in our own rooms!

The last feeding of the day has always a huge struggle so I started pumping and giving him a bottle instead each night before bed which that has been working out great for us. He will happily take 5-8 ounces and definitely recognizes that bottle. He has even started holding it all by himself. Amazing how fast they learn!

My maternity leave came to an end and a week before Owen turned five months, I went back to work and he started daycare. So far we are both adjusting pretty well. It's hard being away from him, but it helps knowing he is well taken care of and having a great time playing with the other kids and toys. His sleeping has greatly improved (both naps and at night) in large part to our new routine and schedule and also because daycare tires him out!

We introduced solids just before he turned five months, starting with rice cereal. He took to it better than expected. He knew just what to do with the spoon and seemed to like it ok. I can't believe how big he is getting. It was crazy to see him in a high chair for the first time - definitely not a baby anymore!

He is slowly discovering his feet and has recently started grabbing his toes. He also just figured out that he can stick his fingers into other people's mouth which he thinks is the funniest thing ever.    

 

 

 

Four Months

Rolling over now from stomach to back, but only when he feels like it.

Out with the swaddle and in with the sleep sack.

Sleep regression like whoa! The day after he turned 3 months, our six to eight hour stretches of nighttime sleep were a thing of the past and sadly, have still not returned!

Decided he doesn't like a bottle anymore - not good since he is going to daycare very soon! So I spent a week working on giving him a bottle every day and something finally clicked thank goodness.

Thanksgiving day at my parent's house

Four month check up went well. Head circumference and height continue to measure on 50 percentile, but his weight dropped off significantly. Since that appointment I've started pumping and feeding him a bottle at night which he seems to prefer. He now takes his bottle like a champ, putting back 6-9 ounces before bedtime.  

 

Three Months

I can sum up Owen's development this month in three simple words:
- giggles
- hands
- strength

We first heard his little giggle at 10 weeks and it really is the best sound I have ever heard.

This boy loves to suck on his hands and quite loudly I might add! He also likes to hold his hands together and is learning how to bring things - anything and everything - to his mouth.

Man oh man is he getting strong. He is really arching his back when he is on the ground and (spoiler alert for Month 4) has just learned to roll over! He rolled from his stomach to back over Thanksgiving weekend at 3 months 1 week old. We have a very busy and active boy on our hands!

Lots of firsts this month.

First Halloween

First concert: James Blunt

First trip to Tahoe

First time all bundled up in his bear outfit

First hike in Tahoe

Truckee River

Feeding on the go - what happens when you are on a walk and baby is hungry but there are no benches!

First trip to Carson City and first time meeting Great Grandma

 



Three month photo shoot:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Months

Each day this boy gets more fun. We have definitely seen a huge change starting around 7 weeks. The first 6 weeks were pretty tough and a bit of a blur. I feel like we have definitely turned a corner and found our rhythm. Owen is sleeping better and more consistently through the night, I feel like I can read his hunger and tired signs much better, and he is smiling and cooing up a storm! My heart is so full of love for this baby boy, I have no idea how I'm going to leave him to go back to work. Trying not to think about that too much and just enjoy each and every day I have at home with him.

We had a few milestones this month: first trip to the Arnold Cabin, first overnight stretch without Dad, first visit to the Pear Ranch, first immunization shots, and mom's first run postpartum.

First morning at the cabin.

Double packs: ergo on the front, camelbak and fishing pole on the back.

Meeting Uncle Jimmy.

First time at the Pear Ranch. Owen loved the fresh air and hanging out inside the tent.

We both survived his 2 month checkup including his first round of immunizations. He did better than I expected with the shots, but naturally screamed his head off when they injected him nearly breaking my heart in two. He eventually calmed down and we put him to bed early that night. He woke up two hours later inconsolable so we gave him some infant Tylenol and put him back down. It seemed to do the trick because he slept for 7 1/2 hours - longest he has ever slept! When he woke up we had our happy baby back which was such a relief.   

Two month weight: 11 lbs 12 oz
Two month height: 22 3/4 inches
He continues to stay on the 50th percentile track for weight, height, and head circumference.

He is sleeping great at night. Goes down consistently around 7pm, wakes up around 12:30am and again between 4:30 and 5:30, and then back to bed for another two hours. This mama is not complaining! So happy that his two hour 3am party time has gone away. Now when he wakes up in the middle of the night it is for a quick feed and then right back to bed.

He continues to like car rides and his car seat.
He takes a pacifier at night and sometimes in the car and for naps.
I'm happy to report that he doesn't scream at every diaper change anymore, and has actually become quite a ham on the changing table pumping his legs, smiling, and cooing. 
Bath time is still a struggle, although he seems to like it best when we bring him into the big bath with one of us and hold him.
Evening time is still his most fussy for sure, but it is getting better and better each week.

Owen's first holiday is coming up - Halloween - and he has decided to dress up as a pumpkin.

 

One Month

Fastest month of our lives!


Much of the first few weeks were spent like this, Owen sleeping on us and us trying to sleep whenever and wherever we could.

One week old

Playtime with Grandpa: 1 1/2 weeks old

Hanging out with cousin Max

Checking out Grandma at 2 weeks old

3 weeks old

3 weeks old

Hanging with Pop Pop

 

 

First time taking a bottle: 3 1/2 weeks

1 month old

 

Milestones: Umbilical cord fell off at 13 days.
                    Drank from a bottle for the first time like a champ at 3 1/2 weeks.
                    Left Owen for the first time with Grandma while mama ran errands just shy of 4 weeks.

Likes: Being held of course: Skin to skin during the first few weeks has been essential.
           Car rides: so glad he likes the car and his car seat. He will sleep in his car seat for hours!
           Being outside and the fresh air: Lots of walks up and down our road.

Dislikes: Getting his diaper changed: He screams bloody murder nearly every time we change his diaper. Hoping this is something he will grow out of soon.
               Bath time: Probably because he is too cold while we bathe him since we have been using a tub that elevates his body. We will try different techniques like getting in the bathtub with him, but so far bath time is one of his least favorite times!

Challenges: Adjusting to life with a baby brings many challenges, but here are just a few major ones that come to mind:
                     5-7 pm: Owen's witching hour. You can't put him down, he is super fussy, and nothing we try seems to calm him down. Holding him and walking around outside are about all that works which makes getting dinner ready a major challenge. Luckily, we have been blessed with some amazing friends and family who have spoiled us with so many dinners that we haven't had to worry about making too many ourselves.
                     Sleepless nights: He consistently goes down around 8pm no problem, wakes up between 11 and 12 and goes right back down, but then wakes up around 2:30am and decides he wants to be up for 2-3 hours. Thank goodness for dvr! I've watched more episodes of Say Yes to the Dress than I care to admit.
                     Breast infections: While we haven't had to struggle with breastfeeding as far as milk supply or latching issues, I have had to deal with breast infections as so many breastfeeding mamas do. I've come down with a 102 degree temperature twice, finally giving in and taking antibiotics the second time my temp got high. It wasn't mastitis, but an abscess that formed. Doctor finally decided it needed to be lanced. I'm just glad to finally be on the mend after dealing with a large lump for nearly four weeks.
                    C-section recovery: The first two weeks were really difficult adjusting to taking care of a newborn, not being able to drive or climb stairs, and trying to recover from surgery. Literally once the first two weeks had past, I felt so much better and each day that passes, I feel even stronger.

It is so amazing how much Owen changes every day. The last doctor appointment was his 2 week check up and his next one isn't until 2 months so I don't have one month statistics to share. At his 2 week appointment, he weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and measured 20.5 inches long which put him right in the middle of the growth chart. We are very interested to see how things look at his 2 month appointment because he has really been putting on the pounds and growing like a weed since his last checkup!