Time is definitely flying in our house. It seems as though just yesterday, we brought Alec home from the hospital and were doing our best to adapt, learn and deal with our new lifestyle as parents. One of my best friends just had baby almost three weeks ago, and even though she's larger than Alec was at this age, it's still hard to imagine him being so tiny! I mean, he's such a chunker, that his arms and legs are jam-packed with rolls!
I do think that we need to put a screeching halt to the clock. Alec is now eating solids; replacing a meal or two of breastmilk or formula with 'big-boy' food. This entirely still depends on his mood and temperament, since if his teeth are bothering him, he's too hungry or too tired, he will just sit in his highchair and scream. We're still at the point, though, where we're not pushing the solids. If he wants to eat, he eats - if he doesn't, he doesn't. Sometimes, he just wants to nurse, nurse, nurse. He's quite capable of munching on me for hours on end...especially when he just wants to be soothed.
Speaking of which, we all know that he's had this one tooth trying to come in for about four months. The damn thing receded into his gums again! For a long time, we could see a little white spot on his gum...but now, no more! Oh well. It will probably sprout completely overnight one of these nights. Not too worried.
Anyway, more to come in the next few days....there's a lot of stuff I want to write about, and pictures to post....I need a few hours to get this done!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Random musings
Alec has been growing like a weed these days, and is getting so chunky, I can barely believe that he was born so small. I mean, his thighs? They're thunder thighs! MASSIVE. I swear.to.God. He's just all around a chunky little chunker. At his 6-month check-up, he was 25 inches long (he was 25" at his 4-month), 15 lbs and 12 oz. The pediatrician was delighted at how happy Alec seemed, and said he was going to be a politician. Ummm, I'm not sure about that.
The pediatrician also gave the green light for solid foods of a more 'big people' nature, as well as to start replacing meals little by little. This means Alec gets nursed in the morning, then I take Apollo out. After that, I stick Alec into the highchair, stick a bib on him (actually, I think I need a full-body one for myself, too), and give him 'brekkie'. Mainly, it's mommy-milk (breastmilk for the uninitiated) that I've frozen into 1/2 ounce cubes; mixed with a little bit of cereal, and a pouch or jar of some sort of fruit. He loves bananas, mangos, apples, prunes and blueberries so far.
Dinner-time is his dinner. While Keith and I eat dinner, we give Alec some 'big people' food. This is the meal that's replaced a nursing. He LOVES Earth's Best chicken apple compote. He does NOT like beef with spinach (it's nasty). He absolutely loves the turkey cranberry made by Earth's Best. I think I'm going to try to just mixing some stuff.
We've tried keeping busy. My temp job is over with, as the trial started and there's nothing for me to do at this point. I loved it. I wish they would have offered me something permanent - but, unfortunately, there was no work for me. So, Alec and I try to stay busy. One day a week, we go to the library for story time, and Alec loves watching all the big kids play, and playing with whatever I hand him. He's so quiet and pensive sometimes. Other days, we try to have playdates with friends I've made who have babies around his age.
Speaking of babies his age, regardless of his chunks, Alec is so small! I look at my friends' babies who are his age, and they are huge compared to Smallness!
And speaking of babies, one of my best friends just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and I can't wait to meet her!
We decided it was time to begin sleep training Alec. He was beginning to wake up 5 times a night, and Keith and I were zombies. So, after a gigantic amount of research, we decided to do Dr. Ferber's method of progressive waiting. Let.me.tell.you. AMAZING. This man is amazing. The first few nights were horrendous. I mean, listening to your child crying at 3am while you sit there and count the minutes since you last went in to check on him? Heartwrenching. Keith could barely take it.
So Alec is now falling asleep by his very own self without being nursed to sleep. I nurse him, Keith tops him off with a bottle, and we change his diaper, and off to bed we go. He's drowsy, but awake. He knows his surroundings are changing. He will wake up about 7 hours later to eat again, so we feed him. The next few wakings are for about 3 to 5 minutes, and he manages to calm himself and fall back asleep. I'm so proud of him, and of ourselves for having the strength and determination to do it.
Oh. And he is sleeping in his crib, in his nursery now. I miss having my Smallness in the bassinet next to me at night, but we all get so much sleep.
The pediatrician also gave the green light for solid foods of a more 'big people' nature, as well as to start replacing meals little by little. This means Alec gets nursed in the morning, then I take Apollo out. After that, I stick Alec into the highchair, stick a bib on him (actually, I think I need a full-body one for myself, too), and give him 'brekkie'. Mainly, it's mommy-milk (breastmilk for the uninitiated) that I've frozen into 1/2 ounce cubes; mixed with a little bit of cereal, and a pouch or jar of some sort of fruit. He loves bananas, mangos, apples, prunes and blueberries so far.
Dinner-time is his dinner. While Keith and I eat dinner, we give Alec some 'big people' food. This is the meal that's replaced a nursing. He LOVES Earth's Best chicken apple compote. He does NOT like beef with spinach (it's nasty). He absolutely loves the turkey cranberry made by Earth's Best. I think I'm going to try to just mixing some stuff.
We've tried keeping busy. My temp job is over with, as the trial started and there's nothing for me to do at this point. I loved it. I wish they would have offered me something permanent - but, unfortunately, there was no work for me. So, Alec and I try to stay busy. One day a week, we go to the library for story time, and Alec loves watching all the big kids play, and playing with whatever I hand him. He's so quiet and pensive sometimes. Other days, we try to have playdates with friends I've made who have babies around his age.
Speaking of babies his age, regardless of his chunks, Alec is so small! I look at my friends' babies who are his age, and they are huge compared to Smallness!
And speaking of babies, one of my best friends just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and I can't wait to meet her!
We decided it was time to begin sleep training Alec. He was beginning to wake up 5 times a night, and Keith and I were zombies. So, after a gigantic amount of research, we decided to do Dr. Ferber's method of progressive waiting. Let.me.tell.you. AMAZING. This man is amazing. The first few nights were horrendous. I mean, listening to your child crying at 3am while you sit there and count the minutes since you last went in to check on him? Heartwrenching. Keith could barely take it.
So Alec is now falling asleep by his very own self without being nursed to sleep. I nurse him, Keith tops him off with a bottle, and we change his diaper, and off to bed we go. He's drowsy, but awake. He knows his surroundings are changing. He will wake up about 7 hours later to eat again, so we feed him. The next few wakings are for about 3 to 5 minutes, and he manages to calm himself and fall back asleep. I'm so proud of him, and of ourselves for having the strength and determination to do it.
Oh. And he is sleeping in his crib, in his nursery now. I miss having my Smallness in the bassinet next to me at night, but we all get so much sleep.
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