Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Milk-Be-Gone

Bit the bullet. The cold lead seared my teeth, but I did it. I bit it. I'm finally weaning. It's bittersweet in so many ways. Ah, let me count the ways... one one thousand, two one thousand...
 
I feel good about my decision considering what I put myself through to get this far. It took me 2 months of hardcore commitment just to make enough milk for a newborn. It seems like I was always behind. I maxed out at making about one ounce per hour. That might have even been sufficient for some babies, but I have a big kid! I'm now at about half of an ounce an hour, and only nursing (or pumping at work) about twice a day. We'll see where it goes...


Sunday, October 13, 2013

6 months

Weight: 21 lbs 3 oz (98.2%)
Length: 26.75" (57.9%)
Head: 45.5 cm (96.4%)
 
 
My baby! My itty bitty baby, born a mere 6 months ago, is on his way! 6 months old. Wow! I always see/hear parents marvel at how their child is 8 years old, oh but "just yesterday" they were learning to crawl. Honesty out in the open here, I was always like "Really?! You didn't realize your kid grew up?! Ok..." But I get it now. I soooo get it now! I get so many parent things that I never understand. Even as badly as I wanted kids, there were just things that I didn't get. This was one of them. It happens fast. As in 1.21 gigawatts-fast.

We are now in size 4 diapers! The size 3s leaked a few times, and they were getting snug. So, we went up a size, and what a difference that made. No more leaks, and the tabs aren't being stretched to their limits. He is still wearing mostly 9 month clothes (minus pants). His pants have to be at least 12 months to fit comfortably.
Does this diaper make my butt look big?
 
We decided to try pureed peas again since he refused them last time. He took them without hesitation. We've been experimenting with letting Luke feed himself some things.
Mmmmm nanas
I made a huge mess with oatmeal
Daddy, more!!!


Prunes.
 
Luke had some bumps on his gums and a recessed, white spot on the top where a central incisor would be. We were sure he was finally teething. Gnawing on everything, drooling, crying. Seemed to fit the bill, no? No is right. Pediatrician confirmed it was gingival cysts. Poor kid. It's one thing after another for him. No teefies yet. 

He had some bouts of screaming out, but we discovered it was his reflux acting up again. He's back on ranitidine (Zantac) twice a day. WONDER DRUG!
 
We made the switch with his formula. We are finally on Similac Alimentum (hypoallergenic). OMG. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! We have our baby back. I say back. I pretty much mean the baby we never had. He doesn't fuss the entire time he is awake, gas is completely gone, no more diarrhea, no more congestion. I almost want to cry at the very thought that he has been allergic to cow's milk protein this whole time. Bad mommy. Uneducated, uninformed mommy. Thank God, I'm self-sufficient and able to educate myself! If we ever have another baby, at least I will know early on! I'm still breastfeeding with zero dairy in my diet (I miss ice cream and cheese sooooo bad).
 
Drum roll, my friends........ Pitter ROLLED OVER! Ha! I seriously thought the kid was going to skip it. He was sitting unsupported before he even rolled over. He's so back-asswards. Two days before he turned 6 months (on my MIL's birthday-how special), he rolled from tummy to back. Then, a couple of days later, back to tummy. Good boy. Mommy and daddy were stupid proud. We cheered and clapped like it was his first steps or something. He is still attempting to crawl, but he can't get on his knees yet. He can pick his head and butt up high in the air, just not at the same time. In due time my little Pitter. In due time.
 
  
Luke is so ticklish. I love it. He laughs out loud and squeals when we tickle his legs or ribs. It's almost torturous how much we do it to him, but his laugh is the best sound in the whole World!
 
We bought a jumperoo. Pitter loves it! He goes crazy! We just laugh and laugh. I must say, this is the best age so far. Newborns are cute (most of them, anyway), but 6 month olds are just freaking awesome. His personality is really shining through. I can finally distinguish things, like cries. I know his "I'm hungry. Feed me NOW!" cry, his "I'm sleepy" cry, his "Hold me" and "I'm uncomfortable" cries. It's a different world for all of us. A better world. A happy, loving world. One we have all been dreaming of. Ensue cheesy music with a slow-mo montage.
 
I haven't discussed sleeping. What is that anyway?! Guess that's why I haven't discussed it. In part, because it's almost embarrassing to say Luke still isn't sleeping through the night. The other part is that I'm sleep-deprived and known to get moody when talking about it.
I live with 3 male dogs, a husband, and a son. Lot of balls going on in this house. Well, minus two of my dogs-whispers-had those puppies snipped long ago. It took a lot of balls to do what I did. So, I gathered all of what's left of the balls in my house, and laid Luke on his tummy to sleep one night. The exact date is unknown (sleep deprivation, remember?). All of the bells and whistles for SIDS went off in my head when I just imagined him sleeping on his tummy. SIDS is much like a fire-red, demonic dragon in the far corner of the room. A dragon about the size of a German Shepard breathing heavily with a rasping exhale. I could feel it's orange, glowing eyes on me as I laid Luke belly down. I could imagine the drool rolling from it's scaly lips, just waiting to gobble up my son. My heart pounded. I hovered over my baby with my stainless steel body armor and shield guarding him for the longest. Eventually, I felt like I could lay the shield beside him and ease into my own bed, close by. I got up several times to make sure that dragon was staying in his corner, where he belonged. Seriously, the kid slept 5 hours straight! FOR-THE-FIRST-TIME-EVER! I was in utter dismay. I've been trying the no-cry sleep solution, and it's been working poorly. My son heavily relies on one of us to soothe him back to sleep. Don't get me wrong, I love when that kid falls asleep in my arms. I love to snuggle and kiss him. It's like gold for Josh and I. What's NOT gold is getting up a million times to a screaming child. I feel like a helpless, little mouse hiding under my covers from a hungry cat at the sound of his first whimper. I cringe every time. I climb out of bed, reassure him that I'm there, and pat him until he falls back asleep. Sometimes it works quickly. Sometimes it takes half of an hour, and I'm passing out trying to bend over his pack-n-play and pat him. The kicker, after "sleeping" about 3 or 4 hours total, I'll pull a 13-hour-shift (it's been as long as 17 hrs), come home, and do it again. Luke isn't sleeping well, I'm not sleeping well, Josh is and isn't (I usually get up 8 out 10 times-for example). I'm contemplating the Ferber method. I've tried once or twice, but caved after 5 minutes crying my eyes out. It's not for the faint of heart. I keep telling myself that Luke needs the sleep more than I do. He's a growing boy, and he needs sleep to replenish and grow. As for now, he is sleeping on his tummy happily-and the dragon has left the room. He can roll over now, and adjust himself as needed. Anytime he buries his face, he moves quickly. He hates having his nose covered and uses his instincts like lightening. Good little boy, that Pitter.