Catching Up

So much more time away from the blog again! But that is the way it goes, I guess!

Tucker is growing and changing everyday. He is up to 12 pounds. And 3 months old! I cannot believe how time has flown and both dragged by at the same time. So many changes every day. I wish I had time to write stuff down every day so that I could remember what goes on day by day.

This morning I watched him trying to get his thumb in is mouth for such a long time. His issue was he was making a fist and his thumb was stuck in between his first two fingers. Not that I want him to start sucking his thumb - it was just so cute to watch!

He has started smiling so much more now - and in response to things as well. Not just gas! He will just giggle and smile at me and it is WONDERFUL.

He is growing every day. Getting so big and strong and his neck is getting stronger and stronger. It is just amazing to watch him grow.

He is starting to sleep a little better. He chows down between 6 and 7:30ish and then is down until 11:30/12:30ish. Then he gets up again about 2:30/3 and again at 5:30/6ish. Now I have to just go get some black out blinds so that he will go back to sleep at 6am! Instead he wants to get up for an hour and hang out until he realizes - oh man, I am tired! But it has been enough sleep so that I am starting to feel a little normal - not totally, but somewhat!

It was Andrew's birthday Sunday - so he got to get his very first Happy Birthday Daddy card! Picked out and signed of course by Tucker himself;) He loved that!

I love him just so much and cannot believe Andrew and I have created this amazingly perfect little creature. He is such a joy and I look forward to each and every day.

Whew!

Well, it has been awhile! Who would have thunk that a new Mummy would have such a lack of time to do extra things? Ha! It has been a whirlwind - cannot even think what has gone on - as it all seems like a blur and also seems like it is dragging out. Lack of sleep will do that to you I guess.



So sweet Tucker is now over 11 pounds. Not sure where at exactly, but at his checkup 2 weeks ago he was 10.9 so I know he is probably at 12 by now as he had been gaining just under a pound a week for the last 4 weeks - can't complain about lack of food.


But that comes with the fact that my boy likes to eat - every 2 hours or so. So I have been trying/hoping to extend it a bit here and there. I have gotten a lot of advice/suggestions - and I have asked for it, so I am good with that. But everybody seems to come from a different school of thought which makes it even harder. To cry? To nap? To sleep? So many choices to make and I must say I have felt like a bit of a failure a lot of the time. I feel like I can't make up my mind what to do and that I keep switching around and am just screwing him up. I know I am not - but sleep deprivation will do this to you.

So, an editor's note here - I started this 3 days ago and am now writing the rest of this.

About 3 days ago Tucker started, on his own, 3 hour feeding intervals during the night - 9pm, midnight, 3am, 6am. So, I decided to let him fuss a bit at me and keep going with 3 hour intervals during the day. Well, it worked great and he was fine. He would fuss a little, but then be okay. And then when he did eat - he ate so much better and wasn't cranky and it went smooth. I almost think I was feeding him too often - not that I would withhold food if he was hungry - I think every time he got fussy - I fed him - and that isn't always the answer. So the 3 hour schedule worked well for 2 days, then we had a bad day on Friday as our schedule got off a little bit.

But then his crib got here! And I set that up and put him in it last night. Now after listening to all of the advice/etc - I just can't listen to him crying - even for 10 minutes, I don't fault or anything those of you that choose that method - as I have been told - do what works for you - I just am already at my wits end and I think listening to him cry would push me over right now. But I talked to a girl here who said, put him down, pat his chest, say night night, and go. When he starts to cry, pick him up, whisper it's okay, Mummy's here, and soon as he is settled, put him back down and do it all over. So I tried that, and he got the point rather quickly last night and it was an awesome night! Had to go settle him a bunch of times in between 7:30 and 9, but we had just been giving up and bringing him back downstairs. Then he just never got the idea of bedtime and what it means. So today went well and he did good naps and alert times.

Then came bedtime. Well, between dinner, and a TV show and stuff, he was tired and we held him too long downstairs and didn't put him upstairs in his bed and when we did take him upstairs - about 30 minutes too late - he had a complete meltdown. So I just spent an hour soothing him and he is finally all calm, in his crib, and settling himself to sleep! So, fingers crossed that we are on a good path here. As Andrew just said - i guess when it is bedtome, it is bedtime. Yup!

It's not like I got any more sleep last night than I normally do - but without him on my chest all night long, I got better sleep. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE napping with him - but I need some good rest. It has been way too long and I may lose it SOON. I did take him into bed with me at 6am though as he seemed like he wanted to get up and i was not ready - so he fell asleep with me and let me stay in bed until 8:20!!!

So- Mom in law coming tomorrow for 2 weeks. Then a week break. Then my Dad and his wife for 2 weeks, then 5 weeks, and then I am home to visit! Yay!!!!!!!!

More - maybe - soon! Thanks again to all my amazing friends and family for SO much support, advice, and love. Couldn't stay half sane without you all!