Friday, August 26, 2011

The art of sleep

Big milestone today in the relm of sleep.  We put Tyler down in his crib tonight wide awake.  And with no fuss and no crying, he went right to sleep.  He has been doing this for months with naps but it's different story for night time.  We have been putting him down partially asleep and we have to go back several times to reassure him after a few minutes of fussing.  For a week now it has only requred one return trip.  And tonight, he went to sleep on his own!  Lets see if we can keep this up...

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Rollin'

Tyler rolled over today for the first time, from his back to his stomach.  He was supposed to be taking a nap and was talking and carrying on.  Then he started to really yell on the monitor, so I went in to check on him and he was on his stomach!  Pretty funny actually.  He rolled onto his stomach and was pretty upset, because he does not like tummy time, and could not roll back.  So I rolled him back and put in his pacifier and he went right back to sleep.

Tyler has also found his new voice.  It is in the form of pterodactyl scream.  I asked him was happened to his cute cooing, and he just answers me with a smile and scream.  Still cute none the less.

Oh, and we had an earthquake the other day.  It was a 5.8 and it was about 40 miles away.  Tame for California people but very eventful for us eastcoasters.  I was out shopping and Tom was home with Tyler, who was just beginning to stir after a nap.  Tom picked up Tyler and went outside for safety, but when it was over, returned him to his crib and Tyler went right back to sleep.  We have had several aftershocks since then, including one in the night that was a 4.5.  It woke me but Tyler slept right through it. That's my baby! 

Now we have a hurricane coming.  My parents might stay with us if they have a mandatory evacuation.  We might lose power, which only bothers me because I have almost 3 days worth of breastmilk in the freezer that might go bad.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Our typical day...

Our typical day starts 7-8 am with a diaper change and feeding. This is the time of the day that Tyler shows me his new skills. Lately he grabs his feet and rolls to his side, all while babbling and razzing. He squeals with delight, especially when he sees his meal coming.

Tyler is ready for his first nap soon after his first feeding, almost like a continuation of his night sleep. It's easy to get him to take this nap, just put him in his crib awake or mostly awake. I usually get some breakfast and go back to sleep.

Then after a two hour nap, another diaper change, feeding, we have some good, hard play time. We rotate between the bouncy seat, bumbo, play mat, and crib with the mobile. He does not like tummy time much, but we are working on that. Part of the time I get down on the floor and play with him, other times I prop him up so he can see me while I get ready for the day or do house work while talking or singing to him. Sometimes we venture out for a quick trip to the store right after his feeding in lue of play.

One and a half to two hours of awake time is all Tyler needs before his next nap. I know he needs his nap when he starts getting loud, hyper, fussy, or just quiet with a distant stare. If I get him back into his crib in the magic window, it is pretty easy to get him to take his nap (after some wind-down time). If I wait too long it takes longer to help him fall asleep.

Tyler's afternoon nap, typically 1-4pm, is when I can venture out on my own if Tom is working from home. I can go to the gym, run errands, or shop. This habit of his developed about a month ago, and has been truely liberating for me.

We try to have dinner finished by 7pm.  Tyler hangs out in his swing or bouncy seat while we eat and we talk to him or hold him.  This is the time of the day that Tyler likes to laugh, especially when his dad laughs with him.

Before bedtime, Tom gives Tyler a  bath every two or three days.  Otherwise I give him a quick wipedown with a warm washcloth if he is in the mood for it.  Then I feed him to light classical piano music until he is almost asleep and set him in his crib.  Lately it takes two or three more tries of coming back in his room to help him calm down and go to sleep.

I feed him one more time around midnight before I go to bed.  This is what is called a "dream feed" where I pick him up, feed him, and set him back down in his crib without him ever waking.  Then he sleeps all the way until 7am! 

So, that's about 6 feedings a day, about every 4 hours during the day and every 2-3 hours in the evening.  If I am away, Tom feeds him a bottle of expressed milk (Tyler has never had formula).  We've had a babysitter twice and that has worked well too.  Tyler is very good for her and my mom too.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

4 Months Old

Tyler is doing great.  He is really growing and developing both physically and emotionally. 

Two weeks ago we moved Tyler to his crib in his own room.  The transition was fairly smooth and liberating for everyone in the family.  It was a big step for me, leaving our bedroom showing that he is not a newborn anymore.  I believe that our movements in the room disturbed him and woke him, especially in the morning when Tom was getting ready for work, even though he was very quiet.  I sleep much better now, and Tyler lets me know if he is hungry through the baby monitor.

We also dropped the swaddle, or at least Tyler told us that he was going to rid himself of it.  Keeping his arms in helped him fall asleep, but he was free by morning and it did not seem to make him wake early most of the time.  I started out with no swaddle for naps and moved to night time.  Now he sleeps in a one-piece outfit and Halo Sleep Sack

Here are some of the milestones Tyler has reached:
  • hold his head and trunk steady when supported at his waist while sitting
  • roll onto his side, but not all the way over yet
  • while on his stomach, he can lift his head all the way and look forward. 
  • bear some weight on his legs when I hold him up on my lap
  • keep his head level with his body when I pull him up to a sitting position
  • grab a toy (most of the time) and bring it to his mouth
  • turn his head when someone comes in the room and or talks
  • laugh out loud, especially when enticed by his daddy
  • squeal with delight, especaially when he sees his meal coming
  • say ah-goo and make razz noises, among other babbling and "talking"
  • notice the cats walk by him

Tyler is a joyful, happy, and content baby.  As long as he gets his naps, he is not fussy and rarely cries.  He laughs with us and plays by himself at least half of the time.  When adults are making converstion around him, he stops and studies them.  He enjoys stroller rides and looks around to take everything in.  Sometimes he has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep and wakes more than once a night, but never more than a few nights in a row.  Difficult nights are usually followed by good naps the next day to give me a break.

Tyler's growth is right on target and the breastfeeding is going well.  We are both hungry all of the time, but that's the way it's supposed to be :)