5 month milestones

Logan, 5 months old

Mastered Skills (most children can do)
Can distinguish between bold colors
This milestone always confused me with James.  How do I know what colors he can distinguish?  Are we going to chat about it?  Logan does like to look at the TV and look at brightly colored books and toys, so I guess he can distinguish between bold colors.
Can roll over
Both directions for about a month now!
Amuses himself playing with hands and feet
He has not discovered his feet yet, but his hands are in his mouth a lot.  Teething hasn't set in too badly, but he has days where he is clearly in pain.  We've been giving him Orajel and Baby Tylenol for pain when he's inconsolable.

Morning smile 5/17/13

Emerging Skills (half of children can do)
Turns towards new sounds
Yes, Logan is quite curious about new noises.
Recognizes own name
Not yet, but we're working on it.
May be ready for solids
Logan loves rice cereal with prunes mixed in (the poor boy has a serious poo problem) and has tried sweet potatoes and peas.  He was not a fan of the peas, but we've only tried them once (yesterday).  Their texture is a big thicker than the sweet potatoes, even though they're also a stage one food, so I am thinking they were harder for him to swallow.  We will keep trying the peas this week and I might mix in some formula to thin them out a bit.  Next week we'll be trying carrots! We are being very careful with his first vegetables to make sure he isn't having any allergic reactions before trying a new food.

Not such a fan of the Orioles game 5/18/13

Advanced Skills (a few children can do)
May sit momentarily without support
Very momentarily, he will hold himself for just a second before toppling forward.  Luckily mom or dad is always there to catch him.
Mouths objects
There is always something in his mouth!  Either his fingers, the octopus that hangs from his car seat or another toy of some sort.  He has an apple teether that is one of his favorites right now.  Very soon we will be moving all of James' Legos to his bedroom, because as Logan beings to crawl and move, they will be a hazard for him.
Stranger anxiety may begin

Little Dribbler

Yes.  Definitely yes on this one.  Rhonda's mom, Miss Helen has been visiting since last Thursday.  Logan bawls the second he sees her.  He is very confused about who this woman is, why she's talking to him, and why she wants to hold him.  Miss Helen loves kids and James loves her right back, but Logan is not having it.  Luckily, Raylene, who is 9 weeks younger than Logan, is around for her to love on.

Sleep is amazing

So it turns out that while Logan isn't a great napper, he's an awesome night sleeper.  I had no idea it was possible for a little baby to actually sleep at night!  James never got more than a few hours in a row before he wanted to be fed.  Then we had issues with him still waking up to eat, even at 12 months old.  James also teethed very early and for the longest time, which didn't help with sleep.  He never even got the chance to sleep through the night because he was teething so badly from 4 months on.
But Logan is a sleeper.  He's been going a long time before waking up, usually down by 8 pm and sleeping at least 6 to 8 hours.  Its just crazy to me!  And I know that as soon as you talk about how well your baby is sleeping, they usually stop, but we have had this pattern going on for 2 weeks now.  Coming soon will be his 4 month growth spurt and "wakeful period" as all the books call it, and I know he will teethe at some point, but I am really relishing this time to actually sleep.

The new routine

Things have been going well around our house!  This week has been a bit hectic, trying to get myself and the boys out the door, but I've really made an effort to do as much as possible the night before.  I pick out my clothes, James' clothes, change Logan into his outfit for the next day (Is that bad?  I mean, he just hangs out in a sleeper all day, so why not get him into it the night before...), make lunches, and take a shower.  I feel like I'm superwoman every time I get to work on time!
So far, Logan loves daycare.  Rhonda has enjoyed having a little guy to cuddle and Logan loves to look at all the new sights.  The kids are certainly keeping him entertained and James has only been a little jealous of the other kids paying attention to his baby brother.  James has done well, he's regressing a bit, but nothing too terrible.  He really likes to be the baby and who can blame him.  But he's gotten no time outs all week and has been very helpful for Rhonda.  Maybe one day he will want to be helpful for mom and dad and actually use the potty, but that's another story.
Logan's been sleeping really well, he gets so tired during the day and fights sleep, but by the time he gets home and eats (and eats again) he is ready for bed.  Over the weekend we made it a priority to get him in bed by 8:30 pm and that time frame is slowly moving forward (which is the goal).  James has always been in bed asleep by 7:30 pm and Logan is following suit nicely.  He's been sleeping longer stretches too (probably due to the 8 ounces he's been eating between 5 pm and 7 pm) which is really wonderful.
I've been making a huge effort with going to the gym and am so happy with our routine these days.  I can only hope it will continue and that my motivation will as well.

Baby smiles

Baby smiles are the best.  Logan gives them frequently now, although we've only gotten one picture of the smile.  Okay, I say we when in fact, Adam got a picture of the smile. I just went home to see him on my lunch break and even though he's been grumpy today, he finally gave in and smiled for his mom.
I can't believe that he's almost 3 months old.  Next week both boys will be in daycare full time, Rhonda keeps telling me how excited she is.  I can't wait to see what James does...

Gas Drops

Yesterday I gave in and went to buy some gas drops and gripe water.  Adam put the drops in Logan's 4:30 PM bottle, the bottle right before his usual 2 hour freak out.  He didn't so much as fuss once during the 2 hours.  Or all night, for that matter.  He was tooting up a storm, so the gas drops seemed to help with the pain and extreme discomfort he was feeling.
I never really gave a lot of thought to gas drops.  I've read several studies that rated their effectiveness equally with a placebo and my pediatrician echoed those thoughts.  I do have several mommy friends who swear by them.  I figured they couldn't really do any harm and desperation sent me over the edge.  But they worked.  And if they didn't work, they pretended to work, which is good enough for me.
Overall Logan had a good night.  He still didn't sleep more than 3 hours at a time, but I can deal with that.  We did make the effort to have him sleep in his room all night, which went well.  He must have been really happy in there, because every time he woke up, he was cooing and giggling and just pleased as punch to be in his room.  Adam has one more week at home, so we're going to be working very hard to get a routine going.  And I am hopeful that the routine will make Logan sleep better!

2 month milestones

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

Vocalizes: gurgles and coos
Logan has started to make the cutest noises, I think he startles himself when something comes out of his mouth that isn't a scream, because he looks so surprised.
Follows objects across field of vision
Yes, we are following all kinds of objects.
Notices his hands
They're in his mouth some of the time, so I suppose that counts as noticing them.
Holds head up for short periods
Yes, his head control gets better and better everyday

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

Smiles, laughs
In the last 2 weeks or so Logan has been smiling up a storm, he also kind of laughs, but its more of a coo at this point.
Holds head at 45-degree angle
If he's on his tummy, he can hold is head up at a 45-degree angle.
Makes smoother movements
He's getting there, his movements are definitely less jumpy than they used to be.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

Holds head steady
For short periods of time, yes.
Can bear weight on legs
Yes, if you hold him up, he will stand on his legs for a minute or so.
Lifts head and shoulders when lying on tummy (mini-pushup)
Yes, he still isn't a huge fan of tummy time.  He does like it if he's laying with one of us tummy to tummy and will hold himself up.

Logan also had his 2 month check up today.  He is doing well and the doctor was impressed with all the milestones he's meeting.  His head circumference was 15.5 inches, he weights 13 pounds, 1 ounce, and was 22 3/4 inches long.  He's off the growth chart and the doctor thinks he'll be between 6' 2" and 6' 6" tall when he's all grown, so we'll see if that is true or not.  He thinks that James could end up even taller!  
Logan also got 3 shots and the Rotovirus liquid vaccine.  He was not happy about the shots and had a pretty fussy afternoon and evening.  We gave him some Tylenol to help with the pain, but who really knows how much that helps.  I am just thankful he didn't run a fever or have any other bad reactions.  This morning he seemed back to his usual self, so I hope he and Adam make it through the day without incident.

Fussy boy

The last few weeks have been going pretty well at our house.  We're settling into having a baby and getting used to new routines.  Although, I go back to work next week which will change things again.  Adam is taking 4 weeks of paternity leave and will go back on March 18th, once again changing things up, but I'm glad he'll have time to bond with Logan.
Mr. Baby (we are fond of calling him this, as he is a one serious baby) is doing well.  He eats like crazy and is finally figuring out that he should sleep at night.  He sleeps from about 8 PM to 2 AM and then again from 4 AM til 7 AM.  He usually takes his first morning nap after we return from dropping James off at daycare.  So we're all sleeping a bit better.  He is slowly awake less and less during his wake up at 2 AM.  Logan is a good amount fussier than James ever was.  He likes things just so and will let you know if you aren't meeting his standard.  Sometimes he cries to be fed, even when he's not hungry.  He screams if he wants to be entertained, cuddled, or laid on his tummy.  James screamed a good deal during his first three months due to gas issues.  Then, almost the very day he turned 3 months old, it ended.  They call the first 3 months of life the "fourth trimester" because in a perfect world, where humans are mammoths, babies would gestate for a full year.  But due to reasons, mainly size related, we give birth after 9 months.  Anyway, I am hoping that in the next few weeks, Logan's screaming will die down a good bit.
Other than that, his personality is very serious.  He smiles in his sleep, but usually has a silly little smirk on his face.  He still looks almost identical to his older brother as a baby, but appears to have darker hair.  His eyes are still blue, but look like they are changing to brown everyday.
Fussy babies are hard.  When you're home everyday with an angry baby, you really start to feel like you're doing a crap job of being a mother.  Or at least I do.  With toddlers, even when they're mad or grumpy, they still will show affection.  A hug or kiss can go a long way when you're feeling like the worst mom ever, but infants can't give that kind of response.  That's been a hard thing for me to remember, when I feel like my baby must hate me because he's been fussy all day.  But I know all too soon, he won't be a tiny (well, not so tiny, since he's gaining weight like crazy!) baby and I'll want these sleepless nights back.
Overall, we're doing well.  To our credit and experience with James, Adam and I have not had a middle of the night, overly tired screaming match.  We had them almost nightly for awhile with James, for no other reason than tiredness and unclear expectations.  We've had a better plan for how to handle overnight feedings this time and I think the clearer communication has helped us both.  Not that we ever held grudges about these middle of the night squabbles, but its better not to call your spouse horrible names at 3 AM.  Okay, I might have been the main name caller, but we will look the other way.

One month milestones

I can't believe that one month can fly by so quickly, but I find that time moves quickly when you're sleep deprived.  So far, I've managed to still be punctual, even with the added stress and packing that a new baby bring.  Most mornings, I take James to daycare.  Logan comes with us and sits in the car while I run James in.  I figure this is good practice for when I'm back to work and have to get all three of us out the door.
I think its funny that I'm talking about being punctual, but Logan's one month post is 2 days late, but his doctor's appointment is today, so that's my reasoning.  You wouldn't want to read this update without his updated length and weight, right?
Well, now the post is three days late, as I'm adding his length and weight, but here you are.
Logan is weighing in at 10 pounds 7 ounces and is 21 inches long.  He's gained 3 pounds 2 ounces in 3 weeks and grown a quarter of an inch.  He's a stocky guy.  I double checked James' records and he weighs a pound more at one month, but is an inch longer.  We talked with the pediatrician who is pretty sure both boys are going to be between 6' 1" and 6' 4", which means they would get their height from my side of the family.  Who knew my genes were so dominate?  Either way, we're happy Logan is eating well and gaining weight.

Mastered Skills
Lifts head when lying on tummy
Logan has great head control for a little guy.  He has been lifting it during tummy time for a few weeks now.
Responds to sound
Yes, Logan is quite curious when he hears one of many crazy noises that go on in our house.
Stares at faces
Logan will sit, wide awake and check out whoever is holding him.  He seems to be very serious and I love chatting with him while he looks up at me.

Emerging Skills
Follows objects briefly with eyes
Yes, Logan has started tracking with his eyes.
Verbalizes:  oohs and aahs
Not just yet, we haven't heard too many oohs and aahs out of the little guy, but he makes a variety of strange scream-like noises.
Can see black and white patterns
I don't have any real confirmation on this one, but he does like to look at the black and white patterns on some of his toys, so I think Logan is meeting this milestone.

Advanced Skills
Smiles, laughs
Logan will smile randomly, its not quite a social smile yet (even if mom would like to think he is smiling just for her...)
Holds head at 45-degree angle
Yes, Logan will do this either on the floor or if he is laying on your chest.  Sometimes he is quite forceful when he lifts his head and tries to swan dive out of your arms.  He definitely knows how to keep his parents on their toes!

There should be more hours in a day

Wow.  Here I am again, two weeks later.  I've been writing post after post in my head, but by the time I can actually get to the computer, I've usually lost whatever was once there!
I promised more details on days two through five of our hospital stay, but really it was just a lot of time in bed.  Logan stayed with me, except for nights, when he went to the nursery so I could sleep.  While in the hospital, I decided to formula feed, Logan had his first photo session, and was circumcised.  As for me, my blood pressures in the hospital were high and I was put on medication to lower them.  The high blood pressure led to an extra night in the hospital and we were able to come home on Christmas Eve.
Since then the whole family has been adjusting.  We've had a lot of sleepless nights, but overall it feels like Logan has been here forever.  There are so many differences between James and Logan, it has been interesting to learn all of his quirks.
For the next month I'm still home on maternity leave and hopefully in that time Logan will start to sleep more consecutive hours and we'll continue to relearn how to best take care of a baby.

A new era, Day One

Well, here we are, 10 days postpartum   Again, I've been meaning to update about Logan's birth and our time in the hospital, but it has been hectic and to say that I'm still very hormonal is a bit of an understatement.
When we last left off, I was still scheduled for a C-Section on the morning of December 21st.  I had an appointment set for the day before and was told to bring my bag with me.  My OB's logic was that if I had my bag with me, there was no way we'd have a baby.  Kind of like when you bring an umbrella with you just to ensure that it doesn't rain.
But that was not the case, even medicated, my blood pressure was still high.  Also, for the first time, I had more than a trace of protein when my urine was dip-sticked.  A second dipstick did not reveal any protein, so part of me thinks I may have just been dehydrated.  But the decision was made to send me up to Labor and Delivery.  At that point, I just thought more labs were going to be drawn, but when I got up there, the nurse basically told me that I was going to be having the baby that evening at 5 PM, once my breakfast had cleared.
Upon learning that I was having the baby that day, I tried to call Adam, who had gone to work.  Adam was also at work when I was told it was time for James to come, so it was familiar territory. The nurses at the Perinatal Center were shocked that he hadn't come to my appointment, but we had already decided that Adam would go to work that day.  Of course, I couldn't get a hold of my darling husband right away, which made me a little bit upset.  Finally I called my mom to tell her what was going on and in that instant, Adam started to call me.  Isn't that always the way it works?
Eventually, plans were made for James and Adam was at the hospital.  Around 4:30, when I expected to be getting my spinal/epidural, I learned that a woman came in, fully dilated, with her baby breech.  That meant that I was getting pushed back.  My mom and Jackie had just arrived and we were now set to wait a few hours.  And wait we did.
Finally, around 7 PM I was taken back into the OR.  The anesthesiologist had already talked to me about the spinal/epidural I'd be getting and I knew what to expect from having the same procedure with James.  A spinal was put into my back to numb me for surgery and the epidural was put in for pain management afterwards.  I was very nervous about getting the spinal done, but the lidocaine did its job and after a little crunch of my spinal bones, I felt numb very quickly.  The doctor did a great job, because I was fully numb up to my rib cage.  As expected, I as quite claustrophobic once the medicine kicked in.  The feeling of the bright lights and not being able to move can be quite scary and after a few minutes, I just had to close my eyes and go to a happy place!  I calmed down easily and then waited.  I heard them call for the beginning of surgery and a minute later, Adam was in with me.
Surgery was as I had expected, I felt pressure and heard the doctor's talking.  The anesthesiologist had warned Adam not to talk to me about the surgery during the actual procedure, so of course that was what he asked about right away.  It didn't freak me out, but I guess some people get woozy if they think about what's going on.  After a few minutes of chatting about the pulling and pushing I was feeling, we started talking about Chicago Fire (a show I watch) because the doctor scolded us!
Eventually, they pulled the baby out and he screamed right away.
Logan Maverick was born at 7:31 PM.  He screamed and screamed and screamed.  I have never been happier to hear a baby cry, because James screamed for a second and then stopped.  His lungs couldn't handle screaming and he was immediately whisked away to the NICU.  Luckily. the new little guy kept on screaming.  He was cleaned and weighed and Adam took lots of pictures.  The pediatrician brought him over to me and we greeted each other.
A second son.  A second little boy for me to love, guide, and raise.  As overwhelmed has I had been the weeks prior, looking at my little guy made me feel calm and in control, even while lying on an operating table, getting sew back together.  Adam got to sit and hold Logan once he had been swaddled and was nice and warm.
We all went back to the recovery room together and Adam went to tell my mom and Jackie that it would be a few minutes before they could come see us.  Logan and I were checked over and looked after for awhile.  We attempted to breast feed, but when the baby's blood sugar came back very low at 32, he had to have a bottle.  Type one diabetics pass insulin onto their babies, so as soon as they are born, they tend to have low blood sugar.  While I didn't want to give up on breastfeeding immediately, I knew he needed to eat and he sucked down two ounces of formula like a champ.
When the other patient was moved out of the recovery room, Jackie and my mom got to come see the baby for awhile.  Eventually they left and Logan went to the nursery for a check up.  I went back to my room and it was decided my blood pressure was just not coming down enough.  Around 2 AM that morning, it was decided that I was not going to be put on an IV of Magnesium Sulfate.  Magnesium lowers your blood pressure and prevents seizures that can occur with pre-eclampsia and hypertension.  It also makes you feel like you've been hit by a truck, occasionally nauseous, and very sleepy and out of it.  Luckily, I was only put on 12 hours of this awful drug.
And that was Day One of little Logan's life.
More to come...