Month 4 Update + Solids

well hanky had his four month appointment with our pedi this week and he rocked it.  we have had such a good time watching him grow and fatten up, that we we're really excited to see how much he weighed. sometimes i swear wakes up three times bigger. the morning of his appointment an 'arctic blast' blew through and every fleece outfit we put on him was too small.  even our pediatrician joked that we were going to have to cut off his outfit for the examination-- how embarrassing!! needless to say that after the appointment, we immediately went to carters and raided their clearance section for 6 month fleece jams.

so here are the stats: henry is currently weighing in at 14 lbs 6 oz and 24.5 inches. he is actually on the growth chart now, hovering right around the 30th percentile. did that boy really gain 4 pounds in 2 months? yes, yes he did. 

although he's getting those delicious fat rolls on his thighs and wrists, we are still struggling to figure out hanks gut issues. he still spits up like it's nobodies business- 20ish burp cloths & 8 outfits a day kind of spit up. the past few weeks he has also been having horrible constipation, gas, and fussiness. he also went from happily taking 6 oz to wanting to eat about 11-12 oz a feeding.  he is still getting some breast milk at each feeding-- as much as I can provide-- but the majority of his bottle is formula. 

so putting our heads together with our pediatrician, we have switched his formula, trailing an rx for zantac, and starting on some solid foods!! 

it was suggested to us to stay away from rice cereal (due to constipation) and try an oat base instead.  we're also skipping veggies for a few weeks and trying some bland fruits, again to assist with constipation issues. 

and after a few confusing bites…

hanky went to town. 

but we did take some breaks to catch the blind auditions of the voice. 

we've had some food three times now.  last night he was grabbing at the spoon and shoving his apple&oats covered hands into his mouth.  it is so fun to watch him work on coordination and see his eyes light up with the taste.  watching this babe grow is really my favorite. 

love, sarah 

Happy Four Months, Hanky!

love, sarah

Favorites

Vulli SoPure Teether  //  Tiny Love Gymini Bouncer  //  Dr. Brown's Glass Bottles  //  Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Soothe and Glow Seahorse  //  Mama's & Papa's Tummy Time  //  Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes  //  myBaby SoundSpa  //  Bright Starts Lots of Links  //  SleepySounds App //  JellyCat Monkey Soother  //  Summer Infant SwaddleMe  //  Chicco Keyfit 30 and Stroller Frame  //  Fisher Price Piano Gym  //  Sassy Ring O' Links  //  Lamaze Peek-a-Boo Forest  //  Fisher Price Rock N' Play  //  Philips Avent Soothie  //  Welcome Baby! Book  //  Noggin Stick

almost a month late, but that's okay.  i really wanted to make a list of things we've loved throughout hanky's first few months with us.  some are practical, some are fun, some are lifesavers, and some are just little luxuries, but these products really stood out in my mind.  i would recommend each of these to my very best friends, and would buy over and over again. 

love,  sarah 

Happy Valentines Day!

love,  sarah

Rollin' Rollin'

yesterday, while i was having an especially grueling day at work, i got this video.

it was one of those days that was so tough, that just seeing my baby and hearing my hubs voice instantly calmed me down. and then i thought, holy shit!!! did my baby just roll over?  after josh swore up and down that he did not touch him or tip him over, i was so so proud. and then so so sad.

hanky did something so momentous (at least in a parent's eyes) and i had missed it. and i realize that it will be the first of many things that i miss while at work. and i am still struggling to process that. i'm sure this is just the beginning of the dichotomy of being a working mom. it's hard, really, really, really, hard.

but you know i have made hanky roll over like 10 times when i got home.  i just LOVE that his face lights up with a smile and he seems so proud of himself. now, it may not have been the first time he rolled over, but it was the first time for me. and that's still pretty special.


love,  sarah

thoughts on going back to work

i've officially been back to work for three weeks. but before i shared my experience, i wanted to take some time and get back into my routine. i wanted to take it all in before jumping back in with an opinion. and to be honest, i haven't really established one.

some days i have been happy to leave the house, including leaving hanky, and going to work. i felt like i was really accomplishing something. and i also felt really, really, guilty.  other days, leaving him was literally torture. i felt like i was missing out on his childhood. i felt like he had grown 10 inches by the time i had gotten home. but all in all, i think going back to work has been the right choice for me, and for our family.

what really helps is having childcare that you can depend on and trust.  i feel so fortunate that josh's schedule permits him to be home with hanky a lot.  as i've said before, his shift work is both a blessing and a curse.  he has five days in a row to be at home, but only after two 24 hour shifts at the station. some days work overlaps  we are also lucky to have two local grandmothers who jump at the opportunity to babysit on days we are both working.

so i am pretty spoiled to get texts, pictures, videos, and even some FaceTime in throughout my work day.  and the best part? no matter how my day is going, i have the best thing in my life waiting for me when i get home.

love, sarah

4 month sleep regression

y'all are probably doing a happy dance while reading this, but hanky has been having some terrible sleep. and boy do i mean, TERRIBLE! so much for sleeping through the night. right now, i'd sell my soul to get in a 4 hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep.

for the past three days hanky has been in quite the mood.  he can't seem to eat often enough and his sleep is totally out of whack.  he is on an official nap strike.  he won't stop crying.

he's not hungry, he's not wet, he's not sick, he's not hot/cold. he's overly tired, but refuses to go to sleep.

could it be the four month sleep regression i have read so much about? for the past two nights, hanky has been up at 11:00 PM, 1:30 AM, 4:00 AM, 5:30 AM, and then wakes up for the day at 7:30 AM.  he somehow manages to be pleasant throughout the day (if he is fed quick enough), while boycotting napping all together. oh, and did i mention, he has only done this on the nights that josh is at the station and i am alone by myself?

please, someone, anyone, help me! i want my sleeping baby back.


love, sarah