it’s a new year

[polson]

hi how is everyone doing? how were the holidays? everything is pretty much a blur here - can’t believe a will be 8 weeks this next week. he is sleeping much more consistently these days, usually only 2 wake ups. but naps are getting more challenging because he is not sleeping through the noise as much anymore. i am having to put him in the solly in the mornings to get a decent one. i have been pretty successful with triple afternoon nap time/quiet time with the girls too. they are still such doting big sisters. he is also the size of my girls at 4 months already. he started smiling about a week and a half ago and it’s the best.

Fearsy how is nursing going? i hope things have resolved.

[Fearsy]

Jan 2, 2021 6:16:11 GMT -6 polson said:

hi how is everyone doing? how were the holidays? everything is pretty much a blur here - can’t believe a will be 8 weeks this next week. he is sleeping much more consistently these days, usually only 2 wake ups. but naps are getting more challenging because he is not sleeping through the noise as much anymore. i am having to put him in the solly in the mornings to get a decent one. i have been pretty successful with triple afternoon nap time/quiet time with the girls too. they are still such doting big sisters. he is also the size of my girls at 4 months already. he started smiling about a week and a half ago and it’s the best.

Fearsy how is nursing going? i hope things have resolved.

Hiii! 8 weeks?! How?? So glad he’s sleeping more at night and that you’re having some success with triple naps!

The holidays were good here. A lot going on even though we didn’t even leave the house. My SIL gave birth early so our babies are only 12 days apart! Hers was exactly 3lb smaller than W so the pictures of them side by side are hysterical.

Nursing is definitely better than it was before. He’s still leaving me lipstick shaped when he’s done but the pain isn’t there anymore which is a huge relief. We’re working on getting a deeper latch and just doing our best. We’ve had a LOT of appointments since he was born 3 weeks ago so I’m settling in and trying to just enjoy being home with him. We’ve had some drama with his weight gain. It’s a lot but the long story short is that he didn’t reach birthweight by 2 weeks (he was 2.5oz away) so they had us come back last week for a nurse weight check. He weighed exactly the same that he did the previous week and I completely spiraled thinking I was starving him. I got a scale and was doing weighed feeds, doctor called and asked us to come back the next day to see a provider, I was ready to fight them to protect my ability to breastfeed. We showed up and magically he had gained 7.5oz in 24hr. Doctor admitted that the previous day had to have been a scale error and let us go home. I’m relieved but it was so stressful!

[katespade]

My fat baby is 9 weeks old tomorrow! He’s been spitting up a bunch the past few days- I’ve done SO much laundry 😫

He’s VERY attached to me. I was down in our family room working for 2 hours the other day and I could hear him hollering at DH. Poor kiddo

[marigold]

polson, that's awesome on the sleep front! You give me hope.

Fearsy, that sounds so stressful! Hopefully no more drama or extra appointments now.

We're struggling a bit. She cries all the time; I can't put her down for a minute without her immediately screaming and getting so worked up she gasps for air. I'm trying to remember that it's a phase that will not last forever. But I have a hard time sitting still in general and now watching housework pile up and my to do list go unchecked. I was so excited to go for daily walks with her, but she won't tolerate the stroller or carrier.

[Fearsy]

Hugs, marigold. I’m sorry she’s so fussy. My second was like that too and it was really really tough.

[katespade]

marigold G does that too. Getting him down for naps not on one of us has been a challenge because he will be so sleepy and the second he’s put down he flips his lid. I feel like I can’t get anything done because I’m just holding him for a nap, and my left upper back is killing me (I tend to hold him on that side so I have my right hand free- I’m now a whiz at making a PBJ one handed while holding an almost 13 pound baby 😂)

Speaking of that, he had his 2 month checkup monday. He’s 2oz heavier and almost as tall as DD was when she was 4 months old and it just cracks me up. The shots were rough though. He ended up with a fever and basically cried the entire rest of the day afterwards.

[Fearsy]

katespade, have you tried a heating pad? Let it warm the bed/crib while you get him to sleep, move it right before you put him down, and then it won’t be going from warm arms to cold sheet. Maybe that would help?

[katespade]

My child is already cutting teeth. At 12 weeks. Good grief.

He is so big, it cracks me up. Really he’s normal sized but DD was so tiny that he will forever feel like a giant baby to me.

[marigold]

I can't believe DD is almost 2 months old. She still cries non-stop; I'm at a loss. Her pediatrician has ruled out digestive issues, and she doesn't appear to be in any kind of discomfort. She just cries all.the.time, and I can't put her down for a second. It has made losing the baby weight easier...I can't put her down long enough to cook!

How's everyone doing? Who else is going back to work soon (or is already back)? What are you doing for childcare?

[polson]

marigold i’m sorry - dd1 was like that and it was absolutely miserable. does she like being in any carriers? at least that would free up your hands

we are just plugging along. to be honest, i am struggling a bit. i think it’s just a combo of this time of year and not being able to do anything other than go to my moms. i feel stuck. the girls are doing ski lessons so at least that gets them out and h decided to put an ice rink in the back yard so that’s something too - but they are bored and acting out. h and most of his family have gotten the vaccine so i’m hopeful things will look up once we’re able to visit his parents.

[katespade]

G is a stage 5 clinger. He does not like to be away from me. It makes it hard for me to work (I work PT from home) and even harder to do basic stuff because he wigs out if he can’t see me.

[Fearsy]

Oh marigold, I’m so sorry. My second was like that and just cried and cried with no explanation. It was so awful and not many people understood. I don’t know if you’re just wanting to vent or looking for solutions but I’m going to suggest this. We used it with DD2 after about 5mo and I don’t know if it was this or the timing of her growing out of it but I do think it made a little difference for her. Might be worth a try if you’re feeling desperate.

www.coliccalm.com/blog/post/the-benefits-of-using-activated-charcoal-with-your-little-one-all-you-need-to-know

[Fearsy]

Hm looks like I linked a page about the benefits of it and not the actual product. I think I bought it at Target.

[marigold]

We've tried every type of carrier out there; she dislikes them all. DH holds her in the evenings so I can cook dinner, and she screams the entire time. My maternity leave is ending soon, so we've got to figure something out.

I will check out Colic Calm; thanks, Fearsy! I've used activated charcoal for various things in the past but never thought about it for DD. You're right about people not understanding at all. I think everyone thinks I'm exaggerating when I say she cries non-stop.

polson ice skating in your own backyard sounds amazing! I hope you're able to be around more family soon.

[Fearsy]

Serious hugs, marigold. It sounds exactly like my second. Right down to the evenings. MH would walk in the door and take the baby from me. She would scream at him the whole time and it just sucked so much. So so much. I hope you’re able to find something to help her and that she grows out of it very very soon.

[polson]

marigold i’m sorry, i hope she grows out of it soon, that sounds absolutely miserable.

[polson]

a will be 12 weeks tomorrow😱. his naps have gone to crap for the last week - just cat naps through out the day. google says there is a “mental leap” around 11-12 weeks, i’m just not sure how much i buy into it. i would just really like to have at least one longer one at this point. also dealing with a ton of spit up, i think our laundry has doubled. he doesn’t seem upset by it and he’s growing alright, so i don’t think it’s anything to worry about.

[polson]

anyone else’s hair coming out in clumps yet? 😑

[katespade]

Feb 2, 2021 17:49:01 GMT -6 polson said:

anyone else’s hair coming out in clumps yet? 😑

Yes and it’s so helpful when your kid rips at your hair!

[marigold]

Feb 2, 2021 17:49:01 GMT -6 polson said:

anyone else’s hair coming out in clumps yet? 😑

Oh no! Did this happen with your previous pregnancies? 

[polson]

i’ve always had massive shedding with pregnancies but i feel like this is excessive. i don’t have a ton of hair to begin with so i’m hoping it slows down soon. i also haven’t had a hair cut in a year so i had my mom cut about 3 inches off yesterday - not exactly a good idea but i wear it up and in a messy bun everyday. it will have to do until i can get out for real one.

[Fearsy]

Yep to the hair loss. He’s snagging is accidentally so I’ve been wearing it up which is causing headaches for me. I’m real fun over here lately.