It is hard to believe that two months has gone by since we brought Charlie home. Time is moving way to quickly, but we have noticed big changes in such a short amount of time. The first few weeks were pretty tough. Charlie cried ALL the time, he was having a hard time with breastfeeding, and was only happy when he was being held or rocked. As soon as I tried to put him down in his crib, he would immediately wake up and start crying. I pretty much lived off coffee and adrenaline. Thankfully, things have gotten much better.
1 MONTH
When we brought Charlie home from the hospital, his weight had dropped down to 9 pounds, 2 ounces. So we decided to supplement his feedings with formula. It was a stressful time for both Charlie and myself. In addition to the difficulty with breastfeeding, I suspected that he might have a food sensitivity or allergy. He seemed to have a lot of gas and discomfort after eating and it was hard to settle him down. It got so bad, that driving around was the only way to calm him down. Every night, around 8:30 pm, I would put him in the car and start to drive. He was fine as long as the car was moving, but would start crying as soon as the car stopped. So, I would get on the Beltway, and pray for zero traffic.
Jump ahead to May 21st. Charlie was eating much better and we had weaned him off of the formula supplements. He was sleeping for 4 to 5 hour stretches in his crib AND he was crying much less!! I had given up most dairy and changed my breast feeding technique, which appeared to have a big impact on his comfort level after eating.
At his 1 month check-up, we learned that he
- weighed 10 pounds, 15 ounces
- and was 23 1/2 inches long
Once again, we decided to mark Charlie's development by taking photos in the same rocking chair we used for Lauren. I cannot wait to compare their photos to see if there is a resemblance between the two siblings.
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We also learned that Charlie actually enjoys tummy time. As a baby, Lauren would scream the entire time, but he seems pretty content. It certainly helps to have his big sister join him on the blanket and keep him company. They are so sweet together and he really loves to watch her throughout the day. He perks up as soon as he hears her voice, and she always gets the biggest smiles out of him.
2 MONTHS
Within the past month, there has been an even bigger change in Charlie. He only seems to cry when he is hungry, tried, or has a dirty diaper...typical baby behavior. He smiles quite a bit and has even begun to coo and giggle at Lauren, Chad and I. He still enjoys being held and is the most content when I walk him around the house in the Baby Bjorn. But, we are also able to put him down in the swing, bouncer seat, or pack n play for long periods of time throughout the day now, which helps when I need to spend time with Lauren or prepare meals.
Things are definitely getting easier and we have started to develop a little routine. A typical day looks like...
6 am: Charlie wakes up and eats (Charlie and I head downstairs for some quiet morning time)
8 am: Lauren wakes up and eats
9 am: This time is reserved for Lauren's various classes (dance, tennis, etc)
11:30 am: Lunch time (Charlie eats every 1.5 hours or so)
12:30 pm: Nap time for both Lauren and Charlie (most days I can grab a little shut eye at this point)
2:30 pm: Charlie wakes up from nap and eats
3:00 pm: Lauren wakes up from nap and gets a snack
6:00 pm: Chad gets home from work
6:30 pm: Dinner time for Lauren. I take Charlie upstairs to eat and get ready for bed
7:30 pm: Lauren heads up to her room for some quiet time before bed
8:30 pm: I normally can get Charlie down to bed around this time (after swaddling him & walking around)
1:30 am: Charlie wakes up for a night time feeding
2:30 am: Charlie goes back to sleep
5:30 -6 am: Charlie wakes up again!
It isn't a set routine and can change from day to day, but having some idea of what to expect and what to do next has helped me keep my sanity. Unfortunately, Lauren's routine has been uprooted a bit, and we are hoping to get things back on track in a month or two. Once we can get Charlie into a set sleep schedule, we can work on getting Lauren back into a good bedtime routine.
But eating, sleeping and crying less is not the only way Charlie has changed. At his 2 month check-up, we discovered that he now
- weighs 12 pounds 2 ounces (50th percentile)
- and is 23 3/4 inches long (75th percentile)
He is growing very well and I have a feeling that he will be a big boy!
So many changes...I am sure I am forgetting some. And while I am anxious to move past this chaotic and sleepless stage, it is sad to watch him grow and know that he will not be a baby for long! So, I am trying to enjoy every moment and look forward to what the future brings for our family!!
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