Rolling over...and not sleeping!

Brody is 16 weeks this week. It's been a roller coaster of highs and lows recently as he is going through some pretty significant new developmental milestones. 12 weeks is a huge shift in babies' sleep cycles, and we have definitely been experiencing what that means for Brody. Naptimes have become super short, inconsistent and sometimes nonexistent, and night sleep is really rough some nights. BUT, he also has been very alert, chatty, interactive and is learning so much about his environment, so I have to remind myself of that in the hard moments!

He has been reaching for and grabbing, and playing with his toys. Current favorites are his jingly owl on his playmat, and a new rattle that we got him. Oh, and his hands trump all else - he loves chewing on them, playing with his fingers, looking at them, etc. He also loves to be held so he can stand on the bathroom counter and look at himself in the mirror. Bathtime is now even more fun as he splashes around! 

He's found his voice for sure! He can make quite a few sounds now: "ooh," "ahh," "mahh," "moo, mo," and he enjoys making high pitched squeals. He's even started to giggle here and there, but he's still figuring that out. 

The biggest new development is that he ROLLED OVER today!! He was on his tummy in his crib and all of a sudden he started leaning over, and then eventually rolled to his back! I placed him back on his tummy and he did this 3 times in a row! He can't quite do it on the ground or more firm surfaces, but the crib gave him enough spring to push off of. :) He has been getting a tad more mobile on the ground when I give him tummy time. He pushed himself several inches by "inchworming" across the floor last night, too. 

Earlier this week, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa babysat so I could go get my haircut! I am losing my hair in handfuls (thank you post-preggo hormone change) and it was getting so unmanageable. I'm not sure if it makes me look more like a "mom" or more like I'm 8 years old, but either way, it's so much easier to deal with. Lately, I have had about 2.5 seconds to deal with myself each day, so I needed something easy. 

Jeff is going to LA on Friday for the day for work, and then we'll celebrate Halloween by walking Queen Anne Avenue to "trick or treat" at all the storefronts (aka - see all the other cute kids).  That night we have a party with some friends, and then Grandma's party the next day. Brody looks pretty cute in his costume... ;) I'll post some pictures of him in it next time I write! 

3 months old!

Brody turns 3 FULL months tomorrow, the 10th. I officially no longer have a newborn. All the books talk about how the first 3 months are kind of like the 4th trimester with the needs of a newborn, and I'm so not wanting this precious, fragile stage to end. Yes, I am thankful for more regular and lengthened sleep times, more consistent and reliable feedings, new and exciting interactions...but my heart is aching that my tiny baby boy is not so tiny anymore.

I wish time would slow down... And it feels cliché saying that, but I have never wished something so much! I will always treasure these early days of hours spent glued to the couch with a baby that won't sleep anywhere but in my arms or on my chest or on the boob...the days of unwashed hair, smeared mascara from the day (or two) before, lunches eaten at 3, coffee reheated 4 times, and crying over spilled milk (literally)...the days spent quietly as a family of 3 before Jeff went back to work, and the quiet (or not so quiet) eves spent together. I've been selfish with my time with Brody and with Jeff, and I don't regret it one bit. I can enjoy these new and exciting days of growth, development and change knowing I've savored each moment, even the hard ones. Because some day, my precious baby won't want to cuddle or be rocked to sleep or need me to feed him. This is hard to remind myself when I'm putting the pacifier back in for the umpteenth time or rocking him for the next hour or seeing his eyes spring open yet again or hearing his cries get louder...but when he finally snuggles in asleep, it's all I can think about.

I had several mild panic moments in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep, about how little Brody was spending doing tummy time. I was paranoid I wasn't giving him enough time and because of his spitting up, that he was gonna get a flat head with how much I keep him in the rock and play and couldn't put him on his stomach and that he would have delayed motor development blah blah...so I started giving him just a minute or two at a time like right after a diaper change to have some consistent times that I did it, and like 4 days ago he decided it wasn't so terrible and can tolerate it much longer and actually seems to enjoy it more! He always would do fine before, but sometimes would just lay there till he spit up and rolled his face around in it and then he was donezo. NOW, he can hold head up for much longer, can look around now, and is holding his head up even better when held. He seems to even enjoy it now. My friend who's an infant development professional told me that it's easier once babies are stronger, and that definitely seems to be the case! He also loves being held standing up, and practices "stepping." We are definitely going to need to get a bouncy thing for him soon...

We've been enjoying our life as a family, getting out more, and starting new routines. Brody loves being in the carrier, which has mostly been the Ergo with mom, but Dad is starting to carry him in the Bjorn more! We try to take a family walk every night. Brody usually will snooze, but often wakes up to look around at all the sights - he's so aware, and observant - loves to look at EVERYTHING. 

 Brody's already been to several breweries!! We met up with friends for Mommy's birthday & our friend Jordan's birthday at Populuxe in Ballard, and then went to Stoup Brewing with some other friends recently. We love the culture of Seattle, and especially Ballard, that allows kids and dogs at all of the breweries. It's nice to continue doing things that we love, and to enjoy being with our friends still. Brody is typically pretty flexible during these outings to fall asleep in the carrier, or take a bottle, or get fed in the car.

Daddy did the Tough Mudder a couple weeks ago! Mommy and Brody wandered around all over the course to watch him and his team go through the obstacles. It was a lot of fun, and I was so impressed with the team and also how the whole event was team-focused. Brody enjoyed being in the Ergo for most of the day, but then needed a break and we got out the stroller. Feeding on the go is getting much easier, but Mom (and Brody) hate the stupid nursing cover! 

We are just loving our smiley happy boy! He always wakes up in the morning with a smile on his face, and could spend ALL day looking at us and smiling. He still is loving his play mat, reaching and grabbing for his toys, playing with his hands, and finding his voice! He can copy some sounds, and loves to have "conversations." His sleep routine has gone a little bit backwards recently, but he's still a great sleeper at night. It's just a struggle getting him to sleep for good naps during the day, and in the evenings, he's having a harder time settling down. Usually he gets to come snuggle in bed with Mommy once Daddy gets up for work - he misses those snuggles too, so we try to get those in on the weekends.

Mommy started her PEPS group last week, and is already really enjoying the group of women and their babies - it's such a great community, and a much needed place to share joys and struggles and ask each other questions. Next week, our leader is bringing a scale, so I'll have an updated weight for him. :) About a week ago at the doctor's, he was 14 lbs already!

Life with Brody these days...

Brody is 11 weeks old today, and as smiley as ever. :) I've realized I'm not really writing as many things down as I should, and I'm feeling SUPER guilty, since he's almost 3 months old! Gahh! I have been writing down details, such as his first "real" smile (August 8), his first bath (July 17), and have been taking a bajillion photos and videos. SO - I've decided to try to keep track of things here, and I figure the family won't mind one bit... ;)

It's fitting to continue using our Europe trip blog, since "Wonder as we wander" describes everything it is to be a growing child, and a new parent. I *wonder* so much every day as I wander through the day with Brody, how he is seeing the world, what he thinks, what new things he will do. I have been waiting to be a mommy since forever, and every day I think I could never love this little monkey more, and each day somehow I love him more than the day before. I love seeing Jeff as a daddy, and it's brought us closer together in ways I never would have imagined, and some ways that I knew (so thankful we can laugh together at middle of the night messes!) ... I could never imagine a better partner to have in this journey of parenthood. OK, enough with that mushy stuff - let's get on with what's happening with the Brodester. 

Brody is 11 weeks old. Last week at the doctor's, he weighed 12 lbs 14.5 oz (54%) He was 23 3/4 inches long (71%). His favorite things right now are playing with his hands, either in fists, touching his hands together, munching on them, or today his favorite was holding one or both fists in the air. 

He still loves kicking his legs like crazy, is doing really well with his head control when we hold him up, but hates tummy time. I know there's some opinions about avoiding doing any unnatural movements with baby (i.e. early supported sitting with aids like pillows/bumbo seats, etc. and tummy time) until they are able to do them on their own, so I'll just remember that to avoid feeling guilty about how little B actually does spend on his tummy. He spits up so much, it's actually really hard to put him on his tummy, because there is very little time during the day when he is far enough from a feeding that he won't spit up! 

He absolutely loves his baths! His last bath, he ended up kicking and splashing his legs toward the end of it, and smiled when he realized how fun that was! He got Daddy all wet, too! 

Our typical days start off around when Jeff has to wake up and go to the gym before work around 4:00 am-ish. Usually around then, B is ready for his first morning feed, unless he's being "super baby", and sleeping late (6:30ish). After a feeding, B will be ready to take another morning snooze, and usually I let him sleep on my chest, but lately he's been able to go down for a few more hours, so I'll put him back in the co-sleeper. Then we have one or two morning naps before Noon, and we might do an outing to meet a friend or run a couple errands. He'll usually sleep in his carseat in the car or in the stroller. Afternoon is usually playtime at our house, unless we flip flop activities/errands. He will usually take a longer afternoon nap (usually if I sleep with him), but lately it's been split up into a couple shorter naps. He'll take one late afternoon/early evening nap, and then his last feeding will be around 6-7ish, and he'll go to sleep. Most nights he actually goes to sleep and stays asleep all night (!) - where did this angel baby come from?! - and sometimes he'll wake up again at 9-10pm when we're going to bed, and I'll feed him again and he'll go back down. 

I am so completely, absolutely, wholeheartedly loving my days with Brody. I'm so grateful that Jeff is loving his job at Microsoft, and we are blessed to be able to have me home with the munchkin. I have my private practice still, and a very limited number of clients. Thankfully, Jeff is able to be home when I have to go down to my office, and I'm able to feed B right before I go, and Jeff can give him a bottle if he needs it while I'm gone. Eventually I'll work up to getting some more clients, and I have plans to try to teach some classes too... but right now, I'm soaking up every second of little man's life, and will think about work later! 

Maybe I'll try to post about some earlier stuff as I have the time... like Brody's birth story, and his early days. :) But that's all for now, folks!