Smiling at Five Weeks!

Sorry it's been a while, as I am still getting used to my new routine (hahaha) and schedule with Tommy. He is a really good baby, but I still feel like I am all over the place trying to figure out what I am doing, supposed to be doing, could be doing, want to be doing, etc. I've never been the type of person who could just sit and relax and do nothing - and there is so much I feel like I can be doing, like writing thank yous, updating TJ's baby book, organizing pictures, filing bills, laundry, the dishes, straightening up/cleaning (even though we do have a cleaning lady that comes in every other week), eating (honestly, that's been tough to stay on schedule with sometimes, but I am making sure to be getting myself fed as well as the baby!) Most of all, I am trying to enjoy this time I have at home to bond with Thomas.

When TJ is napping, I try to do a lot of this stuff, and while updating the blog is on the list, something else always needs to be done. He had his one month visit on Tuesday, and unfortunately he did not gain as much as we hoped or thought. He was 6 lbs, 14 oz, up only 11 oz. since his last visit. The pediatrician was not overly concerned, but had us come back today (Friday) for a weigh in. Hence, my mission began, and I can happily say, mission accomplished! Today, TJ weight 7 lbs, 4 oz., a gain of 6 ounces in 2.5 days. I did not cry my happy tears...until I got home and could tell someone - that being Tux and Tails, who have been quite attentive to me the past few days especially. I have to admit I was frustrated with myself, as I've been so diligent about keeping a log of his feeding times and how long. The doctor suggested I go back to feeding him every 2-2.5 hours during the day - sometimes he would go 3-4 hour stretches during the day; not always, as sometimes it was every 2 hours. But I am a girl who likes to follow directions, so I did just that, and I feel like I was rewarded for my efforts. I also gave him 2 bottles a day of milk that I'd pumped and frozen - perhaps if I hadn't frozen what I did the past 2 weeks and put it in a bottle for him, he would have been over 7 lbs. earlier this week.

When I was pregnant and people would ask me if I was going to nurse, my answer was, "well, I'm going to try. We'll see how it goes." My initial goal was to get through the first 2 weeks, and my next goal is to hit 3 months. Funny, now that I am 5 weeks in, my competitive nature has come out and it's like I'm somehow fighting to "win" something. I have no problem if I need to supplment with formula at some point, and have to admit before I had Tommy, I didn't honestly think I'd make it this far with nursing, so the fact that I have is probably why a light went on for my ego/pride this week at the doctor's office.

The rest of his check up was fine - Tommy is now 21 inches (half inch up from last visit) and his head circumference is up 2 cm. I've noticed that getting some of his newborn size onesies over his head is a little more work! We go back on November 9th for his 2 month check up.

This week my Aunt Denise was in from Arizona and stayed with us for 2 days/nights. My mom was here as well, and on Monday we all went out to lunch with my sister and niece. TJ slept for 4.5 hours while we were out...thus the doctor's orders to not go that long without feeding. Fortunately, at night, Tommy is really good, definitely waking for at least one feeding, occasionally two, depending on what time he goes to sleep, but he is giving us good stretches of sleep time at night! Following docs orders, when we went out on Wednesday to do some shopping, Tommy got a bottle at Costco and Mommy pumped in public! Well, in the backseat of my car, with a nursing apron on. Also got to change the little guy in the Costco restroom, which was immaculate...though go figure the handicapped stall where the changing table is was locked, and no one was in there...mind you, I had just walked in to check before bringing the baby in there to make sure there was a changing station and things were clean, and it was NOT locked. Some girl offered to crawl underneath to unlock it, which was very nice, but I went and got a manager who took care of it right away. Had to be a funny with the first time we would change him in public, right? Even funnier, I have no idea how we were able to fit everything we bought that day in the car with 3 adults, a baby and the stroller.

Tommy and I have been on our own otherwise since around 4pm Wednesday when Mom and Aunt Denise left. John flew to Illinois on Tuesday, as Grandpa B had surgery, which he came through very well, thank goodness. Please keep him in your prayers for a quick recovery; he had a kidney removed as well as his thyroid, and will be starting on some treatment soon to kill any remaining cancer cells. Ironically, Grandma and Grandpa B and Aunt Maria were supposed to arrive in NJ pn Wednesday for a visit, but the surgery ended up being scheduled for that day. I was able to send a photo along with some AUDIO of Tommy via the cell phone for everyone to listen to. Tommy also wore a shirt that said "I'm Nuts about Grandpa" to root Grandpa on! Get well soon Grandpa B! Today I took some video/audio with my phone to send to them as well. Daddy will be home tonight hopefully - we are having some terrible weather here in NJ - up north they even got some snow!

Right now, Tommy is in the Baby Bjorn which I am wearing on me...while it says he should be 8 pounds, I am breaking this rule and using it, as he seems to really like it, and otherwise I will never get this blog updated. Earlier today, I got my first smile from my son! Not one of those gassy smiles or he's having a dream smile, but a legitimate smile! His sock had fallen off in the bouncy chair and I was talking to him kind of funny and cute and smiling and laughing myself, and he responded. Can you guess what happened next??? Yup, I cried my happy tears! (Seriously, do you know anyone who can't control her emotions like me??) And to make sure it was not a fluke, I did the same thing and he did it again. Because he was so alert (he had been napping while I finished lunch), I put him on his activity map and he was definitely looking at the animals hanging from above him, and even reached for one. That's when I did the video on my phone to send to John and the gang in Illinois too.

The pics above are from this past week. Tommy looks like he is waving in his bouncy seat...that was taken last Saturday when he was one month exactly. The other photo is of the two of us in our matching pajamas...hehehe...yes, Mommy has monkey pjs to match her little guy! In a few years, I'm sure John and TJ will be in matching golf outfits!