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Friday, April 2, 2010

Hello Bottle!

Yesterday Alex was introduce to the bottle. I had a conversation with the lactation consultant earlier in the morning and she had suggested that it would be a good time to start. We were told sometimes babies have challenges with the bottle so we weren't sure how difficult it would be. Matt gave Alex his first bottle feeding and I was waiting patiently in another room since the consultant said it would be smart for someone other than me to give him the bottle so he doesn't get confused. Apparently babies can smell mom if she's within 20 feet range as well. How do they find this stuff out?





He took the bottle with no problem and wolfed down 60 ml of milk which is double his previous intakes from the finger feedings. Success! And for Matt and me, relief. The whole feeding/pumping schedule was starting to feel very aggressive and throwing in finger feedings was making it extra challenging.




We received some more fabric bins we ordered from Target finally so we can finish up the nursery. We've been using lots of wooden shape pieces from Michaels to decorate. I just got another 30% coupon in my inbox for tomorrow so I may head over and buy even more cutesy things. Can't help myself. I'll have to take a photo soon.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

A Day Out!





We had a busy day today! Alex had his morning feeding while Matt showered. Then I jumped into the shower while Matt got Alex dressed. We offered to drop my dad off to his dialysis session since we needed to go to the hospital medical office briefly to fill out some forms for my work and the two are only 5 minutes apart.





I went to fill out my forms while Matt and Alex went to another hospital building to check out "What to Expect the First Year" from their library services. After that we headed towards Matt's work. We stopped by at Starbucks to grab some frappuccinos and paninis first. We introduced Alex to some of Matt's colleagues and then it was time again for another feeding. Thankfully there was a quiet room when I was able to feed him and change him. It was a good being out and going through some of our routine motions and actually using our diaper bag and knowing we had all the right supplies. I felt a lot less burdened and it was nice to not have to rush home for a feeding.

Alex finished around the same time Matt finished up the paperwork he needed to for work and so we headed off to Babies R Us next. We got to test out the stroller for the first time today too. Again it was nice being out and not feeling rushed. Our past trips to Babies R Us have been in and out because we usually leave Alex at home with my parents and try to do as much as we can in our 90 minute windows. We had a nice leisurely stroll around the store then went next door to Target. Matt was telling Alex all about Target greatness. I bought a couple of things for myself - clothes, shoes and we restocked on some baby supplies.

By the time we finished it was time to pick my dad up already. The days fly by so quickly.

Alex has had issues with a crusty eye yesterday and today. Didn't think much of it yesterday but this morning it seemed excessive and I didn't like the yellowy color. I had left a message for the doctor but unfortunately forgot my cell phone...or so I thought. Turns out I had my phone all along in another one of my bags. Anyway the doctor had left a message saying she prescribed some drops because she said it sounded like a slight eye infection so I went to pick it up.

Had one more feeding with Alex and then we decided to administer his drops. It was a 2 man job. One of us had to put the drops in while the other had to hold his little eye open and then squeeze it shut. Like all things, he was so good about it! His eyes are so tiny though that the drops basically just sat on top of his eye. We have to do it 4 times a day but after the first dose I've already noticed a decrease in the goo coming out of his eye.

We got a bunch a bunch of nice new outfits from Grandma and Granddad in England today too. Preemie ones that actually fit. We have had a hard time finding mittens that stay on.
The hats are still a bit big even though they say for babies up to 5lbs.




Another feeding coming up shortly. Better go get prepared.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Who Knew Poop Could Fly So Far?

We had another okay night, not as good as the night before. Alex wanted to be fed almost every hour for a 3 hour stretch in the middle of the night. Sometimes he does that which can really tire us out. Matt and I both ended up being up during all feeding shifts last night instead of alternating. So far we've been handling the day without being snappy but I'm wondering if it will catch up on us soon.

We took our first real trip out today. Matt had some business he needed to finish up for work so we went to the Santana Row branch Wachovia where Colleen and Heath work. Unfortunately he couldn't figure out how to get the stroller to flip the opposite way we needed it to be despite figuring it out 2 days ago. All this tiredness is leading to poor short term memory! So we had to hold Alex in his little carrier which he seemed quite happy about. Alex slept through our whole time there. We were thinking of nipping into a few shops but it seems that these days if we just get one thing done, that's enough. So instead we headed home since it was close to Alex's feeding time and we also realized that it would probably smart if we ate something too!

Matt's usually the one on diaper duty. He get's Alex all cleaned up and ready for a feed while I prepare myself and get comfortable and everything I need. That way I don't have to wash my hands twice before feeding the little guy and we can save a few minutes. Since we came home ravenous though I decided to change Alex's diaper while Matt cooked lunch. It's rare for us to check his diaper and it be empty and sure enough we had a little bit of poo and a little bit of pee.
I was in the middle of changing him when a bunch of poo just came shooting out. It literally was a stream and got all over me, the bed, the changing pad. It was pretty gross. We just changed our duvets and sheets yesterday as well!

While I shouted for Matt for a little help, Alex decided he wanted to wee all over everything too. Thankfully he missed his face this time. We have peepee teepees but he's still a preemie, and like most things, they don't really fit over quite yet. After washing him down and getting him changed for the billionth time, he was ready to be fed. After feeding he decided he wanted to spit up all over me too. Not once but twice. :) We're having a gross Alex day. I still don't understand how he doesn't smell disgusting all the time. He is still the most adorable littlest thing ever!!

His little tear ducts are coming in now too. We noticed some crusty sleepy in his eyes. I think we're going to have to give him a bath later. Hopefully he won't poo or pee during it! Fingers crossed.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Best Night So Far!

Already 1pm? Where did the morning go? All of us being in bed yesterday did us so much good. We definitely needed to catch up. Matt and I read the 'Feeding' and 'Sleeping' chapters in the Baby 411 book and learned a few tips. Like an overtired baby actually sleeps worse. Or that the first 2 months of life are non-habit forming months so whatever we do for the next few weeks, we don't have to fret about overdoing or underdoing something.

We had the best night we've had since coming home from the hospital. I exclusively fed Alex, no finger feeding throughout the night which was a relief for Matt. Alex slept soundly apart from his clockwork 3 hour wake ups to be changed and fed. And he ate well. He's really getting the hang of it and instead of taking an hour to be fed, now takes 30-40 minutes. Plus once he's full, he's full. We had a period where he wanted to be fed every 20 minutes which wasn't working for anyone.

I have a really great photo I took at about 4am of Daddy and Alex. So sweet!






Yesterday evening Alex got to spend some quality time with Grandpa, Grandma and Bijal. And Matt got to spend some quality time with Mau. Who seems to be adjusting well.




Alex's little umbilical cord piece fell off last night. Matt changed his diaper around midnight and I noticed his belly button was visible. We searched all around for the shriveled up piece but it was nowhere to be found. Then this morning when I got out of bed, it was there! I must have been sleeping on it all night. It's so nice for it to be gone. Now we can give him his first bath soon.

We still don't understand how babies smell good all the time. For someone who poos, pees, spits up a lot and doesn't bathe he sure smells nice! It's interesting to see how fast their skin turns over too. Sometimes he'll have a tiny pimple on his face and within a few hours it will completely disappear. I need to file his nails soon because I noticed a couple of scratch marks on his forehead. Little claws he has. No signs of eczema yet and I hope it's something he doesn't inherit from me.

I have 2 hours until our next feed and am for once in a nesting mood. Need to get cracking on the long to do list that we have floating around!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Down and Out

Alex is 2 weeks old today!

Thankful for my parents being around today. I am fighting an infection while Matt has barely slept in the past 2 days. I feel terrible, alternating with feeling ridiculously hot one minute and having the chills the next. I have a fever of 101.2 and am waiting for another hour to pick up a prescription. I'm typing this from bed right now. Matt's to my left, snoring. It's 12:20pm right now and he's been fast asleep since 8:30am. In the 6 years I've known him I have never seen him this exhausted. Parenting takes so much out of you.



To my right, little Alex is fast asleep in his little co-sleeper. He makes weird gurgling and grunting noises from time to time but other than that he's a pretty sound sleeper. I have to wake him up in about 15 minutes for his next feeding. I hate having to do that but he has to eat every 3 hours minimum.


I've brought a bunch of stuff in our room to busy myself. I know I'm supposed to be resting but I feel so unproductive when I do nothing. So I have some baby reading I'd like to catch up on. I just finished taping some photos into Alex's baby book. Small, low energy tasks at least make me feel like I'm not wasting time. We usually only get a 90 minute window in between feedings so Matt and I try to make the most of it.

Yesterday we left Alex at home for 45 minutes with my parents and I got a chance to take a quick walk around the mall and we went to Babies R Us to buy more swaddling blankets, a waterproof cradle pad and some waterproof burp pads. It's amazing to see all the different baby products that exist.

Alex has Tri Vi Sol vitamin drops with iron. Every time we give it to him he pukes! Poor little guy. So I called the doctor yesterday asking if we could discontinue it. When he throws up he also throws up some of his feeding which isn't good. He is doing great weight wise. 2 days ago he was 5 lbs 5 oz..almost back to his birth weight. He's eating wonderfully. The doctor suggested we try and find the drops without the iron in it and asked me to eat more iron enriched foods instead. She said he should be okay without the iron part since he's making such great progress. His pediatrician is Dr. Sya who actually taught the introduction to newborn class at Kaiser. She seems really nice and works weekends which is handy. Our next appointment with her is on April 5th.

Time flies so quick. Have to check Alex's diaper now and then time to eat!