Mommyhood

I'm loving it! It's challenging, we're by no means in a set routine, but things are going very good with us. Whenever Elliot wants to eat/sleep/poop, we accommodate him. And he's so good at snuggling and cuddling!

We started a bedtime routine, as getting him to sleep is sometimes a battle. So at night, we feed him, bath him, swaddle him and rock him for 20 minutes then put him down to sleep. He usually sleeps for 2 hours, then wakes to eat again. Then there's a diaper change and more rocking, and (usually) another 2 hour sleep. This is repeated as long as possible! During the day, he's alert more (we had a few nights were he was wide awake - not fussing, thankfully - for 5-6 hours... so not good for mommy and daddy!)... our daytime "routine" is pretty much eat, change, rock/hold for 20 minutes then we put him down to sleep in the swing. Usually get about an hour at a time, longer if someone is holding him.

Today we have a play date with the other 2 couples from our Lamaze classes. They both had boys, too! It will be neat to see them all together!

Yesterday we went for our newborn photo shoot. The little proofs he showed us on the screen looked amazing. He said we should have real proofs in about 2 weeks - I can't wait!! Elliot was such a cooperative baby, and he only peed on daddy once! (The dangers of naked-baby photo shoots!)

We *seem* to have solved the breast feeding issue. His latch still isn't perfect, but he's able to nurse on the right side without using the fake nipple shield. Turns out I have flat nipples, and he has a recessed chin and a curved hard palate (newborns tend to have a flat palate that curves as they mature), all of which contribute to him having to work very hard at a proper latch. Poor little guy, the deck is stacked against him! But we're determined and are muddling through it all.

He's such a big boy! Last week, we had him weighed and he was already 9lbs 14.8 oz - which was an increase of 19 oz in 9 days - and newborns usually average a gain of 1 oz per day! So he's a hefty little man - so adorable!