1 Year Old

So much has changed since I last posted (in April--whoops!).  Our little buddy turned ONE!  He is a busy man.  He's not walking yet but is gaining more confidence with standing independently and I have a feeling one day he's just going to take off!  

Charlie's current favorite activities:

• Emptying bookshelves, drawers, baskets (including those containing freshly folded laundry), and best of all - the dog's water bowl.
• Throwing things off his high chair tray.  He started this when he realized Shadow ate whatever he threw over the edge.  Yesterday he started laughing when we went to pick things up.  (This phase can end any time now).  He even closes his eyes in anticipation of his cup hitting the floor.
• Waiting by the sliding door and saying "gawg" repeatedly every time Shadow goes into the back yard.  This is one of my favorites.
•  Eating.  This has always been a strength and C rarely disappoints.  His favorite foods right now are yogurt, spaghetti and peanut butter and jelly.  He will some times refuse all food and then if you bring a bowl over and tell him it's yogurt, he opens his mouth as wide as he can.  He usually ends each bite with "mmmmmm"  
• Sharing.  Toys, food, our phones.  If he can hand it to you, he will.  It's cute.
• Books are probably his favorite thing to hand us.  He almost always takes the book out of our hands once we finish reading it to him and then hands it back to us.  We still love books. 

We're gearing up for vacation!  We're taking a week to go see the Redwoods and Crater Lake.  Our dear friend Alana is meeting up with us for the Crater Lake adventure.  We can't wait!

End of an Era

I’m struggling today.  I made the decision last night to stop pumping for Charlie.  I’ve been working towards this for several weeks now but last night made the difficult decision to call it quits.  When I was pregnant, I never imagined weaning would be solely my decision.  I expected to have Charlie’s help and be able to follow his lead.  Instead, it came down on me.  And although I’m feeling a lot of guilt and sadness today, I know that will pass and I will get to enjoy the extra time with my family. 

When Charlie was born, my dreams of nursing took a backseat to his immediate health concerns.  We started “finger feeding” Charlie in the hospital but when Charlie was readmitted for light therapy for jaundice, the pediatric hospitalist was against this approach and said she would not discharge Charlie until he was either bottle feeding or nursing, despite the fact that his weight was stable.  Being overwhelmed at the moment, we gave Charlie a bottle of fortified breast milk so we could take him home.  Despite working with several different lactation consultants over the course of the next 8 weeks, it just wasn’t working.  I was devastated but wanted to do the next best thing and make sure Charlie continued to drink my milk, even if not in the way I dreamed of feeding him.  And here we are, 9 and a half months later.  I’ve pumped in airports and on airplanes, in moving cars and parking lots.  I’ve washed more bottles than I can to count and spent hours measuring, storing and freezing milk.  And I’d do it again.  My happy, thriving baby still has 450 six ounce bags of milk in the deep freeze – it should be enough to see him to his first birthday. 

  

Resources on exclusively pumping are lacking and lactation consultants don’t always seem to know what to tell moms.  I wanted to post here so that others would know that it is possible to exclusively breastfeed your baby even if he never latches.  Here are some of the helpful tidbits:

• These Medela Pump and Save bags are nice because you can pump directly into them and save yourself from a little bottle washing BUT they don’t freeze flatly so if you’re pumping a lot and plan to freeze a lot, don’t use these.  I love the Target Up and Up brand bags.    

•  I credit this video to my successful pumping experience and stellar supply.  There are a lot of other great resources on this site.  http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html

• Get a good pump.  They’re expensive but now insurance companies often cover them.  I used this one.    http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/573/pump-in-style-advanced  I literally burned one out and Medela’s amazing customer service overnighted me a brand new one.  
  

• KellyMom.  THE best online resource for all things breastfeeding.  They even have a special page for pumping.  http://kellymom.com/category/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/

               

I could go on and on about the logistical things but what I’ve learned most from this experience is that we need to do what is best for our children, ourselves and our situations and not judge the choices others make for their families.  We’re all doing the best we can within our circumstances and we need to forgive ourselves when things aren’t the way we imagined they would be. 

8 Month Update

So this week, Charlie learned how to whine.  It was the cutest thing I'd seen all week until I realized he wasn't stopping.  If I put him in his high chair for breakfast/lunch/dinner and he doesn't have food in his mouth in 3 seconds or less?  WHINE.  If he wants a toy that is just slightly out of reach?  WHINE.  I put him on the changing table to change his diaper?  WHINE.  I leave the room (gasp) without him?  WHINE. I'm trying to make a big deal about every time he's not whining (which is not that often) so hopefully he gets the clue that whining is not cool.  I know it's just his way of communicating so I'm trying to say things like, "Oh, you're hungry, aren't you?  You want to eat.  I'm making your food right now"  And then he continues to whine...but I'm hoping MAYBE it will help in the long run.  :)

Despite the whining, he's the cutest thing ever.  He's really into smiling so big that his eyes squint.  He lights up when Andy gets home from work and always gives him a big smile.  Charlie can officially roll BOTH ways!  We're so grateful!  For a week or so he was rolling onto his tummy at night and waking up unhappy because he felt stuck so now that he's able to get comfortable on his own, we're all happier.  This also means he's much more tolerant of spending time on his tummy which is good for his range of motion that we have been working on in physical therapy.  He is really working on lifting up that big ol' noggin of his higher and higher when he's on his tummy and I think he'll be moving soon.
I put him down the other day so I could get dinner started and I went back to check on him and he'd rotated himself and moved at least a foot...I'm not exactly sure how he did it but I'm thinking he just rolled over a couple of times in a row.  He likes going anywhere he can ride in a shopping cart.  He's been smiling at the store clerks and old ladies.  And he likes paper.  Shopping lists seem to be his favorite.  He's also starting to make more sounds.  His favorite this week is HA.  He's sleeping through the night most of the time, usually 10-11 hours.  When he is up at night, I'm reminded how quickly I adapted to him sleeping through the night!  I love when he sleeps through the night because he seems to feel better when he wakes up (and we do, too) but I don't mind the quiet time to snuggle with him either.     

Wearing his shirt on his head!

Our physical therapy appointments are becoming less frequent and have been told that Charlie doesn't need any more sessions unless we feel it would be beneficial.  His head shape has really improved and we're confident he will not need any more intervention.  His neck is still a little tight but as he's moving more on his own, that continues to get better, as well.  Since torticollis and reflux are related, we're hopeful that the strengthening of his neck will also help with his reflux.  We are on our second attempt to wean Charlie off of his medication.  We first tried a month ago and realized within a few days that he still needed the medication.

We're still waiting for teeth but Charlie has two on the bottom that seem to be ready to poke through...but we've thought that for months now!  He's continuing to eat well.  This boy likes his food.  His favorites are sweet potatoes and peaches.  He loves yogurt, too.  He's eating peaches as quickly as I can get them pureed!  I've taken to baking an oven full of sweet potatoes at a time.  I'm a little worried about feeding him as a teenager if this appetite keeps up.  :)  He's a bit of a texture snob and doesn't want much to do with anything that isn't perfectly smooth.  He's starting to try some finger foods but hasn't quite mastered the hand/mouth coordination but he's getting closer.  I love seeing him try new things.  We've tried every sippy cup I could find but today I offered him a regular cup and he couldn't get enough.  It was a little messy (ok, a lot) but he kept wanting more...and of course wanted to do it all by himself.  Here's a video of him trying out a rice cracker.

Charlie LOVES books.  My little reader.

Charlie (And Andy and I) loved having Grandpa and Grandma Rink visit a few weeks ago and Grandpa and Grandma Albrecht arrive on Tuesday.  We're planning on visiting Iowa for Charlie's 1st Birthday in July.  1st Birthday.  Wow.  My little boy is growing up so quickly!

6 Months Old!

I'm 6 Months Old! 

We started off 2013 with a half birthday!  YAY CHARLIE!  He is growing like crazy and becoming more interested in the world around him every day.  He had his 6 month check up today and weighed 20 pounds and 9 ounces and was 27 and a half inches long.  Big boy!  His check up went really well and all looks great.  Charlie is continuing to go to physical therapy twice a week.  He favored his left side for quite a while and that caused a flat spot on the back of his head. We are working on improving his range of motion and his head is rounding out a little.  Hopefully hair will cover any "imperfections" -- of course I think he's perfect!  :)

Charlie loves to sit and is really balancing well.  His new thing is standing.  With our help, he can get himself on his feet and he always grins -- he's so proud of himself!  The doctor thinks he sees some evidence that teeth are coming soon.  Charlie has been drooling for months now and has been gnawing on his hands lately.  He also likes to snuggle and be rocked and "talk" to us while he plays with our faces.  It's so cute.  While we were in Iowa over Thanksgiving, Grandma Kathi figured out that Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has a calming effect on Charlie.  It still does and it has to be Rudolph...other songs some times work but none as well as that damn reindeer.  So, you'll hear that song coming from our house about 30 times a day.   

Right around Christmas, we offered Charlie some solid food.  He was not too impressed at first but after spoon feeding him milk for a few days, he had a new interest in the solid food and can't get enough of it now!  So far he's tried applesauce, pears, bananas and butternut squash.  I roasted a squash up this weekend and threw it in the food processor.  It made so much!  All 3 of us had some and then I divided the leftovers into ice cube trays and now we have a bag full of squash in the freezer for Charlie.  Shadow is fond of Charlie's new eating habits and has claimed the space right next to C's chair for herself.  Luckily there isn't anything to drop yet but every once in a while, Charlie will reach over to touch her and Shadow is ready to clean off his little fingers!  

Four Months Old!

 

The little man has been busy!  In October, he made his first trip to Iowa.  He did so well flying and had so many people ready to love him up once he landed.  We were able to meet up with lots of friends and family and Charlie loved meeting everyone!  A special highlight was Charlie meeting his great-grandma.  It was precious.

The three of us spent a few days in Cresco before Andy had to fly back for work and then Charlie and I stayed for a few extra days to visit his Cedar Rapids grandpa and grandma. 

Charlie had his 4 month check-up today.  He's weighing in at 16 pounds, 15 and a half ounces and is 26 inches long.  He's a big boy -- in the 80% for both his height and weight.  He gave us the OK to start on solids if we wanted, mostly because it acts as a sponge and can help with reflux, but I think we'll hold off for a while longer.  I really wanted to wait until 6 months to start, especially since he was an early arrival. I'll ask our home visit nurse for her thoughts since she has so much experience with preemies.  Other than some minor cosmetic things like cradle cap, dry skin and a slightly misshaped head (he really likes to lay with his head to the right!), Charlie is a healthy little boy and we're so grateful for that.

We're STILL trying to develop a routine and we're getting there.  I try to get out for a walk when the weather is nice.  It's good for all of us and Shadow gets excited when I start bundling Charlie up because she knows we're going for a W-A-L-K.  I joined a group for stay-at-home moms and Charlie and I have gone to a couple of activities with them which has been nice.  

Charlie's new favorite thing is sitting up...with assistance of course.  Andy says he looks like a bobble head.  It's really cute to watch him look around and show an interest in things.  He's must more vocal than he was a month ago and is smiling often.  

One last thing...November is Prematurity Awareness Month.  I would appreciate you taking the time to click on the link below and contact your representative and ask them to support the Preemie Reauthorization Act.  It provides funding for research and education. 

Take Action to Support Passage of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2679)

Two Months Old!

 

Our little boy is already two months old!  He's growing and changing every day.  At his 2 month doctor's appointment today, he weighed in at 12 pounds, 1 ounce and was 23 inches long.  He has officially doubled his birth weight!  His weight puts him at the 60% for his age and his height is at the 50%.

Charlie is having some reflux symptoms which are making him really uncomfortable.  We tried all the options that did not involve medication but today, the doctor wrote him a prescription so we're really hoping this helps give the little guy some relief.  It's so hard to see him in pain and not be able to do anything about it.  He also had his first set of vaccines today and did well.  I was really dreading today and he was a champ.  He was hurting a little this afternoon but it hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected!

Charlie is doing really well with holding his head up and loves looking all around while we walk.  He's batting at toys and moves his arms and legs quite a bit.  The doctor said Charlie is right where he expects him to be developmentally.  As far as development goes, he is somewhere between his adjusted age of 3 1/2 weeks (his age had he been full-term) and his chronological age.

We are very proud of how far Charlie has come in the past 2 months! 

One Month Old!

Charlie is already one month old!  He's doing well -- eating and growing.  We are lucky to have a nurse from the health department come to visit us to check on Charlie.  At first she was coming every week but now she's visiting every two weeks.  She weighs him and checks his blood oxygen levels and answers any questions we have.  It's really reassuring to have her come and check on Charlie.  When he gets a little older, the nurse will be able to evaluate him to see if he is in need of any extra help with his development.   

Charlie and I are doing our best to get on a schedule but we haven't quite found our groove yet!  He's eating 7 or 8 times a day and sleeps a majority of the day...he might be a night owl like his momma!  Early in the morning and then again later in the afternoon and evening, he's more awake and alert.  Although I'd like for him to get on more of a day/night schedule, his current pattern has him awake when Andy is home, so that part is nice.

Charlie enjoys being on his tummy and tries to push himself up with his legs and feet.

When he's awake, he loves sitting in his Boppy and looking around the room and find the sun shining through the windows or the light reflecting on the walls.  He loves his baths, hates being cold and when you make him stop eating to burp.  Charlie really seems to want to nurse but we need a little help getting coordinated and dealing with some habits he's picked up from bottle feeding, so we're hoping the nurse can help us with that during her visit on Monday.  In the past few days, he's really shown an interest in breastfeeding and this is a huge change and gives me hope that it might still happen!  We were told once he was closer to his due date, he would develop the mental organization needed to nurse and that seems to be true.  In the meantime, I'm continuing to pump breast milk for him -- it's tiring and I'd love to be done with full-time pumping so fingers are crossed. 

Shadow is doing really well as big sister.  She is gentle with Charlie and is very protective.  Since we don't have any company right now, she's back to sleeping in "her" room but wakes up and comes to find Charlie every time he wakes up at night.  Once she sees that I'm taking care of him, she either curls up at the end of our bed or goes back to her room.  It's really cute.  She also likes to lay next to him when he's on the floor.  Andy is trying to continue going on weekend hikes with her so she gets out for some exercise and one-on-one time since she's quickly realizing she has to wait until Charlie is taken care of before she gets what she wants!

Andy seems to really love being a dad...and he's a good one!  He gets up with Charlie for his early morning feeding before he goes to work and they like to snuggle in the evening.  Andy has been reading to Charlie every day...I caught him reading an article to him about quantum mechanics the other day.  When I raised my eyebrows at him, Andy reminded me that it doesn't matter what he reads to Charlie as long as he reads to him!       

I'm loving mommyhood and feel like I'm adjusting pretty well.  Andy helps out a ton by handling that early feeding for me and lets me sleep as much I need on the weekends.  He always offers to help me during the night, too, but since he has to go to work, I try to handle the middle of night feeds on my own.  There have been a few times though that he must be able to tell how tired I am and he just tells me he'll be getting up to help me.  By the time I feed Charlie and pump for his next feeding, it can be an hour and a half process so having the help really cuts down on my awake time.  Between the morning feedings when Charlie is napping, I try to catch up on the laundry and dishes (every thing else currently being neglected!) and then between afternoon feedings, I try to nap.  I've been trying to get out of the house once or twice a week - usually just to grab groceries or run other errands but it's good to get out.  Once Charlie is a little older and stronger, I'm sure we'll be out and about more but for right now, I just want to keep the germs away as much as we can and prefer to leave him home with Andy instead of take him out.

Thanks for all of the well-wishes, calls, emails and gifts for Charlie.  We are so lucky to have such loving and generous family and friends.