Crib Notes - Week 9

Week 9 had its highs and its lows.

First, the highs.  I can FOCUS!  I see Mommy's face and can follow it if she moves slowly enough.  I love Mommy's and Daddy's faces.  They are so much fun to watch.  I can see black and white really well, and I notice red too.  Mommy is the best!  She knows how much I like to look at new things, so she made me special toys that are black and white (black electrical tape on white foamboard).  She also put red, black, and white ribbons on my play mat.  I just stare and stare and stare during play time. 

I'm sleeping better.  Mean ol' Mommy makes me take my naps every day.  When I do, I actually sleep better at night.  For several nights this week, I slept 4 or 5 hours before waking up to eat.  Mommy was sooo happy.

My hair is growing back!  I have the cutest little flat top.  Mommy loves to stroke and kiss my head.  Even Daddy is impressed with all my hair.  Of course, it doesn't take much to impress a guy with no hair! 

I am so strong!  I can lift my head really high and hold it up for 15 or 20 seconds easy.  I work on my exercises during tummy time every day.

Now for the lows...You know how I said I slept great for most of the nights this week?  Well, I didn't do so well a few nights.  When I woke up sooner than I should have, MOMMY DIDN"T FEED ME!!!  What is going on?  Why did the all-you-can-eat buffet close?  What has happened to my world?  Something tells me Aunt Shay was behind this move.  I heard them talking when they thought I was napping in my carseat.  Mommy rocked and shushed me back to sleep and didn't feed me until it was time.  Whoa!  That was just plain wrong!  I think I made my point when I tried to explain to Mommy how I felt.  My argument went something like this - WaaaaaWaaaaaWaaaaaWaaaa.  Pretty clear, isn't it?  I know all my grandmas understand.  They wouldn't let a poor little boy starve to death!

One Step Forward and Seven Steps Back

Austin has been sleeping so well for the last week or so.  He has consistently slept 4 or 5 hours in the first half of the night.  Woohoo!  We thought we'd gotten past a milestone.  Until last night.  Last night was different.  Really different.  I was up with Austin 7 times between midnight and 6:45.

Austin kept waking up and was unable to put himself back to sleep.  He cried and cried until I picked him up.  He went to back to sleep pretty quickly without eating or fighting it most of the time.  He just couldn't stay asleep.

Who Loves Austin?

Bedtime Routine

Austin is getting older, and his tummy is getting big enough to allow him to sleep more than a few hours at a time.  I'm working really hard to establish a bed/naptime routine to "signal" to Austin that it is time to wind down and go to sleep.

We tried the Miracle Blanket (as you know) for a week before Houdini figured out how to get out of it.  Also, he didn't really like being strapped into a straight jacket.  He would get really angry most of the time.  It kind of defeats the purpose of a peaceful bedtime routine when baby gets spitting mad.  For now, I'm giving up on the Miracle Blanket.
Fortunately, age seems to have helped us with the sleeping.  The weekend Shay and Papa Mac were here, Austin started sleeping about 4 hours at a time consistently (if you can call 5 nights consistent).  This coincided with his 8 week anniversary.  It also coincided with a more structured nap schedule.  And a much happier mom!

Most folks tell you that you should do the same thing before every nap and at night.  Since Austin is too young for a book, we swaddle him, rock him, and sing him a song.  Once his eyes start getting heavy, I put him in the crib and turn on the white noise.  Most of the time, he cries for about 10 minutes before going to sleep.  He still isn't able to cry himself back to sleep, but he does go to sleep pretty easily.

After living with me, Mr. Jim might tell you that I am tone deaf.  Unfortunately, he would be wrong.  I know just how bad I sound when singing.  I prefer not to subject anyone, especially a young baby, to my singing, but all the books tell you that babies thrive on music (even if the singer is really, really bad).  Good thing!

I decided that if I needed to sing to Austin, and if the song that I sing needs to be repeated at every bed time, I wanted to send Austin a message.  What do I want Austin to know from the very beginning?  And if I am unable to tell him anything else, what is the most important thing for him to understand?  What is my most important job as his parent?  To instill in him a love for Jesus Christ.  So, we sing "Jesus Loves Me" before every bedtime.  I have even created a few new verses.  Each morning, afternoon, and night, Austin learns the following:

Jesus loves you, this I know. 

For the Bible tells me so. 

Austin Brooks to Him belongs. 

You are weak, but He is strong. 

Yes, Jesus loves you. 

Yes, Jesus loves you. 

Yes, Jesus loves you. 

The Bible tells us so.

Jesus loves you, for He came

To this Earth your soul to save. 

You're a sinner, but He's pure. 

He'll forgive you, that's for sure. 

Yes, He'll forgive you. 

Yes, He'll forgive you. 

Yes, He'll forgive you. 

The Bible tells us so.

Jesus loves you, little dear,

For His Angels hover near

Watching o'er you while you sleep

You are safe, you're in His keep.

Yes, angels watch you.

Yes, angels watch you.

Yes, angels watch you.

The Bible tells us so.

Brother Love

Nemo will brave anything for his bully stick.  Even getting this close to Austin.  Will you take a look at those cheeks..and those chins??

The Many Faces of Austin

Crib Notes: Week 8

cWhew!  This week ended with a bang.  Actually, it was a shot.  Well, really, it was 3 shots and an oral vaccine.  I had my two month doctor's visit, which included my first round of vaccines.  Papa Mac and Aunt Shay came to give me moral support.  I was such a big boy!  I was much braver than Mommy.  I stayed in the room with Daddy while they gave me the shots.  Mommy wasn't brave enough to stay in the room.  Daddy said my little face turned purple, but I only cried for a minute or so.  I was almost done crying when Daddy took me to Mommy who was waiting with lots of hugs and kisses...and a few tears of her own.

Dr. Smith checked me out and said I was perfect!  I've heard that before!  Mommy and Daddy say it all the time.  Sassy and Mr. Jim both said it, GiGi and Papa Carl said it, YaYa said it, Papa Mac said it, and Aunt Shay said it!  It must be true. 

Dr. Smith said there is a reason that I eat all the time.  I'm working hard to be a REALLY big boy.  I started out at the 10th percentile in weight.  I was a runt when I was a little baby!  Now that I'm two months old, I'm in the 74th percentile in weight!  And I was 25% in height, but I'm 68% now.  I had a lot of catching up to do, and I'm probably not finished yet.  The doctor thinks I'll be in a higher percentile by the time I'm 4 months old, but I'll level out soon.  I'm 11 lb 9 oz and 23 inches long.  So big!

I'm smiling so much now!  And my eyes are starting to focus.  If you go really slowly, I can follow an object from one side to the other.  I really like to focus on Mommy's and Daddy's faces.  Also, I'm busting out of (well, something is busting out of) size 1 diapers.  I'm moving on up to the 2s.

Oh, and that Miracle Blanket Mommy told you about!  Ha!  Just call me Houdini!  I can wriggle my way right out of it.  Mommy and Daddy don't seem happy about it, but I'm pretty impressed with myself!

Well, Papa Mac and Aunt Shay are here to spoil me, so I better go take advantage of it!

Just Swingin'

If this video doesn't make you dizzy, look at how much fun Austin is having in his swing.  I put him there so I could eat something.  He had the best time!

Play Time

It's a Miracle...

Blanket?  Yes, the Miracle Blanket, which could more aptly be described as an infant straight jacket.  This is a swaddle blanket to beat all others, a blanket that an infant cannot get out of. 

As you know, we have had trouble getting Austin to sleep more than a few hours at a time.  I believe that part of the problem is his little baby reflexes.  He jerks himself awake and doesn't yet have the skills to self-soothe back to sleep.  Below is a video I took of him sleeping...seriously.  He is asleep.

I gave up on swaddling at about 3 weeks because he just kicked them loose.  After talking to a fellow father (of 3) at work, Dallas decided we needed to try swaddling again.  On Friday nights Dallas does baby duty until at least midnight.  On this Friday night, he dug out the Miracle Blanket and swaddled Austin.  Apparently, Austin put up an impressive struggle - straining and kicking - for about 20 minutes.  Once Dallas picked him up, he calmed down.  He slept for 4 hours!  FOUR hours!  Four HOURS!  I admit, I went into the nursery to make sure he was still breathing after 3 hours.  Once I nursed him, I swaddled him back up.  He slept for 3 more hours - in a row!  THREE hours!  Three HOURS!

All of a sudden, the world became a better place!  My head cleared.  I had slept.  I decided baby straight jackets are beautiful, wonderful, fantastic things.  I also know that we could put him in the Miracle Blanket tonight and have him refuse to close his eyes for the entire night.  But for today, things are looking up!

Crib Notes - Week 7

c

I am soooo kissable!  I have fat roles on my thighs, chin, ankles, wrists, and even my big toes.  And that isn't even considering my buddha belly!  I couldn't be cuter.

I like eating much better than I like sleeping.  Somehow, that doesn't seem to make Mommy very happy.  Nearly every night this week I woke up about an hour after going to sleep all through the night.  One night, I slept for a whole 2.5 hours.  I wake up crazy hungry; Mommy can't even change my diaper before feeding me.

Oh, and I just learned how cool it is to spit up!  I cause all sorts of trouble!  Mommy is always looking for a burp cloth, and Daddy just says, "It's an old t-shirt."  Have you read about Mommy's trip to the grocery store on September 9?  That was my doing!

I think Mommy's busted lip is finally healing.  I didn't mean to hurt her, but all these brains make my head hard to hold up.

I have a wonderful, big, happy smile.  You can see it in the video Mommy posted.  I smile at Mommy in the mornings to make her feel better about not getting any sleep.

Tough Guy Biker Baby Look

Fashion Statement

I ran to the grocery store for a few items tonight once Dallas got home to watch Austin.  I was wearing the standard black yoga pants and a black t-shirt.  I worked my way from produce to the opposite side of the store for milk.  As I was heading to the cash registers, a very nice Asian man pointed out to me that I had baby vomit trailing from one shoulder and down the back of my black t-shirt.  Nice.  It's probably one of my better new looks.

Good Morning, World

Sshhh...Baby's Sleeping

 

Crib Notes - Week 6

This has been a really big week for me.  Just listen:

• I broke 10 pounds this week.  I'm working hard to be a big boy like Daddy.
• My feet are the same size as Mommy's palm, over 3 inches long.  I think Daddy's shoes will fit soon.  Mommy says my fists are really big, too.  She spends a lot of time kissing my feet, toes, and fingers...and pretty much everything in between.  
• My baby acne is clearing up, but I'm starting to lose my hair.  I knew my hair would fall out when I was young so I can be handsome like Daddy, but sheesh...5 weeks is awfully young!  Don't worry, my eyelashes are getting so long that the girls won't even notice my beautiful, bald head.
• I started using a bottle.  Mommy is still better, but, hey, a growing boy won't turn milk down regardless of the delivery system!
• Daddy and Mommy took me to my first restaurant.  I was better than all the other kids in the place.  Boy, were those kids loud!

• I slept 4 hours long one night.  Mommy was very excited.  However, the next night, I woke up every hour or two.  I think schedules are overrated.  I like to be spontaneous.
• I LOVE to dance!  When I get fussy, Mommy plays swing music, and we dance all over the house.  I go right to sleep...unless she plays Lady Gaga.  Does anyone really like her music?
• During tummy time on Wednesday, I was working really hard to find my wrist to suck on.  The next thing I knew, I rolled right over onto my back...without any help from Mommy.  I'm really strong.  Look at the pictures below of the good-looking baby holding up his head.  That's me!

• Mommy is learning to listen to my "tired" cry.  She is getting pretty good at rocking me to sleep when I get too tired to do it on my own.
• I met Fran this week.  She's going to take care of me while Mommy and Daddy are working.  I was getting fussy, but she calmed me right down.  I'm going to like it at Fran's house.
• I'm learning to smile!  Mommy and Daddy act so silly when I smile at them.  Their voices get really high.   It makes me smile more when they are silly.