3 months!

Happy 3 month Birthday Alex!

Sleep:

• We figured out that you need your last bottle by 7:30 and then to bed after that.  Goal is before 8:00.  You generally sleep straight through to 6:00 or later.  
• Naptime is still pretty crappy.  Catnaps is where it's at with you.  I'm really working hard on this and taking your cues as to when you're tired and putting you down as soon as possible.
• Finally sleeping in your crib.  First night August 19th and there was no trouble switching.

Feeding:

• About 6x per day.  Have a pretty decent schedule of 6:30, 9:00, 11:45, 2:30, 5:15 and 7:30.  They're not all even intervals but that seems to be about when you get hungry, give or take 15 minutes.
• Still nursing, but you do pretty good with a bottle.  When you take one, it is 4oz, and sometimes you want more!
  

Weight:

• Not too sure as our scale seems to be way off.  I think somewhere in the upper 14lb range (or maybe 15lbs).
• Everyone says you're a big boy!
  

Length:

•  Not sure this month, we'll have to wait for the 4 month appointment.

Diapers:

• Wearing a size 2 in disposables (I like the Huggies Little Snugglers the best, thought the Huggies Snug & Dry work well too)
• Cloth diapers are working out pretty well still.  For some reason whenever dad puts them on is when we have a wet leak!
• Still using disposables at night and sometimes when we go out.

Clothes:

• Wearing mostly 0-3 months and I've pulled out a few 3-6 month.
• Had to break out the 3-6 and 6mo sleepers just after 2 months.  Why are they so short!
• One piece 0-3's have mostly been put away, they're too short!
  

Personality/Likes/Miscellaneous:

• This month was your first plane ride and you did awesome!
• Likes to watch T.V. so we have found the Disney channel and put on some Mickey Mouse occassionally.
• Starting to hold onto things if they are given to you.
• Sometimes I think you're trying to put your pacifier back in your mouth.
• Like to lay on the floor and hold arms/fists in the air.
• Like to lay on the mats at Moms-in-Motion and one week it was like you were talking to Kate.  Many times at class you guys will turn and look at one another and sometimes smile.
• Love to sit up or stand up.
• Grandma taught you to stick out your tongue and you're getting the hang of blowing raspberries and bubbles.
• Thanks to the slope in the mattress your rolled over from your back to your belly, but quickly wanted to return to your back.
• Tummy time is getting much better.

What we've been up to:

• Week 9
• Week 10
• Week 11
• Week 12
• Week 13

August Goal Update and September Goals

Not too bad of results!

August Goals:

1. Blog for me! -  So far I haven't been forcing myself to blog and I feel a whole lot better about it, I blog about what I want to blog about and that's all.


2. Continue breastfeeding Alex -  3 months down!


3. Work on Alex's sleep schedule -  Well we definitely have a better nighttime schedule, he is still not ready for just 2 or 3 naps a day.  I can tell.  So we are making a conscious effort to take 4-5 naps a day and that has worked out.  Hoping this month we can work on that.


4. Feel good about my body -  I have started wearing some of my other clothes and I definitely feel a lot better about myself.  I have not really done much with exercise but I have about 6lbs more to go to pre-pregnancy weight.


5. Take more pictures with my camera - I have not done that great with this.  Sometimes the iPhone is just too handy and the camera is far away.


6. Carve out time for just the hubby and I once a week - Yikes, we haven't done the greatest job with this.  I was traveling and so was he so we didn't see one another a lot.  Hope that this month we can turn that around.

September Goals:

1. Make a home organization binder (and use it!) - I've seen some that I like in different locations, so I'm off to make my own.  I'll post about it when it's done.
2. Continue breastfeeding
3. Get ready/organized for work/daycare - I've got some things I'd like to order and paperwork to fill out.
4. Take more pictures with my camera - Since I haven't been doing that great, I thought I'd try again.
5. Carve out time for just the hubby and I once a week - This is important and something we need to do!

Flying with baby, the aftermath

Alex and I just returned from our trip to NY to visit my parents. We had to stop once each flight with a short layover. I was really nervous if you remember my previous post asking for advice. But, honestly everything went better than I could have asked for. Sorry for the long descriptions, but I thought it might help someone.

To NY:
We got to the airport a little later than I had hoped, seeing as when I put Alex in the carseat to leave he proceeded to fill his diaper so we had to take a few extra minutes and change him. Getting through security was pretty good. The guy sent me down the crew line and I went right up to the machines first in line and no one behind me. There was another TSA officer there and he folded up my stroller for me and put it through (and a second pulled it down and set it up when it made it to the other end). I brought 2 bottles of milk just in case and there was no problem with those. I made it to our gate without too much trouble. Of course there was a couple there that gave me the look like oh great a baby on the flight (mind you it was 5:00AM). When we were on the first leg of our flight, I knew that the seats weren't full, so I asked if I could bring the car seat on and she said yes. We headed straight to the back and had our own row to ourselves plus the row across from us and several rows in front of us (plus a small one behind us). Everything went great. I fed him on the way up. We had 2 mid-air diaper changes but other than that he was pretty happy. We got off and had a little bit of trouble because we had to go down the steps of the plane to the tarmac and then get gate checked bags (stroller frame) and then back up the stairs to the terminal. Someone carried the frame up the steps for me and there were no problems.

The next leg was a full, jam packed small plane. Someone from the airport came and carried the frame down again and bagged up the caraway for me. The flight was rather bumpy with lots and lots of turbulence. He slept most of the flight. I had planned on feeding him on the way down but given the bumpy ride and how full the plane was I decided to wait and he was fine. I nursed him after we got our bags.




To NC:
The airport in NY was a little bit more difficult on the way back. There was only 1 open security line and they basically took my entire bag apart because I had too many electronics on top of one another in 1 bag. So keep that in mind next time you pack! The airport personnel weren't helpful here getting things on and off the belt or when trying to get on the plane as they were here in NC. Also it's really hard to get a carseat in the bag when you're alone, but I'm glad I did it. The first leg was full but I sat next to a nice lady and fed Alex mid-flight and he pretty much slept the rest of the time.

The next leg was a bigger plane and I did have an extra seat next to me but wasn't smart enough to check before hand. It was only a short flight and Alex again slept.

Getting on/off both of these legs of the trip there were some other passengers that were super helpful and I am very grateful for their help!




What I packed (what I used in italic):
Change of clothes for me
Change of clothes for Alex
Burp Cloths/Lap Pads
Nursing Cover
Swaddling Muslin Blanket (Used while nursing also)
Diapers (~8)/Wipes
Bottle/Milk
Pump (Only because I didn't want it in my checked bag)
Scout the Dog
Layers for Alex/me
Bag for carseat (worth the $19 at BRU and the seat did not get dirty)
Kindle/iPad

What I'd do differently:

• I didn't ask if the flight was full, totally my fault when I could have brought the carseat on the second leg of return flight.
• I would try to pack a smaller carry on. I was trying to be efficient and packed a few things that wouldn't fit into my checked bag in the carry on.
• Don't pack so many electronics on top of one another in your carry on!

All in all I felt pretty good about it. It was super tiring. I was exhausted when I got home yesterday, hence why I didn't get a post up. Hopefully next time I fly I won't have to do it alone.

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

I went and saw "The Help" a week or so back and when Abileen says this to Mae Mobley it really caught my attention. (the context, not the grammar). I had forgotten about it when I read the book.

Having a little one, everyone always says what a cutie, how adorable, how precious, etc, etc. I'm do it as well, to him and other babies. But I also want him to know that he is other things too. Sometimes people get so caught up in looks and appearances that I want him to know it's about more than just that.

He is kind and always has a smile for people. He is smart and is learning things every day, it's amazing to see him grow and change from day-to-day. He is important. His daddy and I love him so much and even though he has good and bad days I take them all. He means the world to us and I can't imagine if he wasn't here.

He's so little now that I'm sure he doesn't understand but I say this to him at least once a day. I want him to know how much he means to us and that there is more to him than what he looks like. I know that he will grow up soon and have more good and bad days but no matter what, he will always be kind, smart and important to us!

Monday Randoms

• I finally signed up for Pinterest.  I may now stay up all hours of the night.  If only I could add a 'Pin It' button to my RSS reader on my iPad (or am I missing something).
• Alex hates napping.  I can't complain about his sleep at night, because he will go about 9hrs without getting up most nights of the week, we usually have a few nights where he wakes up a few times but will go back to sleep for goo after 30ish minutes (without a feeding or anything).  Now naps on the other hand, awful.  He was cat-napping and it was only 30 minutes like 6 times a day but he was always tired.  I know he needs more sleep than that but he refuses to go to sleep.  I need some help with a nap schedule and getting him to take longer naps.  Anyone have any suggestions?
• I'm really looking forward to the new iPhone and hope it comes out soon, this old one is slow, doesn't hold charge and many, many other things.  Wishing it would happen before the middle of October right about now.
• I'm in NY visiting family for a long weekend because K wasn't going to be home much for about 6 days.  Turns out Irene made them cancel his tournament so he spent the weekend home alone, oops.
• Did I mention that it's freezing in NY.  It was 90+ last time I was here and yesterday it was in the low 60's.  No thanks!  I thought I was ready for fall but apparently not.
• I am starting to panic about going back to work.  Can I pump enough/get enough sessions in?  What if Alex isn't on a napping schedule, what's going to happen when he goes to daycare?  Will I have any clothes to wear?  How will I fit it all into a day/week?
• Tonight is my first draft for Fantasy Football!  I'm excited that we're going to have a football season this year!  I got a new Giants sweatshirt this weekend. Awesome.
• I feel so dis-organized and I just don't know what to do to get back on track or keep track of things.  I've got several different systems going, and I need to consolidate them into 1.  I have a momAgenda but what does anyone else use?

And because a post without a picture is boring, here's one of the little guy yesterday before we went to church and breakfast. I love the dinosaur sweatshirt!