One Month of Joshua

Well it's been quite a month! This is the first time I have really been on the computer since the last time I posted except for paying bills. Otherwise I check my email and facebook from my phone and that's it for the internet!

When Josh was just short of 2 weeks old we had newborn pictures taken of him (the one at the top and this one below) They came out absolutely beautiful thanks to Walt and Ruth Homan.

When Joshua was 3 week old his grandparents came to visit from Arizona. They were excited to see him. All the pictures from that are on Doug's camera, as well as the pictures of JD meeting his great grandmom Grace (who is 90 years old). That camera gets uploaded to the good computer and I'm not sure where Doug keeps the cord so none of those pictures are on here.

Doug's parents stayed for a week, and when they left we were expecting a hurricane...but before the hurricane came, we were shocked with an earthquake! I have to say my house has still not recovered from this deadly trio! O well, there are more important things than having a clean house right now, right? The earthquake really shocked me. I had Joshua laying on the bed so I could get changed (I usually don't get to take a shower till 1 in the afternoon...neither of us are morning people, all he wants to do is eat and all I want to do is sleep LOL). At first I thought I was woozy since I hadn't eaten that day, but then I saw the pulls on Doug's dresser swinging back and forth. I scooped up JD as quickly as I could and hurried to get in a doorway. Then we camped out in the living room during the hurricane. As you can se Josh was ready to take on Irene! (don't mind my foot coming out of his head Haha)

Being a mother is amazing. It's unreal how much I love him.

There were some things I expected:

• Dirty Diapers--We are doing mostly cloth now but forced to used disposables on laundry days because he doesn't fit into a bunch of his diapers.


• Crying


• Sleep Deprivation


• Breastfeeding- after advice from my mom and other friends as well as reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, it came pretty naturally to both of us. I'm so glad I can do this for him because of all the amazing benefits! I won't lie though, sometime I do wish Doug could take over just once in a while LOL! I love the faces he makes when he's trying to get latched and the smile the creeps up when he is finished. I also found out at my last doctor visit that its a good idea to breastfeed while they get their shots. The NP told me that studies show babies who are breastfed while they get their shots react better to shots, both in dealing with the injection pain and they experience fewer side-effects.

And some things I didn't expect

• Missing pregnancy-it was easier to take care of him then. I also miss feeling him on the inside. I was ready to be done, but now JD is exposed to the world and its much harder to protect him on the outside! It was also easier to get things done!


• Having such a teeny baby! I thought he'd be at least 7lbs. I followed mom's advice and only bought 3 newborn outfits. At my shower I was given a pack of newborn onsies (printed ones so they're like shirts not undershirts). Well here we are at 5 weeks and he is still wearing newborn (I had to go out and buy more). I've put him in a couple 0-3 but they are still pretty roomy, though some NB is getting tight so we have to start the transition, actually more are getting short, lengthwise he is only 1/2 an inch away from size 3-6, but his waist would never hold them up! .


• Cosleeping- I read a little bit about it before Joshua was born, but did not think it was for me. I had the bassinet and the crib all ready to go. Joshua likes to wake up when I put him down, and finally when I was nursing him one night we fell asleep together, and he slept peacefully for hours! Turns out babies sleep better with their mother because it keeps them warm (Josh loved kicking his covers off then waiting because he was cold... and he HATED the sleep sacks) and they use mom's heartbeat and breathing to regulate their own. In fact, countries where it is common to co-sleep have a much lower rate of SIDS. He will eventually need to sleep in his own space, but for now we'll go for it.


• Being the go-to-girlfriend- I'm not sure how this happened, but I have two friends that had babies recently, one a month before Joshua and one a day after and whenever they have a problem I get a text. I am not sure how this worked out. I mostly ask my mom when I have a problem...and sometimes I ask her about their issues too. I'm far from an expert but I try to help if I can.


• Baby Acne- I really wish there was something I could do to clear it up faster...I think he's beautiful no matter what!


• Wearing my baby- Yep I ended up buying a sling...something I did not think was for me, but within the first two weeks I realized how useful it would be and ordered one. In fact now that I can get him in and out of the carseat easily, I prefer it to the stroller for short trips.


• Criticism- Yes we all know moms are critical of each other...but I just hadn't thought about it. One day Doug went to work tired and everyone seemed to be able to tell him what I was doing wrong. Of course I can defend my choices because if you know me you know I will read a lot about something I am interested in, and parenting decisions are the most important ones I will ever make. So we've been told not to pick up Josh every time he cries. According to the research that's bad advice. Babies who are responded to immediately have a higher level of self confidence and independence in later years and cry less after the first few months than babies who are left to cry it out. At this age babies only cry because they have a biological need (which includes missing their mother since moms provide warmth and help them regulate their systems). Babies who are touched and carried frequently are more intelligent than babies who are left alone. Also some people think I need to get him on a schedule which is also poor advice according to research AND my doctor! I am feeding on demand, whenever he wants it, usually every two hours during the day and between 3-5 at night. Schedules are not for newborns, especially breastfed ones. This goes along with the crying, when baby is responded to faster, it will lead to a better future for both of us. My doctor said at our last visit that the first three months of a newborns life should be thought of like a fourth trimester of pregnancy, the baby needs to be held, fed, and loved, not trained. I'd also like to add that the doctor said I was doing a great job. Just needed to unruffle my feathers ;)


• hey did you know I have cats? I have been neglectful of them since Joshua came along.

I took Joshua for his one month appointment on Friday. He was 8lb 1ooz, and 22.5 inches long which puts him in the 25% for weight (same % as he was at birth) and the 75% for length (moved up a bit here). Here's his picture from that day.

And here's a little video from when he was 4 weeks. He's starting to following objects. I did not do a great job videotaping it, but I figured I'd include it anyway.