Two Months!

Ok, who took away my screaming infant and brought me this smiley, cute, and content little baby? I'd like to know so I could kiss them. Sure he fusses a bit and possibly cries when he's hungry, or tired, or wet, or too warm- or heaven forbid, when we leave his line of sight; but in general he is oh so much more pleasant to be around!

Today was our two month check up as well. Note: I say "our" because he and I are pretty much one and the same these days -- attached at the hip....or...I mean, boob. We have put on a hefty 1 pound, 10.5 oz since our one month appointment, tipping the scales at 11 pounds, 0.5 ounces and 23.5 inches long. We are still in the fiftieth percentile for weight but are down to only seventy-fifth percentile in length. I thought we looked a little chunkier these days! Go go mama milk!!

He still has acid reflux and spits up a ton but the medicine did little except to reduce amount of sour milk decorating my shirts these days. Since I'm not a big fan of only slightly meaningful medication, I decided to take us off the meds. Our ped said this is fine since our weight gain is great.

We also got our immunizations today. I, being the impulsive researcher, read up on the immunization controversy and decided to go through with it. Recent research released in Jan/Feb of this year has proven no connection to autism. The initial reports were based on faulty research and inappropriate research samples, propagated by parents of autistic children involved in lawsuits. Also, incidences of serious disease and illness that used to be a thing of the past are popping up more and more now that immunizations are going down. In fact, there's an outbreak of whooping cough in Portland. Everything I have read has recommended the lesser risk to the child is to get immunized, as traumatic and nerve-racking as it is. However, I'm not so big on the chicken pox vaccine...but that's another rant.

The little guy was already wimpering because he had to be naked and jostled with - which we are not fans of- when he got poked. However, at that, he let out a blood-curdling scream. A scream to which all made all my immunization research fly out of the window. However, he was quickly calmed when boob was made ready and then he conked out like nobody's business for two hours.

Nursing has been successful but he likes to use my boobs as a pacifier as he won't take anything else except for perhaps a Mama or Papa thumb to suck on. I figure that's alright right now but it does make independent time for me a bit of a struggle. I'm nervous about transitioning to the bottle for when I go back to work in two weeks. So far, pumping is getting easier and he's taken a couple bottles with success. I am also working to beef up the frozen milk supply. It's really fun these days when I get to sit at the table and watch my boob stretch out six inches into a plastic tube while my little boy nurses on the other. It's a juggling act at the moment. I can't wait to try out my work's hospital-grade milk machine next month. Woohoo!!

Without further adieu...

8 Weeks

And Mr. Personality begins to come out...

More photos

7 week charmer

Peace at last

I've just calmed the screamer who is now conked out in his boppy next to me, snoring away. The reigning emotion in my head: "Phew". To be fair, he has longer waking periods these days where he's absolutely charming. He coos, smiles, and even lets out the occasional squawk, all while staring with wide eyes and mouth agape. He loves being talked to, sung to, and basically being the center of attention---which should come to no surprise considering who he comes from.

This evening, after some talking, charming smiles, and occasional squirmy whine, he succumbed to the fits of fussy-- Red faced, teary eyed, quivering lip, the whole enchilada. I can't say that it is easy to deal with every evening but I'm getting used to it. When we get to the point where he's been fed, changed, burped, sung to, danced with, patted, rocked, rubbed, etc., I just have to learn to succumb to it as well. Frankly, I think it's his way of winding down at the end of the day, where he's so tired but can't calm down enough to get to sleep - would make anyone grumpy!!

However, I think we've gotten over the hump. Like I said, his waking periods of absolute charm are growing longer each day and his periods of "the screamer" are shortening and getting more intermittent...slowly...

Today Thurston is 7 weeks old. I am counting down the days until our next appointment (on the 26th) so I can find out how much my little man has grown. I am sure feeling it these days, just lugging him around. I think I'll be pretty buff by the end of the summer! He's already fitting into some of his 3-6 month clothing but only because of his length.

Here's the little charmer at his best:


















Showing off our new skill!:

Just how much has he grown?

Let me put this into perspective...

April 28:























June 8:

6 Weeks and Smiles

Today amidst nursing, he stopped, looked up at me and flashed me the biggest grin. Stole my heart right there.

How can you resist this?

Growing boy

Dave was able to get a day off work on Monday and we trucked out to the coast with the little Wolf for the day. It was so nice to get out of town and it was generally a success. We checked out the cheese factory, which neither Dave nor Thurston had been to. Dave seemed interested but Thurston thought it a bit of a bore until we settled down to eat lunch in the cafe and he became rather vocal. I ended up whipping the nursing cover out and giving the munchkin a good feed in front of about fifty seemingly shocked senior citizens while attempting to eat a boca burger with my left hand. We felt a little better when the wails of another screaming baby echoed throughout the cafe. Later we stopped at Oswald West and hiked out to the beach with Thurston cozy in the sling. We came back into town refreshed and rejuvenated from our excursion.

Thurston had a follow up appointment today to check on his Cephalhematoma, which is visibly almost 100% better. The NP said in retrospect that of the 20 years she has been working, Thurston's head swelling was up in the top five largest she'd ever seen! Even with the swelling down, his head circumference was up to about 15 1/4 inches, up from 13 3/4 at birth! He's also up to 9 lbs, 6 oz and 22 1/2 inches long. No wonder he's outgrown all his newborn clothes!

I was also a little concerned that Thurston may have a little acid reflux problem. I mentioned his increased fussiness as of late and other signs. He also spit up all over me while we were discussing this with her. The NP actually figures he has GERD, based upon his symptomology, which is a little more severe than general spit up problems. We're going to start him on a trial of medication to aid his stomach and see if it makes a difference.

And obligatory beach trip photos below...