Sleep, little one...

Getting Baby B to sleep is a tough task...but I think we're winning the battle. (Not necessarily the war, mind you.) Last night, he slept for one stretch of 3.5 hours, and then another for 2.5. It was sweet bliss. No waking up every 1.5 hours to nurse and then cry! He seems to be getting used to sleeping on his back instead of on my chest the whole night.

I guess it really is hard being a baby. The world is so new and confusing...and oftentimes uncomfortable. I am so amazed at how Blaine is changing and adapting to his new environment. He is becoming a wonderful little human being.

Here's how much he enjoyed our walk yesterday:

He slept. Believe me, that's the best-case scenario at this point. Option 'B' is: screaming.

Steppin' out with my baby...

Baby B and I made it all the way to the library today, where I picked up a copy of The Happiest Baby on the Block, a manual for getting infants to sleep longer and sounder. I'm currently on page 30 (nursing offers plenty of good reading time), and have learned a few things already. I still don't think we'll get Blaine to sleep 4-hour stretches on his back, though. Last night I gave up after feeding him at 10:00, 11:45, 1:00, and 3:00 a.m. (Keep in mind that he usually nurses for 45 minutes, so it's not that long of a stretch in between.) I put him on my chest and we slept for 3 blissfull hours together on the couch. One step forward, two steps back, I guess...

...and he is sleeping like crazy today. Even in the swing - which is unheard of since week 2. In any case, he is starting to smile more, and I tried to capture the expression as he was on his changing table. I didn't get a genuine smile, but I did get this:

Enjoy, Auntie Katie!

Success!

Okay, first of all, I'm not sure how anyone with a newborn baby manages to get all dolled up and keep up appearances. Yesterday, I managed to take a shower, get dressed in normal clothes, and... that was it. My hair was a mess, my makeup was non-existant, and I'm pretty sure my shoes didn't match. But I did go outside!

Blaine, on the other hand, is managing to look cuter every day. He is just shy of one month old today, and making some great strides toward reaching weight benchmarks and sleeping like a normal human. My biggest concern lately has been his inability to sleep anywhere but my chest at night, which is not the safest (let alone most comfortable) option. But, we have managed to get him (thanks to a tip on the internet that you warm the little spot on the bed with a heating pad before you lay him down) to sleep on his back in between us in bed for the last two nights. He will only sleep for 2-hour stretches before he wakes himself up, but at least he's not face down on my chest. Hopefully he will become more comfortable sleeping there and will sleep for longer stretches.

Next step - the bassinet! That may just take another month...

Blaine is confused: Why can't he nurse every hour on the hour?

Daddy Watches Blaine...

I got to go out to lunch with a friend today, which was wonderful. I got dressed up like a normal human and everything! Since Ben was home, he watched Blaine for me (after a nice long nursing session).

Here's Blaine's reaction to the day:

Check Me Out

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a novel. Here is your daily Blaine:

Worst-Case Scenario

Baby B and I have been diligently working at nursing - which is NOT as easy as you'd think it is. As it turns out, Blaine is what they call a "chomper". I'll leave that to your imagination. I have two very sore body parts. The amazingly kind Lactation Consultant at Blaine's pediatrician's office said I have "one of the worst cases that (she's) seen in a long time." Awesome. I'm always an over-achiever.

So, not only did he have a doctor's appointment today, but Blaine also has an appointment with a pediatric chiropractor to help loosen up his jaw a bit. (Traumatic births, including c-sections, can cause serious tension in a newborn's body.)

It has been a rough couple of days for Blaine and I, but we are committed to trying to keep on the breastfeeding. I know that it's so much better (not to mention cheaper!) for him. So, if I have been out of conact for a while, please know it's not because I've fallen off the face of the earth, I've just been in constant pain for the last six days and haven't been able to communicate clearly.

But here's your adorable picture of the day...which makes me sure that it's all worth it in the end.

This is his, "Time to eat, Mom!" look.

Day to Day

Wow. There is just so much that you learn in the first days of motherhood! It's like zero to sixty in thirty seconds. (Actually, it's like zero to 120 - so fast that you can't even take it all in.)

Today my dad left to go home to CA, and I will miss his reassuring and tender help. Last night, he stayed up with little Buddy for hours while I went to sleep. (We're having a hard time getting Blaine to sleep anywhere but in someone's arms at night. During the day he'll sleep anywhere!) It was the best gift I've ever been given, and I appreciated it so much.

Brad also left to go do "man stuff", and left Mom with me. Brad was such a wonderful help, too, and I can't imagine how Ben and I could have managed without him.

Now it's just me, Mom, the dogs, and Blaine to hold down the fort. Ben is back at work now, but checks in on us from time to time. I know he misses being with us.

Here's your daily Baby Blaine photo. Don't mind the pink on his cheeks - he has a tendancy to whack himself in the face when he's good and ready to eat.