Our little guy is over two weeks old now and in that time we have already had many firsts and our family is adjusting to a whole new rhythm and routine.
And in these early newborn days our rhythm and routine (or sometimes lack of) is largely determined by the baby.
Liam is not a difficult baby at all, but I wouldn't call him easy or mellow either! Like my others he likes to eat a lot and often. He really likes to be held. And sometimes he really likes the pacifier (unless it's almost time to eat then it just makes him really angry). He's also got his own unique personality and is different from my others in that he does not like the baby swing at all (he will sometimes take a nap in it if it's not moving but he hates the swinging action). And he seems to really enjoy sleeping on his back or his side (unlike my others who hated being on their backs). I find that I'm having to learn all over again how to comfort a newborn because this little sweetie is just different!
Amazingly Liam already seems to have his own little routine. He wakes up for the morning around 6 or 7 and after he eats he has his most awake and alert and content time of the day...he's awake and happy for at least a good hour or two...so fun! Then the rest of the morning he eats every two hours and takes some shorter cat naps and generally wakes up just a bit before he needs to eat (and is then quite unhappy until he eats). In a couple of weeks (after my parents visit) we'll make more of an effort to have him be awake a bit after he eats so that he'll nap right up until the next feeding. Then he almost always takes a long nap sometime in the afternoon for a couple of hours! Then more eating and cat naping until evening. Then sometime between 9 and 11ish is generally when he's the hardest to settle (and sometimes into the 12 and 1:00 hours). Thankfully we can generally soothe him even during this time- it just involves a lot of holding and feeding and sometimes walking. I try to sleep during some of this time while Joe takes care of the baby. And then I take him the rest of the night and morning when he eats about every 2 to 3 hours (but thankfully sleeps pretty well most of the time between these feedings). And this is already his basic routine...though that really could change any given day or moment!
And in these early newborn days our rhythm and routine (or sometimes lack of) is largely determined by the baby.
Liam is not a difficult baby at all, but I wouldn't call him easy or mellow either! Like my others he likes to eat a lot and often. He really likes to be held. And sometimes he really likes the pacifier (unless it's almost time to eat then it just makes him really angry). He's also got his own unique personality and is different from my others in that he does not like the baby swing at all (he will sometimes take a nap in it if it's not moving but he hates the swinging action). And he seems to really enjoy sleeping on his back or his side (unlike my others who hated being on their backs). I find that I'm having to learn all over again how to comfort a newborn because this little sweetie is just different!
Amazingly Liam already seems to have his own little routine. He wakes up for the morning around 6 or 7 and after he eats he has his most awake and alert and content time of the day...he's awake and happy for at least a good hour or two...so fun! Then the rest of the morning he eats every two hours and takes some shorter cat naps and generally wakes up just a bit before he needs to eat (and is then quite unhappy until he eats). In a couple of weeks (after my parents visit) we'll make more of an effort to have him be awake a bit after he eats so that he'll nap right up until the next feeding. Then he almost always takes a long nap sometime in the afternoon for a couple of hours! Then more eating and cat naping until evening. Then sometime between 9 and 11ish is generally when he's the hardest to settle (and sometimes into the 12 and 1:00 hours). Thankfully we can generally soothe him even during this time- it just involves a lot of holding and feeding and sometimes walking. I try to sleep during some of this time while Joe takes care of the baby. And then I take him the rest of the night and morning when he eats about every 2 to 3 hours (but thankfully sleeps pretty well most of the time between these feedings). And this is already his basic routine...though that really could change any given day or moment!
And these two weeks we have also had many firsts (most of which I had my hands too full to photograph).
There was his first walk/stroller ride, which he really liked (and mostly slept through)!
His first bath...which he was not a fan of at first, but gradually warmed up too.
His first bath...which he was not a fan of at first, but gradually warmed up too.
His first family outing was bowling...
During which he did this the entire time...
And on our second family outing, raspberry picking, he also slept the whole time!:)
There was also his first time at church during which he was quite content until it was time to eat and then I ended up by myself feeding him in the nursery.
His first time at a restaurant was Governor's with Joe's brother and family when they came up to meet him. That did not go well...he woke up shortly after we arrived and Joe ended up pacing the restaurant with him until I could scarf down my meal and go feed him in the van!
We've also had a first (and 2nd and 3rd) trip to the doctor (all is well), my first outing alone with all 3 of the kids (to Sam's Club), and many firsts meeting many of our family and friends.
It's been a good two weeks and there are so many more first to come!
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