Newsletter: Month 1

Dear Monkey,

It has been one month since you officially joined the family, in the flesh, and it seems we have had a pretty good start. Of course all you do is eat, sleep and poop but as easy as that sounds it ain’t so much. This is because we have our schedule, that we’ve had for much longer than you I might add, and you have your own schedule and they are at constant odds with each other. Right now you are in the lead but not without a fight from me. That fight centers around sleeping and swaddling.

For the first few weeks of your life you slept on me and while that provided comfort emotionally for both you and me it did not provide comfort for me physically as I was on my back and at an angle. Not to mention you were wide awake come 2 in the AM while the rest of the free world was asleep.

About a week ago I decided to finally make my move and I was determined to get you to sleep in your bassinet, and here it is…while swaddled. You fight the swaddle but when you finally accept your fate you are able to get a couple of hours of shut eye. Plus I’m the master swaddler and there ain’t no way you are breakin free of that one no matter how much grunting and Houdini antics you try. Just as your brother! In the latter part of the month your days and nights are becoming more in line with NORMAL human beings, there is hope for a somewhat normal schedule yet.

You will soon discover that it is all about schedule with your mom, this is what I do for a living and it translates to a happy mom. I can plan for stuff and get stuff done oh and sleep which is my most favorite thing to do in the entire world. Now your bother was a most excellent sleeper when he got the hang of it and I expect no less from you young man. You still have a couple of months to work on it but come month four…sleeping through the night, ok…you have one pass a night and getting up at 9:30 in the am is expected and I know it can be done. Get to it.

You and I have been sequestered for this first month, your dad and I think it is best in order to prevent untimely illness while your immune system is still trying to kick in, we know we can’t protect you from getting sick your entire life but if we can prevent it these first few weeks while we are all trying to get used to each other then we all benefit.

You are growing with intensity and vigor. That explains the eating you require every waking moment it seems. When you become a man my guess is that you will be a boob man since that is what you are all about, I have a sneaking suspicion you are using me as a human pacifier. Ouch.

Your dad, brother and I are so happy you finally joined us; you are fitting into our family just fine.

Love,
Mom

4th of July

You experienced your first 4th of July celebration this year. The 4th of July is Independence Day and honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

This year we kept it low key because you are still so new to the world, we had steak that we grilled and yummy food, all standard operations on this day, and we finished up the night with fireworks. You slept through most of the activity but your brother and our neighbor had a great time.

Two Week Checkup

I am happy to report you are doing great and growing like a weed. Weighing in at 6 lbs 9 ounches and measuring 19 1/4 inches long. Normally babies are at their birthrate (5 lbs 11 ounces) at the two week checkup...you are almost up an entire pound over your birth weight, don't I know it. BIG EATER.

Everyone says you are so little and you prolly are but mommy doesn't think so. You are just right and you are a Wayne and you will show them! You'll be top of the class when you get ready.

Your two week habits...sleeping during the day and not so much at night. Plus you only like to sleep on Mommy. Yeah, we put a stop to that last night. Although you are too young to understand what is happening it is for your own good and mommy's sanity. I moved you to the co-sleeper last night and after a lengthy episode of crying you settled down and excepted your fate and slept for three hours straight...on your own. Progress, that's all I can hope for.

Your first fourth of July is coming up this weekend and we plan on having a good time and fun with the neighbors and fireworks.

You have begun to hold your head up really good and with tummy time you seem to be getting stronger and stronger.

Your dad thinks you don't like him but I assure him it is only a matter of time before you can't spend enough time with him and want nothing to do with mommy...your brother did the same thing.

Let's work on altering your sleeping patterns to normal human beings, hopefully we're on the right track.