4 Weeks

Time, you have done it again. You've gone and flown on by without any regard for my feelings.  Ryder has been here for 4 weeks already. But, really, hasn't he been here forever?  What was our life like without him? 

He is a pretty good baby, still sleepy newborn-ish, but slowly we are starting to learn his personality.  His tummy seems to bother him a little more than Charlotte's did, but as long as you get some major burps out of him he is pretty content. Sadly, we have another puker on our hands. Stocked up on burp cloths and ready to go through 4 shirts a day. Take heart, I know he will outgrow it eventually.

At his 2 weeks check-up (though he was almost 3 weeks):

7 lbs 10 oz

20 inches

He sleeps well during the day and night. I usually wake him up at the 3 hour mark during the day to eat. He has about 45-60 miuntes of awake time and then back to sleep. At night he goes 4 hours on the nose.  He seems more enthusiastic about eating than Charlotte was. 

(Does everything have to be a comparison?)

He is definitely a second child in his uncanny ability to sleep through toddler maulings.  Charlotte loves him, very enthusiastically. She also has no volume control.  Welcome to the family, Ryder. 

Physically, I feel great. I bounced back a lot quicker this time. I don't feel exhausted or sore. I still have 30 pounds to lose, but with Ryder's help, it should come off in no time. 

Breastfeeding: Through the Eyes of a Toddler

One of the big question marks I had while I was pregnant with Ryder was how Charlotte would react to him breastfeeding. It hasn't been all that long since she has been weaned, I just didn't know what to expect or how she would behave.  A new breastfeeding relationship takes a lot of time and effort, and I wasn't sure how I was going to balance that with a busy toddler. Well, I am happy to report things are going swimmingly. I have Ryder on a nice routine that enables me to nurse him almost exclusively while she sleeps or Jeremy is home.  She only really has to survive one mid-morning feed on her own.  And by on her own I mean climbing all over me and kissing Ryder while he eats.

It didn't take her any time at all to understand the whole process. Her interpretation of everything is hilarious.  Every time I sit down to nurse Ryder we have this conversation:

"Baby drinking the milk!"
"Mommy lid off (a breast pad is now formally known as a lid)"
"Baby all done!"
"Mommy milk lotion on! (Lanolin)"
"Mommy lid back on!"
"Burping the baby!"
"Have it? (Can I hold him?)"

So, one of my big trepidations has been tackled and overcome. Nursing a newborn while managing a busy toddler is doable and not nearly as daunting as I imagined it might be. Ryder is also significantly faster than Charlotte was in the beginning, which is extremely helpful.

To all the nursing mothers out there: Don't forget to put your lid back on!

And Then There Were Two

Week one as a family of four.  Time! Slow down!!! My brand new baby is 7 whole days already!

We have had an incredible week filled with wonderful visits from friends and family, dinner deliveries, even a trip to the pool.

Before Ryder's arrival I was filled with doubt and worry. Every mother goes through it. How can I love another baby? I'm so sad to lose my one-on-one time with Charlotte. I don't want to start all over, Charlotte has come so far!

Wrong, wrong, wrong! Ryder is the biggest blessing this family has received since Charlotte. I love him instantly and powerfully. The way only a mother can love her child. And I still love Charlotte just as much. Maybe a little more? To see her become a big sister has been incredible.

Charlotte absolutely adores her new baby brother. Despite our best efforts to teach her his name, he will forever be "Baby Tummy" in her eyes. She hugs, and kisses, and pets, and ogles over him all day long. She brings him his pacifier, she says, "It's okay Baby Tummy" when he cries. She has been on her best behavior, not a tear shed in at least 2 days. She has been listening and following instructions better than ever. I have had plenty of one-on-one time with her and don't feel like she is being slightly one bit. I have yet to miss a bedtime.

Ryder is the best baby.  So content to observe his new world. So tolerant of big sister constantly climbing and patting. He eats well, sleeps well and snuggles perfectly.

I officially LOVE  having a newborn in the house.  I love getting up and feeding him at night. In the quiet house, just the two of us. I stare at him and cry tears of love and joy. I snuggle him, and smell him, and eventually force myself to put him back to bed.