Holy crapballs, how do any of you new moms have time — or hands — to blog?! I’ve opened up WordPress a dozen times and it’s only now, almost eight weeks after Max’s birth, that I’m able to do a quick update. I was going to elaborate on his birth story, but you know what? Forget it. Blah blah C-SECTIONS ARE INTENSE blah blah; that’s kinda the gist of it. OK, now before he wakes up and realizes he’s pooped himself, here are a few more current pics of the little man:
In the first 8 weeks post-birth, the two of us have:
– Walked through the park with other stroller moms and not been called out for being a fraud or even looked at funny;
– Breastfed in an art gallery;
– Attended fancy dinner parties at friends’ houses
– Had brunch at a restaurant… like, an actual restaurant;
– Taken the SUV stroller into rather tiny shops and cafés;
– Survived two weeks of daddy being away;
– Projectile shat on two of mommy’s girlfriends (um, that was NOT me)
The babe has received mail addressed to him (and I opened it, which I guess was maybe illegal, technically?), gotten a social security number and health card, been hashtagged on social media, taken lots of baths, conquered a yeast infection (what? boys? yes) and peed on a variety of objects. He’s transitioned into cloth diapers, has started smiling and cooing and staring at high-contrast images (then again, he’s also been known to stare at the blank wall next to the change table for minutes on end, so who knows, maybe he’ll be a paste-eater after all). Likes: Being in his wrap/carrier; the hairdryer; running water; stretching both arms up over his head upon waking from a nap; excessive bouncing. Dislikes: His adorable shark hat; kisses; sleeping in the bassinet; classical music. Longest stretch of continual sleep to date: 5-ish hours. Breastfeeding: Like a champ! This kid will suck on anything; pacifiers, bottles, nipples, fingers… and more! (Just kidding, not more).
Questions on my mind:
– I want to get on board with this sleep-training stuff early; is this really a thing to be anal about or should I let the kid figure out his own rhythm? When do I start? And what books do I need to read? Can they be short books? Comment below and help a momma out!
– I know we’re far away from introducing solids, but how do I do that? Do you still start with rice cereal? What’s this about introducing one new thing every few days? Can’t I just blend together a sandwich?
– Diaper rash: How do you prevent it, other than frequent nappy changes and zinc cream and “naked time” (read: DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN! HELLO?!)
OK, that is all! For now, at least… I have to go check in on some of you ladies (Stupid Stork, Burnt Toast especially) who’ve had some miraculous successes in your IVF journeys — so damn exciting!
Yeah, Science! 
What?!? 8 weeks already? I am loving these photos and updates and also that you are your usual funny self. :) Kudos for having done so much in such a short amount of time. I do not have any advice since I don’t have any children but I will come back and see what the other mommas are saying and learn a thing or two hoping that I’ll have a chance to use them in the future. What a cutie pie you have!
Great to hear from you! He is totally adorable! Sounds like you guys have been busy!
Honestly, I’m struggling with the blogging too. But hey! First post! With photos to boot. That’s quite an accomplishment.
Max is adorable! So glad you too are getting out and about. I’m also reading up on sleep training. What I’m finding is a LOT of it is parent/child dependent. Currently I’m just focusing on getting my two on a schedule, but I also need to read more about the different methods in preparation for the dreaded sleep regression. In short, do what you feel comfortable with and don’t stress yourself about being perfect.
What a little doll. (Is it ok to call a boy a doll? I don’t know. Anyway, what I mean is that he’s f’ing adorable.)
I’m not sure I have much advice to offer, especially about sleep training. Because I’m inherently lazy, I just kind of let Seamus set his own pattern and went from there. I’ve been lucky in that he’s usually an awesome nighttime sleeper (naps are iffy). But, here’s the thing where I may differ from a lot of other moms and which I know is generally frowned upon: I rock him to sleep every night. I’m kind of attachment parent-y about that, I guess. Maybe that will change down the line, but I just don’t think he’s old enough to be soothing himself to sleep. I guess if you’re finding that your little one isn’t sleeping for crap and just doesn’t seem to be figuring it out, then maybe look into some sort of sleep training. I think I’ve just been lucky, but I know of other moms whose babies just weren’t getting the hang of it for unknown reasons, so they turned to sleep training and it helped them out immensely.
Diaper rash…not sure how to prevent it other than what you mentioned, but I swear by Arbonne diaper cream. That stuff if magic – which is probably why it’s ridiculously expensive. But the nice thing about it is that you hardly need to use any and it’s always gotten rid of redness very fast for Seamus.
Ok, I’ll stop talking now…
Thanks for the update! :)
Haha this post cracked me up! So happy to see that you’ve gracefully survived the first 8 weeks – gives hope to people like me who are excited, but terrified about mommyhood!
No need for cereal, and lots of docs say skip it and just start at 6 months with purees. I make all of our baby food and started freezing it two weeks ago to start using after Christmas. It’s easy, and this book is all you need and explains what to do when. http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Baby-Wholesome-Homemade-Delicious/dp/1416599185/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1386186649&sr=8-7&keywords=baby+food+recipe
Sleep training…. I’m a softie but will do something in January. We did Ferber with matthew and may have to this time. They say to wait until at least 5-6 months. We did Matthew at 9.5 and that was too late. Targeting 6 months this time. We’ll see.
that is one cute baby! He looks like you!
I can’t believe it’s been eight weeks already! He is ridiculously adorable.
I’m not a parent yet, so my advice has no validity, but I know my sister drove herself crazy trying to use the right method for sleep training. I think she read everything in print. My niece is just a terrible sleeper. I think having a routine is really what works best.
Have you read much about baby-led weaning? I originally planned to make my own baby food (with all the extra time I’ll have), but am probably going this other route instead.
Good luck, and enjoy your little dude!
The Happiest Baby on the Block, Harvey Karp
I was waiting for this update! Your little guy is so cute. I’m impressed by his strong likes and dislikes this early in.
As my kid is still cooking, I only have one answer based on my friend’s experience and my pediatrician dad’s advice to her. Start with rice cereal. Oatmeal is too hard to digest at first for a lot of babies. I learned this lesson the easy way (second hand!) after my friend’s daughter got considerably backed up on oatmeal. Good times.
he’s so (so, so, so!) cute! and I’ve SO missed your hilarious posts… sleep training, what?? I have no clue except that I prefer Jackson sleeps more at night and less during the day. but he’s napping on my lap (how long will a baby and a laptop both fit?? not long…) and he’s so cute and QUIET when he sleeps, I just go with it, even in the evenings when I know I should be trying to keep him awake. Thank God for boobies and forced post-breastfeeding comas :)
Look into baby led weaning (it’s not really weaning – more like baby led feeding). You start them on solids at 6 months, skip the rice cereal (empty calories, non-nutritive!).
He is SO DARN CUTE. Sounds like you’ve got this mamahood thing down pat!
So glad you’re checking in! Max is such an absolute cutie, I love that giraffe outfit!
Hooray! Great pictures. He’s so adorable. Wow… Good lookin boy. Love his likes/dislikes:)
All of your questions are good ones, and so familiar. It’s hard to answer confidently since all babies are so different. But in the interest of not writing a book here, I’ll just address the sleep training one. I have three not short books and have started and not finished two of them. Ok one. I also cheated and got the happiest baby on the block DVD. As far as when to start, you’ll know when things start to get into more of a routine at bed and nap times. I think the books say around 12 weeks (or just not before that)? Anyway, consistency is key-
Pick nap times (mine were 9, 12, 3) and an earlyish bedtime (6 or 7) and do the same routine every day (bath, pjs, story, nurse/bottle, night light, song, kisses, crib). As for the middle of the night wakings, I think it’s too relative to your child’s eating patterns to say. But if/when it’s time to let him learn to STTN, look into CIO and modified CIO options and try what seems least traumatic for everyone. He will be fine no matter what- it’s mom that struggles through that stuff most. But again, consistency is what’s most important.
Don’t sweat it. You sound like you’re doing great! Enjoy your sweet Max:)
He is so cute. Did you ever buy that cute pram you put pictures up of last Summer?
Haven’t read other replies, so sorry for potential repeats.
I say FORGET the sleep training books. Forget all the books. Actually, that’s not true, I enjoyed Dr Sears’ The Baby Book and Baby 411, by Dr Ari Brown.
I have 2 children. My son did not sleep for more than 2 or 3 hours in a row until he was over a year old, and did not sleep through the night until he was 2 (when I weaned). I ended up co-sleeping with him because I was just so dreadfully tired. I just couldn’t go through with the sleep training; it just didn’t feel right letting him cry his little heart out.
My daughter, almost 6 months old now, pretty much slept through the night since she was a month old. For as long as I can remember, she slept from 9 pm to 7 am. Honestly, I haven’t done anything differently (well, other than cut out dairy, soy, wheat, legumes, and sesame because she’s sensitive… ok, maybe there’s something to it but she started sleeping for 10 hours before I did this). If you haven’t read it yet, I really recommend the Baby Book. http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Book-Revised-Edition/dp/0316198269
Attachment parenting isn’t for everyone but it felt very natural for me. I don’t co-sleep with this one, as it isn’t necessary (thank God).
I just started her on apples last night. She HATED it ;-) She’s obviously got a few food sensitivities, so I think I will wait quite a while before bothering with cereal. Even then, it will likely be oatmeal as I’m still a bit wary of rice cereal after all that fuss about the arsenic levels. They recommend you only try one food at a time for a few days, as it can take a while for an allergy to reveal itself. Sweet potatoes, peas, apples, carrots, pears, bananas, avocados, quinoa porridge- these are all good options to start. My son loved sweet potatoes- his little face turned orange from the beta carotene!
5 hours is really good for 8 weeks. I recommend letting him figure out his schedule. Many babies still need to eat once at night until they are 3 months old. If you’re not swaddling, I highly recommend the Miracle Blanket and Halo Sleep Sack (even though the darn thing is polyester- it is really nice and warm though). Swaddling may get you another hour or two of sleep.
The best diaper cream I’ve ever used is Triple Paste. http://www.target.com/p/triple-paste-diaper-rash-ointment-10-0-oz/-/A-11253088?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C11253088&CPNG=Baby&kpid=11253088&LID=PA&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=11253088&gclid=CObS_LP6mbsCFS4aOgodDBsA0A Hands down, the best. I know it has lanolin and petrolatum, bla blah. It’s still the best. Buy a tub, use it preventively too. I even use it on chapped hands because it doesn’t burn the way moisturiser does.
Good luck with the cloth diapering. I just couldn’t commit to it. Pampers Swaddlers are just so damn great. Wish I didn’t feel so guilty about using them.
Adorable child, by the way!! Looks just like you.
What a cutie! I can’t believe 8 weeks have passed already!
I didn’t start sleep training until my daughter was 8 months old. I exclusively breastfed on demand for the first six months, and she sorted herself out to two feeds per night fairly quickly. At 8 months, I needed to start preparing for my return to work (I was going back at 10 months), so I wanted to get her sleeping through the night by then. Well, after a month of mucking about on my own, I hired a sleep doula. Best $300 I ever spent. She had her sleeping through the night in two days. And having two solid naps per day. Here’s her website- she’s awesome!
http://www.preciousmomentsdoula.ca/
As for solids, I started with rice cereal at 6 months, but there’s a bunch of schools of thought on that one, so start doing your research now. I know lots of people that started with squash or sweet potato, too.
Congrats again! And don’t worry about not being able to do it all right now- I promise, things do fall into place. :)
okay, where did the time go!! He is such a little snuggle muffin!
My friends say that Babywise is great for sleeping stuff and not crazy to do, it’s more about changing how we understand how their little bodies work… Oh Have fun with that little one!!
He is such a cutie! And impressive how many outings you’ve already done!
I am so excited to see an update from you! I was JUST thinking about you and hoping all was well, and also hoping you didn’t do the blog disappearing act (not that you’d ever do that without a proper goodbye, but ya know…)
Your little man is beautiful! Keep us posted!!!!!
What?? How do you have a baby who is 8 weeks old?? For that matter, how do I have a 6 week old? Max is adorable!
I don’t have “the answers” to your questions, but here is what I’ve heard so far:
For preventing diaper rash, we use Aquafor every time and its worked so far. Dunno what to do when it actually occurs though. Ha.
As far as rice cereal, it’s pretty friended on now as its a highly processed food that doesn’t have a lot of nutritional value. My doctor recommended starting with avocado :) at six months..
Sleep training. Wow. Only dipped my toe in this cesspool but it seems highly controversial. Huge breastfeeding supporters will tell you sleep training is a crock because babies need to nurse all night. Attachment parenting mommies say sleep training is cold and callous. I think it’s probably about creating a routine and structure that works for you and baby and then bring consistent. But not starting until around 4 months. Who knows?
Your little guy has been busy during the last 8 weeks! I’m excited to hear how the cloth diapering goes. We’re planning on using them, too, and I’ve heard nothing but an insane amount of negativity and pessimism from everyone we tell (none of whom have ever used a cloth diaper themselves). I know nothing about sleep training, obviously. My plan is to meet my babies and see what they’re like and then to figure it out as we go. I was a horrible sleeper until I reached about the age of 24, but according to my mother-in-law my husband and his sister both slept through the night immediately without her actually having to encourage it in any way. I have everything crossed that these guys get those particular genes from my husband and NOT from me. I’ve heard it’s nearly impossible for them to sleep through the night during the first couple of months, because of both the size of their tummies and something about them not being neurologically capable of generating sleep/wake cycles that would allow it (in most cases). BUT, i read somewhere (somewhere?! god, what kind of researcher am i?) that it is quite possible (neurologically speaking) for them to do it around 3 months. Obviously, I have more digging to do.
So glad to hear you’re doing well! Also, was the projectile shitting done through a cloth diaper? Please say it was the newborn disposables.. :)
Holy crap, I’m late to the party!! I am so so happy for you and Max, and it looks as though you’re thriving. Diaper rash is no joke, I know! For us, Triple Paste has been a gift from God. Clears her rashies up in a day. Good for you on the cloth diapers! We use them too, and the best for overnight have been Bum Genius with a doubler insert. Hasn’t leaked at all. As for sleep training…we’re opting out of it for now. She wakes up a couple of times a night an occasionally will sleep through. It’s working for us. I’ve heard great things about The Sleep Easy Solution if you do decide to train. My thoughts on training, though, is that it’s never over. You have to be very consistent, and sometimes it will get messed up if they go through a growth spurt. I started Shira on Baby Oatmeal, not rice. We are moving to avocado and sweet potato soon!
Hey-I missed this post but wanted to share my favorite sleeping book-Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy child. Worked for us the first time around-plan to reread with this baby. Good luck!