1 month - CJM

Well, we survived the first month as a family of five. One down, about 200 to go! Some people say they feel like time flies with lil ones, but this past month has seemed pretty long to me. Luckily, we have had so much help (thank goodness) or I would have probably lost it by now. I have not had one full day with all three kids by myself yet, which is probably a good thing. During the week from about 4-6:30 pm when Wes gets home is the only time I have them all to myself, and let's just say that's enough! Charlie just seems to always want to eat right when it's time for the boys to start dinner. So, I am doing a lot of parenting from the couch for about 30 minutes while the boys are dropping food on the floor, fighting, B is climbing on the kitchen table or screaming all the while I am trying to keep a peaceful environment for Charlie to nurse in. Yeah right....

perfecting Blue Steel!

Charlie seems like he was born on a schedule, at least more so than Ryan or Bradley. He has pretty much maintained the same schedule since week 1 and I am really hoping it will stick. He usually wakes around 7:30-8:30 am, eats, plays (more like stares), then takes a 40 minute nap. Wakes up and eats again, plays, and goes down for a 3 hour nap around lunchtime (luckily about 2 of these hours overlap with Bradley's schedule). Gets up and eats again around 3pm, looks around and takes another 40 minute nap. The hours from about 5 pm - 9pm are pretty up in the air and by far the most difficult. He usually eats about 3 times between those four hours, so trying to get him to rest/nap is unpredictable. He usually fights it until he crashes around 7:30. Whether he wakes up or we wake him up, we give him a bath (which he just loves) and nurse him and put him down for the night around 9:30ish.

Normally, he will sleep until 2:30 and then again until 5:30, go back to bed and then wakes up around 8 to start the routine all over again. Granted, we have had some nights he will sleep til 3 or 4 and others he will only wake up once. I can't really complain because Wes is such a huge help and takes one of the feedings. Definitely a lifesaver :) Luckily, he is just fine with the bottle.

He had his doctor's appointment today and his stats were as follows:

Weight - 10 lb 4 oz (56% and coincidentally the exact same weight as B)
Height - 22.5 in. (73% and also exact same length as B)
Head - 14.5 in. (22% - tiny little head!)

He does feel much small than the others and considering he was almost a pound heavier than B at birth, he seems to be growing at a slower rate (for now at least). It also might have something to do with his "short upper frenulum" that we just had fixed. The little connector between his upper lip and gum was too tight/short, so we took him to a pediatric dentist this past Monday to have it resolved. It was causing him to take forever to latch when eating. They take a laser and basically break the tension and elongate it. It is painless and super quick, although he cried pretty hard (I think because he was restrained and his mouth was pried open for a few minutes). One of the assistants told me to go sit down and not to watch! He did smell charred afterward, but was good to go because the laser seals it off. He does seem to latch better now and it is less painful.

For the most part he seems pretty content and chill. He does seem to get pretty bad pains/gas after he eats. Sometimes it will resolve itself quickly and other times, he just screams in pain for a while. He does like to lay on his tummy on our chests which makes him feel better.

He also loves his bouncer at the moment and can sit in there quite a while (until one of his brothers comes and messes with him!). He has definitely become much more alert over the past week or so and seems to be focusing on objects (the big picture in our living room, the little birds hanging on his bouncer, looking at us, etc.).

He also spends a lot of time on the Boppy lounger after he eats. A lot of times he is trying to go to sleep (because that's what he loves to do), but I try and keep him awake for at least a few minutes.

crazy eyes!

Peace!

He does really well with the swaddle and it seems to calm him down when he is restless.

trying to escape!

I've also started wearing him more and I think he enjoys that as well. Usually, he falls asleep within 5-10 minutes though which then makes it difficult because I don't want to wake him!

He's now wearing size 1 diapers, still in some newborn clothes and moving into 3 months. His hair is dark brown as well as his eyes (seem to be getting darker by the day). Still has two precious dimples. We booted him from our room around 3 weeks, but he still sleeps in the little bassinet. Maybe we'll try out the crib this month! Here are a few pics from his 1 month photo shoot!

a little blurry but it looks like he's smiling!

half smile :)

fist bump! he looks so old!

We love you buddy!