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@Mrsdaredevil: Tyler wears some NB size stuff still though he is just now able to fit into some 0-3 stuff. The NB onesies are starting to be too short in the crotch on him. I think he has a long torso. He's about 8 lb 3 oz and 20.5 inches. Willa is such a cutie!!!!

@bpcmarj: We love the rock n play! That's what Tyler has slept in since night 1....

@marriedandlovingit: Love his smiles!!!!

@cvbee: Glad he had a good Baptism!! Perhaps he didn't mind b/c he likes his baths so much!

@duckduckkristen: Wow, Liam has grown so much! Tyler will have gained 3 lbs in 7 weeks, which I think is a lot!

@Mrs.M57: Have you thought about thrush as a possibility for the nursing strike?

Things here are good - I am feeling much better about life now that I'm exlusively pumping. I'm up for an hour in the middle of the night because it takes Tyler 20 mins to take a bottle, then I change him and burp him and and put him back down - and that process is about 40 minutes, plus I have to pump which takes 15 mins. This process sucks and I miss breastfeeding him but it's what is best for now. I think the Zantac seems to be helping some - he is more relaxed after feedings (though I do think he's a little more fussy than most babies...) We had a nice weekend at DH's lakehouse and MIL took Tyler so that we could sleep in in the morning - amazing! Still no smiles from him yet, but he's pretty close! I can't wait for that moment.

The longest sleep stretch we've had is 4.5 hours and that was a week ago. Usually it's 4, then 3, then 2. Or, 3.5 then 3, then 2. Either way, I'm still pretty sleep deprived!

Here's an updated picture of little Tyler!

http://instagr.am/p/MlWdUARLa-/

@winniebee I keep checking her mouth for thrush but I don't see anything... She's also been really more gassy than usual so I'm wondering if it's related to something I'm eating giving her a belly ache. She was a bit better today, but we will see

Everybody's babies are so cute! I'll post pictures soon.

@Mrs.M57: I've been having the same problem with Liam, but only in the evenings. I'm thinking it may just be that he's overtired because he doesn't nap much during the day. He'll cry and cry and if I try to feed him he cries more, but will eventually stop for a second to suck, then start crying even harder. It takes about 2 hours to get him to take a full feeding, and then he passes out for the night and doesn't wake up to eat again for 6-8 hours. The rest of the day he eats just fine.

Update on the power situation: still no power! After 3 days I decided I couldn't take it anymore, so I threw out all of our defrosted food in the fridge/freezer, packed bags, and took the baby to the inlaws' house. They've been watching him while I shower, do laundry, and eat. DH is going to meet us here after work and I think I'm going to stay here til the power comes back, which could be a few more days.

@Mrs.M57: Stop it! She's too cute!

@Mrsdaredevil: so happy that bedsharing is working for you! I hope you tried out the side-laying and I actually can't believe you've never done it before, especially with the sleep issues. I do side-laying whenever I'm tired because I can almost (or actually!!!) sleep while doing it. For technique, I'd say you have to fiddle around to see what works for you. I lay with my one arm cradling my own head, me completely on my side. I pull Nico belly-to-belly with me and line his head up with my nipple. Depending on the size of your breasts and the softness of your mattress, you might need to adjust. (We do sooo many odd and improvised breastfeeding positions...I think Nico is pretty good at figuring things out no matter what). I don't think the latch is as good, as when I wake up, we are usually in a puddle of milk, but that might be because I fall asleep without burping him and maybe he spits up more. (Yes, I fall asleep....bad mama? I have no regrets. ) Sometimes I can cross-side laying feed, where I feed him the 'top' breast by me being partially leaning forward, like, almost on my belly.....but I have only done that one a couple times, as I have to stay awake and balance myself.

@Mrsdaredevil: Honestly... as long as the doc isn't worried about it... then I wouldn't. My niece wore 6 months clothing unti she was about 14 months. Sienna is starting 3 months. But I have a chunky monkey.

@Mrsdaredevil: high five to that!!!!

@pastemoo Gabriel is so cute! Love the sunglasses he looks like a hip little man! And the nursing and then calming routine sounds familiar! We are still have issues but, lily usually does that at night and I think it is because at night my letdown is slower. She nurses better in the morning, but lately almost all of her nursing sessions are unpredictable!
@duckduckkristen Liam is adorable! I love his stylish shoes and hat
@mrsdaredevil yay for sleep! So glad Willa had a good night!

We had our anniversary wedding cake last night for our 1st anniversary. Both hubby and I were surprised how good it was for being frozen for a year! Little lady did not allow us extra alone time as I had hoped. She was back to waking up every 2 hours last night, which was frustrating because she's been doing 4-6 at a time. I don't know what is going on with lily the last 3 days she has been extra fussy, extra pukey, gassy and pooping more than usual. I thought I had solved her belly issues by eliminating dairy from my diet a while back, but belly issues seem to be back. I feel so bad when I know she's uncomfortable and insult to injury my mom keeps telling me that she thinks Lily is allergic to my breast milk and if she were me she would just switch to formula, since you can control the ingredients in formula. Grrrr So much for support with a fussy baby! I don't know what direction to go in I may need to call the pediatrician

Oh well crossing my fingers that we can go out for anniversary dinner tonight!

My husband and I had a nice anniversary. It was like any other day, really. We went to BBB to get our son bath toys and a few more toys to 'play' with. Then we went to dinner. I had my first alcoholic beverage in a year. I decided to go for a frozen strawberry margarita. Needless to say, I will be pumping and dumping here in a few.

Speaking of which....I'm considering giving up on bf'ing and switching to half pumping and half formula. I am frustrated with bf'ing more than I am okay with it. It stresses me out everyday.

We are about to get rolling for our fourth of July festivities, but I wanted to share a couple of things with you all! Penny was 8 weeks on Monday, and yesterday we took her to the beach for the first time. Two of my younger sisters are here for the week from San Fran, and my other 2 siblings and Mom and Step-Dad came up from Wilmington, NC. Everyone has been able to meet Penny and they just love her! My sister took some cute pics of her first beach trip that I thought I would share with you! One is of me and her, another has my little brother in it, too

Hope all you American's have a great holiday!! And to our Canadian friends, enjoy your day anyway!

http://instagr.am/p/MpOqcLHPmp/
http://instagr.am/p/MpIxvLHPi2/
http://instagr.am/p/MpIR9fHPil/

@pastemoo: Gabriel is a little rock star! I have to change the middle of the night diaper or he pees straight through a few hours later and soaks his outfit and swaddle and starts crying. Now that I bottle feed, once he starts getting lazy/drowsy at the bottle, I burp him, change his diaper, and feed him as much of the rest of the bottle as he wants. He's been going back down fine, it just adds more time to my night time routine.

@duckduckkristen: LOVE the chuck taylors!

@Mrs.M57: Hope you had a good anni and the feeding situation is improving!

@bpcmarj: Love those pics! Hope you had a great 4th! Did I tell you we are vacationing in Chatham next month w/ my family?

@MsMini: Oh man, I'd be pissed about it too. Some people have no sense when it comes to babies. What, just so she could hold him? Very selfish. Tyler LOVES to jump too! He stands on my lap or tummy and presses and flexes his little legs until I jump him. It's so cute.

@Mrsdaredevil: Way to go Jedi Mama!!!! Also, Tyler can wear only SOME 0-3 stuff. Gymboree runs small in my view so he wears their 0-3 stuff and some random other 0-3 but otherwise is still in newborns, even though the bodysuits are super tight on him....

@cvbee: I def. think sleeping has to do at least something with weight and also a lot to do w/ temperment. Tyler is very intense and "active" so has never been a great sleeper, though I think the more he develops the better he's getting at it. I had the baby in bed delusion yesterday and grabbed my husband thinking it was Tyler. Geez.

@marriedandlovingit: Happy anni! Sorry that the BF woes persist. I switched to pumping when I found that I dreaded feedings...and cried about it like every other day. I am happy to report that even though I think pumping is twice as hard as BF, I haven't cried once in the 10 days I've done it, I'm not stressed about it, and we (or at least me) are much happier.

Tyler is 7 weeks today....he's getting more and more curious and "active" by the day. I swore I got a few smiles the other day, but he hasn't done it since so now I'm not sure. We brought him to a BBQ yesterday and there were like 10 babies ranging from 9 mos to 2 years old...it was crazy! Tyler got so much attention and it was a lot of fun. He was so good and didn't fuss at all the whole time. Though, I can tell that DH is a little tired of hearing "he's so small!!!!" only because DH was small growing up and I know he got so many of those comments growing up.

Tyler's sleep was a little wonky the past week, which I'm attributing to the infamous 6 week growth spurt. HOWEVER, after being out and about for festivities during the day yesterday, he slept all of 1 hour between 11 and 6 (I tried). Then, he slept from 6:00 to 10:30 and then again from 11-3 (fussed at 1:15 but I got up and put my hand on his tummy to sooth him) and then slept from 3:30 to 6:45! Best sleep stretch ever. I took advantage of the 6-10:30 stretch and slept from 6:30-8, too. I'm hoping this is a sign that the 6 week crazies are over : )

His tummy seems to be improved, though he sometimes is in distress when he is pooing. I cut way back on dairy products (have cream in my coffee and occasional cheese) but cut out milk and yogurt and ice cream which I love. The pumping situation is tiresome, but he seems to be much better with the bottle. I do lament about BF sometimes, wishing that it would have worked out and thinking about the fond memories I do have of it (thinking of that cute little face rooting and getting so excited the moment before latch). C'est la vie.

I could ogle all your LO's pictures all day! Seriously, I keep scrolling back up just to see the cuteness! We have an adorable bunch of babies here!

@Mrsdaredevil: Willa is just beautiful!!! Our little one is in some NB sizes still, mostly onesies and dresses etc. Anything with footed legs we're in 0-3 though... she's stretching out like crazy.

@winniebee: Ohhhh my... Tyler is adorable and that onesie is absolutely too cute. That's so great his tummy troubles seem to be resolved. Poor little fella, he's too sweet to be in distress!

@Mrs.M57: Such a sweetie, I love her all dolled up for your 2 month picture! I almost went for the little stickers but forgot... so now I have to add them in with the computer, definitely not as cute!

@pastemoo: That picture of Gabriel is hilarious! Soo cute!

@duckduckkristen: Liam looks like he's grown so much, what a handsome little guy! Love the attitude with the tongue sticking out.

@cvbee: My SIL got my lo a 4th onesie which she wore yesterday but I felt totally guilty for not doing something for Canada Day. I'm just waiting for my family to call me out on that after I posted the 4th pictures to FB. I have a Canada onesie but its 6-9mos so there was no way that was happening.

@bpcmarj: Penny is such a little peanut! So sweet, I hope she enjoyed her first day at the beach!

@marriedandlovingit: I hope Cooper is doing better soon. I haven't dealt with a fever yet... it sounds like an awful day for you guys. Give that little man lots and lots of cuddles!

I'm way behind yet again, but this was so fun catching up! Its amazing to read all the different milestones everyone LOs are reaching. We're all entering such a fun stage!

We've had a really busy couple weeks with our trip home, (the drive was 10hrs there and 9.5 back and Addie did amazing!! I pumped and fed her as we drove, changed her at stops etc. It turned out to be no big deal at all!) work around our house and the holidays.

LO is 8 weeks today and has been a smiling machine since we went to visit my family. She especially hams it up after she's woken up or if she's on her change table. DH and I have been shamelessly whoring ourselves for smiles all the time now.

We also had some amazing milestones over the last couple days. We're two days in a row now sleeping through the night and she's been rolling from her tummy to back during tummy time. She's been loving her bumbo chair too... I think this little girl has an independent streak in her. She HAS to be upright and able to look around where SHE wants to.

LO is like a whole new baby. @MsMini: you were so right in passing the first 6 weeks. She's just amazing taking in the world, interacting with us and growing so fast. I feel like I've fallen in love with her all over again and now even think I didn't have that total bonding experience right from birth. I felt totally in love then, but its just different now.

@MsMini: I hope Sawyer is doing okay and avoided contracting any scary bugs and that your ILs are understanding of your point of view. Its pretty thoughtless to withhold something like that.

@cvbee: Your description of your side-laying over night is us exactly, including drifting off. But we sleep amazing and LO is literally only awake to feed and goes right back down in her bassinet after.

@winniebee: & @cvbee: I think weight has something to do with sleep for sure. My MIL (is a CNM) and she said often its hitting the 10lb mark that means baby can go longer between feeds and will start longer sleep stretches/sleeping through the night. It held true for us.

Power came back on Tuesday night so we were still able to have our fourth of July party! Although most of the grocery stores didn't have any frozen or refridgerated food since they had to throw it all out and hadn't restocked yet. It was so weird seeing all the empty aisles!

Liam had his 2 month checkup today. He is 12 lbs 12 oz and 23 1/4 inches (up from 7 lbs and 20 in at birth). He did well with his shots too. Only cried for a minute then fell asleep. Poor thing. He's sleeping now.

Can't remember if i mentioned this, but I have tendonitis in both my wrists from picking up Liam so much! I had never heard if it, but apparently half of all new moms get it to some degree. I've been wearing wrist braces for a week and it has helped a lot. Before I got the braces I could barely lift a glass of water because it hurt so much.

@LAGS: thanks! The onesie was from etsy (a gift). I'm happy that you are having a good time with Addie these dys! I know what you mean about the bonding. At this point I'm so attached to Tyler and though I thought I bonded with him right away it was nothing like this.

@marriedandlovingit: poor Cooper! I hope things are better today - what a crappy 4th. At this point I pump every time he eats. So roughly every 3 hours during the day and then whenever he wakes up at night. I also try to pump one extra time during the day if he's taking a lot nap to stimulate further supply. I am currently producing about 8 extra oz of milk a day and freezing it (but he is only taking 3 oz still and as soon as he ups his intake to 4 oz I will break even).

&dyckduckkristen: wow that is great growth! I hoPe Liam does on tonight after the shots....

@winniebee: Thank you!! That's great to hear you are getting so much milk. Have you been taking anything to up the supply? Cooper's ped recommended Fenugreek. I will wait and see how the supply increases in the coming days. I'm amazed how much you are pumping. I usually do 3 times a day, and I obviously will need to pick it up big time.

He's been super clingy to mommy today. Poor baby had his 8 week shots today (at 9 weeks lol...insurance/hr issues made us wait a week longer). I felt so bad that he had to be stuck twice in his legs today, and yesterday he was given a catheter (OUCH!), and they had to stick him a few times to try to get enough blood as the first two times were unsuccessful. Mommy was crying right along with him. People were right when they said that you feel the pain your baby feels.

Do any of your lo's have a pathetic little pout? Our son has the epic pout that is pathetic and funny!

He is so happy these days (when he isn't pouting that is). The changing table is his favorite place to be. Once we set him down there, he starts cooing and squealing! He did it before I put him down for bed. I try so hard not to stimulate him at that time, but it was too cute not to interact with him.

I love how aware he is becoming of everything! Our lo's are changing daily and it is fun to see!

He had his '8 week' appt today (he's really 9 weeks) as stated earlier. He is 10 lbs, 13 oz which is only .5 oz up from where he was at 7 weeks. The Dr wasn't concerned though. She figured that it was due to him not being able to keep anything down yesterday.

@MsMini: I feel the same way about disposables. Liam always has a poop leak when he wears them and I had him in them during the power outrage so he pooped on his clothes every day!

@marriedandlovingit: aww I hope Cooper is feeling better. It's so sad when LOs get stuck!

@LAGS: Yay for smiles and I'm glad your trip went well!

@marriedandlovingit: Ooohhh the pout! it makes me so sad when Liam does it but at the same time it's so cute!

Last night our friends came over to watch Liam while we got dressed up and went out for a fancy dinner in the city with some of DH's coworkers. It was nice to make myself look pretty for the first time in a loooong time and drink all the wine I wanted! I pumped like crazy for the last 2 days so I would have enough milk to get LO through the night, just in case I got drunk, but I only had 3 glasses of wine and tons of food, so I felt just slightly tipsy by the time we got home. Since I went 15 hours without feeding LO from one boob, it was absolutely rock hard when I woke up. I just pumped 9 oz from the one boob! Had to switch the bottle out on the pump! It was so incredibly nice to get out though!

@Mrsdaredevil: I forget everything I wan to tell you all too!

@Mrsdaredevil: he got stuck once in each thigh and was slightly more fussy than usual for about 36 hours after. I had to be very careful about touching his thighs because they were very sensitive.

So we decided to stay home this weekend (we are heading back to our hometown next weekend to go to the Calgary Stampede!). It has been a good weekend, really hot and sunny with thunderstorms at night (me and DH love storms, and Sawyer seems to as well). We took Sawyer to an outdoor swimming pool yesterday (our town does free family swim Saturday evenings). It was his first time swimming, he looked so cute in his little swim diaper, and he really liked it. We stayed for an hour, then he fell asleep and we headed home. I think we are going to go to the family swim time every weekend we are home, and in September I am going to start baby and mom aqua fit classes at the leisure centre.

Sawyer has been kind of fussy the past few days, lots of popping off and crying during feeds, and being extra clingy to me. I am a little afraid he might be teething or something. I can't see any teeth yet though, so I am not sure. He chews on his hands, but not on anything else. I might take him to see our doctor if the fussiness persists this week. It could be reflux, but he is missing a lot of the typical signs.

That's all that is really going on here! I hope you all are enjoying your weekend!

@winniebee: I hope that Tyler's sleep continues to improve!

@duckduckkristen: Ack! Tendonitis does not sound like fun, I don't know how you could even rest your wrists with having to take care of a baby!

@LAGS: Thanks! Sawyer managed to avoid getting sick, I don't know what the IL's thought of my view, DH spoke to them and they didn't say anything, but that doesn't mean they aren't bitching behind my back (LOL)!

@marriedandlovingit: Is it sad that I think Sawyers pout is the cutest thing on earth. It kind of makes me giggle, even though I feel so bad for him! I hope Cooper starts feeling better soon.

@duckduckkristen: Your night out sounds awesome! I kind of want to try it, but I am scared because Sawyer doesn't take full feeds when he bottles.

@Mrsdaredevil: We also are using pampers swaddles or huggies natural (I got both as baby shower gifts), I just don't know what the issue is, but it sure re-affirms my decision to go with cloth.