Beckett James | Two Months

Stats:  10 lbs 10 oz (12th percentile).  22 1/2 inches long (26th percentile).  Head is 15 1/4 inches around (34th percentile).  Basically, you are the exact opposite of your sister.  Her head has always been gigantic and her weight and height at this stage were in the 50th percentile (she has since surpassed those stats).  You on the other hand, are just so tiny (although you don't appear super little just by looking at you).  The doctor assured me though that you are gaining at a normal rate and you started out small so you may just be lean your whole life.  Plus, you are getting all bottles (more below) so we know how much you are eating and you are eating plenty.

Likes:  Eating.  I don't know that this will ever change.  Baths really calm you down now as well.  The Baby Bjorn.  This has been a serious lifesaver over the past month.  Even Beeba got in on the Bjorn action over Christmas to give us breaks.  Squats.  Uncle Andrew figured this one out, and in turn, we've all gotten major leg work outs ever since.  You may have ruined poor Beeba's knees.  But, whatever works at this point!  Rocking…the 45 nap intruder is already here and you will not go back to sleep (or stay asleep) on your own which means we either Bjorn it or rock you for the remainder of your nap.  Depending on what I have to do for the day, we rock.  I've gotten a lot of reading done and daddy is enjoying his netflix shows.  Oddly enough, you seem to love diaper changes now.  Or at least leading up to them and after.  You love to lay on your changing pad and stare at the collage wall daddy put together.  Usually when you get super fussy at night, I try to give you a change of scenery and take you in there which calms you down for a few minutes.

Dislikes:  Being put down for longer than 5 minutes at a time.  I have noticed in the past few days that you've gotten a lot better with this.  You usually cry for a few minutes and then are able to calm down and be ok for much longer stretches.  I'm guessing you'll be much better in the next month.  Having anyone sit while holding you…somehow you know and prefer the feeling of being in the air.  Getting dressed.

Biggest Achievement This Month:  You are making it longer stretches at night.  Yay!  For the past few nights, you are up around 3:30 or 4 am.  Then right back down (it takes us 30 minutes total now which is a huge improvement) until about 6:30 or 7 am.  So great!  Now if we can just stretch that 3:30ish a little longer and eliminate it entirely :)  Your sister wasn't sleeping through the night until 3 months so maybe that will be your month too.

Biggest Challenge of the Month:  Naps…ugh.  You did so well before we went home for Christmas.  Then things just went downhill.  I can get you down by rocking you for 5 or 10 minutes.  Then you usually sleep 30-45 minutes and are up.  You won't go back down on your own, but are clearly still tired since you are cranky.  So I basically spend the rest of your nap rocking you so you'll stay asleep.  I know this was hard for Zoe as well so I suppose I have more training to do.  Although, I'm not sure how it's going to go when we pull your sister out of day care.  Maybe this last month just us will be all you need.  We'll see.

Secret Tricks:  Again, squats and Baby Bjorn.  Those have been our two lifesavers this month.  And usually a change of activity is just what you need to calm down as well.

Sleep:  For the past few nights, you are up around 3:30 or 4 am.  Then right back down (it takes us 30 minutes total now which is a huge improvement) until about 6:30 or 7 am.  Before then, you were up around 3:30 most nights, and again at 5:30 and then made it until about 7 and came back to bed with me because it wasn't time to eat yet and I was too tired to get up for the day.

You are going to bed a little after 11.  You nap though from about 8-10pm, we have to usually wake you to eat, then you are right back to sleep.  Daddy just keeps you upright so you don't spit up.  I'm thinking though that you'll be ready to go to bed earlier this month and then we'll just do a dream feed at 10.

Temperament/Personality:  The beginning of this month was rough.  You weren't happy ever (unless you were eating or sleeping).  Thankfully, we had a week at home where everyone took turns so that I could keep my sanity.  Then daddy was home for another week before going back to work.  You are definitely on the upswing now.  You still have your moments, but you are getting so much better.  You are finally starting to smile which makes me remember that you will be a happy baby all the time soon enough.  You just wanted to give me a run for my money just like your sister did and look at how happy she is now.  Daddy seems to have completely forgotten how she was, but Beeba and I have reminded him.

Eating:  I clearly jinxed us in the last post.  Over Christmas, you started spitting up blood…a lot.  So the doctor said I should pump for a few days and then try again.  You spit up a little blood but not as much, so I gave it a few more days.  By then, you much preferred the bottle and I could tell that we were going to end up in the same place again (spitting up blood).  So that ended our breastfeeding relationship rather unexpectedly.  I surprisingly am much more ok with it than I was the last time around.  

For now, I'm pumping three times a day.  I don't know how long I'll continue, but it's going ok for now.  You are getting about 3 formula bottles a day and 4-5 breast milk bottles depending on the day.  You are taking 3.5-4 oz. I still have milk saved in the freezer too.  My goal when you were bornwas to at least make it to 6 months.  Now that we've hit a major bump in the road, I'd just like to make it to three.  

Randoms:  You are in size 1 diapers and 3 month outfits.  You are officially out of newborn clothes.  

Milestones:  You are getting better at holding up your head although you detest tummy time.  And the best part of this month…your smile!  I love to see it and try so hard to see those gummy grins.  Of course, you try to charm me at 4 am when I'm changing your diaper.  It's so hard to be all business so as not to encourage play time at that time of morning.  

Favorite Baby Gear:  Baby Bjorn for sure.  White noise.

How are you two months already Beckett?  Again, time is just flying by.  You get happier and happier each day and I can't wait to see what month 3 has in store for us.  We love you "Baby Beckett!"  

Beckett James | One Month

Note:  This was written on time…I just didn't upload the pictures on time.  The holidays got the best of us!

Stats:  21 inches long (27th percentile), head 14 3/4 inches (49th percentile), 8 lb 14 oz (16th percentile).  You are a little peanut compared to your sister!

Likes:  Eating.  White noise just like your big sister.  Standing and being bounced.  Baths seem to be going better as well.  You also LOVE the Baby Bjorn.  I put you in it when you start to get fussy and you are out within 15 minutes.  I usually leave you in it for a little while then I swaddle you and put you down for your naps.  I know that eventually we need to just nap and not use this as a crutch, but I'm ok for now since it works and you're only 4 weeks old.

Dislikes:  Getting dressed/diaper changes.  Being overtired.  Being set down awake for longer than 5-10 minutes (little guy loves to be held).  Tummy time.  Evening hours…fussy time is anywhere from 6-11pm.  Sometimes you are ok until 8 and then fussy from 8-11pm.  I know that it's just a phase and you'll grow out of it.  I'd say we should be good by the end of January based on how long it took Zoe to grow out of it.  That seems so far from now!

Biggest Achievement This Month:  Making it until 4am!  It was only once, but I'll take it.  It makes me realize there is an end in site :)

Biggest Challenge of the Month:  Figuring out your reflux issue.  It wasn't nearly as bad as some I've heard, but we went through two days of just extreme discontent.  Those inconsolable sobs really did a number on my confidence.  Thankfully, things seem to be a little better.  Still not great, but better.

Secret Tricks:  Standing and bouncing just like your big sister.  Usually, if you are fussy, I can put you in your carrier and stand and bounce and you'll fall asleep.  Usually, if you are freaking out, it's because you are tired so it's just a matter of getting you to sleep.

Sleep:  Sleep is going great for only being a month old.  It takes a while to get you down for your morning nap.  You definitely don't fall asleep on your own and need to be rocked for about 15 minutes to get calmed down or put in the carrier.  The morning is one of your most awake times so I'm guess you just have had a lot of stimulation and need help relaxing.  You do pretty well going down for your early afternoon/early evening naps.  I pop you in the carrier while I'm making lunch/dinner and bounce around while I'm doing it and you are usually out pretty quickly.  I can transfer you to your bouncy during the early afternoon and get a good hour or two out of you.  The early evening nap is iffy.  Sometimes I can transfer you, other times you'll only sleep in the carrier.  I know things will get better here.  

Temperament/Personality:  I'd say you are just like your big sister here too.  I wouldn't say you are as fussy as she was, but part of me wonders if I have less anxiety this time around and was able to calmly figure out what helps you relax faster than what I did with your sister.  You aren't really awake for very long at this point, so it's hard to say how you'll be.  Your fussiest period is after your early evening nap (8-10).  You are usually asleep then after I feed you at 10.  But occasionally, daddy really has to work to get you to sleep.  I know though, that this phase will pass and those smiles and giggles will come soon enough.  This "fourth trimester" period just seems to be hard on my babies.  Your sister was a new baby around 2-3 months, so we'll get there.

Eating:  Things are going SO much better here compared to Zoe.  At least we have this going for us :)  I've made sure to be mindful of everything that went wrong the first time around and am doing everything I can to prevent those things.  Sometimes I feel like I'm being anal, but it's worth it for these first few weeks/months to start out right and not go through the excruciating pain like before.

So far, you are still eating 8 times a day.  We are on a 2.5-3 hour schedule for the most part.  You go through longer stretches at night, and shorter stretches in the evening.  You could probably go longer in the evening, but I'm trying to load you up on calories in hopes that you'll sleep longer :)  Since you are going from 10pm-3am right now, I don't want to mess up what we have going for us.

Your schedule usually is (give or take) 3am, 6:15am, 9am, 11:30am, 2:30 or 3pm (depending on your nap), 5:30pm, 8pm, 10pm.  Not bad at all for how little you are!

Randoms:  You are in size 1 diapers.  They are roomy so I'm guessing you'll be in them for a while, but newborns were getting a little small and I didn't want to buy another box.  Size 3 clothes are very roomy, but newborn outfits are getting small in the legs.  You might end up being long and lean!  Although, in looking at pictures of Zoe, she didn't really start chunking up until 2-3 months.  I love those baby rolls so I'm hoping you have a few :)

Milestones:  Sleeping for longer stretches at night.

Favorite Baby Gear:  The baby carrier has been a lifesaver this time around.  It's allowed me to play with Zoe, get her dinner ready, eat lunch, etc. 

It's crazy to think it's been a month already little man!  It's so different this time around knowing what's around the corner with having your big sister to compare to, but I'm trying to be mindful and stay in the moment.  I don't want to wish your baby days away just to get to the next milestone.  Love you buddy!  I can't wait to see what month two brings!