Nolan at 1 Month

So at one month old, Nolan continues to be perfect, if you ask anyone who knows him :)

We took him in for a weight check and he weighed 8lb 7oz at a month, which was absolutely perfect if a baby who receives breast milk should gain 6-8 ounces/week.  It's actually just the 5th percentile, but he's growing exactly as expected.  He eats wonderfully, but is still incredibly refluxy.  In fact, we're trialing him on some formulas this week (while I continue to pump and freeze milk) because we're pretty sure his milk protein allergy is still a bit of an issue.  The question will be, for the next few months until his system (hopefully) tolerates it better, what will be the necessary choice?  I am admittedly not going the month-long food diary/major diet change route, so we'll just have to weigh our options.  Thankfully though, an increased dose of Zantac means that at least a good portion of the time his spitting up doesn't tear him up too terribly.  He's still wearing newborn diapers and clothes, swallowed by 0-3 month except for an outfit or two.  Even Kyle has lamented that he needs more outfits, since we bought so few NB.  He's already grown out of a few in length though, and I'm certainly not wishing him to grow faster just on the basis of more clothing options!

He is awake so much more, including a lot of active awake time - making eye contact, watching faces (especially his crazy sisters'), and smiling much more frequently.  He also still sleeps wonderfully at night (seriously, mind-blowing - and where is some wood to knock?).  Occasionally he wakes up at the 3-hour mark once a night, but never more quickly than that, and it only happens maybe once a week.  The rest of the time he sleeps 4-5 hour stretches, and last night he went 8 hours between two feeds (though not all of that was sleeping).

Elise loves on him non-stop, but is a little too crazy about him at times.  How in the world do you respond though, to "I just love him so much!"  You certainly can't get mad... but I'll admit we've resorted to an-eye-for-an-eye at times, just to demonstrate to her exactly how rough she can be.  Avery adores him just as much, but is still a bit more private about it - and much more nurturing.   Neither girl wants him to want for anything, even for a second.  They're such great big sisters!

We aren't working on or trending toward any real schedule yet, though I'll be the first to say I'm still a huge proponent.  The fact is, I just have these other kids that make (a lot of) things more difficult.  And pumping sucks, but that's a whole different blog entry - and my choice still, so I can only complain so much.  We need to think about it soon though.

We have recently gotten out the rainforest play mat, and Nolan finds himself swatting and kicking some of the toys.  It's not at all purposeful, but it's quite funny when he does.  He's cooing and "gah"ing a lot more, and he simply couldn't be cuter if he tried.  He's kind of a wimp at tummy time and with head control.  I looked back and the girls at 6 weeks (so 2 weeks adjusted) were much stronger than he is at 4-5 weeks.  Strong-willed, perhaps?  Wimpy white boy issue?  Regardless, we aren't worried.  He's just a bit of a stinker.

Speaking of, he really is a bit of a stinker.  Our even-tempered baby has been replaced by one who often screams all day as if he just came out of the womb (hence the "real tears" entry).  I'm holding out hope that it's related to his tummy issues (since it's not just the typical colicky "witching hours", but an all day affair), because then maybe he'll outgrow it sooner.  And we can help him, which of course makes any parent feel a little better!

As for mama, I'm feeling pretty great.  The pain was down to practically nothing just days after surgery, but actually lingered at that level for quite a bit longer (weeks?) - largely, I'm sure, because we're so much more active.  In rereading old entries, it seems between their prematurity and my surgical issues, the girls and I pretty much just hung out around the house for quite some time.  Their first trip to the mall was at much more than a month old, and little Nolan has been all over town, including Entertrainment Junction, Kings Island, and countless shopping trips.  There have been no weird incision issues or anything though, and my pain has been completely gone for a while now - even when sneezing or coughing, which was the last to go.  And holy crap, did it hurt - so I'm glad it's gone!

All in all, things are wonderful.  I'm struggling a bit at times with having no say in the fact that he's our last, but on the day-to-day stuff we just couldn't be more happy.  We are head over heels in love with this little guy, and so excited to see what the coming months have in store, too!  Just maybe they could come a little slower....?  Anyone on that yet?