Weekly Update

For the next few weeks I’m going to try and do a weekly update so that I can remember what James and Charlotte are up to and what this transition period from three to four is like.  So here’s what it’s been like at our house in the past two weeks….

James is sleeping pretty well.  He will only sleep in his pack and play if he’s really asleep when you put him down, otherwise he sleeps in his swing.  Sometimes during the day he doesn’t even like sleeping in the swing and prefers to be held but thankfully once you get him really to sleep (rubbing his back while he’s swaddled and laying on my chest works wonders) you can put him down.  The nights have been going well and he’s been staying awake for some of the days too.  We’re not sure if he’s got his days and nights figured out or if that mix-up is still to come.  I guess we’ll see.

James has been eating good right from the start.  It was a much smoother start-up than it was with Charlotte, probably because I knew what I was doing this time around.  In the last day or two we’ve had problems with him not eating as much but we’re not sure if that’s just because he’s done with a growth spurt or what.  We do still have to work to keep him awake during feedings some times but usually burping him or changing his diaper will get him awake enough to keep eating.

Our schedule is working really well so far.  We’re still on 3 hour increments all day and night and are looking forward to being able to start stretching at night after our two week appointment on Tuesday.  Most nights we are waking him up at least one of the feedings so we’re hopeful that that means we’ll be able to add on at least 30 minutes to one cycle at night.  We’re sticking with Babywise this time around and are working on the feed/awake/sleep routine (and having trouble with the awake part during the day) but for the most part it’s still working for us.  I can already see being more flexible since there’s no way James will be able to have an uninterrupted nap in his crib/pack and play like Charlotte did but hopefully he’ll become a baby who can sleep anywhere.

Big Sister Charlotte is still doing pretty good.  She LOVES James and has to know where he is at all times.  She goes in and waves good night to him before naps or bedtime too which is sweet.  This week she did get over the newness and sharing our attention with him though.  She is on a pretty fine line between meltdown over small things and going with the flow.  We’re having to keep a tight watch on our responses when she breaks the rules and make sure to still keep some kind of structure for her so that she doesn’t run all over us and also being flexible and understanding the emotional difficulty that this change is making. 

James took his first bath (sponge bath) this week.

James’ umbilical cord came off this week.

Jason and I made our first trek out with both kids this week.