Little Momma

So what has Millie been up to these days, you ask?

She's into everything and that's what makes her so much fun! Seriously! This morning she opened up her bottom dresser drawer (the one containing all the randomness I don't know what to do with). She got out her floaty bathing suit, bigger sized shoes, and her Santa hat. I put them all on her per her request and we took lots of fun pictures together. She would get even more motivated for more pictures after seeing herself in the mirror. She is learning to laugh at herself and loves to make you laugh. She's Mother Hen to her babies too. She burps, rocks and strolls them all around the house. Here's a picture of her trying to pacify one of her babies.

Can you believe Camden's 7 weeks old today? I can't!

Lots of epiphany moments have occurred lately.
1. Camden is an eater! I feel like a walking milk cow. He's eating every 2 hours during the day and will go a 5-hour stretch at night. I've decided that I don't think he's getting a full feeding each time for one reason or another. My biggest clue was that he's not content after he eats and he won't latch anymore. He's been taking a bottle from everyone else, so this morning after I nursed him, I gave him a couple more ounces of breastmilk in a bottle, and he was happy as a clam. While I'm figuring him out, I'm going to try to pump every 2 hours to keep my supply up. I'll use the bottle with daytime feedings and nurse him through the night starting today. (This may be to much information, but this is MY journal :). For those moms who have done this, tips/advice are welcome! I'm excited about this plan selfishly because Cam's not the cleanest eater and I'm excited about smelling like my old self again and not sour milk :).

2. Camden is a tummy sleeper. I feel like I'm breaking every rule I set for Millie with this little one. I have no worries about him on his tummy. We've got the video monitor on him while he sleeps and he is constantly moving his head from one side to the other so I know he's got that skill. He's seems to be more jumpy on his back and startles himself awake too often.

3. Millie's got a box fan on full blast in her room. This blocks out any and all noises from the outside. The fan will remain in her room until Camden is in a good sleep pattern and wakes up happy. Right now, he screams "I'm hungry!!!!!!" at first peep, and I'm not all about having two unhappy babies awake simultaneously. Some have told me that Millie would sleep through his cries but at times, that's not the case.

4. Camden doesn't sleep during walks in the stroller. This may change. With Millie, it was almost guarenteed she'd get some snooze time in while strolling through the neighborhood but Camden would rather see the world instead of the back of his eyelids.

5. I can do this. 'Nuf said.

5 weeks with Camden

Tomorrow Camden turns 5 weeks old. We will be on the road on our way to Tampa, FL for my sister's wedding next weekend and making a pit stop in Jacksonville for my cousin's wedding this weekend. So I figured I better get this update in before the craziness of the next 10 days ensues.

It was around this time that I discovered the Baby Bjorn magic for Millie. Well, for Camden, the magic happens in his car seat. He likes to sleep sitting up. We've wedged his crib and brought out the vibrating infant seat. I rotate car seat, crib, infant seat, and sometimes the boppy during his daytime naps. At night, he's strictly in the car seat. This boy is almost sleeping through the night! For the last 3 nights, he'll go to bed between 7 and 9pm, wake at 1:30am for a feeding and then again at 5:30am. Millie's been getting up a little earlier than usual- around 7am- but it's perfect because Cam won't wake again until 8am. That way, I get Millie set with a little b-fast and Blues Clues all before Cam's next feeding. It's a lovely cycle which I pray will continue or improve :).

Another interesting fact about Camden is that he enjoys his tummy time and often falls asleep there. Being the paranoid mama about SIDS, I move him on his back to sleep. I'm sure all you old-school mommies are reading this thinking my babies slept on their tummies and they're just fine, and even some moms I know do it now... I'm just too nervous to keep him that way.

And, maybe it's because this my second time, but I really feel like I know him better than I knew Millie at 5 weeks old. I remember when Millie was 4 weeks old- it was the breaking point for me. My dad and family were in town. Millie wouldn't stop crying and I couldn't figure out why. I even had to step outside to cry and breathe. Family, you remember. We took her to the dr and they prescribed some reflux meds which I refused to give her. Just changed my diet and eventually all was well. But, with Cam, it's different. I go through all the basic needs (hungry, gassy, sleepy, etc) and voila, he's all better. He even falls asleep easier. No bouncing, singing, crazy hold needed. As long as his needs are met, he's fast asleep. For example, a minute ago I took these pictures, I took a minute to upload them, and then I look back and there he his fast asleep. Such a sweetheart.














As for Millie and her crazy self, I'm uploading a video on youtube this afternoon of her spinning herself dizzy over and over again. She's quite the entertainer. Today she brought my Camden's pacifier. He was unhappy during a diaper change (pretty typical). Here's an attempt to get a sibling photo. We have yet to be successful at that. Millie is just won't sit still.
Speaking of sitting still, the biggest news about Millie this week is SHE WENT POOP IN THE POTTY! She'll tell us when she has to go "poopee" so one night last week, Matt sat her on the her potty chair and she went! I could hardly believe it. Looks like potty training will be in her near future. Maybe during the Christmas holiday when both Matt and I can tend to her. Right now, I just feel much too overwhelmed with two babies to do it on my own.

Ok enough talk... here are more photos from the last two weeks:

Camden at 3 weeks old... and Millie too

We retired Camden's newborn clothes this morning. He's officially outgrown them. He slept in a cute monkey suit he got from my Aunt Pam and Uncle Art last night. He's only worn it a couple of times so I figured we'll get one last use of it. Once we got him in it, it was too late to change him again... he couldn't even straighten his little legs, but he didn't seem to mind and he looked too cute in it. Sorry I didn't get a picture... but here are some others taken just a minute ago for your enjoyment. He sleeps so much its really hard to get a photo of him awake.

Camden has also been sleeping in his crib the last couple of nights. He grunts and groans so much during the night that neither Matt nor I were getting any good rest. Although I have to nurse him at least 3 times in the night, I'm happy to do it so at least one of us gets a good night's sleep. Cam's been a little iffy around 4 in the morning as he has a hard time going back to sleep. That's where Matt comes in. Since he's got to get up in an hour or so, he's been great at taking over. You see, Matt's got this awesome trick he does. I call it the "Dance and rock while holding baby" trick. Unable to be duplicated, it lulls Camden right back to Snoozeville every time.

And not to forget Millie, she's enjoying the luxury of spoons and forks these days. Although she hasn't graduated to bigger foods other than yogurt and applesauce and sometimes she digresses to her fingers (probably from watching Dad- Just Kidding).

The first two weeks with Camden

Cam had his two-week check up today. He weighs 8lbs, 3 oz now and is still 20.3 inches long. He's in the 25th percentile all around. Everything went well at his appointment other than the nurse kept calling him a her. Oh well. He is eating like a champ and growing just perfectly. His next well baby visit will include 4 shots (ouch!) in 6 weeks.

Here are some other photos from this week: