My first blog

The purpose of this blog is to write about Alexander and his developments as he grows.  In doing so I hope to help any of my expecting friends and relatives who are soon to have babies by giving them a glimpse of what is to come.  I also hope to let those family and friends who are far away know what is going on in our lives.  That’s why people write blogs right?

I named my blog “Babies will be babies” because there is one thing all pregnant women and expectant fathers do from the moment they find out they are pregnant…they read.  They read books, articles, and websites about being pregnant, labor, what to eat, how to get a baby to sleep through the night, how often to feed them, the stages of the color of their poop, breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, cloth diapers vs disposable diapers, what to do when they cry, and every parenting philosophy there is.  I read one book, one audio book, and watch a dvd on parenting philosophies.  I talked to friends, read chat boards, and articles all about parents who swear by these philosophies.  I’ve decided all those people belong to a secret society because in the end babies will do what babies want to do.

Example #1 the hospital tells you that a newborn should feed every three hours to help gain back their birth weight.  This includes waking them up every three hours during the night.  In reality to the mom (if you are breastfeeding) that’s about two hours of sleep and that’s only if you fall asleep when your head hits the pillow.  Also that includes if your baby goes back to sleep after the feeding.  This also goes against the rule of never to wake a sleeping baby.  But I did it.  Let me tell you waking up a sleeping baby is not easy.  I would strip him down to his diaper and put a cold wash cloth on his tummy or neck.   Then trying to keep him awake while feeding was another challenge.  Then about when he was a week old Alexander decided he didn’t want to eat every three hours.  So I went to on demand.  When he showed hunger signs, I feed him.  This worked fine until his first growth spurt and he wanted to feed all the time. 

Example #2  There are many philosophies out there about how to get your baby to sleep through the night.  However, once again I say babies will be babies and will sleep when they want to.   At first, they seem to sleep all the time but still wake up often.  Then slowly they start to sleep longer periods of time at night.  Alexander always did good with sleeping three hours.  Then he slept four around four weeks.  For a couple weeks he slept four or five hours.  Then one glorious night (Friday, Jan. 20^th to be exact) he slept 8 hours straight.  I woke up twice just to see that he was breathing.  My in-laws happen to be in town and my mother-in-law, Linda, asked me what  I did the night before.  Honestly, I didn’t do anything special.  Babies will be babies.  I had done the same thing the couple nights before.  I feed him, swaddled him, and put in his car seat.  He just decided he didn’t to wake up and feed in the middle of the night.  The next couple nights he would wake up a little fussy but nothing a pacifier didn’t take care of.  Then last night, he slept all the way through.  So the only downfall is he wakes up between 6-6:30am and is up.  I knew not being a morning person was going to bite me in the butt someday.  However, Eric and I have decided to take turns switching off mornings of who will get up with him. 

Some of my other opinions

Pacifiers – For you or for the baby.  I think they are great.  I know one day I will have to break him of the habit but for now, they are a gift from god.

Bottles – I am mostly breastfeeding but its good to know that I can give him a bottle if needed.  Also that Eric can help feed him if needed.  This also helps Eric feel like he can help.  Also how else am I ever going to get a girls night out.

Sleeping on the back –  Alexander will sleep on his back but won’t do it flat.  No one told us but most newborns don’t sleep flat.  They liked to feel snug like in the womb.  So swaddle them tight and place them in their swing, bouncy seat, or car seat if they won’t sleep in their crib.  Alexander went from his bouncy seat to sleeping in his swing while swinging, to no swinging, and to his car seat.  I’ll get him in his crib sooner or later.

Diapers – So cloth diapers are all the rage right now but I swear if I did cloth diapers with Alexander I would need at least 30-40 for one day.  Okay maybe not that many but I know I would do nonstop laundry. I give props to the moms who do cloth diapers.

Gifts that make a difference – diapers, swings, playmats, swaddle blankets, pacifiers, boppy pillow, fuzzy soft blankets, and cute outfits.

So I will end my first blog of Babies will be Babies that each week is different.  Once you think you have something figured out they throw you a curve ball.  Once you think they are on a schedule, they change it up.  Once you think you have figure out some way to calm them, it doesn’t work the next.  Babies will be babies and do what they want but I couldn’t be more in love with my baby.