Long weekend

Over the past 2 days Bostons "talking" has really been taken up a notch. He is no longer doing the same sounds either, hes now making more sounds like hes getting ready to say words. He just talks and talks and talks its very cute. He says something that sounds like Nine a lot. Peter says he is speaking German. This weekend has been really tough. He has developed a cold and consequently does not sleep at night. He is the booger king at night time so hes waking up every 30 minutes because he can't breath. He coughs his paci out and that really makes him cry. Then as if that isn't enough, during the day he is plagued by the itchiness of his rashes. He has no fingernails but the poor kid just scratches and scratches and scratches. He takes benedryl at night and now takes a half a teaspoon of Zyrtec in the morning. That zyrtec is really helping his boogers but it only seems to last about 4 hours when its supposed to be a 24 hour medicine.
When hes not scratching or getting his boogers sucked he really is the sweetest baby on earth. He makes Peter and I so happy and we loved seeing how much he grows and changes each and every day.

4 months old

So Boston had his 4 month check up today. We went to a new pediatrician today and it was a very good enlightening experience. Boston tipped the scales at 13.3lbs which is only in the 18th percentile for his age group. He is 24.75 inches long which is in the 46th percentile and his head is measuring at 16.5 which is in the 42nd percentile. 

Boston is covered from head to toe in eczema, still has colic and reflux and is still a very poor sleeper. We found out today that those are all interlinked and that they all most likely stem from me. The doctor believes that I am eating food(s) that I am allergic to and causing a build up of IgE in my body and passing it to him through my breast milk and causing an allergic response in him. The sad thing is, I have known I was allergic to wheat and cane sugar from an allergy test I did many years ago, but I just never did anything about it because I never noticed an "allergic response" in me and it seemed like so much to give up so I just never did anything about it. But now years later the things I eat are causing problems with my baby. 

So now the plan is to go on a wheat free and cane sugar free diet. We have a check up with the doctor in a month and hopefully getting this allergic response under control will enable him to not only get better but be able to gain weight. He has only gained a little over a pound since we last had him at a doctor on August 12th and this doctor is telling us its because his metabolism is kicked into high gear from the allergic response which is causing him to burn calories a little too fast.

So while this is a lot to take in, and will be requiring a lot of change on my part on the whole I'm hoping it will bring about some great changes.

15 weeks

We are really starting to realize Bostons sleep schedule and fully understand the ramifications when we do not stick to it. He can go from a perfectly happy kid to screaming uncontrollably in 5 seconds flat. So we are realizing that most of the things we want to do must be put on hold to ensure he gets his sleep. Especially bedtime, it must be by 745pm and no later or there will be hell to pay. However that's not a hard science, like tonight for instance. He was extra fussy starting at 720 so I started trying to get him to sleep but he would fall asleep and just wake up over and over again. It took until 9 until he finally fell asleep and stayed asleep.

When hes awake he spends a lot of time blowing raspberries and making spit bubbles. He is a drooling king and has 2-3 outfit changes a day because of it. He babbles more and more and is on the verge of rolling over at least from his back to his tummy. He also grabbed at his toys today that hang off of his car seat. I have been asking him why he doesn't just see those dangling toys and want to go crazy and grab them and he finally decided it was a good idea today.

He absolutely love his daddy. His just lights up when his dad is near and just smiles and babbles like crazy. I asked him today why he doesn't do that for me. I told him he just uses me for food. LOL I am really enjoying seeing his personality develop, it sure is fun to watch him grow!

12 weeks tomorrow

Boston is quickly approaching the 3 month mark, and I am really praying that sometime in the next month he learns to sleep better and just become and overall happier baby. He is slowly getting there and over the past few days has gone to bed easier, but still not sleeping for that long while hes down. Peter and I went to my midwifes house and made pottery yesterday. (ok really Peter did because I am no artist) He made a plate with Bostons footprint on it, and then turned the footprint into a turtle. But the reason why I mention this, is as I listened to the other ladies who were there talking about how long their babies slept, I realize that Boston is far behind. While their babies are getting 5-6 hour stretches, we are still getting 4 on a really really good night. 3 times ever he has had longer stretches (the best being at 7 weeks when we first put him in his miracle blanket he slept for 8 hours straight) but all it all that is an extreme rarity.

While I in no way feel that I have Boston totally figured out, I am slowly starting to figure out what works for him and what has the highest chances of making him happy. I know that when he is upset that he likes to be held upright and over my shoulder. I know that he likes to wake up in the morning (6-8am) and have a morning chat. He gets quite upset if you try and put him back to bed at that time he wants to have his morning talk. He is very very verbal at this time and will babble on for up to 30 minutes. But once that time is done he is ready to go right back to bed, if you don't put him right back to bed you will miss that window of opportunity and you will have a screamer on your hands. I know that when he gets into a good long scream, the only thing that has a chance of breaking that scream is a squirt of mylecon. He loves the flavor and 9 times out of 10 he will start smacking on that and I can get the paci back in his mouth and he will calm down. But I also know that there are days and times where I could do anything I want nothing is going to calm him down.

Boston is starting to enjoy sucking on his fist. Hes been doing that for a little over a week and he just loves smacking on that thing.

While he does have bad times, I try to focus on the good times. His happy smiling moments. They are happening a little more often these days and I am looking forward to more of them!

10 1/2 weeks

At 10 1/2 weeks Boston is really starting to gain a personality. He is babbling and cooing a lot. Especially in the mornings around 630 or 7 he DOES NOT want to go back to sleep at that time, he wants to sit propped up on your legs and "talk" to you. But you cannot take this time for granted because it switches from happy cooing to crying or even screaming in an instant. Boston is smiling a lot more when you talk to him and actually responding to your facial expressions. He is learning to become a better sleeper, at least he is having a few more good days than he had previously had in the past. He is to where he usually only wakes up 1 to 2 times a night. Hes very very active, always moving which can be quite frustrating to both him and us when he is trying to go to sleep, because he will jerk himself awake regardless of being swaddled.
At 10 1/2 weeks Boston is now 11.5lbs. He has horrible dry skin and a very flaky head. He is always constipated and never goes without is intervening every 3-4 days. (We are hoping my mom is right and its something they all go through and grow out of) His colic has improved and he doesn't have screaming fits quite as much as he used to. However his reflux is still present and he throws up a lot and you can hear milk coming up in this throat.
At 10 1/2 weeks I am loving this little guy more and more each day. I hate that he is getting bigger cause I would love him to be small and a baby forever, but at the same time I love all the new developments to his personality hes so much fun.

I survived

I have been wanting to write all week long, but its just been too hectic with going back to work and all. Its been one tough week going back and work and getting up with Boston in the night. I would get very little sleep each night which made functioning very difficult. But its amazing what a couple extra hours, sleeping in until 9 on the weekend, can do to make you feel human again.
Boston spent his first week with his daddy during the day while I worked. Peter may have been a bit nervous but he did an AMAZING job. The first day I came home from work expecting to rush in and have the baby waiting for me, but it was not the case. He was sound asleep in bed and Peter was in the kitchen making dinner. It was a site for sore eyes. It was rather nice to enjoy each other company and eat dinner without having to take turns eating, which we have to do a lot.
Boston is now 2 months old today. I cannot believe how time has gone so slow on one hand, and then just flown by on the other. I wish there was a way I could halt time and just keep him small. But I am sure I will enjoy all the other stages in life he has yet to reach. He is cooing a lot these days. Its so cute when hes in a good mood and will just sit there and chatter away. I wish I could have more moments like that. He does still have reflux, constipation and colic so he has a lot of moments where he just cries and cries. Its sad to see, but my pediatrician says that he will grow out of it and since he is eating well and gaining weight that he isn't worried. He isn't the best sleeper, not even for naps, so I am hoping that is a skill he will pick up soon.
Despite the lack of sleep and the crying I am still loving every minute of every day that I am with him. He brings so much joy to my life, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am looking forward to more fun times in store.

New Blog

I am terrible at keeping my journal updated and I wanted a way to remember all the happenings of our lives and decided that I used to be great at blogging once upon a time, so why not take up the old habit again.
Boston is now 7 weeks and 5 days old. He was seen at the pediatrician yesterday and is now 11lbs and 22 inches long. He is growing every day and I have noticed that this week he has really started taking an interest in looking at things. He has a sort of mobile on his swing, and while he will only stay in his swing for about 5 minutes, he is usually staring at the hanging giraffe and elephant the whole time. We bought him 2 little toys to dangle off of his car seat today so we will see if those catch his eye.
Peter has figured out that the only kind of music that Boston will remain mostly calm for in the car is classical music. Its not fool proof, but it sure does seem to help. Funny thing is, he doesn't like any and all classical, he seems to prefer the wind instruments. When its just stringed instruments he starts crying again. Funny thing is, I have never listened to classical music while I was pregnant with him so I don't know where he learned to like it, but maybe it will make him super smart. One can hope right.
I go back to work on Monday and there are not words to describe how much I don't want to go. I know that I am leaving Boston in the capable hands of his dad, but I don't want to leave him. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 8 weeks with him. Yes it has been very hard, with him not sleeping much, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love being a mom to Boston and I am not looking forward to leaving him behind. This is the one point that I wish I could just put him back inside so that I could take him to work with me, like the "old" days.