Thursday, June 22, 2017

Malachi - Two Months

Weight
Birth: 8 lbs 5 oz
1 month: 13.2 lbs (as of 3/15/17 on the home scale)
2 months: 14.8 lbs
Length
Birth: 23 in
1 month: unknown?
2 months: 
Diapers
You are in size 2 diapers
Clothes
You are growing out of your 3 month clothes and starting to wear 6 months
Eating
You are still exclusively breastfed and eat every 3-3.5 hours.
Sleep
You have to be swaddled and it's still hit or miss. More below.


Malachi,

This second month with you was even sweeter than the first. And faster. Time just doesn't slow down and I never feel like I have enough time in the day to get it all done, enjoy all the special moments with you and your brother. My heart is so full. I really feel like I've learned how you work and what makes you tick, but I'm sure you're going to switch it up on me now that I've said that. You are such a joy and truly are the sweetest little guy. People are always commenting on how you're so easy and easy going and it really is so true. We feel comfortable enough to take you out in public and we have done quite a bit of it.





The start of this month we spent a week and a half in Michigan and you got to meet all of your cousins, aunts and uncles as well as second cousins, great aunts and uncles and friends too. We loved getting to introduce you to so many people and you did so good on your first road trip. We stopped at the half way mark going and coming so you could eat and it worked out perfectly.





As soon as we got back from Michigan you had an appointment at Dayton Children's with a pediatric surgeon for your foot. When you were born they thought you had club foot, a floppy foot or weak muscle tone and referred you to a specialist. The pediatricians at the base thought it was likely nothing and you'd grow out of it/it would correct itself, but wanted a second opinion. We went the surgeon said the same thing and to come back when he was 4 months for another evaluation, but overall he looked great.





You were spitting up a ton in the beginning of the month, but it has slowed down a bit. We tried you on a probiotic, but that seemed to make you spit up even more so we stopped that. Some days you do okay and others you spit up constantly. We haven't found out what the trigger is, but hopefully as you get bigger you continue to do better and better.





I said earlier that we feel really comfortable by taking you out in public and doing things. This month I wanted to have a couple special days with Dom so I took you both to Young's Dairy for a day at the farm. It took awhile to get out of the house because it was one of those days where you were spitting up a lot, but once we were out you were a good little muffin. We also went to the movies to see Beauty and the Beast and you did fantastic. I think people were giving me the eye roll as we walked in, but you only got fussy once for about 30 seconds and then you were quiet as a mouse the whole time. You also went to church for the first time this month, out to eat, to run errands and a trip to Ft Wayne to see Papa and Gigi.





Some days going from one to two kids seems like a breeze and then others I feel like I'm barely staying afloat. Another mom told me that that was just parenthood/motherhood as a whole and it's so true. I'm thankful you're such an easy going little guy.





We have you on a 3-3.5 hour schedule. You eat, play and then nap. It seems to be working well. At night we put you to bed around 8, feed you around 11 and some nights you go until between 4-6 and other nights you wake around 3 and then again around 6 or 7. It's hit or miss, but none of that is too bad. I can handle that for now. When you get good naps, you sleep better at night.





You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your brother. You look for him and follow him all the time and you smile and smile at him. For some reason when you cry he thinks it's funny and when he is whining or crying you also smile SO big! Dominick asked me to put your baby tub in the big tub with him so you could have baths together. You both think that's so fun. He is a great little helper and you are one lucky little dude to have him. He is SO proud and will tell everyone about you and want to show you off to his friends. One day his friends were over and they were getting to be too loud and he told them to be quiet because they were going to wake up his brother. Every morning he comes in to see you and will be so sweet with you. He calls you Cutie and is CONSTANTLY kissing on you. You don't normally mind, but sometimes he can be a bit rough with his kisses and that just annoys the heck out of you. I'm anxious to see how much he likes you when you become more mobile.





You really enjoy being able to see and be part of the party. I got down your sit me up chair and you love being able to sit up and look around. One morning I went to the grocery store and we put you on the table to watch Dominick and Daddy build a Home Depot Workshop kit that hey missed. You sat there for a long time and looked out the window and watched them. You also really enjoy tummy time and will often fall asleep while on your belly. You don't enjoy laying on your back for too long, but are enjoying your play mat more and more. When you sleep we have to swaddle you, even for naps or your arms will startle you awake and it's very interrupted sleep.





You have found your voice more and will coo and "talk" to us a lot more often. You are will smile so big and are so happy. You love your cheeks and chin touched and "played" with as that gets you to smile the most. Dom is a big fan of squeezing your cheeks and you will smile really big then too.

You also found your hands this month and you would probably be a thumb sucker if we let you, but we are trying really hard to avoid that. You will take a pacifier, but aren't a huge fan. At least not like your brother.





I was a little nervous about your eye sight as you weren't making eye contact as much as I thought Dom was at this age, but you have begun to do so more and everyone else thinks I'm crazy.



I said earlier you like taking baths with Dominick, but you like taking baths any time. You just lay there and are so happy which is so different from before. After bath when I'm drying you off and putting your lotion on you're super smiley and talkative.





You are such a grunty and noisy baby. Sometimes you sound like a little billy goat. It's so funny. When you stretch you make the loudest noises. You rarely cry though, but when you do you get MAD!





Buddy, we are so thankful for you and how healthy and well you are doing. We can't even begin to describe how much you've stolen our hearts and filled our lives with so much joy and love. You definitely were the missing piece to our family and you complete us in a way we didn't know was possible. Just like any other mom I always worried I wouldn't be able to love you the same way I love Dom, but it's so true, my love just grew! I love you more than you'll ever know. I pray for you and your future every single day. You are such a ray of sunshine. I hope time slows down for this next month because month two FLEW by.





I love you to infinity and beyond,
Momma

Malachi - Four Months


Weight
Birth: 8 lbs 5 oz
1 month: 13.2 lbs (as of 3/15/17 on the home scale)
2 months: 14.8 lbs (99%)
3 months: 16.8 lbs (unofficial)
4 months: 17.8 lbs (92%)
 
Length
Birth: 23 in
1 month: unknown?
2 months:  23.98 in (88%)
3 months: 25 in (unofficial)
4 months: 26.3 in (93%)
 
Diapers
We moved you up to size 3!
 
Clothes
9 months and 6-12 months from gap
 
Eating
You are still exclusively breastfed and eat every 3-3.5 hours.
 
Sleep
The beginning of the month we were getting you on a good schedule, but by the end of the month it was pretty terrible. More to come below.

 


Kai,

 

This month has been such a busy one and I feel like it flew by. We MOVED this month so that's been the big thing. It seems like you've spent a ton of time on the move, in your car seat, with friends and just going, going, going. You were SO good throughout this time and while moving is not enjoyable with a 3 month old you made it a lot easier. There was a lot of pausing to pick you up or to help your brother, but we got it done and can now say we are moved into our new house, but far from settled. We will get there. Gigi and Papa spent a long weekend down here helping us get settled and moved and then Gigi stayed a few extra days. You really love them and it's so fun that you are able to actually recognize them.

 

Some of your nicknames are Kai, Kai Baby, Sugar Bear, Sug, Cheeks and Kai Kai.

 

I got to celebrate my first mother's day as a momma to TWO precious boys. I never pictured my life with two boys, but I wouldn't want it any other way. You're the cherry on top and we just love you so much. On Mother's Day we also dedicated you at church. It was really special to us and we are so glad to have done it.

 

We also had to say goodbye to our Rocky dog on the 26th. He loved us all and while he didn't get a chance to know you and love on you as much he was always anxious to see you and would have been the best little doggy friend to you.

 


You are just the sweetest little guy. You always have so much to say and will coo and talk and talk to anyone who will listen. You are also just so smiley and will flash the biggest smile. I just love that about you. You love to snuggle and be kissed on also.

 

Mason, Tanner, Jacob and Andres pretty much adore you and I think it's the cutest little thing ever. Dominick thinks you're the bees knees and he's just a really good big brother. Who would have ever thought that one baby boy would bring so much joy to 5 little boys. They think you're pretty cool now, but just wait until you can chase after them and steal their toys. You love attention and especially from those boys. Ms. Jen said that if you ever question how loved you are to send you her way and she'll set you straight. It's so true though, you are SO loved by everyone.

 

This month your schedule kind of got thrown out. There were many late nights due to packing and moving so now we're struggling to get you back into a good bedtime schedule/routine. In the beginning of the month you were only waking once around 4 or 5 and sometimes even 6, but then when the move happened you were up a LOT, wanting to be right next to me and wouldn't go down at 8. Actually you will scream and cry until we come and get you and then once you're picked up you'll start smiling and talking to us. And in the mornings when I wake you up to go to Ms. Jen's you are still the happiest little guy.

 


You don't mind going for walks in the stroller as it continues to move. Same thing with the car...you hate sitting still. You were in the carrier a few times this month and really enjoyed it. You don't like being put into it, but once you're in you're a happy guy.

 

You're a professional roller from back to belly now. There's been a handful of times where you go all the way over, but they're few and far between. We lay you down and you're immediately trying to roll over. It's so funny how one day it just clicked and then you never looked back. You still enjoy laying on your belly and you're really enjoying your play mat a lot more now also. Ms. Jen bought you a saucer and you've enjoyed sitting in that. You love to look at yourself in the mirror. You also are starting to get really good at sitting up. You still tip over quite a bit, but you are getting stronger by the day. You love to stand up also.

 

I've been terrible at taking pictures this month because we've just been SO busy. That's a big priority for me next month. That and getting you back on a good solid schedule at night especially. This upcoming month is your last month with Ms. Jen and the boys and we are also going to be hitting the BEACH at the end of your fourth month so that's VERY exciting!

 


We love you so much Kai baby! We thank the lucky stars every single day for you. It's hard to imagine what life was like with just one baby and without you in our lives. You make our days so much happier and while there are tough times the good far outweighs the bad. Keep smiling and loving big handsome boy! You are going to do big things. I love you to infinity and beyond.

 

Love,

Momma

Malachi - Three Months


Weight
Birth: 8 lbs 5 oz
1 month: 13.2 lbs (as of 3/15/17 on the home scale)
2 months: 14.8 lbs (99%)
3 months: 16.8 lbs (unofficial)
 
Length
Birth: 23 in
1 month: unknown?
2 months:  23.98 in (88%)
3 months: 25 in (unofficial)
 
Diapers
Still size 2
 
Clothes
6 or 9 months
 
Eating
You are still exclusively breastfed and eat every 3-3.5 hours.
 
Sleep
Same as last month. You do better swaddled and it's still hit or miss, but you're doing better

 


Kai baby,

 

You had some really exciting milestones happen this month. You rolled over for the first time on the 23rd of April. We all got to see you and we were SO excited for you, but you haven't done it again since. You went from belly to back. You also laughed for the first time for your daddy on the 2nd of May. You are SO smiley, but it takes a LOT of work to get you to giggle. It really is the cutest though so you should do it more often.

 

This month you had a bit of a witching hour. It started around 6 or 7ish and wasn't all the time which made it even worse. You would just SCREAM AND SCREAM and we had no way of helping you. You wouldn't eat, you would take a pacifier, you just needed to cry it out. We would rock you and hold you and nothing would work. It was pretty brutal for all of us.

 


You don't really take a pacifier that well, but you would totally be a thumb sucker if we let you. We keep trying to get you to take to a pacifier over your thumb and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You're also kind of partial to which ones we give you. We tried the nuk brand and those are definitely not your  favorite. I plan on buying you some MAM to see if you like those any better.

 

You are still a great eater and eat every 3 hours. You took some 5 oz bottles, but mostly you drink 4 oz and sometimes not even. You are still THE gassiest baby and you spit up quite a bit. I think that's starting to get some better though which is a good thing. They say the older you get the less it should be and I'm finding that to be true for the most part. You're a happy spitter though so it's not terrible.

 

We celebrated your first Easter and the bunny visited you with your first basket. We went to church Saturday night and then on Easter we spent the day with framily and had a really great day. The weather was beautiful that weekend so it was nice to be able to fully enjoy it.

 


When we kiss you you will open up your mouth really wide and "kiss" us back. It's so sweet. You have also started noticing us a lot more and smiling when smiled at. I also think you're going to be a talker because you have SO much to say. When someone is holding you and you see me you'll slowly start to do this lean towards me. You never whine or fuss for me, but you do lean towards me.

 

You're a pretty happy and easy going little guy and I'm so thankful for that. We don't like to stay put and are a pretty active family so it's nice that you go with the flow so well. You aren't a huge fan of being in the car and will cry if we aren't moving and just sitting still. That's not just in the car, that's in your stroller also.

 

You love sitting up and being able to see what's going on, your brother, bath time is your favorite time of the day, being tickled, when we sing the itsy bitsy spider to you and tummy time. You're not a fan of being laid down, being overly tired, not getting fed right away, sitting still and when you have gas bubbles. You like being able to see someone and having people talk to you.

 


Sugar Bear, we love you SO incredibly much and think you hung the moon. I cannot believe you our ours forever. We are so thankful that God chose us for you because we feel so lucky. This next month is going to be a very busy one and also super exciting. We cannot wait to see what the next month brings for us. We love you to infinity and beyond.

 

Love,

Momma