A Month Old
Well, technically Harrison will be one month old on Dec 12th,
but I have some time now to write a blog.
I feel as though we are starting to get into some sort of a routine with both boys. The past 4 weeks has been a major adjustment period.
The first 2 1/2 weeks, Harrison slept all day, and starting around 9:00, he would cry until midnight. Emily took the brunt of lack of sleep, but it wore both of us out. I run out of ideas with all these new parenting laws. "Don't feed your baby booze." "Don't shake your baby." "Don't let your baby swim." We are turned out just fine....for the most part. ha.
Every night we would try something new to get Harrison to sleep, binkies, different sleeping beds, switched formulas. The last thing we tried was to move up to a #2 nipple (thanks for that advice Bear). That combination with the new formula finally got him into a normally sleeping routine. He is only waking up twice through the night, which has caused much joy in our household. He is putting on a ton of weight, which is good since he lost so much in the beginning. At this point, he is just as laid back as Jackson was, which is a good sign for us. If we can get away with only 2 1/2 weeks of sleeping hell, we are one blessed set of parents!
Jackson on the other hand, has not been taking it so well. He has been getting very jealous, hitting Emily, stomping around, hitting pretty much anything in his sight, especially when Emily is feeding Harrison. Emily got Jackson a baby doll of his own so he can feed her while Emily is feeding Harrison. That has seemed to help. There are times that Jackson wants to help, he just has no concept of how to be gentle. So he crams the binkie in his mouth, but I think he means well. Hell, this could be Jackson's clever way of trying to kill his baby brother, but making it seem like he is trying to help. For now, I will stick with the first theory.
Winston hates life 90% of the time. He is only happy when Jackson eats and drops food. Jackson terrorizes the poor dog when he is not plotting to kill Harrison. He kicks him (which is a half way good sign, because I have taught Jackson how to kick a soccer ball. So we might tolerate some dog kicking to better his soccer career), hits him, pulls his beard, hits him with the mop, broom, and pretty much anything else he can pick up. Winston, with the hope of Jackson dropping snacks, takes the punishment day after day. He doesn't snap at him, but you know he is plotting to kill Jackson.
Emily is home with both boys every day and she is worn out by the time I get home, I think she is pretty ready to head back to work. I just try to get her as much sleep as I can on the weekends, since she is handeling the midnight feedings. Kids are getting bigger and Emily is getting smaller. She is down to her weight prior to Jackson. She is amazing. Just to watch her wears me out. She accomplishes more around the house and with the kids in 8 hours than I would in 3 days. I hear stories of people having a minor
arthroscopic surgery and being out for 6-8 weeks, all dopped up on pain medication and complaining on Facebook every day. Emily pops out a kid, comes home and cleans the house and never misses a beat and never use pain medication. I am truly in awe of her
So, as always, we keep on keeping on, just fighting the good fight. Come see us!
