Sleeping Through The Night

Dear Luke,

You are one amazing baby when it comes to your sleep.  If the definition of sleeping through the night is a 5-6 hour stretch, you've been doing that since Dr. Kyle told us at your 4 week appointment (March 28) that we could let you sleep until you woke up at night.  When you were first born, we woke you up every 3 hours to eat, day or night.  She told us at your appointment on March 14 that we could let you go a 5 hour stretch at night.  Once you proved yourself with your weight at your last appointment (10 pounds, 2 ounces), she said we could let you sleep until you woke up.  For awhile after March 28, you would pretty consistently wake up around 3 or 3:30 in the morning.  You were sleeping a good stretch, sometimes eating at 8:30 pm and then waking up at 3:30 am, but I wanted that stretch to happen later at night.  I started tracking your sleep, trying to figure out the best time to feed you for the last scheduled feeding before I went to bed.  I've read that it's not necessarily true that babies sleep later if they eat later, so it takes trial and error to figure out.  Then one morning you fussed a little at 3:30, but I didn't get you and you fell back asleep.  A few days later, this happened at 4:50, then 5:30, etc., and I wouldn't get you unless I was sure you were awake and needing to eat.  This past Monday I started feeding you every morning between 7:30 and 8, regardless of when you had eaten previously, since I'd read that having a consistent first feeding of the day can really help babies' sleep schedules.  Well, I'm delighted to say that for 2 nights in a row, you've slept from 10:20 or 10:50 to 7:20 or 7:30 in the morning!  Way to go, Luke!  I'm so proud of you for sleeping so well and am hoping this continues to be the pattern.  You are not even 8 weeks old yet, so I think we can count ourselves blessed to have such a good little sleeper!

Love,
Mommy

Your Nursery

Dear Luke,

You're eating right now, blue eyes open, wearing your cute little guitar onesie from Aunt Holly.  You're having a good day and have been very happy and content.  We've spent time in the kitchen, the study, Daddy's and my room, and your room.  I've noticed that you seem to really like your room, which makes me happy.  It never occurred to me when I was decorating it what you would think of it as a baby, but it makes sense now.  There are so many things you love to look at: the fan, the graphic prints on all the fabrics, the black and white gentleman print, and all the family and baby pictures!  It's cute to see where your eyes are locked at different times.  I'm glad you like being in there. :)

Love,
Mommy

I love the way you...

...rest your hands on the seatbelt crossing your carseat in the car.

...make "old man" noises.

...squeak while you eat.

...rest your arms on my shoulder and lift your head when I'm burping you.

...relax in your little turtle sponge when getting a bath.

...look swaddled in your blankets.

...look at me with your bright blue eyes and smile when I'm changing your diaper.

...do leg lifts in your crib. :)

The Everyday

Dear Luke,

You are upstairs taking a nap after my 6 week follow up appointment with Dr. Schmidt.  It was special to have you in the carrier with me after all the appointments I had in those rooms when you were still inside me.  It was always exciting to get to hear your heartbeat and sometimes see you on an ultrasound!  Dr. Schmidt thinks you're adorable and I have to agree.  She said you have perfect facial features and specifically commented on your lips. :)

I've taken some pictures around the house the past couple days of things that just look normal to me now, but are new since you've arrived.

Here's the drying rack for your bottles and pump parts.  I've washed these parts many, many times!  Next to the drying rack is the saline solution I made for your stuffy nose.  You are not a fan of the solution, but it does help.

And the laundry room.  When Honey was visiting, she started using the blue bucket with OxiClean to treat stains.  So far I've managed to get them all out, so it works well!

Here's your clean laundry ready to be put back in your room.  I set it here when you're sleeping and then usually before waking you up, sneak in to put it away.  That way if you wake up, it's fine since it's time to get up anyway.  Here we have your swaddle, burp cloths, sheet saver, blanket, and socks, all popular laundry items these days.  I especially like the tiny socks. :)

Here's the pillow I use when I feed you, ready in the loft with two burp cloths for the middle of the night feeding.

This is you full and content after a feeding.  You often put your little hand or fist on your forehead or cheek while you're eating.

Here's your fun activity mat in the living room.  You often have tummy time on here or lie on your back and look at the bright links.  You've recently started to grab on to the links, too.

And here you are on your cute blanket.  I often will lay next to you and talk to you or read to you, which makes you smile.  We read a devotional from my old Precious Moments Bible Stories book every morning on the floor in your room. :)

And here you are taking a snooze at Walmart.  On my last trip you were awake at first and I laughed when I peeked to check on you and your bright blue eyes were fully open and staring straight at me.  It wasn't long before the rolling cart put you to sleep.

You're such a fun little buddy and I'm so thankful for the time we have together!

Love,
Mommy

Wiggle Worm

Dear Luke,

Yesterday morning I looked in the monitor to see you and it almost looked like you weren't in your crib.  I walked in to find you lying completely perpendicular after I had laid you down with your head on the sheet saver, parallel to the crib.  How did you manage to wiggle yourself into that position??  You're so cute.

Love,
Mommy

First Easter

Dear Luke,

You had a great first Easter yesterday.  You looked so cute in your plaid pants, polo, and sweater vest.  So many people commented on how cute you looked at church and, once again, you didn't make a peep in the service.  You weren't very interested in your Easter basket this year, but I bet you will be more intrigued next year!

Love,
Mommy