Camp Clifton: 6 weeks

First month/6 week reflections:

Stats: 9lbs 5oz, 6wks old

Being a parent is amazing. I can’t believe how my heart has grown so fast. I feel like I love Peter so much it makes my heart almost hurt. Maybe that’s just the fear of something happening to him though. I don’t know. He’s amazing. Totally outstanding and rocks every bit of my world. I have loved watching Jake be a dad too – he is spectacular. Falling in love with Jake blew my mind, and I keep falling in love with him harder every year. This year is even more amazing. I always knew he would be a good dad – which is one of the reasons I fell in love with him. I am even more impressed though.

Being a “late preterm baby”, Peter has had some difficulty latching/feeding. He is a hard-worker though and we will not give up! He and I graduated from working with the lactation consultant a few weeks ago and he had gained almost 2#’s by the time we were done. We no longer have to supplement with a bottle. We were still using the nipple shield about 75% of the time 2 weeks ago, but this week he is down to using it <25% of the time. He made it through 4 entire feedings yesterday without the shield! I am hopeful. Breastfeeding without anything is going to be amazing – and so much simpler.

One of my assertions from this experience is that breast-feeding is a lot of work. I know there are plenty of women out there that don’t have any difficulty with it – but I am surprised at how hard it has been. My advice to my pregnant friends though is keep at it! At the same time – I also know that because it is so challenging, sometimes you have to use formula. For the love of your child – do what you have to in order to feed them, even if it’s bottle-feeding with formula. Use your resources though (lactation consultants, RN’s, pediatricians) and don’t feel judged or bad your choices. AND, I love using that “My brest friend” pillow. The boppy works now too, but that Brest Friend pillow was a must – can’t imagine learning to breast feed without it, seriously.

Peter is technically 3weeks old (corrected age), even though he is truly 6 weeks old. I’m amazed at how much he has changed. Initially he was really sleepy – and basically ate and slept. He was a lot more floppy/doll like. Now he is a lot more attentive, alert, and engaged and is trying really hard to hold his head up! SO cool. He is showing a lot more expression. I think he “wears his digestion on his sleeve”. I feel like his life kind of revolves around that digestion. Hungry? Ate too fast? Gassy? Need to burp but can’t? Constipated? That’s the majority of what he feels right now. He’s talking to us more too – lot’s of cries or grunts, but it really feels like he is trying to communicate.

We got a swing from a friend and that has been cool. I’m not sure if he really loves it yet, but it’s nice to have something with a little motion when he is fussy. It works sometimes, and not others.

We’ve had lot’s of visitors this past month. Local friends, college friends (Anna/Neil/baby girl Johnson and Joanna/Alex/Francie!). A lot of my college girlfriends are pregnant and so far they are all having girls. Peter is going to have quite a few girlfriends. I’ve always felt like guys who have sisters are the best because they know how to talk to women. I hope that Peter will be blessed with this quality b/c I hope he gets to hang out with all these girls lots.

We have had lots of other visitors too – thanks for coming to see us! And thanks to everyone for bringing us dinner and food.

Jake and I had our 4yr anniversary yesterday. He is the best parenting partner that I could dream of. I love watching him be a dad. And to our families – we are feeling soooooo lucky to have them in town. They have helped us out a lot so far and we feel really loved. Peter is one lucky boy to have both grandparents in town to hang out.

My sister Lindsay (Aunt Lynz - please note the spelling) came home this week and it was really fun to watch her change from awkwardly holding him, to handling him like a pro. She even got to experience changing Peter’s first “blow out” diaper. I wish she lived closer; it was so fun to have her home. Peter was mesmerized by her.

Aunt Karin comes home in a few weeks!