The (missed) Luxury of Sleep

 

(Mothers who take call, especially).
I.
AM.
SO.
TIRED.

I have had a really busy week, which has included Iver's first fever (with subsequent 6-month shots on the same day, which certainly didn't make him feel any better and, unlike his 4-month shots, did not help him sleep at night AT all), along with a very busy few weeks on labor and delivery. With the month-long absence of one of our midwives, I have been on call about 11 of the past 26 days (with two more in June to go). It's been a peak month of births (I've done twelve deliveries so far in June), and the last several nights I've been on, I've either been up all night with laboring patients or been called at midnight or 2 am and stayed up since (to attend clinic, etc). 

Although (in absence of a fever), Iver has been sleeping WAY better than he used to be, he still wakes with (seemingly) needing to feed at least twice each night, which makes for a rough time of trying to get a full night's sleep (or catch up on sleep).... ever.  I have basically given up on the idea that he'll (or I'll) ever sleep through the night, despite my having read just about every baby sleep book out there, subscribed to a baby sleep site newsletter, read friends' (and patients') anecdotes and direct advice, and been totally willing to let him cry-it-out (while other household members don't agree...). I do sort of think that I need his night waking(s) to keep up my milk supply while working and he (being a smaller baby) needs the calories and I have an awesome husband who takes the time to try to shush him back to sleep with the first wake; however, it doesn't always feel great or make a lot of sense when I feel exhausted and crabby many nights (and ensuing days). It would be manageable, I think, if I wasn't so tired from the other nights of "work."

I also worry that I'm totally screwed when I saw the following picture, showing what happens to your brain when you don't sleep.

But, despite the anger, brain damage, hallucinations, and cronut binges, most mothers (even those taking OB call) do survive, don't they??

Cider and Cereal

We took Brad and Serena to Humboldt Cider Company on Sunday for our second round of cider tasting. I think it was a hit! Here are some belated pictures.

I loved this sweet pic of Brad holding Iver, who reaches for Shabu.

Additionally, this week marked the debut of solids into Iver's diet. When he was sick early in the week, this did not go over well (and my homemade oatmeal cereal was way too lumpy!) but he's taken to it quite well since then, especially when it comes from Grandma.

It's also been really warm here and, when warm, what's better than cool watermelon? He went at it through this mesh teether and had a good time!

Hoorah for no-longer-100%-reliance-on-mom for nutrition (and for some good-tasting local cider!).

First Father's Day and Half-birthday!

 

This Father's Day happens to be pretty special as it's also Iver's 6-month half-birthday :) 

Kelvin is surely one of the most loving and patient Dads around-- he is fabulous with his son, and is far more patient and skilled at getting him to sleep than I am! Our little guy is soooo lucky.

Here are all of the updates on our little guy, and beware of the cute photo overload-- it's been a while since I posted and here they are in bolus form...

At 6 months, Iver

- weighs between 15 and 15.25 lbs (actual verdict tomorrow at his well child check) and, while small in about the 10-15%, has more than doubled his birth weight

- still wears 3-6 month clothing (sometimes larger onesies)

- has gorgeous big eyes that are starting to become more brown than gray, and an infectious smile

- is pretty much still exclusively on breast milk (breastfed when I'm home, pumped milk when I'm at work where he takes about 12-18 oz in a 9-10 hour period depending on if he nurses well before I leave or at lunchtime). We have started a few bites of homemade (which turned out a bit too chunky) oatmeal cereal but are going slow. He can hold a sippy cup and even his own bottle and is very clear when he's done eating.

- is seeming to have grown out of his reflux (hooray!). We are still conditioned to walk around with a burp cloth all the time, but the volume of spit-up is SIGNIFICANTLY less, and, as I write below, he now doesn't fight sleeping on his back (this was formerly met with MUCH screaming, possibly due to pain?).

- is in cloth diapers during the day and size two Huggies at night (usually with one change, and one early morning close-to-blowout-poop). I bought some size 3 Pampers diapers in anticipation of him reaching 16 lbs, but he's not quite there yet

- loves rolling around (and across) the floor and the crib (and, once, off the couch- oops). He is not crawling yet but scoots, inching forward, pretty well.

- is still very squirmy. He is not a big lap-sitter but likes to be held and walked around, particularly in the forward-facing Bjorn or k'tan carriers (he is not a fan of the Ergo, while our backs are). Diaper changes have gotten quite challenging (and humorous) as he often rolls to his front and grabs anything in reach

- is a strong grabber-- I have to be very careful with my earrings, and with getting my hair ripped out, as well as with Pepper's ears which is a favorite of his (she is very gentle and doesn't seem to mind)

- may be teething-- he is always chewing or sucking on something, whether it be a toy, Sophie the giraffe, his own feet, which he can reach easily, or my face. I have not felt any teeth buds yet, but we are using a Hylands teething tablet at bedtime which seems to calm him somewhat as he's occasionally seemed in pain (although very happy during the day)

- can sit supported, in the high chair, and in a tripod position, but only for a few seconds independently before he topples over

- sleeps in his crib in his own room at night and has gotten WAY better in this department. I think, due to reflux being better, he is able to sleep comfortably on his back now. He still goes to bed pretty easily between 7:30 and 8 p.m. with a few minutes of fussing/crying after our nursing/diaper change/massage with lavender& almond oil/reading Goodnight Moon, JJ Heller's lullabies/sound machine, and hearing loving words (Kelvin is GREAT at getting him to sleep).

He consistently wakes at least two, and sometimes three times per night-- around 11pm- midnight  (and is able to be soothed by Kelvin without eating while I get some sleep-- this is a hard time of night for me), and then between 2-3 a.m and around 5-6 a.m to nurse although sometimes with a hard time settling down after eating. He will sometimes go back to sleep after that last waking and sleep until 7:30 or so, but is sometimes "up for the day" and in a good mood. While I'd love to lose that 2 a.m. wake, this pattern may be what he needs and what I need to keep up my milk supply and his weight while working, and our taking "shifts" is definitely doable.  The sleep is soooo much better in the last 2-3 weeks than it has been ever, and now I'm not desperate enough to hire a sleep consultant! 

- is napping MUCH better, supine in his crib (no more hammock allowed). He is mostly sleeping about an hour mid-morning and 1-2 hours in the early- to mid-afternoon.  The third (late afternoon) nap is starting to go away, but if he's up for more than 4 hours, he's pretty cranky in the evening so we'll sometimes let him cat-nap. He still falls alseep easily in the carseat but doesn't stay asleep for very long.

- is still scratching his head while nursing or at sleep times, which prompts us to put mittens on his hands at these times

- gets bathed about once per week on Sundays, and we've been treating his eczema with triamcinolone or hydrocortisone, and Aveeno ezcema cream or Vanicream moisturizer

- loves walks or runs in the stroller/BOB

- is incredibly smiley and vocal, even shrieking for attention.  He has a great personality and this is an extremely fun age.

Iver totally loves his Papa and we have gotten some great photos lately

Visiting mama at the prenatal clinic (doesn't this outfit, with the mittens and shorts, rock??)

standing!

He loves to open his mouth for photos-- what a ham!

Eating the feet...

 Ridin' in the BOB...

 

Sporting this very comfy Cambodian outfit from Mandy on a hot Humboldt day

 

More Papa smiles (and squirming)

 

 

Playing badminton with Papa while riding in the Bjorn (safety questionable here)... 

First bites of solids!

Happy half-birthday, little guy!

Baby's first Oysterfest

On Saturday, Arcata hosted its 25th OysterFest on the Plaza. Serena and Brad came up for the weekend, and Iver enjoyed being carried around in the Bjorn while we sampled the tasty bivalves.
The Tomo shooters were great, as always, and we enjoyed some bbq bacon oysters.  Mmm.
 

This is one of our (and Serena & Brad's) favorite festivals of the year!

Until 2016...

Baby buddies reunion!

This afternoon, Molly had Ana, Nina, me, and our babies over for a playdate/reunion.  I don't think we've all been together since about our babies' three-month milestone in March.

It was great to see these little ones almost sitting... and to see their different personalities! Ben was quite content to lie on the playmat and look around at the world (he also seems to be the best sleeper of our bunch). Alex was really into grabbing everything within reach. Levi was a happy, chatty lap sitter... until it was naptime, and then he got a bit more cranky. Iver was rolling his way across the room during the playdate -- everyone was pretty sure he's going to be the first crawler of this group.
I stole some photos from Nina-- enjoy the cuteness!

 

Molly had a cool jumperoo for our easily bored guy!

Iver missed out on the swing:

Getting these four (in order: Iver, Levi, Alex, Ben) to sit still for the picture was quite the challenge...

This one totally captures their personalities-- love it!

Until next time!