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Simon slept for five hours and fifteen minutes in a row last night (11:30 pm to 4:45 am). More proof that he is, indeed, perfect.
On the unscientific adult scale, he weighs 11 lbs. and he is already too tall for all of his 0-3 month night clothes (but still too small for 3-6).
The Sign of Simon: i. (forehead mark)
Simon is allergic to the world outside the womb. Shortly after he was born he started sneezing and his first night was plagued by a runny nose. Now Hava must suction out his goobers a few times a day so he can breathe and eat at the same time. This makes him VERY angry. Matthew bought Simon a humidifier today to help alleviate night time stuffiness. Apparently these allergies are because of his newness. They should get better as he gets use to whatever it is that irritates his nose. Until then, he does a great impression of a little piggy.
In less interesting and more disgusting news, Hava and Simon are working to get his green explosions back to yellow. We have a hind-milk fore-milk problem which just means he is getting too much 2% and not enough half-and-half. Oddly enough, there is just too much 2% available in front of the half-and-half at the dairy. Hind-milk makes poops yellow, less explosive, and it makes them happen less often. We're also trying Pampers instead of Huggies to try to keep all of his clothes from turning green (as well as our clothes, his bedding, and the couch); so far so good.
The sixth-week growth spurt has started. Baby Simon has a case of the crankies. Hava has a case of the munchies. Winslow has a case of the screamies. Matthew has a case of Diet Pepsi (caffeinated).
That face, that face
That marvelous face
I never should begin
Those cheeks, that neck, that chin
Will surely do me in. (Lyrics From The Producers)
Simon slept for 4 hours and 45 minutes in a row last night shattering all previous records. He then slept all morning and afternoon, waking up only for food. Perhaps it was developmental overload or exhaustion from meeting new people: Aunt Tonya, Cousins Amanda and Sarah, and, later, friends Paul and Michelline.
Simon found some hands at the mall and they turned out to be his.
Yesterday Hava and Matthew spent the entire day at the mall. They never used to go to malls but Hava needed new clothes because she is *cough* larger. Anyway, it turned out to be a great day. Simon and his future friend baby Martha were able to inspect each other and their parents were able to communicate in adult speak. At some point Simon realized that his hands are able to be controlled by his brain. Unfortunately, he is now more frustrated than ever since that darn thumb won't stick out from the fist. In the meantime, Simon continuously licks his fist in hopes that the thumb will come out and make itself useful. Maybe by next week he'll be a thumb sucker.
Simon's sleep schedule in the past two days hasn't been ideal. So un-ideal in fact that the nights are a bit too fuzzy to remember. There is always a three hour session and a two hour session; anything more is gravy.
Simon's social calendar has been heating up. Yesterday he spent the afternoon meeting Hava's coworkers at the RLG picnic and the evening before he spent time with Calvin, the older boy three doors down (older by two months). Can you guess what effect this has on Simon? Sleepiness. Of course everything seems to have that effect on Simon.
Last night's crib sleep schedule (and the night before too!): 10:30 - 2:45, 3:30 - 6.
Yesterday Simon was taken to his first movie, Spiderman, at a special showing for parents with babies. Simon slept through most of the movie and bounced on Hava's lap for the rest. Hava and Matthew have decided to keep Simon away from movies and TV for the first couple of years once he notices the screen. We'd like to see him interact with toys, the outdoors, and people rather than develop a glassy-eyed screen stare.
Simon has slept almost all day and all night for the past two days and we wonder if this is a sign of the impending six-week growth spurt.
Last night's sleep schedule: 10:00 - 1:00, 2:00 - 5:00, 5:30 - 6, 6:30 - 7. All crib sleep.
Simon is finally becoming a real boy and less like a love sponge. His diaper tabs are getting farther and farther apart (our indication that he is growing), and everyday he is a little more vocal, smiles back, and holds up his own head (most of the time). He clearly recognizes Hava and Matthew and watches them intently as they move in and out of his visual range.
Last night's sleep schedule: 10:30 - 1:00, 1:30 - 5:10, 5:45 - 7. All crib sleep. Matthew's pinky not required.
Things that Simon likes: the music and lights of the bouncy chair, having his face touched, staring at trellises, skylights, being rolled over and over and over, standing "on his own", being walked, swung, danced, giggled, and bounced, checks, stripes and plaids, music, being outside, noise, baths.
Things that Simon doesn't like: pacifiers, direct sunlight, being to hot, too cold, hungry, tired, or bored.
Last night's sleep schedule: 10:30 - 1:45, 2:30 - 5:45, 6:10 - 7. All crib sleep. Matthew's pinky used four times (all between 10:30 and 11).
Last night Simon slept in the crib (11 pm - 2 am, 2:45 am - 6 am, 6:45 am - 8 am) and it was gooooood.
Credit for this sleeping magic is due to Matthew's pinky (used several times during the night), Hava's ability not to respond to fussing, and lullaby CDs Simon was given before his birth.
Why is this important? As his pediatrician mentioned, there is a scent that gets passed from mother to baby and/or from baby to mother which causes them to wake up and feed. Waking before he is really hungry means less sleep for both Hava and Simon.
It is also nice for Hava and Matthew to spend time without Simon -- even if they are asleep.
Shhhhh, the baby is sleeping.
Hava discovered something very important this morning. Simon doesn't like to sleep alone (this we all knew) so he will wake up and cry when he discovers he is alone (we knew this too) however, given less than five minutes of fussing and crying, he will fall back asleep on his own! In fact, he seems to still be asleep while fussing and crying *hmmmm*. We're still learning over here ...
From the second month photos, you can see how well the pacifier went over; we did get him to suck on one of them for almost an entire minute.
Simon is one month old!
Today Simon met his pediatrician. He now weighs 9 lbs. 12 oz. and is 22 1/2 inches long. Dr. K says that Simon is using Mommy as a pacifier and recommended buying one so Mommy doesn't have to sit still for so long each day. She also recommended putting Simon in the crib (in his own room) - not even in the bassinet! She thinks this will help him wake up and eat less often. Hava and Matthew went out and purchased three different types of pacifiers which are currently being sterilized.
Dr. K also recommended that Simon get a bottle every day or every other day from now on so that he won't get stubborn and decide not to take it once Mom goes back to work (August 23).
There are two people in the world besides Simon: the human who has milk and the human who bounces him up in the air. They are different people; they even smell different and deserve different smiles. Milk human is warm and snuggly; bounce human is fun to play with.
Simon vocalizes a bit more these days with "ahhhh" and "aaaa" and "uh". He gets to sleep by 10:30 pm but is sleeping for four hours, feeding for one, sleeping for two hours, feeding for one, wanting to play for one, sleeping for three hours.
During the day there are about two two-hour stretches without feeding. The rest of the time Simon is pretty much eating every hour or every half hour. Hava can't predict when a two hour stretch will occur which makes doing anything outside the house mighty difficult (Simon has nursed in some of the Bay Area's finest parking lots). Sitting still 80% of the day isn't fun. Hava is completely devoted to nursing Simon but, so far, if she were totally honest with you, she would say that nursing really sucks (no pun intended). Playing the role of "Dad" seems like SUCH a better option.
Hava hears that he'll eat less frequently when he gets older.
Simon spent his first entire day out yesterday at a friend's wedding. He slept the entire day (and still slept the entire night too!). This week's photos are of sleeping Simon; when he's not sleeping, he is usually eating or we are spending the few moments he is alert and not hungry to play with him (instead of taking photos).
This week Simon noticed his Mom's fingers and very briefly seemed to care about his own. He also spent some time actually playing in the baby gym (as opposed to sleeping).
We haven't put Simon in the crib yet because he is too cute to banish to another room. The bassinet is getting another chance.
Because Simon is now almost an entire month old, we are attempting to prepare him to be on a schedule; a walk, bath time, story time, feeding time, and then sleep. The grand plan is complicated by the fact that Simon typically falls asleep for the night around 11:30 or midnight and the schedule has him attempting to sleep around 8 pm.
If getting him to go to sleep at 8 pm weren't challenging enough, Simon hasn't slept alone for nearly a week. Simon thinks the bassinet is great for about 30 minutes a day during which time he loves to watch the bear mobile go 'round and 'round and study the check pattern of the material, alas, he will no longer sleep in it. We can wait until he is completely out and he will awaken within moments of being placed down. On the other hand, when placed next to Hava in bed, he sleeps deeply, soundly, and makes Hava proud that she suffered through eating fish high in Omega 3's once a week in the third trimester. Unfortunately, though it is painful for all of us, Simon needs to learn to sleep on his own or we will all suffer later when he has to be broken of the habit.
This is being written in Simon's room next to his crib in which he is sleeping for the very first time. It isn't night time so this is just an experimental nap and he had to be placed in the crib while still on the boppy pillow which was removed from him after 20 minutes but he is definitely, totally asleep on his back, without pillows and without his mom (one hour and counting). Now we need to make this happen tonight and tomorrow and forever after.
Less sleep now means more sleep later, right?
(Silently repeat after me: this is only a phase, this is only a phase, this is only a phase ...)
Simon gained half a pound this past week so he graduated with high marks from the newborn club (this means he doesn't have to go back for weekly weighing). Just in case you're trying to do the math, if Simon continues to gain half a pound a week he will weigh approximately 475 pounds by his eighteenth birthday (currently he is 9 lbs. 3 oz.).
Simon gained half a pound this past week so he graduated with high marks from the newborn club (this means he doesn't have to go back for weekly weighing). Just in case you're trying to do the math, if Simon continues to gain half a pound a week he will weigh approximately 475 pounds by his eighteenth birthday (currently he is 9 lbs. 3 oz.).
Main Entry: si·mo·nize
Pronunciation: sI-mon-Ize
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -nized; -niz·ing
Etymology: from Simoniz, a trademark. Also Simon, the baby:
1. to polish with or as if with wax; 2. to bond with baby Simon; 3. to be covered in spit-up
I've just been Simonized; will you Simonize while I shower?
Little things that are worth a moment of thanks: the ability to ... tie one's own shoes, run up a flight of stairs, lay down on back (or stomach!), breathe uncongested, get close enough to counter to reach glasses in cupboard, hug spouse, not get overheated by merely stepping outside, dance/move with reckless abandon, fit into clothes, get to sleep in 5 minutes or less, desire more foods than peanut butter and jelly.
Hava would just like to say that though little Simon is a lot more work than imaginable, she is SO incredibly thankful not to be pregnant and, just so you know, has NO desire to ever get that way again. Simon is perfect; why push our luck?
Things that Hava misses: work (I know, how sad), friends, alone time with Matthew, 10 pm bedtime, working out, having time to look presentable, reading (it takes two hands), running errands/getting up to go somewhere at will, her pre-pregnancy shape.
Simon decided that turning over has been done so he doesn't need to do it anymore. He is getting really good at holding up his head and he actually smiled back at his Dad this morning.
A few days ago we wondered: "what will happen if we place the Simonizer face down?" We tried it. He rolled over to his back. We tried it again. He rolled over again. And again, and again, and then he got tired and did push-ups instead.
Other silly Simon tricks: he has the Elvis one-sided smile down (only while sleeping), night-time squeaks occasionally turn into chuckles (also while sleeping), and he is getting mighty good at grabbing and sticking his hands in his mouth (but only when it is really inconvenient, like while trying to feed him).
Last night was the first night Simon went to sleep before 1 or 2 am. We are hoping that last night's 10:30 pm bedtime will become routine. Maybe he is starting to appreciate the difference between night and day? In any case, it was very appreciated. Thank you Simon.
Simon is going through what is officially known as a "growth spurt". For the past two days he has eaten non-stop from around 5 pm to 2 am. Hava didn't get any sleep that first night and was very cranky yesterday. Last night she knew what was coming and was mentally prepared for the Simonator's voracious hunger. Sadly, he went in for his weighing yesterday and had gained very very little over the past week. Look here next week for stories of the overfed baby (before his next appointment).