BabyWise

The scariest thing for me in having a newborn baby was definitely my fear of lack of sleep.  I love sleep.  I need sleep.  I love sleep.  I don't like early mornings... I don't like staying up late... and naps are frequent too.  So, when I remembered two college friends telling on Facebook there 6-9 week old babies were sleeping 8+ hours thru the night using a method called BabyWise, I had always kept that knowledge in the back of my mind when I had a baby.

I had been planning to look into getting the book once baby was born, but luckily, another positive of his induction not taking was the day after Britt and I went to a thrift store in Hutch and I saw the book on a shelf for 50 cents.  It was THE BEST 50 cents we have spent so far.  And it is important to start right away though for the first 2 weeks they schedule is not as important as full feedings as I'll mention more later.  I have also loved this blog Babywisemom.com

BabyWise is viewed as very controversial by some people and I can see why some people don't like it if they take it to the extreme and are so rigid to a schedule when they need not be.  I can see why it may not work for all mom's and all baby's too, but it has been awesome for us.  The premise of the sleep "training" is creating a eat, play/awake time, and then sleep (in that order) cycle schedule.  Eat, wake, sleep.  Eat wake, sleep.    This allows for the baby to be rested when they eat so they take a full feeding, then they are awake for awhile and when they start getting tired, lay them down for their nap where they learn to fall asleep on their own without being fed to sleep.  ( My sign in my kitchen is almost perfect... It says:   LIFE IS SIMPLE: Eat, Sleep, Play, Repeat... just a little out of order so not quite BabyWise approved  ;) )

I have known a friend who stopped nursing because her baby was always nursing... well at least nursing until they fell asleep and then baby would lay down and nap for less than 30 minutes, wake up hungry still and start all over... I would've been very tired myself.  The book stresses full feedings/both sides if it means waking them up 2-3 times with diaper changes, damp wash clothes and exercises.  

The trick and part I have driven home to myself about the BabyWise method is have a schedule but be flexible in it.  He eats anywhere from a 2-4 hour cycle... clusters closer together with first two morning feeds and last two night feedings and then is usually right on 3 hour hunger schedule.  But days of growth spurts or days of sleepiness, I just go with the flow.   When Declan was younger, awake time did not always happen or did not happen for long no matter how much I tried to keep him awake, but now he is just awake and happy after eating and is used to it.

Basically since a week old he only got up once a night between 1-2:30 for a feeding and then always slept til 5-6.  I thought that was awesome and didn't really care if that is what he continued to do and was thankful for BabyWise for just that.  At 6 weeks on the dot, for his own personal 29th birthday gift to me, he slept until 3:45... and the next night til 4, and the next night til 4:10 and the next night til 4:30... The first few nights I was waking up 2-3 times before he did wondering why he wasn't up yet...I am hoping this trend continues and we go from 9-9:30 until 5-5:30 when school is back in session.  I don't really think I can or plan to do the three nights in a row "cry-it-out" BabyWise suggests to break that last feeding because if he is hungry, I will feed him and getting up at 4:30 is not hard after 5-6 straight hours of sleep for me.

Anyhow, I recommend any new mom consider and try this method if you want a baby who likes sleep, that can self soothe well so you can keep enjoying your sleep.  And maybe any method or no method would have worked just fine with Declan because of the content baby he is, but for now, I'm giving props to BabyWise.


Here are a few pics of my boy sleeping anywhere:   :)

Declan's Tour de'MidWest

Many have said we were crazy... well, we kind of were... and I have been tired the past week paying for it... but the crazy traveling we did this past month was worth it for all of our family to meet Declan.

Declan's Family & Friends during Tour de'MidWest

It is fun to watch that YouTube video and just watch Declan change from beginning to end!

When he was just a week old we took off to Omaha for the Looten's (Andy's mom's side) reunion!  There was a lot of relaxing, laughing, drinking, people getting lost, slip and slides from a playground slide, fence breaking and repairing, shopping at mall and College World Series, and watching sports finals of hockey and basketball on tv.

FOUR GENERATIONS!!

 Next was Duluth for the Purkat's Cabin Fourth of July fun!  There was lots of disc slam, FOOD, more drinking, jogs, bike rides, tubing, pontoon rides, fireworks, mosquito bites, golf for the boys (rained out after 13 holes... only bad weather we really had), and a little fishing with a little boat trouble!

 FOUR GENERATIONS! 

 Declan hung out on this blanket all week! 

   

 The Young Kids ;) 

      Our third vacation was Wisconsin!   We only had a few days to head to  Lake Michigan for the Thrall-a-Palooza reunion!  But it was worth 14 hours roundtrip in the car.   Everyone again approved of Declan even with his one rough night since his birth where he cried for 30 minutes straight at 4:00 am!  The Arizona Thralls and Illinois Thralls were all present!  The weather was so perfect... and the lake so calm I would've loved to waterski.  The beach was like ocean sand and water way warmer than I would have suspected. Again, disc slam was a hit

We had to make a pit stop at Lambeau Field as we stopped in Green Bay!  

 The Thrall Men! 

  The Young Kids ;) ! 

        The last stop was the closest (and nearest and dearest to my heart I felt bad I couldn't get their sooner) was CHISAGO! My amazing Aunt Judy invited everyone to her home to be able to meet Declan, eat some excellent lasagna and sing some happy birthday with some dessert for my mom on her 60th birthday!  The morning of my mom's birthday I took her out to breakfast and I ran into my high school golf coach. That was fun to see her and reminisce!

 Declan's third cousin M.D. is just about 10 months old and it was so crazy to see how big he'll be then!  M.D. got a little jealous when his mom and grandma had Declan! 

 Grandma with Declan and her cake! 

              Baby Whisperer Michelle ;) 

We are home for the next month before one more trip to Racine Wisconsin when we see Jimmy Buffet in concert and visit before I go back to work!  It can go slowly.. I won't mind ;) 

Damn that show Revenge...

Andy sent me this link, Top 100 Boys names of 2013, this morning with the email subject line:  Crap... not as unique as we thought..

#3??  Seriously..??!!  NUMBER 3!!!

Let it just be known I have liked the name Declan for over 3 years... well before the show Revenge was on or popular at least...(I've never even watched an episode...)  And I kinda figured the name may be getting more popular based on Irish names being popular and the Social Security popular names search, but #3 this first half of the year!!   It is hard for a teacher to pick names as is, so I just knew this was THE NAME for our future boy baby for awhile...  Through this site Nameberry  and the "#3" rating does not mean people are for sure actually naming their boy that, just "clicking" on the name and viewing it....

Ahhhh.. oh well, I love his name and just looking at the positive side that the pronunciation of it will be easier when people have heard of the name.  A few less, De-Clan's....   And hopefully we are the start of the trend with his name and he doesn't have 2-3 other Declan's in his grade!  (And that the "trend" ends fast.... because if you know me... I'm not much of a trend follower)


But his other appreance online is Hutch Health finally updated their website:
Declan's Nursery Gangster Pic

I plan to keep an eye on this page this year though and see if anyone around Hutch uses Declan as a name!

And in conclusion... my cute boy:

Dear Declan... You're One Month Today!!

ONE MONTH OLD

Dear Declan!

You're ALREADY a month old!  I can believe it because time keeps going faster the older I get, but I don't want to believe it... that's for sure!  Grandma Connie wrote me letters when I was young so I wanted to try and start the tradition with you a little earlier!  Maybe I'll get Dad to write you a few here and there but most likely he'll just "proofread" mine, find all my errors and tease me with "How do you even teach writing when you can't write?"  But you see, your dad has the better memory of the two of us so he'll be able to remember every detail of stories to tell you but if I don't write some down in these letters and blogs, I'll forget them...

We just got home last night from your first trip to the Purkat Cabin for our 4th of July nearly-annual trip after just a week earlier getting home from your first road trip to Omaha for a Looten gathering.. This coming weekend we are headed to meet all the Thrall's!   In all these trips you have been a great traveler and everyone gives their stamp of approval that you are an amazing and adorable baby.  The nicknames have been continuing... I most often use just your name or Dec, but Auntie Britt loves saying Deckers, Daddy hates when I call you Deckels, Uncle Brian gave you the endearment Upper Dec, and my newest favorite from Uncle Craig is Nightcrawler because you are the squirmest and strongest month old baby all of us have held.  We are ready to place bets again  on facts that you'll be crawling by 4 months and walking by 8!!  I hope those don't come true!   (There was betting going on with those gambling Lootens on the date you would be born... cousin Connor won the 60$ on that bet..)

I really feel so blessed to be your mom as you have been just the perfect baby.  You eat so well, only get me up once a night since you've been home from the hospital (Except one night a few days ago up at the cabin it was three times, but all day you ate lots and I'm sure you were just going thru a growth spurt) and you are just a content boy... when you cry we can fix it with a diaper change, some food or a burp.     I joke you will pay us back in your toddler or teenage years.  Even though I sometimes think... "Man, a diaper change already!?!"  and, "Really, it is time for you to nurse AGAIN?"  I can just look at you and tears come to my eyes with how much I love you and how excited I am to be your mom so I know all the diapers will be forgotten down the road!  

Here are some other facts about you right now:  

Age: 1 month

Weight:   I'm guessing 10 lbs 4 ounces but you have checkup tomorrow!
     7/9/13: I was way off... 10lbs 13 oz!  You've gained over 2 lbs in a month!  74 percentile!

Length:   22 1/2 "  89%
Head:  15 1/4" 89%

Feats/Mobility: You are STRONG!  You've rolled over from tummy to back at 2 weeks old and just the last few days you will roll from back to side... kick a little... than side to back... kick a little... and then you are on  your side again... you made your way off your blanket at the cabin and off your turtle mat a couple of times!  

No more leaving you unguarded up high!  Your head is almost always strong enough but you still head butt yourself and us when we all get lazy and forget you aren't totally there yet!  

Likes:  Your mirror/singing snail! Staring at lights and you are starting to really focus  And pretty much everything else... You are always content...  I can't wait til you start really smiling in a couple weeks and telling us what you really love!  

Dislikes: Sometimes just being held... you want to stretch and wiggle and not have us always cuddling with you!  You won't keep a hat on to save you from sun, cold, or the 4 mosquito bites that happened on top your head at the cabin!   Your arms in a burrito swaddle... in fact you normally sleep with both arms up by your head! " I-surrender"-style!

I love you through and through,

Mom

Lists I've been thinking about....

These are things I loved about being pregnant:

5.  Having new wardrobes from my dear friends who borrowed me their maternity clothes
4.  Catching up with friends I hadn't talk with enough lately
3.  Enjoying every last day and date night with just Andy and I.
2.  Every flutter, wiggle, kick, punch, kneeing, rollercoaster movement my baby made.
1.  Talking about the future and names and the traits we hope to raise in our baby

These are things I didn't like about being pregnant:

5.  Peeing every hour.  It is so wonderful now to have my bladder back!
4.  When people said, "Your life will never be the same.."    Duh... we know this... we planned this baby and we are excited for the change or when people said, " You'll never leave your house again and do anything fun."  B.S.... this isn't true if you don't let it be true. Declan has done more in 2.5 weeks than some kids do thru high school!
3. When people said,"Ohhhh... you are SOO gonna have that baby ANYDAY."  Well, they were all wrong.  Wrong wrong wrong.
2.  When people said, "How can you NOT find out what baby is?"  That just annoyed me.  I loved not knowing and don't think we'll find out with our future child/ren now either.  The only tears I shed during labor/c-section were finding out we had a boy.
1.  Getting hives.  Torturous... wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.  BUT THEY ARE GONE... My back of  hands still itch a little each day but there are no visible hives on legs/arms/back!

These are things I love about motherhood:
5. Nursing... I get my boy not matter what every few hours.  (but I'm thankful for the invention of the electronic pump because he can have a bottle and I can leave for more than 2-3 hours if need be)
4.  Amazing family and friends flock to visit and help and spoil us with gifts of meals, clothes, gifts and gift cards.
3. The respect I have gained for my mother and mother in law and all mothers out there.  I can truly understand better now how no job is harder and equally as rewarding.
2. He knows my voice and smell and is instantly content with me if he was hungry/fussy with someone else.
1.  Parenting with Andy and seeing him be an awesome Dad.

These are my favorite things about my baby boy:
5.   His perfect name.  Declan: full of goodness    Yeah, we picked it but it couldn't be more fitting and it just IS HIM better than I would've thought at this point.  All the nicknames being thought up with it too, I love... Deckers, Dec, Deckels, Upper Dec...
4. When he his "rooting" before he eats... I LOVE the fast, cute head shake... Reminds me of when Croix is shaking around his toys!
3. He is a fantastic eater, napper and nighttime sleeper... for now... fingers crossed ;)
2. His big blue/gray eyes discovering the world
1.  It is impossible to not just stare at him and smile.. all day... every minute... the variety of faces he makes are precious.   Even when he is crying he is cute... again, for now...probably because he cries so rarely too... fingers crossed ;)   Here is our link to his newborn pics if you want to see them and you'll understand how cute he is!  Password is croix

 2 Weeks 

 His adorable crabby outfit- Thank you DeRocks!

Got my diaper changed before going to the College World Series

Declan's First Week of Firsts

The last two blogs (Week Before Declan and Declan's Day) were much more narrative (and probably boring to most, but I'm trying to save memories for me because I have come to learn my memory is seriously getting worse...) but this one I'm going to fill with pictures because the cliche is right, the pics are worth a thousand words!

Preparing for first car ride leaving the hospital

First Car Ride

First of many kisses from Big Bro Croix... Croix is doing wonderfully with Declan though! 

First Bouncer meeting... Fuzzy hasn't been around much but saw her peeking in crib at him once but couldn't get camera in time!

 

First time in crib during tour of house and reaching out towards Croix!

First outing to Target and Mall for Father's Day present shopping!

 First volleyball game and hanging out with pal Noah!

 First 5K watching Sarah and hanging out with pals Eli and Adam. They brought the bell for him to ring!

 First Time on Turtle play mat!  Definitely a favorite place to be!

First time with Snail "Junebug"  He LOVES mirrors/songs/lights & has figured out to tap it to keep it playing!

First Cribbage game with Auntie and me

 First Bath... it had a MESSY start... but you can ask Andy about that ;) 

First bottle from Daddy!  (I had my first "bottle" too ; ) ) 

ONE WEEK (plus 12 hrs...) OLD!!  And First Father's Day!

 First time with grandparents all together!  

If you haven't seen enough, here is a video of all his friends and family visitors this first week too!  With the Smashmouth song, just ignore the pronoun she/her and change to he/his... need to get a few more songs on my computer :)

  Declan's Family and Friend's

His second week of life is going to be jam packed with family from Sue's side in Omaha, NE.  We are headed out on our first road trip!  This trip was up in the air if we'd be up for it, but Declan is proving to be an amazingly easy baby (knock on wood...), I'm healing from my c-section wonderfully and nursing is going smoothly too!