she follows the sun: We're alive. Sleepy and cranky, but... alive! :)

Let me start off by saying that I couldn't be happier to have my son home. I'll take waking up to him screaming over sleeping peacefully at home while he was stuck in the NICU any day. Since bringing him home, I've finally been able to do all of the things I've missed out on since he was born: walk around the house with him, show him off at the grocery store, bathe him, dress him in real outfits, sleep in the same bed, etc. I feel like a real mother, and it's wonderful.
However, as you read in the title, Elliot and I have both been pretty tired and cranky lately. Why is that? Well, the moment he left the hospital, he simultaneously stopped pooping on his own and stopped sleeping longer than an hour at time. My poor little guy spends about 90% of his time trying to poop, and when his efforts are futile, he screams. And screams. And SCREAMS.

There are a few tricks I've learned that help:
- bathtime and storytime before bed
- dark Karo Syrup in his bottles
- laying him on his tummy {even though I'm well aware that babies SHOULD sleep on their backs. Most of his nurses told us that most babies with belly problems will only tolerate laying on their stomachs. He did this for hours on end in the hospital and turned out just fine- I'm sure he'll be okay at home, too.}
- any movement- walking, bouncing, rocking, swaying...
- CUDDLING. If he had it his way, he would only sleep while being held. Of course, since I also have to take care of myself, this is pretty much impossible. He does, however, sleep in my bed every night. Although he has no problem sleeping in his swing, bouncer, or anywhere else, really, during the day... he does NOT like to sleep alone at night. And he makes this very clear by screaming the moment I try to put him down. So, for now, he sleeps with me. I'm not sure how long we'll keep doing this, but at this point, if it gives me even ten more minutes to sleep, I'm all for it.

My husband also left on Saturday.
It was incredibly hard to say goodbye and it has been much harder to do this on my own than I thought it would be. I miss him every day and hate thinking about how much he will miss over the next five months. Elliot is growing and changing in so many ways already, and he doesn't get to witness any of it. Having him home for fifty-five days after Elliot's birth was perfect. I'm thankful for that. He is an amazing man, husband, father, and soldier. I can't wait for him to come home!

Now for what you were really looking forward to: pictures. :)
Things Elliot Loves: