Military Monday... a new thing around here

As you all know, the military is a huge part of our life. So I thought it would be neat to start doing "military mondays" here... every week I will talk about something related to the US military- this could include a piece of history, something from our personal life as an army family, current news {war in Afghanistan}, etc. I think it will be kind of fun!

For the very first military monday, I present to you:



my MILITARY bebe ♥











Emmett is doing so well! I've figured out a little secret- Have swaddle, will sleep!. Yes, this baby looooves to be swaddled. It's the only way I can get him to sit/sleep in his swing or bouncy seat {or anywhere else that is not my lap}. It also helps him to fall asleep faster at night. I feed him on one side, then swaddle him and feed him on the other side, and before I know it, he's sound asleep. He's now waking up every three hours at night, which is way better than it was, so I'm happy. He is still nursing well, but he spits up A LOT! He goes through multiple outfits a day, and I'm always covered in spit up. But that's okay, I'm just glad he's still gaining weight! Little man is happy and thriving.

The other little man, Elliot is doing well, too. He's really settled into the role of the "big brother." He loves to get me things for the baby like burp cloths, the boppy, a clean onesie, etc. He also likes to take care of "his" baby, one of my old dolls. Apparently, being a big brother is tuckering him out, because he has been taking super long naps during the day {3+ hours} and wanting to go to bed super early.

Basically... things are going well! I'm tired, but what else did I expect? I love my boys- all three of them.

Emmett: 1 month!

This month:

♥ Emmett weighs 7 lbs 6 oz {below the 5th percentile}
♥ he is wearing newborn and preemie clothes.
♥ he is wearing newborn disposables- we have a way to go before he will fit in cloth
♥ he is exclusively breastfed, and eats about every hour. In fact, if he had it his way, he would be on the boob 24/7! It took us awhile to get to this point, and after failing with Elliot, I am so happy to be able to breastfeed this baby!
♥ he really, REALLY likes to be held
♥ he is not sleeping very well/much at night. Mommy is super tired!
♥ we are cosleeping, and I LOVE it.
♥ he is MUCH more vocal than his brother was at this age. Maybe he will be an early talker?
♥ the only times he cries are if he's super hungry {he will root and whine/grunt for quite awhile first}, and when we wipe his bum {those wipes are cold!}




Dear baby Emmett,
Today, you are one month old. A whole month! Want to know the funny part? You actually aren't even supposed to be here yet. You weren't due until June 8th. You said, heck with that, and decided to make your grand entrance into this world five weeks early. You're already impatient, like your Daddy and brother. Oh boy. We'll have to work on that.
I can't imagine life without you. Yes, you've thrown a loop into our little family. We've had to change routines that have been in place for months now. Your big brother, Elliot, has had to adjust to not being the only little boy in this family. But he loves you, just as much as we do.
We've had our struggles, so far, this month. But what did you expect, when you came busting into this world a month early? You have already grown and changed so much in your first month here, and I can't wait to watch you grow.
I love you,
Mommy

Breastfeeding: revisited.

Some of you may remember my struggles with breastfeeding Elliot. Now, don't get me wrong- we got off to a rough start. The chances of breastfeeding him were pretty low to begin with, since he was born with a birth defect (of the GI tract, no less) and spent so many weeks in the NICU. He was first tube fed, then bottle fed, out of neccessity, and I was pumping around the clock. Despite our best efforts, he never did latch or nurse successfully. He ended up on formula, and that broke my heart.

So I thought, this time, I'll have a healthy baby and it will be a piece of cake! But... then Emmett was born five weeks early, which led to a whole host of problems, affecting most of all his ability to eat and gain weight. At first, it seemed like he would NEVER breastfeed. In fact, at one point, he was exclusively bottle fed, and I had all but given up hope- I had even stopped pumping! But then there was a light at the end of the tunnel in a team of wonderful pediatric nurse practitioners and lactation consultants.

It has been a long road, of multiple appointments a week, of pain, of latching difficulties, too short of feedings, too long of feedings, weight loss, then too much weight gain, formula supplementation, syringe feeding, sleepless nights, nipple shields, projectile spit up, bottles, pumping around the clock, wrestling him onto the breast, then I almost lost my milk supply completely BUT...

Emmett is now exclusively breastfed! ♥
& I couldn't be happier.

And I just wanted to say...

If you are trying to breastfeed, and struggling, don't give up. You CAN do it.

... and if it doesn't work out, that's okay. Formula is just fine too!

Either way, your baby is getting what he/she needs to grow... and that's all that really matters.

Emmett sucking on the only other thing he likes other than the boob... his Daddy's finger.