Brexton’s First Month

I can’t believe it’s been over a month with our sweet boy! I wanted to give a little update on how we’re doing and the transition to having a boy in the family! Life with 3 kiddos is a bit of a circus…so excuse the absence over here! I’m doing the best I can to do it all…and we all know, we can’t do it ALL!

I’m often asked how the transition is to three kids from two…well, it was hard right at first. For the first 3 weeks I constantly asked myself what I got us into!? HAHA! It was just one thing after another with Brexton’s reflux (he would choke and breath-hold which made him pass out), tummy sensitivities and the tongue tie. We had an amazing birth, but the first 3 weeks was a storm to be quite honest. On top of Brett beginning ginning season (over a month late), it was just major STRESS. My mom was here to help, thank goodness, but I can tell you I cried some big crocodile tears when she drove off that day.

So what’s been going on with us this month? Let me fill you in…it’s a lot! 😉

TONGUE TIE + REFLUX + DAIRY/SOY/GLUTEN FREE DIET

Brexton’s tongue tie was caught right away. His dr said that it would likely stretch and not cause any issues, so we didn’t clip it right away. Around 5 days at his first check up, I asked her again to take a look because my nipples were bleeding so badly. With it being my third, I knew that wasn’t normal and definitely needed to have his frenulum clipped. Actually 3/3 of my babies have had ties, so I absolutely feel like I know what to look for at this point! She cut about 3mm of it and it definitely released enough to make me not cringe every time he ate (which was every 2 hours around the clock)! About a week later at his 2 week check up, we noticed that he was gaining weight very slowly and she wanted to just keep an eye on it. I began to worry and called Dr. Cole’s office in Dallas to get a tongue tie evaluation so he could laser it and release more. I knew it was the problem since Laikyn dealt with the same thing, and I’m so glad that I had been through it to know what to do! He couldn’t get us an appointment until late January, so I got in with a local pediatric dentist the day after I called (PRAISE GOD) and we had the best experience with Dr. Tipton. He released what he could of his tongue tie and said his lip tie didn’t need revised. I immediately felt relief and knew this was our answer! The procedure was quick and B didn’t even have tears! The earlier you can get this done, the better.

Fast forward to 3 weeks later and he’s a hefty 11 lbs and gaining SO nicely. PRAISE GOD for the intuition he gave me to take him in to get more revised. As far as the reflux goes: we’re still on Zantac and I’ve noticed if I don’t give it every 12 hours on the dot, Brexton has tons of discomfort from it. We also are going to the chiropractor weekly for adjustments.

He is doing SO much better now. We are so so thankful for all that we figured out, and with a few sacrifices from my belly (changing my diet) he is one happy boy! HALLELUJAH!! I am dairy, soy and gluten free just like I was with the girls. It took a good 2 weeks to get it all out of my system and even then I accidentally ate soy (in peanut butter and oil spray). The diet isn’t that bad, it’s just hard throughout the holidays. I even found a good Starbucks drink and can make substitutions so easily! Anything to make his tummy not hurt and to keep him from being fussy!

SLEEP

Another question everyone asks is are you getting sleep?! Brexton has actually been a very good sleeper from the beginning! I had to wake him every 4 hours through the night at first to make sure he kept gaining, but now he’s sleeping anywhere from 5 to 7 hour stretches. He is sleeping in the Snoo Bassinet (more on that coming in the next few weeks) and it’s amazing. We aren’t following any set sleep training like I did with our first, but just adapting a little bit from them all! We do the eat/wake/sleep/repeat routine and I try to not let him be awake more than an hour and a half at a time. He tends to get fussy if I let him go longer. He finally started taking a pacifier about a week ago, so that helps us all when he’s just fussy for no reason! He likes the paci from the hospital and the Tommee Tippee one that Lennyn took!

As far as swaddles go, he is sleeping in the Happiest Baby one that attaches to the Snoo, but when traveling we put him in the Woombie or wrap him in a Kickee Pants swaddle.

 

SIZE

Brexton has grown so much this last month! He was 9 lbs 8 oz on 12/14 which was his one month birthday! I weighed him today (I’m using the Hatch Baby Smart Scale) and he was over 11 lbs! He’s outgrown all of his newborn clothes and I think he’s really long! He’s filling out all 0-3 month clothes with some already being too small. He’ll be in 3-6 month before I know it and that makes me want to cry! SO happy he’s growing but he’s growing so fast and I want to keep him my baby boy forever! 🙂 He was in NB diapers for all of 1.5 weeks and went to size 1. He’s almost outgrown size 1 but I’m squeezing him in them until I finish the package! We’ll definitely move to size 2 within the next week or so. He is nursing like a champ – going every 3-4 hours during the day and about 5-7 hours at night. My supply has been enough to feed him and about 3 other babies, I think…so regulating that was a bit uncomfortable but we’re good now! 🙂 BEtter too much than too little for sure!

DEVELOPMENT

He has started to socially smile and coo. I love it so much! You can definitely tell that he notices objects such as the ceiling fan and your face when it’s up close. he focuses on objects and will stare at them. He especially loves lamps and the fan! HA! We made it through his first developmental leap (we use Wonder Weeks App to tell when it is) with no issues! Gearing up for the second leap coming at 8 weeks. He absolutely LOVES bath time. He doesn’t really love being naked, diaper changes or laying flat. I try to keep him in the Rock n Play during play time with the exception of tummy time and then he sleeps at an incline in the Snoo to help with reflux.

FAMILY TRANSITION

The transition has been a bit easier now that we’ve got the hang of it! Brett is EXTREMELY busy and hasn’t gotten to spend much time at home. This has been difficult for us all, so say a prayer for our little family if you think of it. We are definitely ready for this season to be over and finally get back to being a family of 5. I know he feels like he misses out on so much at home, but we’re so thankful for his hard work and admire him for trudging through these long hours to support our family! Being a harvest widow is no joke. I admire all of you women that do single parenting whether full time or when your significant other is traveling, working, deployed, etc. I basically live for nap time and bed time, which usually doesn’t even all happen at once. I need to get better with scheduling them to nap at the same time!

Laikyn and Lennyn have been sick this month back to back. Laikyn got a cold, then Lennyn got it. We got over that and then Laikyn got another cold + cough and of course Lennyn got it from her. Now Laikyn hast the stomach bug and we’re all just praying it away from the rest of us. I’ve prayed over B so many times to keep him well, so also say a prayer for him that he doesn’t get these sicknesses while he’s so little! It’s near impossible to keep them away from him. They are his little mommies and he loves them.

POSTPARTUM

I have recovered so easily this time! I haven’t had any issues other than not being able to pee very well the first few days after having him! Once the swelling went down, it was normal again! TMI! 😉 I go for my post partum check up in a week or so, so I’m sure I’ll be cleared for all the things – none of which I want to do! 😉 I am still holding on to about 15 lbs and I’m totally okay with that. I just sized up in a few pair of jeans that are my favorites, and have been living in yoga pants and thermal tops. EH, it’s all good! I’m basically a ravenous cow that eats everything I can and is still hungry. Breastfeeding hunger is REAL! I’ll share what I’ve been loving post partum soon! 

 

What else?? I can’t think of anything else to update on right now…but will definitely try to keep these updates coming throughout the months! We’ve had a great first month with Brexy Boy and can’t wait to see him grow throughout the months!

Photos by Lissa Anglin Photography