and now we bring you the weekly update
Note that this was written several hours ago, and is only being posted now because I couldn't get on the internet while at Andrew's soccer. But there's an additional update at the end.
Andrew’s in his soccer class, and Bill came home early so Charlie’s at home with him, so I’ve got a bonus 45 minutes to write a quick entry/update on life in the household. (Bonus, mostly because I won’t have tomorrow morning’s gymnastics class, because it’s the community club’s spring tea, and Charlie and I are going to that instead, along with all the scones I’ve been baking in bits and pieces all week.)
1. Charlie. I am 95% certain that Charlie is colicky. I haven’t sat down and actually figured out if he fits the rule of three, but it’s close. Every other day or so, around 9pm (or just after Andrew goes to sleep), Charlie wakes up and is more or less unhappy with Life As He Knows It, and will not be comforted unless he’s being held, walked, jiggled, pacifiered and patted, to the musical accompaniment of “Shhhhhhhhhhh.” Oh, and swaddled. He does not like the swaddle, but he likes hitting himself in the head even less, so swaddle it is.
Just plain colic, I could deal. I mean, it sucks, but I could deal. What was really bothering me is that for some reason, this week, he started protesting his bottles. He’d be hungry, so I’d give him a bottle, and then he’d complain and fight and cry all the way through it. Almost like he was super uncomfortable, or had terrible gas bubbles and couldn’t get them out. Which is just weird, because Charlie’s been super easy to burp since Day One - half the time, you’d just lift him up and he’d burp, before you even started in on the patting. So this was strange - the bottles had stopped being a comfort at all, and since that’s pretty much Comfort #1 as far as newborns are concerned, this was worrying.
I ended up calling the pediatrician and talking to the nurse on Wednesday, thinking it was either the bottle itself, or maybe the formula, but I wasn’t sure where to go, since he’s already on the Sensitive for Gas and Fussiness formula. Based on her recommendation, we started using Dr Brown’s bottles for him Wednesday evening, and they seem to be working. It’s hard to tell if it’s helping with the colic any - but he doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort while he’s eating anymore, so I’ll take that as a win.
The only worrying thing at the moment (and of course this doesn’t really start until Friday afternoon after the pediatrician’s closed for the weekend) is that after about 24 hours of constipation, Charlie’s poops have become more solid than not - they aren’t hard-as-rock rabbit pellets by any stretch, but they’re soft, though absolutely formed into something recognizable as poop. Which is a bit early for a six-week-old. On the other hand, at least he’s finally pooping. I can’t imagine it’s the bottle doing this - though he is drinking less than he had before, but he’s also not dribbling as he drinks, so maybe he’s actually getting the same amount in? NO IDEA.
So… sigh. Solve one problem, inadvertently cause another.
Edited to add: Okay, so I called the nurse line for the pediatrician, because I am paranoid, and according to her, Charlie's fine and this is all normal stuff and just keep on keepin' on, and don't worry until he's in obvious pain, or fever, or blood/mucus in the stool, etc. So I shall try not to worry. Ha.
2. In poop-related news, the diapers. I am still really, really not loving the pocket diapers. I’m sorely tempted to cut the inner lining out of them and turn them into flip-style diaper covers, but I’m not entirely sure that’s the best of ideas, or if it would work very well (or at all). It doesn’t seem to matter how tight those elastics on the legs are; they leak. Immediately. Copiously. Whereas I haven’t had any problem with the Flips at all, even considering they’re a bit big for Charlie. (The biggest problem with the Flips, honestly, is that I don’t have enough inserts.)
Maybe I’m doing something wrong? I have no idea what, is the problem. Because so many people love their pocket diapers, and yeah, I didn’t much care for them with Andrew, but I figured maybe that was just Andrew. Except now it’s Charlie, too, so maybe it’s me and not them.
I don’t think it’s the washing. I’m washing them according to most of the general instructions I’ve found online. (Warm rinse, hot wash with detergent, two cold rinses, hang to dry in sunshine.) The new diapers have been washed at least 3-4 times by now. The old ones have obviously been washed more than that. I’m using regular powdered Ultra Tide (not a free and clear version).
Heeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllp.
3. Andrew is doing awesome as an older brother. He seems to have settled into it; he loves to push Charlie in the stroller, he’s very concerned when we don’t go somewhere with Charlie. (He protested again today when he learned that we were going to soccer and leaving Charlie at home with Daddy.) He loves to participate in Tummy Time, he gets very worried when Charlie cries (or at least is quick to tell me, as if I didn’t hear), and he’s really good at putting the pacifier in Charlie’s mouth while I’m driving, which is super handy.
But beyond that… he just seems more mature. I can’t put my finger on it, exactly, but he’s been really good about following directions and requests, both at school and at home. Even with new routines (we’ve dramatically cut down his access to television recently, which is something I’ve always talked about but never actually done, and now I’ve done it), he’s been really good about following the new rules without much complaint.
Anyway - Bill’s been really good about recording some of the funnier things that Andrew’s said recently, but he does it on Facebook and since I don’t have Facebook, I’ve been missing them. (It’s enough to make me want to do Facebook again, and just follow Bill, so I can collect them.) Highlights:
4. Everything Else. This will be short. Yeah, there’s not much. Writing is non-existent, baking is by sheer force of will. The community club’s spring tea is tomorrow; I said months ago that I’d make the scones (and I was super excited to do so). So I’m making three types: lemon, champagne strawberry, and cheddar and green onion (and some with added bacon, because BACON!). I’ve got two done - the champagne strawberry will be baked tomorrow while Andrew and Bill are at gymnastics, because the champagne makes the final result somewhat unstable, and they’re best the day they’re baked. (The rest do fine in the freezer; I’ll take them out to thaw tonight.)
Charlie will come with me to the tea; I just wish it was warm enough that I could put him in a cute spring-type outfit, but all the spring-type outfits I have in his size are shorts and short-sleeves and it’s FLIPPING FREEZING OUT THERE, it’s like 60F with wind chill, and yes, you’re allowed to laugh at me. I don’t care, it’s cold. Whatever, he’s seven weeks on Sunday, he’ll be cute no matter what.
And that’s all I have time for - they’re all scoring goals on the coach now, so it’s only a matter of minutes before stamps and parent tunnel. Back to the mommy grind. I promise to try to be more interesting eventually.
Edited to add: Have to add this, because it is funny: so Charlie was pulling his colicky "I don't want to sleep you must walk me in circles for hours on end" trick, and I was a bit bored because Bill went back to work for a few hours, so I called my mom. And put her on speaker, because Charlie was having none of me not paying attention to him. And the darndest thing: the moment Charlie heard Grandma's voice on the speakers, he instantly calmed down, and was asleep in minutes.
I told Mom I'm calling her every night from now on. She's okay with that.
Andrew’s in his soccer class, and Bill came home early so Charlie’s at home with him, so I’ve got a bonus 45 minutes to write a quick entry/update on life in the household. (Bonus, mostly because I won’t have tomorrow morning’s gymnastics class, because it’s the community club’s spring tea, and Charlie and I are going to that instead, along with all the scones I’ve been baking in bits and pieces all week.)
1. Charlie. I am 95% certain that Charlie is colicky. I haven’t sat down and actually figured out if he fits the rule of three, but it’s close. Every other day or so, around 9pm (or just after Andrew goes to sleep), Charlie wakes up and is more or less unhappy with Life As He Knows It, and will not be comforted unless he’s being held, walked, jiggled, pacifiered and patted, to the musical accompaniment of “Shhhhhhhhhhh.” Oh, and swaddled. He does not like the swaddle, but he likes hitting himself in the head even less, so swaddle it is.
Just plain colic, I could deal. I mean, it sucks, but I could deal. What was really bothering me is that for some reason, this week, he started protesting his bottles. He’d be hungry, so I’d give him a bottle, and then he’d complain and fight and cry all the way through it. Almost like he was super uncomfortable, or had terrible gas bubbles and couldn’t get them out. Which is just weird, because Charlie’s been super easy to burp since Day One - half the time, you’d just lift him up and he’d burp, before you even started in on the patting. So this was strange - the bottles had stopped being a comfort at all, and since that’s pretty much Comfort #1 as far as newborns are concerned, this was worrying.
I ended up calling the pediatrician and talking to the nurse on Wednesday, thinking it was either the bottle itself, or maybe the formula, but I wasn’t sure where to go, since he’s already on the Sensitive for Gas and Fussiness formula. Based on her recommendation, we started using Dr Brown’s bottles for him Wednesday evening, and they seem to be working. It’s hard to tell if it’s helping with the colic any - but he doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort while he’s eating anymore, so I’ll take that as a win.
The only worrying thing at the moment (and of course this doesn’t really start until Friday afternoon after the pediatrician’s closed for the weekend) is that after about 24 hours of constipation, Charlie’s poops have become more solid than not - they aren’t hard-as-rock rabbit pellets by any stretch, but they’re soft, though absolutely formed into something recognizable as poop. Which is a bit early for a six-week-old. On the other hand, at least he’s finally pooping. I can’t imagine it’s the bottle doing this - though he is drinking less than he had before, but he’s also not dribbling as he drinks, so maybe he’s actually getting the same amount in? NO IDEA.
So… sigh. Solve one problem, inadvertently cause another.
Edited to add: Okay, so I called the nurse line for the pediatrician, because I am paranoid, and according to her, Charlie's fine and this is all normal stuff and just keep on keepin' on, and don't worry until he's in obvious pain, or fever, or blood/mucus in the stool, etc. So I shall try not to worry. Ha.
2. In poop-related news, the diapers. I am still really, really not loving the pocket diapers. I’m sorely tempted to cut the inner lining out of them and turn them into flip-style diaper covers, but I’m not entirely sure that’s the best of ideas, or if it would work very well (or at all). It doesn’t seem to matter how tight those elastics on the legs are; they leak. Immediately. Copiously. Whereas I haven’t had any problem with the Flips at all, even considering they’re a bit big for Charlie. (The biggest problem with the Flips, honestly, is that I don’t have enough inserts.)
Maybe I’m doing something wrong? I have no idea what, is the problem. Because so many people love their pocket diapers, and yeah, I didn’t much care for them with Andrew, but I figured maybe that was just Andrew. Except now it’s Charlie, too, so maybe it’s me and not them.
I don’t think it’s the washing. I’m washing them according to most of the general instructions I’ve found online. (Warm rinse, hot wash with detergent, two cold rinses, hang to dry in sunshine.) The new diapers have been washed at least 3-4 times by now. The old ones have obviously been washed more than that. I’m using regular powdered Ultra Tide (not a free and clear version).
Heeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllp.
3. Andrew is doing awesome as an older brother. He seems to have settled into it; he loves to push Charlie in the stroller, he’s very concerned when we don’t go somewhere with Charlie. (He protested again today when he learned that we were going to soccer and leaving Charlie at home with Daddy.) He loves to participate in Tummy Time, he gets very worried when Charlie cries (or at least is quick to tell me, as if I didn’t hear), and he’s really good at putting the pacifier in Charlie’s mouth while I’m driving, which is super handy.
But beyond that… he just seems more mature. I can’t put my finger on it, exactly, but he’s been really good about following directions and requests, both at school and at home. Even with new routines (we’ve dramatically cut down his access to television recently, which is something I’ve always talked about but never actually done, and now I’ve done it), he’s been really good about following the new rules without much complaint.
Anyway - Bill’s been really good about recording some of the funnier things that Andrew’s said recently, but he does it on Facebook and since I don’t have Facebook, I’ve been missing them. (It’s enough to make me want to do Facebook again, and just follow Bill, so I can collect them.) Highlights:
4. Everything Else. This will be short. Yeah, there’s not much. Writing is non-existent, baking is by sheer force of will. The community club’s spring tea is tomorrow; I said months ago that I’d make the scones (and I was super excited to do so). So I’m making three types: lemon, champagne strawberry, and cheddar and green onion (and some with added bacon, because BACON!). I’ve got two done - the champagne strawberry will be baked tomorrow while Andrew and Bill are at gymnastics, because the champagne makes the final result somewhat unstable, and they’re best the day they’re baked. (The rest do fine in the freezer; I’ll take them out to thaw tonight.)
Charlie will come with me to the tea; I just wish it was warm enough that I could put him in a cute spring-type outfit, but all the spring-type outfits I have in his size are shorts and short-sleeves and it’s FLIPPING FREEZING OUT THERE, it’s like 60F with wind chill, and yes, you’re allowed to laugh at me. I don’t care, it’s cold. Whatever, he’s seven weeks on Sunday, he’ll be cute no matter what.
And that’s all I have time for - they’re all scoring goals on the coach now, so it’s only a matter of minutes before stamps and parent tunnel. Back to the mommy grind. I promise to try to be more interesting eventually.
Edited to add: Have to add this, because it is funny: so Charlie was pulling his colicky "I don't want to sleep you must walk me in circles for hours on end" trick, and I was a bit bored because Bill went back to work for a few hours, so I called my mom. And put her on speaker, because Charlie was having none of me not paying attention to him. And the darndest thing: the moment Charlie heard Grandma's voice on the speakers, he instantly calmed down, and was asleep in minutes.
I told Mom I'm calling her every night from now on. She's okay with that.