Adventures in Colic, Baby Potties, & Cloth Diapers. Plus- How to Piss Off Your Sleeping Baby

Iyla had her one month appointment on Friday. I talked at length with her doctor about the fussiness, wondering if I should consider cutting out dairy or trying other techniques to help curb the colic. Our Pediatrician said from everything I told her it sounded like Iyla was having the normal bout of an immature digestive system (present in all newborns and peaking around 4-6 weeks)- and that some babies are more sensitive than others to this. She didn't think eliminating foods in my diet was necessary (yay!), and that Iyla would eventually grow out of this.

I will say that Iyla has seemed better the last couple of days. I have been putting her to sleep in a somewhat inclined position after feedings in her Rock n' Play sleeper instead of flat on her back, and am hoping that this might be part of what is helping. I read that some babies can have "silent reflux,' which is basically reflux without any obvious signs like spitting up/etc. Iyla definitely has the hiccups a LOT & does have an audibly rumbling tummy at times, so I am all for her sleeping inclined if that helps her little system digest better as it matures.

Iyla weighed in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 21 1/8 inches tall at her one month checkup. She is now at the 50th percentile for height, and still 'petite' at the 8-9th percentile for weight. Future Supermodel?

Working on her best "Blue Steel"

Sam wanted to get in the mix- he is definitely off the charts with his weight!

I made the official switch over to cloth diapers about 4 days ago, and have been LOVING the 'Lil Joey Newborn All-In-Ones. They definitely are not cheap, but we will be able to use them with future kiddos and they do excellent on the cloth diaper resale market. They are super soft, super easy, and super adorable!

One added bonus of starting the cloth diapers? Iyla has been ROCKING the baby potty since making the switch. I am not sure if a direct correlation can be made, but ever since I started the cloth I would say 8 times out of 10 when I put her on the potty during diaper changes she will do a #1 or #2 or both! I am finding her diapers dry more and more often, and wonder if the material in these 'Lil Joeys helps her be extra aware of her system. We have been using the BABYBJORN Smart Potty, and I have one for each of her changing stations. I pull out the small white inside bowl and hold her by the armpits on top of it, making "pssssss" and "ppppppp" sounds to cue her while she is there. She is typically very still & alert, and will wiggle and fuss when done. 

And to add to the embarrassing photos we are stockpiling to blackmail her with in her teen years, I present to you Iyla on the potty:

My mother is so rude

I also discovered an AWESOME way to piss off your sweet sleeping baby. I attempted to get a handprint for Iyla's baby book while she was slumbering away- and let's just say it did NOT go well. She woke up almost immediately screaming bloody murder and proceeded to get ink everywhere. Project FAIL! 

And of course I paused to take pictures

This afternoon I am getting some much anticipated "me" time and heading out for a massage. I had two ocular migraines yesterday, which definitely points to my body being off again. It's insane the physical toll carrying & nursing a baby can take!

But you, sweet little one, are totally worth it

One Month Old!

It's 12-12-12 today, and Iyla's official "One Month" milestone! Here's what she thinks about that:

Sad Reindeer. 

Someone is a little embarrassed by the hat mom chose...

On to her one month updates and highlights!

Feeding: Iyla continues to be a great nurser! I JUST figured out how to get her to nurse on the left side without choking- it was as simple as changing her position. Instead of doing the football hold where she is sitting upright, I have been laying her across my body in a side lying position- and *knocking on wood* she hasn't choked yet! And at her last feeding she ONLY fed on that side and totally snuffed her previously beloved right side- to which I had to do a sympathy pump session (lest it get engorged). She eats about every 3 hours 'round the clock.

Sleeping: She is still taking power naps almost constantly throughout the day- waking to feed & check out the world a bit before conking out again. She is also an extremely noisy sleeper! The sounds that come out of this little thing amaze me- grunts, cries, whimpers, and an occasional mid-sleep shriek. Yesterday was actually the first day I heard her elicit sounds (while she was awake) that were different from her typical grunts. A couple sweet lady like coos snuck out, and I look forward to more of those as she expands her baby vocabulary!

Iyla seems to have a consistent alert time in the morning after she wakes where for a couple hours she is awake, alert, & calm- with a Zen kind of look on her face and a sweet serene quiet about her. We had a bath yesterday morning during this reflective time, and you can see by her little face the sweet calm that comes over her:

Colic? What colic? My those birds are beautiful....

Mood/Temperament: When in her calm, contented state Iyla is still a very laid back, gentle spirit. Her feist is there, however, and comes out when she isn't happy about something or when the dreaded COLIC sneaks in. After my last post about the really LONG night, the following evening she had a pretty monumental scream fest. Poor BC was loving on her & trying to calm her, but it appears she just wants mama during those times. I think she wore herself out b/c she actually slept 4.5 hours after it- an amazing record for her! Both mama and baby were happy & productive yesterday as a result. Last night we were back to the 'normal' waking every 3 hours- including another fuss period around 2am. 

I had a photo shoot with Iyla yesterday to document her 1st month. She cooperated for a little while  and I managed to get a few cute shots of our little bean:

I attempted a wardrobe change into an adorable dress I keep pretending might finally fit her. We didn't make it through many shots before Iyla decided she was over.it and showed me as such by attempting to eat the dress:

And here are a few outtakes from the session, which I like to call "The Evolution of a Model Meltdown:"

Iyla and I went back to the chiropractor today. I have been feeling like I am about to throw my back out for the first time in YEARS, and was also curious if an adjustment might help with the colic. She had begun to fuss in her car seat when Dr. Ron took her. Her little eyes popped open as he gently worked reflex points on her back (he said babies actually adjust themselves- he just stimulates the necessary reflex points). As he worked, she broke out into the biggest smile! It was so adorable! Then he worked on her front around her stomach to adjust to alleviate some of the colic discomfort. Another huge smile! Then she passed out hard & peacefully in her car seat. Amazing. Even if it doesn't do anything toward the actual colic, it was worth it to see how much she enjoyed her birthday pampering!

Sad reindeer becomes peaceful reindeer after her adjustment

At one month postpartum I am now just about 9.5-10 pounds away from my pre pregnancy weight, and definitely still have a squishy muffin top. My maternity jeans are baggy on me and my regular jeans are REALLY tight, so depending on my mood on a given day I rock the baggy or tight look. I tried my trusty 'squeeze test' in the mirror today and saw an ever so slight deflection- but the overall test results point to my hips still being quite a bit wider, hence my jeans being quite a bit tighter (not to mention with the widening my thighs happily filled in the difference!)

I've been getting out and power walking with Iyla as often as I can, which feels great to my body. What doesn't feel great? Peeing myself every.time.we.walk. Seriously. What IS that? It isn't like a full bladder gush but every few blocks or so there is a mini gush that makes me suddenly go "OH!" and walk a little faster. I hope this is something that resolves itself as I tone those pelvic muscles- until then, I might need to invest in some adult diapers.

But since this post is meant to focus on Iyla-  I leave you with a few more photos of our big ONE MONTH OLD girl. We love you so much Iyla Grace!

*Love*

4 Weeks Old- and a LONG Night

I guess I should count myself lucky that last night was the first night where Iyla has kept me up for an extended period of time. I know many new moms deal with this on a nightly basis- and I seriously have compassion for them. Maybe Iyla was just trying to stay up to celebrate the fact that 4 weeks ago today I was in labor with her?

Our evening went as such:

9:30: I go to bed, BC takes the evening shift
1:30am: Iyla wakes me (so grateful to have had that 3.5 hour sleep!)

I feed her, change her, and lay her down in bed with me. It takes longer than usual for her to fall asleep, and finally at 2:30 she conks out.

3am: She wakes again! So I put her back on the boob to see if that will help her go back to sleep. And then she pulls out full on fussy time, which we have not yet experienced in the wee hours of the morning. So for about 1.5 hours I am swaddling, swinging, shhhhing, etc. as I pace back and forth in our bedroom. Finally around 4:30am she appears to be out- I give it a good further 5 minutes to be SURE, then oh so carefully place her in the Rock n Play sleeper (that I had pulled down from the 3rd floor around 3:30am while holding a fussing baby). The second I lay her down she gets the HICCUPS. Cue the silent "Nooooooooo!" being screamed in my head.

We recommence soothing techniques for another 20-30 minutes until hiccups are gone, baby asleep.

6:30am: Iyla wakes. I feed & change her, swaddle & shhhh her as I see inklings of fussy time creeping in. Finally at around 7:30 she is out again, and I climb carefully into bed. This is about the time BC is leaving for work, and since I am somewhat awake I motion for him to come over and kiss me goodbye. Then he leans in to give the sleeping baby a kiss. Cue another silent "Noooooooooo!" as my body tenses & waits. Baby is still asleep. BC heads out. The second the bedroom door closes she is whimpering and up.

NEW HOUSE RULE: 

DO NOT EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TOUCH OR KISS THE SLEEPING BABY UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO TAKE & SOOTHE THE WAKING BABY. POSSIBLY FOR HOURS.

Sam, the new house rule applies to you too! 
Back away from the baby....

So what's a girl to do after a night like that? Head to my favorite local coffee shop and pray Iyla stays asleep long enough to allow me a delicious cappuccino & omelet. So far so good (I am working from said coffee shop as we speak).

There is definitely an evolutionary reason babies are so cute. 

How can you be mad at this face?

Here are a few recent updates on some of my previous posts:

Migraines, Cluster Feedings, & Baby Blues:

I am doing MUCH better on all fronts. The tearfulness is pretty much gone, and Iyla and I are getting into a good groove together. We try to get out at least once a day on an outing, which really helps me feel like I am still part of the world. We even took her to a colleagues' Holiday party Saturday night! I am realizing that with children, the minute you think you are in a nice pattern & flow with something they mix it up on you (per this post!)... so the best you can do is expect the unexpected.

My migraines have also drastically improved since getting a massage a week ago. Courtney at Workwell Austin is amazing- any local Austinites should definitely give her a call. Workwell has a monthly membership where for $50/month you get a massage/month.  BC and I have a family membership- so for $90/month we both get a massage, breaking it down to just $45/session. I think they should call this the "New Parent Survival Package."

And as expected, BC and I quickly & lovingly worked out the golfing concerns. He is planning to golf every other week now, and also has been awesome at giving me breaks when I need them to run to the grocery store/etc. This is such a new experience for both of us, but historically we really strive to keep our communication open & work to nurture one another.  I am very lucky to have this sweet man as my husband!

Nighttime Explosions:

I did hear back from my Pediatrician regarding Iyla's fussy nights, in addition to chatting with another good friend in Boulder who is also a Pediatrician. The consensus was it sounded like bouts of colic (nooooooo!) and likely not reflux or anything food related. Apparently around 4 weeks babies' immature digestive tracks peak, and this is typically the time that more fussiness is observed. It is totally normal & does eventually pass. The best you can do as parents is to get a good arsenal of soothing techniques, and we have promptly put "The Happiest Baby on the Block's" five S's to work.  Our nights have looked like this:

Wednesday 7:30: first night of inconsolable fussing, lasting a few hours

Thursday 7:30: more inconsolable fussing until about 11:30pm

Friday 7:30: fussing begins. My Pediatrician had mentioned that many times babies want to cluster feed during these colic episodes and just feel snuggled & close to mom. So BC and I shifted things up- instead of him doing the nightly bottle I kept Iyla, and commenced the five S's! After feeding I swaddled her- arms and all!- held her close to me on her side, gave her a pacifier to suck, swayed & rocked her, and made the shhhhhing sound in her ear. I also think I sprained my wrist in the process- that's how serious this soothing business was! I put her in my ring sling and just kept her close. She pacified after about 20 minutes and stayed calm! Amazing.

Saturday: No fussy time!

Sunday: Some fussing in the evening which was quickly rectified with holding her close on her side & giving the pacifier while rocking & shhhing. Our early morning fussy session saw me doing these same techniques- they definitely work to calm her, but it can still take quite awhile for her to actually fall asleep- meaning I have to hold & soothe her until she does pass out.

One quote I've heard that I keep constantly in mind is "this too shall pass." I am working to enjoy this little creature through the good and the rough times, realizing it all goes by so quickly and before we know it this fussiness will be a thing of the past (please?).

My Baby is Going to Harvard:

Iyla hasn't gone on the potty again since the 4 miraculous times yesterday. To this I say: maybe she prefers to go to the University of Texas... and PAY HER OWN WAY. ; )

Yesterday our good friends Andy, Julie, & Lily came by to visit Iyla & have dinner together. Lily is 8 years old and just LOVES little Iyla. She brought her a huge gift bag of adorable presents! So sweet.

Modeling one of the Christmas hats Lily brought for Iyla. If this kiddo wants to keep us up all night, we will get revenge with plenty of embarrassing photos! Which of course will be pulled out to show all of her future boyfriends.  

Nighttime Explosions

The last two nights someone has secretly replaced our calm, sweet, easygoing baby with an extremely fussy, screaming, inconsolable one. Wednesday was the first night this occurred- where around 7pm Iyla was arching & stretching & grunting in distress, and NOTHING we did would calm her cries save her eventually passing out.

Then last night around the same time she started up again- arching & screaming, pausing occasionally as a new position or trick pacified her for a moment before the scream fest continued. I went to bed around 9:30 and BC informed me this went on until he put her to bed around 11:30.

I called our pediatrician's office this morning and talked briefly with a nurse. She asked if Iyla was spitting up during these sessions (which might point more to it being food related)... and I proudly replied that no- she never spits up. Then I heard the dreaded word NO parent of a newborn wants to hear: the nurse said she might be having bouts of COLIC and that it typically sets in around this developmental time. The doctor would call me later to follow up.

Please oh PLEASE don't be colic! There is nothing worse than watching your sweet little one struggle and cry and not being able to do anything to help her. I am hopeful the doctor will have some more recommendations and tricks to try. This has only been happening in the evenings - the rest of the day Iyla is still very peaceful, sleeping & eating well (and yes, I am totally knocking on wood here!).

BC took the night shift again last night with a pumped bottle so I could get a head start on sleep. I went to bed at 9:30, and by 1am my boobs were killing me.  I laid there wondering if I should wake Iyla to feed, but luckily she woke on her own around 1:30. And then woke again at 3am. Then 4:30am. Then at 6:30am- when she was up for the day. So much for getting more sleep and reducing the nighttime feedings!

And you know what else this little one pulled off last night? A trick more sneaky than Houdini himself could concoct. While I was changing her at 3am, I heard a rumble and all of a sudden the most powerful projectile poop came flying out of this tiny thing- shooting straight out and nailing our velvet bedroom curtains before dripping down the length of them. In that moment I really couldn't do anything but laugh... I was frantically trying to wipe everything down with baby wipes in the little light I had. There was poop on the changing table, the wall, & the floor in addition to the curtains.

To further illustrate this impressive feat:

Note baby on changing pad, curtains to the right. If you look closely in the middle of the curtains you will see a light brown mark running down the length of them

Take note of where baby's bottom is in relation to where the curtains are. 

She packs some serious power!

She looks a bit remorseful in this shot... though I suspect she found the events more humorous than anything else

"Sam, guess what I did last night?!"

Don't let this cute little elf fool you- if she doesn't get her way she WILL poop on your curtains

In closing, a guest baby photo (because I know you haven't gotten enough baby pics!). Iyla and I visited a friend of ours who just had twin boys in late October. All of our little ones were actually due around the same time, right after Thanksgiving! They were all ready to make early entrances into the world. Unfortunately we didn't get any shots of all 3 babies together (maybe next time!), but I did manage one cute one of the boys- Grayson and Coleson- snuggling:

Iyla's buddies with their Wannanub pacifiers. A baby explosion!