Cooper has had quite a few "firsts" this past week. Starting off with his first bath. I didn't get too many pictures because we were video taping it. He didn't like it at first but once he got warm he was fine. He has had a few since and Monday he didn't cry at all. I think he likes it, and his parents are getting the water temperature right.
Friday night (on his one week birthday) we took his first outing to Home Depot. I have been very paranoid about getting him out since it is flu season and I have heard of several babies getting RSV. We just kept him covered up in the car seat and he never made a peep. 
Todd, Marlee, and Nana were with us
Dad and Cooper in their matching camo
Dad trying to imitate Cooper's face
Family picture, I don't have any camo to match
Our first trip to church Sunday morning. He slept in his carrier the entire time!
Cooper had to say good-bye to Nana Sunday. We were so greatful to her for staying with us for a week. It was hard on all of us when she left. We miss her!
Cooper had his first appointment with Dr. Carpenter yesterday for his newborn check up. He said Cooper is doing great! I was concerned that he has only gained an ounce since we left the hospital last week but Dr. Carpenter was not concerned. I just feel like he should have gained a lot more than that. He is having a ton of wet and poopy diapers a day and I guess that is how you gage that he is getting the nutrition that he needs. He also took his circumcision ring off, it was hanging on by a thread literally. Cooper didn't cry at all. We were proud of him!
Here are a couple of sweet pictures that I took of him over the past week.
Dad and Cooper were having a staring contest. They stared at each other like this for minutes it was so funny. I think this picture is precious. Clay is such a good dad!
We are working on our sleeping patterns. Cooper still has his days and nights mixed up. He is a good baby. He only fusses when he is hungry or needs a diaper changed. I am feeding on demand which averages out to about 3 hours, occasionally 2 and twice 5. He usually eats somewhere around 10:30 and at the nightly feeding he wakes up! Those of you that know Clay know that he has a really weird sleep pattern and he usually doesn't go to bed until around 2:00am and he is good to get up at 7 or 8. I, however, NEED 7-8 hours of sleep so this has definitely been an adjustment for me. Dad usually plays with Cooper after the 10:30ish feeding while I go to bed. Then he wakes me up for the 2:00ish feeding and I can usually get him to go down after that feeding. Then we are up around 5:00 and 8:00. However, last night Clay was up with him until the 5:00 feeding. I felt horrible because he had a meeting at 9 this morning and he had to be in the office today and church tonight. I can't imagine being a single parent of a newborn!! I really think the bottom line is we need to keep him awake during the day. We have been trying really hard to. Saturday night he stayed awake quite a bit during the day and he only got up once during the night before getting up at 7:00 and it was time to get ready for church. I guess God really wanted us to be in church Sunday morning! I know I am probably going out on a limb here by asking this but I feel that those of you who actually read my blog I would trust your advice. So, any suggestions about getting him to sleep at night and stay awake during the day?
I LOVE HIM!! God is SO great! I look at him and I can't imagine how in the world he fit into my belly! I don't know how anyone can go through pregnancy and the birth of a child and not believe in God and his power. I am so thankful each day for my perfectly healthy beautiful baby boy. As much as I love my sleep, I do love Cooper more!
6 comments:
He's perfect! It was great to see him!
Nessa
He is so precious. I used to try baby sit-ups to wake my babies up. Its a fun/nice way to wake a sleeping baby. Also, I finally figured out with my babies. That if he's awake at night but not crying or fussing. Just go on sleep yourself. And sometimes eye contact with mom or dad in the middle of the night can be a stimulus to the baby.
Sounds like you're doing great with him!!
deI can understand about the night times however I have to tell you that babies are only meant to figure out day and night when they are about three months old. The best advice I can give is to make sure that the night times feeds are as quite and relaxed as possible. Try not to have lights on or talk to him, just try and feed and put him back to bed. He will get there and your body will get used to less sleep. It sounds like things are going well. I have to say that he looks like a Bryant. Have fun and enjoy him.
So supposedly the more sleep they get during the day, the better sleep they get at night....i know it sounds crazy, but it's kinda true!
i'll just second everything samantha (cuz I don't think it's luke typing) said!!!
-annika
Hey! I've had the same problem with my two babies and here's what has worked for me both times... During the day, whenever the baby wakes, I feed him, then change his diaper and play with him (sing songs, show him toys, exercise his legs, put him in swing/bouncer, take him outside, baby massage, Baby Einstein movies, etc. - it is A LOT of work to keep a baby up) until I see he is getting tired, then put him in his bed (don't get in the habit of feeding him to sleep, though - that's why I started using the paci so early with Skogen cause with Maida I fed her to sleep all the time and now at 21 months, she still has to have warm milk to go to sleep!). I keep doing that routine (wake, eat, play, sleep) all day long. I sort of let him determine when he wants to wake up and go back to sleep, but I never let him sleep past three hours at a time during the day. At night, though, whenever he wakes up (I never wake him up at night to eat, I just let him sleep as long as he wants), I feed and change him, then put him right back into bed. I also swaddle him at night and never turn the lights on (except for a little lamp). A great investment for night time diaper changes is a wipe warmer because the cold wipes seem to wake up a sleeping or relaxed baby. Anyway, that's my advice. It's turned my babies' nights and days back around within two or three days, and helps keep them straight too! I will also mention that it's helped my babies start sleeping through the nights very early on. Maida started sleeping 9 hours every night at 9 weeks old! Good luck! You'll find your own little parenting style, I'm sure, that will be perfect for the two of you. :)
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