Jace ~ 3 Months

Jace has come a L-O-N-G way this past month!  What we described as a discontented, high demand baby who struggled napping has turned into a content, happy baby who naps well!  We are so very grateful for this progress especially as our family transitions to a new season with mom back to work. 

• Sleeping - Jace has been sleeping through the night nearly every night since mid-November.  He's also gotten much better with napping.  We discovered mid-November that he actually fell asleep better when we gave him space.  Instead of rocking him to sleep where he would squirm to get comfortable, we would swaddle and lay him in the crib or rocker where he would fuss for a couple minutes then fall fast asleep and sleep longer.    
• Eating - He's eating every 3-3.5 hours during the day and is still only nursing or having breast milk in a bottle.
• Growing - He's still wearing size 2 diapers but he's completely out of 3 month clothes.  He's wearing 3-6 month and 6 month clothes.  I can really tell how big he's getting when I see someone else hold him.  An unofficial weight at home shows him at 13.4 lbs, up 1 lb 2 oz from 2 months. 
• Fun - Jace has been discovering and getting better control of his hands.  He often has them entwined on his chest or in his mouth.  We've started giving him a few small toys to hold, but he hasn't coordinated getting them to his mouth very well yet.  We put the Christmas trees up last week and Jace is enjoying the lights.  He loves any lights really.  He is often turned toward the window, TV, or lights in the room.  He also continues to love the ceiling fans.  He seems to really like being wrapped in soft blankets in his car seat and when we cuddle.  He nuzzles his face into it.  We had one soft blanket that Nora picked out for him while we were pregnant and have bought a couple more.  
• Transition - Our family enjoyed a lovely 9 days off school/work together over Thanksgiving before I started back to work on Monday, November 26.  I had stressed about this transition throughout maternity leave, especially in the first two months when Jace was more difficult during the days.  BUT...I am very happy to report that the first week went great!  Jace did very well at my parent's house and I was even greeted on Thursday by my mom beaming: "He had such a great day!"  My heart is so happy 💓  My first week back at work went very well too.  My brain worked better than I expected and I'm adjusting 😊  Now, we're into basketball season full swing for Brent and Luke, Nora starts gymnastics this week, and, of course, we're preparing for and anticipating Christmas as a family of five!  

Jace ~ 2 Months

Our babe is two months old!  I'm excited to be back to blogging monthly updates about the family.  Nothing like a quickly growing and changing baby to get me back to the routine.  Did you know that documenting Baby Luke's life is what started my blogging experience?  12 years ago!?!?

Back to Mr. Jace😊  We had his two month well child visit today.  He was a trooper, especially since we interrupted his nap time to have him poked and prodded.  We have a lovely nurse practitioner who "ooo"ed and "aww"ed over our content baby who took in the new surroundings.  Measurements show that Jace is quite round...in his belly and head😊

Weight

12lbs 2oz

41st percentile

Height

22.4 inches

19th percentile

BMI = 65th percentile

Head Circumference

16.3 inches

97th percentile

As we expected, he did not enjoy his three immunization shots😓  Since he is too young to get his flu shot for the season, Brent and Nora were immunized today while Luke and I had ours earlier this month.  

A quick overview of our baby boy at two months:

• Sleeping - The hot topic for all babies, right?  Jace has been a good night time sleeper since the beginning.  When he wakes to eat, he goes right back to sleep.  He's had two nights that he's gone all night without eating, but mostly he's up once a night to eat (3:00ish) and goes back to sleep.  Rarely does he eat twice in the night, though he did the past two nights (growth spurt???).  Since he turned seven weeks, he's been sleeping in his bedroom crib and we've been working on daytime napping there as well.  He's certainly made progress in the past two weeks, going from 20-30 minute naps to 60 minute naps on a more regular basis.  Hes' typically up between 6-7am to start the day. As mom, the one home full time right now, I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself to get him into a daytime routine to help with my transition back to work after Thanksgiving.  Hopefully it will help me with a pumping schedule at work and help Papa and Gma who will be watching Jace four days a week.  Plus, Jace has been much more content when he's awake since we've found a routine.  Happy baby => Happy momma!
• Eating - Jace is a rock star at nursing.  He eats about every 3 hours during the days.  He's also taken breast milk in a bottle very well which will also help when I'm back at work.
• Growing - He's now into size 2 diapers and wearing clothes between 3-6 month sizes.  As with most babies, he's got a long torso and short legs.  I love his itty bitty feet and long, lean fingers and toes like his daddy's.  
• Fun - Jace loves laying in any of our bedrooms and watching the ceiling fans, listening to us read or sing to him, laying in his play gym to watch the hanging toys and checking himself out in the mirror.  He's smiling often now, some at us, some at inanimate objects😊  He's also started finding his voice and tongue.  Two of his favorite places are in the bathtub and on his changing table. 
• On the Go - He's an easy companion when we're on the go - in the car, in a stroller, in the moby wrap - which is a huge blessing because we're kind of busy with two older siblings in school and activities!  

Gotta love a sleeping baby 

Checking himself out in the mirror during bath time

Growth pictures

Jace ~ 1 Month

Our baby is one month old already!  I've had a very different perspective on life with baby this time around.  We've all heard and experienced how fast time speeds by as our kids grow up.  The days can be long (ummm...yes!), but the years are fast.  I think I'm feeling this more with 12 and 6 year olds in the house.  I look at Jace and see Luke and Nora as babies and I just cannot comprehend how they changed, grew, learned, and matured so quickly!  It's like I'm seeing a timeline within my kids: infant, 6 years, and 12 years.  In another 6 years, we'll have one leaving the nest, a teenage daughter, and our last kindergartner.  I have no doubt that time will come far too quickly.  So, for now, I'm soaking in my time at home on maternity leave and the ability to focus on the family we've been given the incredible responsibility and privilege to share.

A few updates on Jace at one month:

• Sleeping - Jace is up twice a night to eat and fall right back to sleep.  My hope is that we can start finding a "regular" wake up time in the morning soon.  Sleeping during the day is another story.  His longest naps are 20-30 minutes and he sleeps best when held or in a propped up position.  This does not allow mom much time with my hands free 😒  which can be a little wearing.  He's particularly unsettled in the evenings so Brent and I take turns holding, bouncing, and rocking him (whichever keeps him happy the longest).
• Eating - Jace is a great nurser and eats every 2.5-3 hours.  He's taken a bottle a few times and has taken too it very well.  He spits up quite a bit, but it doesn't seem to bother him so we're told it's totally normal/fine.  
• Growing - He's currently in size 1 diapers (outgrew newborn size by two weeks) and wearing size 3 month clothes.  
• Fun - Jace likes anything with light, so he often looks toward the windows and or lights in the room.  We also lie a toy that lights up and plays music next to him which he turns to watch.  He likes bath time and being on his changing table...we're not sure what it is about the changing table???  Nora loves singing and reading to him...next to him...so she doesn't get spit up on.  Luke, on the other hand, enjoys holding him.  

One Week Old

One Month Old