Our little man turned three whole months this past Saturday! Time sure flies!
And if there’s one thing that’s definitely grown since last month, it’s definitely those cheeks! <3
Let’s chat about how much our sweet little Alex is growing and what he’s up to.
And for fun, here’s a look at Lucas’s 3 Month Update!
Weight & Height
According to my very formal methods of weighing him (aka I put myself on the scale, then I add him with me), he was up to about 15lbs. I haven’t had the chance to see how long he’s getting, but I know he’s definitely growing since we’re already growing out of some 3 month clothes!
Eating
During the day, Alex will still nurse about every 2 to 4 hours, depending on where his naps fall. He’s still a very efficient eater and we’re usually done with our nursing sessions in about 10-15 minutes. When he’s at daycare, he’s been getting a bottle of my breastmilk about every 3 hours, which has anywhere between 4-5 ounces in it (just like with Lucas, I send whatever I pumped the day before).
We’re still currently giving him one bottle of formula at night, but the timing of when he gets it has shifted a bit throughout this month (we’re still using Enfamil Gentlease). We had previously been giving it to him around dinner time, but then that feeding was getting really close to his bedtime feeding, so we started doing the bottle at bedtime and then I’d top him off with a little breastmilk (I think the child would eat all day long if I let him!).
Now we’re actually attempting to see how he does without it entirely (unless it’s needed for any particular feeding for any reason), partly due to what I’ll mention below under the SLEEP category…
Sleeping (naps)
Alex’s naps are…all over the place! Some days he’s a catnapper and wants to nap for 30-40 minutes at a time. Other days, he’ll take a 3+ hour nap where I need to wake him up. At first I was really letting it bug me (because…schedules!) but I’ve just sort of given up and we’re going with the flow. I’m sure we’ll get there eventually as he gets older. There are many days where he’ll wind up taking a short nap in the Ergo somewhere in the evening, too, so it’s nice that he’s able to doze off in that so we can go outside or do whatever we’re doing with big brother.
Sleeping (at night)
Hmmph. Well, let’s see. So I know I’ve mentioned a couple of times about the struggles we’ve been having with getting Alex to settle at night. It started out as him just needing an extra rock or two, but over the past 5 weeks it’s gotten worse. Then slightly better…then worse again. There are many nights where Alex just won’t settle for anywhere from about 7-10pm and most of the evening is spent going back and forth to settle him, etc. He’s clearly tired, but it’s like there’s something going on that’s causing him to startle awake or just not be able to fully fall asleep.
I’ve tried earlier bedtimes, later bedtimes, making sure his last nap wasn’t too far away, feeding extra, feeding less, no swaddle, velcro swaddle, larger sized swaddle…I’ve tried not rocking him to sleep and letting him settle on his own, I’ve tried rocking him to sleep until I think he’s completely passed out…you name it, I’m pretty sure we’ve tried it. And in the end, it all just boils down to the fact that…THIS IS BABY SLEEP.
As my dear friend Chelsey reminded me yesterday, babies will be babies. I can Google search until my little heart’s content (trust me, I have) to figure out what the heck is going on, but in the end, this is (hopefully) just a phase and before we know it, we’ll be on to dealing with something new. I just always find it so frustrating when I don’t have a solid answer for something, you know? Like, OH he’s in a Wonder Week? Okay, makes sense! Or, OH he’s teething! I can’t attribute it all to anything at this point so it just is what it is.
The thing is, once the finally DOES fall asleep, he’ll typically sleep until about 7ish the next morning (with the occasional days he’ll randomly wake up at 5am then usually sleep until 9am). So really, I cant complain all that much because I totally get it could be so. much. worse. It’s just frustrating because that timeframe (7-10pm) is usually when we try to get everything else done (like clean up, dishes, blogging, Usborne Books stuff) and also when we need to get Lucas to bed time. Never mind the fact that I still like to try and get a few minutes to catch up with the husband! I feel so behind on everything which just leaves me feeling totally off and anxious. But right now, if Alex needs be during those times, then he’s my top priority and that’s just how it goes. The other stuff will have to wait.
I realize even as I’m typing all this now that it’s probably coming across rather intense, and that’s likely because we’ve really had a few rough nights and I’m low on sleep. So you’ll have to forgive me. I’d say that hopefully I’ll have better news for his next update, but that will put us at 4 months and know what that means (dun dun dunnnn…sleep regression).
Clothing
Some 3 month and 3-6 month outfits, most of his sleepers are now size 6 month. He’s also upgraded to size 2 diapers(!).
Likes
Eating, being held (facing out so he can see the world!), chewing his hands, cooing/talking, smiling, his big brother, baths, having his hands/palms rubbed (calms him down probably 8 out of 10 times, so random!), his playmat. Alex has a personality very much like his brother did when he was a baby; when he’s happy, he’s over the moon happy and full of smiles. When he’s not happy, he lets you know it in a big way.
Dislikes
Being overtired, tummy time for longer than about 2 minutes, most car rides (although he has gotten better!), taking a paci
How’s mom doing?
Honestly, it depends on the day. Some days, I’m totally good and go with the flow. Other days, I have shorter patience or just feel sort of…down. Defeated might also be another way to describe it?
Having a strong-willed three year old and an infant at the same time is just not easy. At least not in my house! And there are often times when in find myself wishing I could fast-forward through some of these days, when I know I should really be embracing them. But sometimes, it’s just freakin’ hard to embrace the moments where my toddler is throwing a tantrum or not listening to a word I say while his little brother is screaming in my ear because he only napped for 20 minutes. Ya know?!
Compared to Lucas, Alex can be a tough baby. He doesn’t do well outside of a “routine,” and unfortunately (fortunately?) he’s most often able to get the most calm when he’s with his mama. On the one hand, that almost makes me feel like I have super powers…like, “hey, look at me! I can keep him happy(ish) because I’m his mom!” But then there are other times, like when I’m 2+ hours in with rocking him or getting him to stop fighting sleep at night where I don’t want to be the only one that makes him calm.
Most days are crazy and chaotic and it’s the kind of chaos that I’m learning to embrace because, well, it’s not going to be going away anytime soon!
Typical Lucas running around like crazy!
I’m also feeling a bit more emotional and guilty this month with all of the transitions we’ve had. Thankfully, they’ve been pretty good for the most part. Alex and Lucas are doing well at their daycare, and Lucas also really seems to love his preschool so far which is wonderful.
Honestly, I know how incredibly lucky I am to have these two amazing little boys in my life and to be able to have them call me mom. They are true blessings, and as much as they make me crazy sometimes, they’ve also shown me a love that runs deeper than I could have ever imagined. I know I tend to spill my emotions quite a bit on here, so hopefully nobody takes that as a sign of me being ungrateful for what I have. Because how could I not be anything BUT grateful for these two?
But even still, that doesn’t mean it’s not hard. Because it is hard! But we’re getting there. I know it will only get easier with time and before I know it, I’ll be writing Alex’s 1 year post and we’ll be in a completely different place! Hopefully.
Megan says
Alex is so so gorgeous! Both of your boys are :-)
I love your blog SO much and appreciate your honesty. I have an almost 2 year old and started back at work full time two months ago. It is so so hard in so many ways and my husband and I put plans for baby number two way on the back burner. I so admire you; it’s hard enough doing it all with one child, I can’t imagine doing it with two.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings, you are very inspiring
Stephanie says
My first baby just turned three months and will start daycare in a couple weeks…she is also typically only calmed by me. Did you do anything special to prepare Alex for daycare? It’s definitely the right decision for our family….I’m just a little nervous for her!
Linz @ Itz Linz says
Both the boys are gorgeous! You nailed it with “baby sleep!” But hey that is impressive that he sleeps til 7 once he’s down, even though that takes forever! You’re doing great momma!
Allison says
No kids yet over here but I appreciate your honesty! Love that you keep it real on your blog.
Lisa says
I feel you mama. You are doing a wonderful job….you don’t have to love every moment of everyday (you know those people who say,enjoy it, it goes by too fast….like we don’t know that?)
having little kids is HARD, I don’t enjoy every moment of the day but I enjoy a few little moments each day and that’s how we get thru the days…like when they smile, or cuddle, or say something funny, or a successful outing, grab on and focus on those moments….go easy on yourself,every month gets easier…over here (4yr old and 9m old) things got way better after the 6m mark and that’s also when daytime sleep gets more consistent
Even though we would not trade it for the world it’s ok to not love every day right now….You got this.
Suzanne @ My Life is a Mix says
The reality of being a mom is that it IS hard. It’s incredible and heart warming but it’s also, pull your hair out tough some days!
I’m an “experienced mom” with an 11, 8 and almost two year old and there are nights I lay my head down on my pillow thinking I’ve done it all wrong. Lack of patience, wanting to GO to work, wanting them to be better behaved, you name it. But we also have really amazing days, too. It’s normal!!
Having said all of that, if you think you are struggling with PPD at all, don’t hesitate to mention it to your doctor. It’s also normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Just had to throw that out there…..for all the mamas!!
Megan says
Oh my goodness, I feel you. I only have one babe (12 wks tomorrow), so I can only imagine how tough it is with two, but some days I feel like it’s SUCH a struggle. My little one is pretty good about going down at night, but day time napping is…not really happening. And then he gets over tired and freaks out, which means I can’t get anything done (breakfast, a shower, work, you name it, hah). I feel like I’ve tried everything and sometimes things work, but there’s no pattern, no routine for the daytime. So frustrating! I try to remind myself, for everything there is a season. Thanks for being so honest!
Kati says
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and rarely comment but this post definitely struck a cord with me. Please don’t feel like you are complaining or anything in regards to Alex and his sleep. My son, Max, is 9 1/2 months and sounds VERY similar to Alex at that time. Unfortunately, I don’t have advice for you but I do have lots of empathy (and even more so because you have a toddler to chase, too!). Max hated the car, pacifiers, being put down, and sleeping/napping. I spent the better part of my 5 month maternity leave trying everything in my power to get him to sleep/nap better and honestly, if anything I did changed anything it was probably marginal. The thing that helped the most was time. I HATED hearing this advice at the time, but you seem to know from experience that babies are who they are and everything is a phase. Hang in there! Max now LOVES the car and although he still hates napping (we get MAYBE a one hour nap and a 30 min nap in the afternoon) he’s happy 90% of the time, healthy, developing fine, and he sleeps 11 hours at night.
As moms, and maybe just as women, I think we have a strong urge to want to make everything “right”. I still struggle with this daily (as I check our daycare app religiously to see how Max’s naps are going….) but reading posts like yours make me realize that there is nothing wrong with Max (or Alex) and they are just babies! Babies that will figure it out in their own time and in the meantime, they’ll enjoy (and we should, too) all the extra snuggles! You are doing AMAZING! Thanks for sharing honest posts :)
Katie says
Yes! to all of this. My 2.5 year old (who has always been an amazing sleeper since 7 weeks old) has decided she wants to get up every night once or twice and needs a kiss and us to watch her “lay down”. So, I have that plus a three month old that gets up once or twice plus 5 times a night for a paci redo. So, my husband sleeps next door to one and I am in next to the other. I don’t think we have slept in the same bed since we had the baby. It is crazy that is for sure. And I feel terrible that I cant go outside and play with the older one, or do things that she wants to do because of the baby. It is definitely a very hard time. But, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I would just like a little more sleep! :) I just went back to work today and I cried the whole way. It is like, it is so exhausting and draining some days (most) when you are home, but when you leave, it is gut wrenching. This multiple kid thing sure isn’t for the weak at heart.
Jenna says
Our 10 month old has slept through the night maybe 3 times! He goes down extremely easy…but is up around 11-12 every night! haha we all have our struggles, but as a working mom I try to embrace any time I have with him. It isn’t easy to embrace it EVERY day =p but sometimes a gentle reminder to myself that he won’t be a baby forever and to cherish anytime together helps.
PS your boys are absolutely precious ;) you are doing great Mama!
Laurel says
Courtney, I enjoy reading your blog over other HLB’s because you don’t sugarcoat everything. I have an 8 month old son and we’ve also been going through a lot of transitions (a move to a new city, new jobs for both my husband and myself). It’s hard (our son still doesn’t sleep through the night!), and sometimes it feels like I’m barely keeping my head above water. Just know that you’re not alone and you are doing great! Hang in there!
Fiona says
Never feel like you have to justify your frustration with ‘I’m so lucky, or you know I love my kids’ we as mama will never stop loving our kids, but darn it , it’s a tough job! And especially when each kid is so different, I wish they came with manuals because my type A self would really love that! I can’t even talk about sleep because we sleep trained our son at 6 months and yes most days are great, the naps took FOREVER to come together no matter what I tried, (I did everything, black out blinds, sound machine, watching for sleep cues) and still he slept max 45 a nap (sometimes there would be 6 a day) until he was 9 months and things just seemed to fall into place…so girl you’re doing ALL you can..keep up the great work, you’re an awesome mama! xo
nadine says
Hang in there, it does get better !! I remember when I had my first child, my sister came over one day found him crying in his crib, and me crying in my bed……….I was exhausted………..BUT went on to have to have 2 more children !!! Cherish the Good & the Bad, because before you know it they will be all grown up & you will have an Empty Nest !!!
Erin says
You’re doing such a great job!! If you like podcasts, I HIGHLY recommend One Bad Mother – it’s a comedy podcast about parenting. Worth it to start at the beginning, I think it would be right up your alley. I’m obsessed.
Katie says
YES!! Second (Did you notice my “You’re doing a great job” comment below? ;)
ERIN says
Haha, nice! YOU’RE doing a great job too! :) :)
Katie says
Oooh boy, Alex sounds just like my first!! It took ages to settle her down at night, and it was so frustrating! We were total zombies. Around 7 months, we finally did some sleep training and it worked in a few days. At 2.5, she still takes FOREVER to settle down most nights, but luckily, she happily reads/talks/sings herself to sleep :)
Hang in there! It’s so hard, but you’re doing a great job!
Julie says
As I was reading through the sleep part, I did not think you came across as “intense” nor did you seem ungrateful. Not at all. Actually, I’m sure it’s extremely helpful for other moms in this same phase of life (I have a teenage daughter… halp!) to know they’re not alone & that everything isn’t rosy all the time, as some blogs tend to portray. You simply come across as very relatable… this momming thing is HARD! I only had 1 child so I never had to deal w/ the whole toddler/baby at the same time, & I can’t.even.imagine! Bless!
Elizabeth says
My second will be 4 months old on Friday and her sleep patterns are identical to Alex’s. However, instead of waking at 7-8 like she used to, it’s now 4-7AM paci replacements. I follow wake times, sleep cues, etc and have found myself so frustrated. Trying to think of it as just a phase that ends sooner than later! Thanks for sharing!
Leah says
Thanks for your honestly. You have some handsome boys. Being a mom is plain tough and sleep deprivation is the worst. I had two difficult babies. Some how you get through it and eventually we all sleep again. Hang in there. You are an awesome mom!
Laura G. says
I can relate to you and it is comforting to hear I’m not the only one with the exact same feelings! I have a 2.5 yr old little girl who is such a mamas girl and just brought baby sister into the house a week ago! Adjusting to 2 is a challenge and Daddy goes back to work tonight! He works 1pm-12am., so bath time and bed time is all me tonight with 2! Nervous wreck! Thankfully my 1 week old still naps a lot, but she always has impeccable timing on when to wake and fuss I swear! Lol Thank you again for your candid blog on Mom life with 2! I’m feeling your pain :-)
Shaina says
Momma . . . you’ve got this. I know EXACTLY what you are going through (I have a strong-willed 3 year old and a difficult since birth 11 month old) and my life has been chaos since #2 came. I seriously had to just decide to embrace it, even the sleepless nights. I kept telling myself – it won’t last forever. And it doesn’t. Its so so so freaking hard when you’re in it, but looking back we will laugh and cherish all.the.moments – even the screaming toddler and screaming baby ones! ;-) I seriously feel you on all this. It’s actually made me quite chubby because all i want to do is eat – its what I feel like I can control and what I enjoy most! Uh oh! lol So don’t do as I do but . . . let them be little. Just try to stay sane through it all. Chat with other mommas – we gotta stick together :-)
Justine says
Hi Courtney,
Have you heard of Merlins Magi Sleep Suit? It looks ridiculous, but it really is magic! You can get it in Amazon. My daughter is now 8 months old and no longer needs it but we used it from 3-6 months.
Hope you get some sleep soon!
Justine
Eva says
You speak the truth and you’re definitely not alone :) I have a three year old and a two month old. It is so much harder than I thought it would be. You’re doing a great job!
KrickettwithaK says
Have you tried a sleep sheep/sound machine to get him settled at night. It definitely helped my son.
Courtney says
Oh yes, we absolutely do! Lucas still uses one to this day, too :)