These months are just absolutely FLYING by!
This past month has been a fun one, and it’s also had some challenges thanks to some sickness (AGAIN). But as I continue to say, each month just keeps getting better and better!
JUST FOR FUN: HERE’S A LOOK AT LUCAS AT 7 MONTHS!
Weight & Height
When we went for Alex’s 6 month appointment (a little over a week after he turned 6 months) he was 19.2lbs (75th percentile) and 29 inches (95th percentile) so I’d guess that he’s probably getting close to the 20lb mark soon. I mean, those thighs…
OB-SESSED.
Eating
Alex loves food…there’s no denying that. We’re still continuing with the solids, 3 meals a day, and things are going really well. On top of his solids, he also still nurses every 3-4 hours during the day (or gets bottles on the days he’s at daycare) and also gets one bottle of formula at bedtime. I actually feel like my supply may be dwindling a little faster right now, since I haven’t been able to pump as much as I was during the day. It’s a little bit of a bummer, but I’ll just keep on rockin’ on and see where things go. If he needs more formula, I’m cool with it.
As for solids, I finally had the chance to make some baby food! And we also tried a few new foods, too. With Lucas, I was VERY particular about which foods he tried when, how long I waited in between introducing new ones…but with Alex, I’m definitely much more lax about it #secondkidprobs. I’ve purchased a few of the BeechNut Naturals food jars and Alex really seems to love them, so I like having those on hand too.
Along with those, we’ve also tried the following:
- bananas (just mashed really well)
- avocado (just mashed really well)
- prunes
- carrots (homemade)
- peas (homemade)
- peaches
- sweet potato (homemade)
- green beans
- pears
- butternut squash (homemade)
- yogurt (plain, whole milk, mixed with a some applesauce or prunes)
Sleeping (naps)
Alex hasn’t changed too much in the nap department since last month. His first nap is typically 1-1/2 to 2 hours after waking in the morning and can last anywhere from 1 to 2-1/2 hours long. His second nap will typically happen about 2 hours after waking from his first and is usually around 60 – 90 minutes long. He’s in the crib with a blanket and may or may not be able to put himself to sleep; we were doing pretty well, then he got sick, so he regressed a little and we did more rocking to sleep. Poor baby, though…I wasn’t minding the extra snuggles.
He still typically takes a third cat nap while I nurse him after work/daycare, which can be anywhere between 4:30-5pm and will usually last for about 10-30 minutes. I just try to make sure he doesn’t sleep past 5:30 so it doesn’t interfere with bedtime. Again…definitely not minding those extra snuggles, since I apparently don’t make babies who like to snuggle very much.
Sleeping (at night)
Things are still going fairly well in this department! We had a few tough nights while Alex was sick (poor guy had a nasty cough, phlegm, wheezing, hoarseness…) and that had us backtracking a bit to rocking him to sleep. We actually attempted the Rock ‘n’ Play again one night to try and keep him a little more upright, but after he almost rolled himself right out of it, that was a definite no-go and went right back in storage.
He still sleeps in the Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit for nighttime sleep, and I’ve just recently decided I need to buy a larger size. I thought about holding off, but he sleeps so well with it, I figure…why stop a good thing? We put him down awake and most nights, he falls asleep on his own with no crying.
Alex is usually in his crib anywhere between 7 – 7:15pm; some nights, he’ll sleep until 7am. Other nights, he’ll wake up once (which can be anywhere between 10pm and 4am…that’s not quite as predictable). On the nights he does wake, I can typically nurse him super quick on that wakeup and have him back in his crib within about 15-20 minutes. Some nights he falls asleep while nursing, and other nights he’s still awake when I put him back down, but he winds up falling off to sleep on his own (which is amazing).
Clothing
Most of the 6 month clothes are starting to get put away at this point; he can still squeeze into some of them, but most are either just a little bit snug and/or short. The 9 month clothes fit him much better. He’s also in size 3 diapers, and I recently bought overnight diapers too, since he was waking up wet almost EVERY morning. They seem to have helped a bit though so it was worth the purchase (aka, not having to do extra laundry every single day).
Social
Alex is SUCH a curious little guy. Nursing him anywhere but a quiet, dark room has started to become a challenge since all he wants to do is look around and see what’s going on. This is especially true if he sees his big brother or Cody…he gets so excited for both of them!
Alex has a very strong personality, just like his brother. When he’s happy, he is full of smiles, squeals, giggles, and more. When he’s angry? He has a scream like no other and he lets you know it. But for the most part, the only time those screams happen are when he’s tired or hungry (as opposed to about 4 months ago when they happened all. day. long.).
I love watching his curiosity as he takes in all of his surroundings, and I have no doubt these next few months are going to be full of fun.
New this month
Sitting up like a champ, and also starting to pull himself around in circles when doing tummy time. He isn’t quite moving forward or back…just spinning for now.
He’s also really into grabbing faces and mimicking certain facial expressions like smiles, and sticking out your tongue. And as of recently, he’s starting to show attempts to try and pull himself up onto things while sitting (like chair legs, his jumper, etc.). He isn’t getting anywhere yet, but little man is trying!
Likes
His number ones are definitely Cody and his big brother. Seeing the excitement on his face when he sees or even hears Lucas just makes my heart melt.
And I think this picture perfectly portrays their current brotherly relationship; Lucas is always looking out for his little brother, but he’s not much of a fan of him grabbing him or ANY of his toys. Ohhh, is he going to be in for a rude awakening in a few months when he starts to get more mobile!
Other than those, he loves seeing familiar faces (mommy, daddy, grandparents), FOOD, his jumper, his PortaPlay, Sophie the Giraffe, ‘real’ electronics (our phones, the remote, etc.), reading books, being sung to, bright colors, making funny noises, chewing on everything.
Dislikes
Being too tired, too hungry, getting his face wiped, or being in the same place for more than about 10-15 minutes (little guy likes an adventure).
How is Mommy Doing?
I feel like I’m starting to do so much better. Some days can be long – very long – but I feel like my anxieties over certain things (aka, SLEEP) aren’t nearly what they were, which is mostly due to the fact that Alex has been much more predictable.
I keep saying that I need to write these separate blog posts to share all of these thoughts that I have, but finding the time to really sit down and write them all out has been challenging. Which is definitely sort of a bummer, since I love sharing my ‘mommy mind’ with you guys…but working mom life with these two is definitely keeping me busy. And right now, this is where I’m meant to be.
One thing that I have been battling quite a bit more lately is dealing with irrational fears. It started more after I first became a mom, but lately, I feel many of them starting to resurface and I’m finding myself becoming incredibly overwhelmed and worried about certain, random scenarios (for example, I’m driving with the kids over a bridge and the car falls in the water…what do I do if there are two kids in the car??). I know, it’s totally crazy and I get angry when I keep playing these over and over in my mind because it’s just a waste of time and energy and leaves me a ball of nerves. I can’t be the only one, right?
Other than that, I really do need to start taking more time to really take care of myself. And by ‘take care of myself,’ I mean take the time to actually put together healthy meals when I’m home (rather than snacking on junk, not making legit meals) and try to figure out a good time to get my workouts in. Right now, I just cannot wake up in the mornings (even on the days Alex does sleep all night!) to get my workouts in, so it’s become a bit of a challenge since I definitely have no desire to do it once the kids are finally in bed for the evening. So those are two of my goals for the coming months ahead.
I promise, I WILL get more of those blog posts up about mommyhood, though. So stay tuned!
Comparison
Ohh, little Alex. You just make me smile, and you are so incredibly loved!! <3
Those thighs! Love!! Our little boy is only a bit older then Alex, he was a chunker too!
Love both of them so, so much! You and Jay are awesome parents. I couldn’t be more proud ❤
ok – glad i’m not the only one with crazy irrational fears. i’m due next month and think all the time “what if i step on him? what if i drop him? what if someone leaves him in the car?”. it leaves me with such anxiety and a racing heart…they pop up out of nowhere and scare the sh*t out of me. i know they’ll only get worse :(
Love your mom/baby posts. Alex is such a doll- those thighs! That smile! Practicing self care is so difficult, and I have one kiddo. But I love what you said about knowing where you need to be right now.
Alex is the cutest! I have a 5-month old son, so I love reading Alex’s updates. All of his milestones make me smile and I’m excited for my son to reach those same milestones. :) You are definitely not alone in the irrational fears department! Ever since having my son, I think of so many random what-ifs. For instance, my husband and I are taking our first short weekend getaway without our son in a few months and I am already freaking out over flying while he stays home. What if something happens?! Thank you for always being so real about life. It’s so refreshing to read your blog because you do keep it real and I can relate to SO SO much of it. It’s my favorite of the several blogs I read daily, so keep it up! You are rocking parenthood! :)
Love Alex’s chunky thighs!
You are definitely not alone with the irrational fears. I had them BAD when my daughter was first born, and 15 months later I still occasionally do. It’s a struggle, but I’ve gotten better at pushing them out of my mind. Thank you for being so honest about it! It helps to hear that other people are experiencing the same thing.
Yes yes yes! To all. I have so many fears in my head lately- what if we get in an accident? What is the baby eats a Barbie shoe? What if we trip and she goes flying? It has gotten better about night time sleep since she has gotten older, but I used to worry like crazy about her breathing at night. Ugh it is crazy. As far as working out, I have never been about to get up early or do it after 4pm. I squeeze it in on days I work from home if they are both napping at the same time, or I will bring my almost 3 year old downstairs with me while the baby sleeps. That seems to be working the best. I cant help with meals- all of my meals are snacks these days. I don’t think I have eaten anything other than cheese and crackers, protein bars, and chocolate for days. ;) The baby is teething and starting to crawl so the days are very challenging lately. I wouldn’t trade it, but I do love the days I go to work too!
Love those little chunk monk thighs! To cute :). Ugh, my lo is 17 months and still gets up 1-2 times a night. Like because we are push overs ;). I hated doing after dinner/bed workouts to begin with but the have actually started to grow on me. I just had to push through the first couple of weeks…but really I had to do that when I switched to early morning workouts too. You’re doing great mama!
He is just getting cuter! And seeing hm with Lucas just warms your heart! You are not alone…the other day there was an accident where a car caught fire by my work. I called my husband to ask him if I’m in an accident with our son, what is my best plan to get him out of the car, now that hes in a big boy car seat they aren’t as easy to rip out of the car! You hear so much about SIDS when you are pregnant and they are babies…and then when they become mobile they are just so dangerous! Motherhood makes you feel like a crazy person haha!
Has he started to teethe yet?
Any advice on that? I see or feel no teeth but can tell my LO is and he is up almost every hour!!!
My nutritionist always says sleep is better than exercise if you need it! This season will pass. I think the irrational fears happen to a lot of moms, honestly, I know there’s a stigma around it but therapy can be so helpful with that. Just to have someone to get your anxieties off your chest to and learn tools to deal with them better. You’re doing great momma!
Can you work out during your lunch? I’ve found that is what works for me. I have become OK with a semi sweaty ponytail and a baby wipe ‘shower’ but it give me more time with family since i don’t go after work. I’m very lucky that we have a YMCA in the parking lot of our building so it makes it convenient and i don’t go shop at lunch ;)
I love your mom updates! I have a baby girl who’s 3 months and I definitely have some crazy fears…I’ve never been so nervous driving in my life because you never know what’s going to happen. When did Alex start falling asleep in his crib and falling asleep when you put him down awake?’ We have to rock our babe to sleep still and she won’t sleep in her crib yet. I know she’s still young but so many people say theirs was already at that point.
I totally get you on the irrational fears. Ever since having my son (four months ago) I’ve struggled with those! They are no fun! I’ve noticed, for me, some of those fears are more intense when I don’t get enough sleep, haven’t been around people as much (I’m a SAHM) or am hungry! Hope you keep feeling better! Alex is adorable :)
What a cutie! I hear you on the irrational fears. Have you talked to your doctor about postpartum anxiety? It might be helpful, especially if you feel like it’s occupying more of your time or is over really irrational things. I dealt with that myself – talking to someone was a big step in the right direction. Good luck!
The irrational fears you’ve described are symptomatic of postpartum anxiety, which can develop anytime within the first year (or even longer) postpartum. I know this because I had postpartum anxiety after the birth of my last two (of four) children. Here’s an excerpt from an article about PPA that might resonate with you: “On the other hand, if you know your worries are irrational (say, you have an intense fear that your baby will get hurt if you don’t hold him) but you can’t get them out of your brain, that suggests you may be tipping the scale. The same is true if your anxiety isn’t tied to any particular threat, if it leads you to dread everyday situations (like driving with Baby), if panic attacks come out of the blue, or if it interferes with your ability to function (because you check on him throughout the night). “Anxiety is a problem when it overshoots reality,” Howard says.”
Here’s the article in its entirety: http://www.parents.com/parenting/moms/healthy-mom/the-other-postpartum-problem-anxiety/
This is definitely solvable, with medications and/or cognitive behavioral therapy. Just opening up and becoming aware of that pregnancy can trigger such changes in our brains, and that there’s no stigma attached to having PPA, can be wonderfully healing. Good luck!
I am so glad you said this, because I wanted to mention PPA but I wasn’t sure how to do it without sounding negative or judgmental! Courtney, I LOVE your blog and realness about motherhood. I’m sure every mom has fears like that to some extent, but after my own experience with PPA, I just wanted to make sure it’s on your radar so you or Jay can keep an eye on how you’re feeling. In retrospect, I should have sought therapy much sooner, because it would have made that first year SO much more pleasant. The fears I experienced were a little different – more like creating a disastrous chain of events from something small (like the baby wouldn’t go to sleep when I knew she was overtired was a big trigger), but I just felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. I would never wish that upon anyone, so just wanted to send hugs and say to keep an eye on it!
I really hesitated to write anything, also, and I hope that I haven’t offended you, Courtney. But I also would never wish anything similar to my PPA experience on anyone, and would love to help someone nip it in the bud. Hugs to you both!
I just read the comment above & thought, “OMG I’ve had this for 17 yrs!” My daughter is 17, & I’ve had irrational fears ever since she was born. They def don’t consume my life or cause me to do things differently, but it’s something I’ve dealt w/ for a loooong time, & they are certainly unpleasant. Mine have been more focused on my daughter, but they also extend to my boyfriend & others sometimes, too. I would describe mine more as paranoid daydreams or disaster scenarios that I create in my head. I can def see where it could be construed as a form of anxiety.
My therapist (seeing for PPA) says those kind of thoughts are OCD based. And to remind myself that thought have no power over what actually happens. When a thought like that pops up I’m supposed to just notice it for what it is (oh, theres an irrational OCD thought) and then just move on. Hope that helps.
agree. the thoughts are absolutely symptomatic of OCD. the key is when one pops up, accept it instead of push it away. sounds counterintuitive. but while driving across the bridge and a thought that the car might fall in, think “yeah it might and we all might die. oh well.” it will actually lessen the frequency and intensity of the thoughts if you entertain them. it will tell your brain they are actually not threatening at all, since you are accepting them lightheartedly, and therefore the fear feedback loop will stop eventually.
You are not alone with your irrational fears! I remember one time my knuckles were white when I drove over a bridge with both boys because I was terrified we were going to fall in. It has gotten worse since my husband became a fire fighter and I have my boys alone a lot more, knowing that I am the sole person responsible for them when he isn’t around!
I’m reading this a few days late…I have the exact same fear about driving over a bridge and plummeting into the water and how I would get myself and Piper out of the car! I’ve even had nightmares about it! Where does that come from?! You’re not alone, mama!
I haven’t ever commented on your posts, but I have been reading your blog for several years and also have a daughter that is the same age as Lucas. About six to nine months after she was born I started having irrational thoughts as well. I convinced myself that I had a brain tumor (crazy- I know) and that I was not going to be around for her to grow up. Needless to say after going to my gyno and getting referred to a therapist I am much better now. But you are not alone, mothers totally have irrational fears and I think postpartum is the worst. Just know you are not the only one!! BTW… your kids are super cute :)
I so enjoy reading your blog! Your boys are adorable, and you really seem to do a great job balancing work, motherhood, and blogging. Being a blog newbie (and a full-time working mom), I wonder if you have any advice on how to get everything done. Do you have a specific time you blog, or just whenever you can squeeze it in the day? I am trying to figure out how I can effectively fit blogging 3-5 times a week into my life. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!
OMG, can I tell you I have that exact fear about going off the bridge into the water. I thought I was the only one. I have three kids but now they are definitely older and I try to rationalize that they can help but then my mind wonders into who will panic, etc. I just try to push the thoughts out of my mind and trust that I will do whatever I possibly can if God forbid any of these crazy things happened.
Your kids are adorable and I think you are doing a great job. I think it would be unusual not to have worries and fears in regard to our children, even irrational ones. We just can’t let it dictate our every decision about them and how we live.
Your boys are so sweet. I love reading about how they are growing and getting used to each other. I have a 4 year old boy and 7 month old girl (and also work full-time) so I am experiencing so many of the same feelings and emotions (and exhaustion!!) as you! I keep reminding myself that someday when I have more time to myself, I will miss being constantly needed. It helps get through those loooong days. Keep up the good work, Mama!
I read this post when you first posted it but I like going back to look as they fall in line with my son now. I could have written this exact post to a T. Same size and same exact likes and dislikes. We can’t stay anywhere for more than 10 mins before we need something new 🤣
Hahaha, that is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing your comment – I always love hearing when people enjoy the archives as much as I do! :)