Updates from the week

I think Nolan and I are starting to get better but it seems thrush takes a little while to go away. We still have medicine for a little less than a week but I'm hoping all will be back to normal next week. This has definitely been my biggest challenge yet since becoming a mom. It's been difficult taking care of a little one when you feel under the weather yourself. I learned some valuable lessons through this experience though. I'm glad we pushed through it and that nursing is continuing to work out even if there are some bumps along the way.

Nolan's been a bit fussier than usual and more tired. I'm guessing it has something to do with the infection or the medicine that treats it. The diaper explosions have been frequent too. I still have a hard time telling what is in a normal diaper versus on with issues. I'm continuing to keep an eye on anything that seems different but as a first time parent it often can be hard to tell what's normal and what isn't. 

But anyway, enough about the issues. We have been having a lot of fun too. I am really enjoying all the sweet sounds he makes now and how he's a bit more interactive. Here are some pictures from the week!

On Monday, Sydney had her yearly check up and Nolan came along. I was lucky Nolan behaved so well because the doctor was running behind.

We've gotten into a nice bed time routine. He loves being read to! 

Dad and son technology time. Do I see another future IT guy in the making?

I love this picture of Nolan and Sydney doing tummy time together. As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm a bit concerned about Nolan's head and have been trying to keep him off his back when possible. Note to soon to be parents, try to be aware of the way the baby lays their head. I never really thought about it before but with our next baby I'll definitely be more aware of that. Babies spend a lot of time on their backs between the crib, car seat, or bouncy seat, and I don't think I realized how important it is to try and give them time on their bellies or more upright while their head continues to form.

This week Nolan also started to make new sounds. In addition to the coos and sweet noises he has been squealing a little more as seen above!

Love these new pjs. A lot of his footed pjs are getting too small. I'm not a fan of snaps either so whenever I see cute footed pj with a zipper I like to buy those. Up until this point, I haven't had to buy many clothes. We were given lots of newborn, 3, and 6 month clothes. Some

6 month still fit but typically I'm buying 9 and 12 month sizes now.

He fell asleep during tummy time. I guess he was tired from getting up at 5:30am!

On Thursday, Nolan had a play date with Preston and his mom Emily. She is a stay at home mom as well. We met on a walking trail when I was pregnant, and it turned out she lives on my mom's street, went to high school in NJ with my sister in law, and she knows my brother in law. It's a small world sometimes! I'm so glad we met and have become friends this year!

Jeremy's mom came visit that night as well. 

Today we visited Jeremy's office and ran errands. And that's all the updates from this week. More soon!

IUI one year anniversary

On this day last year, I walked into our specialist's office to have an IUI. I still remember the anxiety I felt. This wasn't how I pictured getting pregnant, and it didn't feel natural. I never imagined seeking help to start a family. After all, most of us have tried not to get pregnant for years, and now that the time was here it was difficult. We had tried to get pregnant for a year and I began to wonder, would I be able to have a baby? It felt impossible and completely out of my control.

Fast forward a year, and here we are holding our sweet little guy. I love knowing the exact day Nolan was conceived. From the moment I left the specialist's office that morning, I hoped that this month would be it. Even though we didn't know I was pregnant for another two weeks, I hoped and hoped. Those two weeks waiting felt like an eternity but it all worked out. 

The past two years have taught me so much about infertility, pregnancy, and parenting. I really do feel like the challenge to get pregnant has made me a much more appreciative parent. It's crazy to think that this time last year he was just an itty bitty life just starting to form. I remember my pregnancy app saying he was the size of a poppy seed and now he's sixteen pounds! What a difference a year makes. Thanks to Dr. Hasty and the Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine for helping us start our family. I will be forever grateful!

50,000 views!

When I started this blog just over a year ago, I honestly thought it was just going to be an online journal for me and for our family and close friends. I had kept a paper journal since high school and always enjoyed writing. At first I wasn't sure about the idea of a blog and sharing things with the Internet. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. My sister in law and a few other friends had them, and I always enjoyed keeping up with my nephews and my friends through their blogs. I also loved the idea of being able to include pictures with my posts, something that isn't as easy to do in a paper and pen journal.

You can also more easily edit things and make changes when needed on blog. I've always been a very open person and decided to start my own blog. 

Just one year later, my blog has been visited over 50,000 times! I hope that those of you who follow my blog have learned something new. I enjoy sharing my experiences both good and bad. Thanks again for reading! I love being able to see which countries visit my blog too! It's pretty neat how the world can be so connected through social media. 

More challenges

I knew being a new Mom wouldn't be easy, however,  I felt like we cruised through the first months pretty easily. All my baby experience was definitely helpful. Aside from the early breastfeeding challenges and waking frequently in the night, everything was pretty smooth sailing. It wasn't until recently around the three month mark where things got a little trickier.

As I mentioned in my last post, Nolan and I got trush. I'd never heard of this before, but I discovered it is actually quite common and easy treat. We are both starting to get better but it was definitely an experience that made me realize that it can be very difficult to tell when your baby is sick, especially when they act so happy all the time. 

Another challenge we have been having is with Nolan's head. He tends to always turn his head the same way which has started to create a bit of a flat spot. We discussed this with the pediatrician and he reassured us it should get better once he sits up and consistently rolls over. I hope that's the case but of course I have been a bit concerned about it. We are trying to prevent him potentially needing a helmet to correct the problem. After talking to lots of Mom's this seems to be a common problem among babies. This was something else I didn't realize was typical and usually corrects itself with increased tummy time and time off their backs. I'll keep you posted about this.

He also has a birth mark/hemangioma on his lower back/butt area. The doctor just said to keep watching it and look for any changes. It should just be a cosmetic thing and it's in a spot no one ever sees. I do worry a little bit about it being something that could cause a problem but pretty sure it's just a spot where the blood vessels didn't form properly. Never a dull moment it seems!

Also, I was doing really well in the beginning not questioning myself and our parenting decisions. The advice and opinions really come in all directions even when you aren't asking for advice. This week at my meeting with the lactation consultant she started giving me more advice besides about nursing. This irritated me a little bit because I didn't ask for her help regarding anything besides nursing. I left feeling defeated and was in tears by the time I got to my car.

I've tried to be strong all along and trust my gut and go with what feels best for our family but I often find myself questioning our decisions. Things like having a more structured schedule versus a flexible one and having the baby sleep in a sleep sac versus pjs. It seems like everyone you talk to has different ideas and opinions. I try to take all the comments in and adapt things to fit our baby and our lifestyle. Even still, I find myself wondering, is there a better way?

After that frustrating appointment, it took me a few days to get my confidence back and realize that I am just doing the best I can. Unfortunately with parenting, some things have to be learned by making mistakes first, and I'm beginning to understand that I need to be less hard on myself when accidents or mistakes happen. You can make yourself crazy if you stress out over every little illness, scratch, stain, mess, etc. There's no such thing as a perfect parent but there are a million ways to be a great one. Parenting is a learning process. It's incredibly rewarding but also challenging at times to. It really makes you selfless. I find myself always thinking of Nolan's needs before myself. That's a new feeling when you become a parent. Every decision you make is impacting another little human but at the same time, I think it's important to relax and try not to over think things. That's something I am continuing to work on.

Nolan's first illness and my issues too

Well I knew it was bound to happen eventually, babies and kids get sick often, however, this whole situation really caught me off guard. I wanted to share our story in hopes of making other new moms and parents more aware. I read a lot and I speak with many moms, and I had never heard of this problem. Here it goes.

It all started back when Nolan was about 6 or 7 weeks old. I noticed what I thought was diaper rash on his little boy parts. After a week or two of trying different things and nothing working, I was looking forward to our two month appointment so I could ask about it and why I couldn't get it to go away. I showed the pediatrician, and he didn't seem concerned about it so I just figured it would go away eventually.

Other symptoms started around that time as well. Nolan was having blow outs pretty much everyday, multiple times a day. He was having more dirty diapers than I thought he should but since he's my first baby I wasn't really sure what was "normal". I spoke with other moms and everyone seemed to have some blow outs but nothing like what we were experiencing. 

Those were Nolan's issues. About a week or two ago I started having problems nursing. I've always had some issues but nothing like this. It became so painful I even cried a few times. This is probably a little too much information but I've always been open on my blog and want to continue to do so. I was feeling like I had clogged milk ducts, I felt engorged, and I started having soreness on my nipples. I attributed all these problems to him sleeping longer at night and him being older and stronger thus nursing more aggressively. Both seemed like a logical cause to these two problems. 

I noticed over the weekend while I was pumping during our trip that my milk supply completely dropped. I went from being able to pump 8-10oz at a time to only getting 2-3oz. Something wasn't right and nursing and pumping continued to get more and more painful each time. I tried using Lanolin which friends recommended for my sore, cracked nipples. That didn't help either and diaper rash medicines weren't helping Nolan's rash. It was getting very frustrating but I try not to be a complainer and only really talked to a few people about these problems. Of the people I asked, no one seemed sure what was going on.

I've really enjoyed breastfeeding despite the challenges so I made an appointment with the lactation consultant I had seen twice before when Nolan was one week and about 10 days old. She was the one that introduced me to the nipple shield and helped us work through our latching issues in the beginning. Despite our insurance not covering her, and it costing $60 a session, I knew we needed help if I wanted to successfully continue to breastfeed.

At my appointment yesterday she made me aware the problem was a yeast infection and that Nolan and I had been passing it back and forth to each other. I was really caught off guard since I wasn't aware this was a thing. I immediately felt guilty I hadn't gotten us both help sooner but I had no idea it was yeast causing the problem for me and for him in his diaper. I know it sounds gross and we don't know how we got it but I wanted to make others aware of this. I'd always heard about clogged ducts and mastitis being breastfeeding problems but hadn't heard of this. The yeast infection also explains his blows outs and frequent dirty diapers. 

It's been very tough and painful for both of us but I'm glad we have an answer. Hopefully we are on the road to recovery now. We both have oral antibiotics as well as ointments for the impacted areas. I now completely understand why people give up nursing. Breastfeeding is hard. Harder than I ever imagined but it is also very rewarding and so good for Nolan which makes me continue to push through the pain. We both have medicine now. Hopefully my milk supply comes back and we both get to feeling better again. Being sick yourself while also caring for a sick baby can definitely be a challenge. I'm amazed by how much I've learned in three short months. 

It's so sad seeing him like this. He's had a low fever too and cool wash cloths seem to help. Hope he feels better soon!

3 months!

3 month pictures 

Our pictures didn't start off well! He cried and spit up so we tried again later.

Happy boy! His hair looks a bit like an old man now.

Starting to hold himself up better 

There's definitely changes from 2-3 months but not as drastic as 1-2 months.

3 month updates: 

Weight/height: 16lbs 8oz/24 3/4 in

Hair: It is dark brown. Still longer in the back and thin on top. It hasn't changed much since he was born.

Eyes: They are blue! He's much more alert now when he is awake and likes to track objects.

Clothes: some 6 month and even some 9 month

Diapers: size 3 during the day and size 4 at night

Sleeping: He is sleeping longer stretches.

Usually he sleeps about 6 hours from about 9pm-3am. He nurses and typically goes right back to sleep. We do still have some off nights where he wakes more frequently but this is becoming less common. He wakes up in the morning for his first feeding around 6:30 or 7. Sometimes it's a little earlier or later. He typically takes a mid morning nap around 9, an afternoon nap, and a cat nap in the early evening. 

Likes: nursing, car rides, walks in the stroller, his bouncy seat and rock and play, the sound machine, pacifiers, the rocking chair, his activity mat, being in the carrier, being talked to.

Dislikes: burping during feedings, spitting up in his crib or car seat

Eating: He is breastfed every three to four hours during the day. I'm pretty much exclusively nursing him except if I am out without him and not able to nurse. I prefer breastfeeding over pumping and Nolan does well with nursing and bottles of pumped milk.

Milestones/activities: he can lift his head, makes lots of noises, sneezes, and hiccups. He coos and smiles often. He rolled over for the first time last week but hasn't done it again since those first four times.

Here are some pictures from this week!

Wearing his shorts sent all the way from

Australia! 

Tummy time has been going much better. 

I could hold him all day long. I love how peaceful he looks when he's asleep. 

Out of the swaddle and into a sleep sac. He's doing much better sleeping with his arms out. 

Lauren and John's wedding

Lauren and I have been college friends since 2005. I was friends with her cousin, Emily, and she introduced us when Lauren was making college visits. We immediately had a lot in common, a love of tennis and teaching. I knew from our first meeting that if she chose Penn State that we would become great friends.

Fast forward a year and Lauren started at Penn State. I was a junior and she was a freshman but the age difference never mattered. In August 2006, she tried out for the Penn State Club Tennis team that I had been playing on for the past two years and soon we were traveling to other Big Ten colleges playing tennis matches together. We practiced four nights a week from 7-9 or 9-11, sometimes even when it was snowing. 

Our friendship soon moved off the tennis court. We spent many Saturday's tailgating and attending football games or going to basketball games. We'd go out on the town together or just relax and talk. No matter what we were doing, we always had fun.

Once I graduated, I missed college life and I moved away to Georgia but we made sure to visit each other. Lauren was a bridesmaid in my wedding. I'll never forget how Jeremy forgot to pick up his suit rental, and how Lauren and John were the first to offer to go pick it up even despite having to sit in rush hour traffic in Atlanta. This was also the first time I met John, and I loved meeting him at our wedding events.

We were so excited to see them get married this past weekend. Wishing you both much health, love, and happiness in the years to come! Here are some pictures from their special day!

Such a great couple!

I love that they met while in line for food at a concert when she asked him if she could try one of his French fries!

Friends for 10 years! Always love seeing them!

My handsome date! Loved my new dress but it unfortunately got stains on it pumping in the car haha. Breastfeeding problems! I still haven't quite figured out where is a good place to pump on the go so I got a car charger and have just been finding an empty parking lot where no one can see. If someone has tips on good places to pump in public, I'd love to hear! I rarely do this but when I have to leave Nolan for longer periods of time and can't go home in between, it's my only option. 

Cookie table. We discovered this is actually a Pittsburgh tradition. The cookies were all homemade by friends and family. 

Pretty cake!

Wearing almost the same outfit! 

I was very thankful one of my other college friends and her husband looked after Nolan for us while we were at the wedding. We unfortunately forgot to get a picture of us and our little ones. Next time. Thanks again Katie and Jeff for hosting us! It was a great first trip as a family of three! Can't wait for my brothers wedding next month!

Flying with a newborn

Next  week, when Nolan turns three months he will no longer be an newborn. He graduates into the stage of being an infant. We are getting his first flight in as a newborn though. I never imagined we would be flying with such a young baby but I also promised myself when we decided to have a baby that I wouldn't allow him to be an excuse to miss special events like weddings. One of my college friends and bridesmaids was getting married, and I knew I had to be there. It's definitely too soon to leave him home for a weekend away so he came with us! We were very fortunate another college friend hosted us and graciously babysat for Nolan while we attended the wedding.

I started preparing for this trip weeks ago. I knew our first flight as a parent would take careful planning and that I would have a lot of questions about how to make flying with a baby as carefree and smooth as possible. I posted a Facebook status asking for tips, and I got some great advice. Of all the things suggested, here is what we decided to do

-gate check the car seat and stroller (we bought waterproof bags to put around the car seat and stroller in hopes of keeping them clean)

-wear him in a carrier to board the plane.

-check a bag (which we don't usually do but we wanted our hands free of rolling auto cases) 

-backpacks as carry ons (we wanted our hands as free as possible so we could hold him and also take care of the car seat and stroller at the gate)

Those were the bigger things to think about. Next, I made a list of everything I would need to pack. Diapers, wipes, onesies, pjs, sleep sacs, burp cloths, bibs, sound machine, monitor, bath stuff, breast pump, pump parts, bottles, bottle and pump part cleaner, stroller, car seat, pacifiers, nursing pads, lanolin, and an extra change of clothes for mom, dad, and baby on the plane in case of any accidents. It's amazing all the things you need for such a tiny person. We also bought gate check bags off amazon to protect/carry the car seat and stroller in. Those seemed to work out well, and our stuff made it off the plane in one piece. 

We used a carrier to get on the plane but I'd leave that home next time and just hold him. Nursing at take off worked well and he was happy and awake or sleeping for the rest of the flight. He got a little antsy right at the end after we landed but all in all it went as smoothly as possible. 

A few other things to note. Security wasn't too bad. They did make us take him out of the car seat and stroller and put those through the security check. I walked through with him and they did that hand swab test on me since I could go through the arms up security check point holding him. I carried on two bottles of breastmilk and they just quickly looked at them under a special light and gave them back. Atlanta had a separate family security check point and Pittsburgh didn't. I definitely liked how Atlanta had a family area. That way I didn't feel like I was holding up other travelers without children as I got all out stuff through the checkpoint. We had to use elevators instead as of escalators since we had the stroller which was different than previous flying experiences. It was just as easy just took a few more minutes. 

Delta nor TSA checked Nolan's birth certificate. I had heard mixed things about needing to bring Id for him or not. On the flight their no one asked for his name or anything. On the way home when we boarded, they asked for his name and birthday. I found it interesting it was different but much preferred them having him documented as a passenger even though he was on my lap. Checking a bag was easier and quicker than usual and since we have the delta credit card our first bag was free. I always carrier on before Nolan even on long trips I packed light. Packing light isn't really an option with a newborn especially one that spits up and has frequent diaper explosions. I may have slightly over packed but better to have too much than not enough in my opinion. 

That pretty much sums up our first flight experience! All in all way better than I was expecting. Definitely recommend getting their 2 hours early because things do take a bit longer with a baby. Here are some pictures!

First family plane ride!

Checking out the planes

Man traveling is exhausting. He even slept through me taking him in and out of the car seat at the security checkpoint.

On the train to our gate!

Boarding!

Sleepy boy

Hanging out with Daddy

He got wings!

I'm really happy how our first flying experience went. Let's hope next months trip to my brother's wedding goes as smoothly!

12 weeks!

Where did my tiny newborn go? People weren't kidding when they said kids grow up quickly! I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of being a new mom. I learn things everyday and how to balance our life as a couple and with a baby. Here are some of my favorite pictures from this week!

Ice cream date at Baskin Robbins! He loves his car seat.

Love those smiles and sweet sounds 

Ready for bed!

Found his tongue.

We are so lucky he's such a happy, healthy baby.

Holding that head up!

Finding his hands and feet

Mom and baby selfie haha I really enjoy spending our days together! 

Play date with Rilynn! 

Loved seeing Ashlie and Rilynn!

Tummy time with his new friend!

And then she tried eating his hands! It's so funny to watch little ones learn to interact with one another. 

12 week update. I'll just do a quick one since I'll do his 3 month stats next week! Last weekend, he rolled over for the first time. He did it four times but hasn't been interested since then! I was glad I was able to catch it on video though. He continues to grow like crazy and weighs about 16 pounds, more than double his birth weight! Not sure about his length. He's mostly nursing with a few bottles here and there. More soon!

Dropping the swaddle

Almost twelve weeks have gone by since my life changed forever, and I became a Mom. Before being a Mom, I remember hearing stories from other moms about sleep deprivation, frequent crying, breastfeeding challenges, diaper explosions, and the list goes on. There are plenty of things I would hear, and it can make being a Mom sound intimidating. I will be the first to say, being a Mom isn't always easy and it can be exhausting but it honestly isn't nearly as tough as I was expecting. I think if you anticipate everyday being a little different and just go with what happens, it makes it a lot easier. Being a parent requires a lot of experimentation and trying different things. You've got to be flexible and adapt well to change. There are a lot of transitions that need to happen.

What I didn't realize was how many transitions there are and things that you have to adjust to. For example, our big adjustment this week was dropping the swaddle. Nolan loved being a tight little burrito and slept so well when he was wrapped up tight. I knew I needed to drop it before he rolled over, and I didn't want to wait until that day happened so I started the transition earlier than I expected. I'm so glad I did because the day after his first night unswaddled was also the day he rolled over for the first time. He can't roll from back to stomach yet so I could probably get away with swaddling for some more time but I felt like the longer I put it off the harder it would be to lose it. 

Well the first night trying the sleep sac instead was tough. By 11pm, he was still awake and back to the swaddle we went. He was asleep almost instantly after we went back to it. That discouraged me but the next night, we tried again except I had a new strategy that a friend suggested. She recommended the Halo sleep sacs that have flaps. This way, his body was still tight like a swaddle but his arms were free. I liked this idea of adjusting to the free arms first. I think he liked this better than the plain sleep sac. His sleep wasn't great that first night but better than I expected. The second night got a little better too. He definitely startled himself since his arms are free, and his legs are very squirmy but he's getting used it. 

It seems that once you get into a nice little sleeping routine something changes and disrupts the pattern. Things like rolling, teething, growth spurts, and being sick can all alter a baby's ability to sleep soundly. Getting into a sleeping routine can be a challenge but so far I feel like Nolan has handled the big transitions we have done. We successfully transitioned him from our room in a bassinet to his crib, and I think we have almost accomplished the dropping of the swaddle. After a few nights of waking up more often, he got back to his regular habit of waking up usually once or twice a night. 

He isn't sleeping through the night yet but I do think we are taking baby steps in the right direction. Now that he is sleeping in his crib, in a sleep sac, and he is heavier, I think a full night might happen soon. And if we don't get there yet, it's okay. Is he sleeping through the night yet is one of the questions I'm asked most frequently. I think we are getting there but honestly, I enjoy those middle of the night feedings. I treasure those moments together and that bond we have. I haven't slept a full night in 12 weeks but this sweet little guy makes waking up not nearly as difficult as it used to be. I was never a morning person, and I'm still not but seeing that sweet toothless grin when I go get him from his crib makes the lack of sleep all worth it. I love that he needs me to take care of him, and I know one day when he is grown up, I will these days. 

Big boy in his sleep sac! I love how the zipper opens from the bottom and makes easy access for diaper changes. He is falling back to sleep on the changing pad after his overnight feeding. 

Arms free! All in all I think the transition to his crib and to the sleep sac have gone pretty well. 

11 weeks!

Nolan was 11 weeks on Wednesday. Time is going by too fast, and I wish it would slow down a little. He is growing like a little weed and changing on a daily basis. He has gotten really big for his age. Just like when I was pregnant, I get lots of interesting comments from people about my baby.

Depending on who you talk to, you hear different things. When I tell people he is 2.5 months or 11 weeks, I get varying comments. Some people are really positive about his size and say things like "Wow he's growing well. What a healthy baby." Or things like "You must have great milk." And then you get the negative comments. "He's only 11 weeks? I would have guess he was 4 or 5 months." Or they say "are you over feeding him?" Another one I hear, "He must be formula fed if he's gaining like that." I also hear things like "Wow look at that double chin and those rolls!" Some people think the chubbiness is cute and others it seems think he is too big. At first I would say "well he comes from tall family and both his grandpas are 6'4. I guess he's just going to be a big, tall boy" Lately, I've just been brushing off the comments and letting it go. I've quickly learned that I need to stop feeling the need to defend myself and my baby.

At first, it made me wonder, am I over feeding him? I didn't think so but the comments still worried me a bit. He's exclusively breastfed about every 3 hours during the day, and he typically goes 4-6 hour stretches at night. I became concerned by the comments and was honestly a bit worried the doctor would be tell me he was too big at his 2 month appointment. One of my first questions on my list for the doctor, "can you over breastfeed a baby?" I was relieved when he said you can't over breastfeed a baby and that Nolan was just fine. He reminded me that babies eat when they are hungry and when they are satisfied they unlatch or fall asleep. This made me feel better and made me realize that Nolan is a healthy growing baby and that I can't let the input from others bother me. After all, I'm doing the best I can and learning how to be a Mom. 

I'll be the first to admit. I make mistakes and have been learning lessons on a daily basis. There were two instances this week that made me feel like I was failing as a mom. One day this week, Nolan was napping in his rock and play so I took a nap too. He wasn't swaddled. I woke up to a screaming baby with a big cut on his face. He had woken up before me and scratched himself. I know that probably doesn't seem like a big deal but it's always a little sad when he gets hurt. There was another instance this week when I accidentally bonked his head on the door while on the phone with the health insurance company trying to resolve our issues of adding him to our plan. That's a whole different story for another time but long story short, someone incorrectly entered his social security number when adding to him to our plan so his coverage was dropped instead of added. Lovely. But anyway back to the mistakes. We also had an incident where my dog scratched Nolan. There were three little mistakes this week. He cried for a minute and then he was fine like nothing even happened.

At first I felt really guilty about these situations. Then I realized that I'm going to have to get used to these types of accidents happening on a daily basis. No matter how perfect a parent you try to be, mistakes happen. As Nolan grows up, he's going to continue to get bumps, bruises, and injuries along the way. I can't get into a habit of stressing about these little things or I'll drive myself crazy. You're probably wondering why I'm sharing these stories and the reason is that I want to remember all the good times but also the times that are a little more stressful. 

Which brings me to my next point and an update on breastfeeding. Overall things are going well but each day still presents some challenges. The biggest one lately has been waiting for my body to adjust to the longer stretches of sleep at night. I run into the debate most nights whether to pump before bed or just wait it out until he wakes up. I've been trying not to pump and allow him to regulate my supply but that can cause issues too such as a clogged milk duct which I experienced again this week. It seems isn't really a right answer of what to do when adjusting to longer stretches without nursing. If you talk to different people, you'll get varying ideas. I'm still just taking it one day at a time, and I'm very thankful I have a good milk supply. I know the challenges will come and go. The soreness and pain is worth it, and I still really enjoy nursing even when it might not be as easy. At least we are both good at getting latched and in a comfortable position now! 

There's also been some sleep challenges but overall it's going well too. We've successfully transitioned him into his crib in his room for the whole night. He's still being swaddled for now although, I know I need to drop that soon once he can roll over. I tried putting him in a sleep sac last night in the crib, and it failed miserably. The crib is still pretty new to him and taking away the swaddle was tough. He was startling himself and waking himself up. I think I'm going to try a transition phase with the Halo sleep sacs that have flaps so go from there. We will get it figured out! 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from this week. 

Trying out the sleep sac. He looks cozy here but that didn't last long!

A friend gave us this paci. She works at Netflix. I like the audio control part haha. It does work, and it's even a Nuk which is Nolan's favorite pacifier.

Big smile! He's also cooing and making such sweet little sounds. When Jeremy and I smile and talk to him, he smiles and makes noises back. We love that his personality is starting to come out.

Whoops I scratched myself. 

Smiles during tummy time!

Checking the time! He loves to look at his hands, especially on the changing table and it looks like he's looking at a watch.

This week according to our scale, he is about 16lbs. I'm guessing about 24 or 25 inches now but I haven't measured him lately. We are loving every minute with him! His smiles really do melt my heart, and I can't wait to see what he learns next! More soon!