I owe a giant thank you to my mom for pushing me to put Beck on a schedule! "It's the only way you're going to survive and get sleep!" At two weeks old I thought eh, there's time to do that later, but mothers know best so I listened to mine haha.
From day one Beck was eating every three hours (or at least trying to - revert back to previous post). The schedule is eat, wake, sleep, in what ever time increments as long as it stays in that order. No snack feeds, no cat naps. Eat, wake, sleep! And guess what, he slept the whole night through, 10pm-7am at 7 weeks old ;) Thanks mom, you're always right haha.
I think it's adorable when he holds on to Woody.
For the last three or so weeks, he's been sleeping through the night except two nights. But that's pretty good. I'm still not sold that this is set in so I naturally wake up between 3 and 4 kind of waiting for him to wake up. A couple times I thought he was going to so I heated up the milk (I pump and he eats from a bottle for his night feeds) but he never woke up! So sad every time I dump my 5oz of hard work down the sink. But hey, remember when I had no milk at all?! Look at me now - pumping and dumping haha.
Tummy time!
Okay, before you mommas get mad at me or compare "but my baby hasn't slept through the night and he/she is one" don't worry. Unlike most social media where people post only the happy things and you think their life is fantastic, I'm here to give you real life. So yes, he has a schedule, night time is great, I always know when it's a hungry cry or tired cry, but that's it. Everything else is insane and sometimes I think he's Satan's child. (Obviously kidding, no need to call cps on me)
Beck screams and cries and like all the time, hence the title. Everyone is always saying "what? I can't hear you..." It seems like he nevvverrr sleeps. Yes, he sleeps at night. 8 1/2hrs is not good enough for a baby. He eats, we play, then he gets grumpy and tired and wants to sleep. BUT, it's never that simple. Holy crap this kid does NOT know how to self sooth, not even a smidge. He wants to be swaddled and bounced and tapped on the butt and have his eyes covered, oh and don't forget to walk around - heaven forbid you want to sit down! The yoga ball works wonders too.
After all of that, he sleeps in his crib, but usually an hour later will wake up. His little eyes are so tired but he just can't sleep. Sometimes he will go back to sleep but only if I hold him and rock him for exactly 40min, no less. Some nap times I don't do that though because, well I just don't want to or there's other things that need to get done. After that if he does fall asleep, it's 30min before it's time to eat again and if I don't go get him, he wakes up on his own because he knows it's food time!
Beck has a little colic and a lot of acid reflux. Like forget the burp cloth and grab 2 towels. One for your shoulder and one for the floor! I'm pretty sure that's what wakes him up because he will either puke a little or burp right after that hour nap. Poor guy, so much discomfort. It's hard to remember that he's just hurting because all you're thinking is OMG kid! Why are you screaming and screaming!? What do you wanttttt!?? (Followed by frustrated mom tears)
Little Beckham doesn't like his carseat, can't sleep in it (he has 3 times), can't sit quietly and calm in it whether we are inside or in the car. He used to do well in it while being pushed in the stroller, now we try to just not go places or just listen to him scream until we get there.. literally. Since starting him on baby zantac for the reflux, he seems to be doing better in the car.
Had to get a picture for proof!
Hmm, what else... Some times when I've just gotten him to sleep I have to sneeze and that's the worst. Or I'll get him to fall asleep but he wakes up if I put him down, so finally getting him asleep enough for me to sit in the rocking chair, my arm starts to get all numb and tingly being trapped between his head and the arm rest. He likes to be held, all the time :/ but sometimes I just need to pee! A few days ago was nuts. Besides giving up and putting him in the baby sling so I could pee, (yes that happened..) from 6:50am - 9pm Beck slept 2 hours (not consistent) and was so pissed the whole day. For what ever reason, he could not fall/stay asleep so he was literally just awake all day and not happy one bit. Hard day. It showed though; this morning after he ate we went ran a couple errands, came home, did the whole dance to get Beck to sleep, ate lunch and then realized my pants had been on inside out all day hahah. Luckily they were just like workout capris so maybe not too noticeable.
Of all the craziness, he's still cute and I'm grateful for all of Matt's help and my mom breaks so I can miss him after all of it! Beck learned to laugh the other day and oh my goodness it's the cutest thing and a nice happy break from the screaming ;) Some days he will get a nice 3hour afternoon nap and stick to the actual schedule, that's how I find time to "keep up" here.
He still loves a party, and does wonderful when there's lots of people and noise. It's hard to get the house that way. But when we go to gatherings, it blows my mind and I'm like "who's kid is this?!" I will see people hold him just walking around doing whatever and he just falls asleep.. just like that. No swaddle, no bink, nothing. For the life of me, he will not do that for Matt and I. Anyway, it's been an adventure I'll say.
Of course, I typed this and then a week later he did it. smh..
As far as my own "mom life" there are for sure moments where I get overwhelmed but even in those moments I know this is what I want to be doing. I take it one day at a time and just remind myself that I will never get that day back and tomorrow he will be older and bigger.
I love sandwiches these days, they are simple, easy, quick, and always there! Perfect lunch ;) Just got new shoes for my birthday and a jogging stroller, started going to zumba, and trying to eat healthier. Eventually my pants will button comfortably haha. Life with ...a lot... of stretch marks is hard. No matter how much exercise is done its hard to see past all of those big lines! Another weird thing is the hair loss. I literally have bald spots near my temples haha so I 'm usually wearing a headband to cover! Matt likes to call me Lebron.
I feel like I spend too much time pumping but I'm so traumatized from the three times I had no milk, I just want to have stock pile in case I lose it again! I pump after every feeding. After what ever Beck eats, I pump an additional 20oz a day. Needless to say, our freezer is out of space three months later.
literally full of milk...
On Saturday I had a really cool night. My mom came and stayed the night with Beckham, and I went on a ride along with Matt. It was awesome. The night wasn't too busy but still got to see a lot and hang out with my favorite person. I even had hours at a time where I forgot I had child. Haha it was a fun break and he was that much cuter when I saw him Sunday morning. Crap was that a tired day haha. Anyway, I'm grateful for the help from everyone, Matt has been a terrific husband and father! People have asked if it's hard being a mom with his schedule or seem to make him feel bad when they ask who gets up with Beck at night (not that he's usually up these days), but obviously Matt doesn't because he's working. But I always want to let them know what his off days are like the whole day! He is so helpful and sweet to us both. Whether it's me having the meltdown or Beck, he is always able to calm us down and keep a clear mind and happy heart. He plays with Beck, feeds him, and seems like he's always washing bottles and pump stuff, tossing out diapers, the whole shebang! Though there are the hard times where I might feel jealous that I can't just relax and hang out even when other people have the baby, always listening for his cry, being on the mom clock 24/7, i think all of that just comes with being a mom and it does make my breaks more refreshing when I get them haha. I feel so fortunate to have a helpful loving husband and that I have a handful of people I feel comfortable leaving Beck with and for this new journey I'm on. It's what I've always wanted to do and I'm so happy Matt's able to let me have it this way!
Beckham is obsessed with his head. Especially when he eats, can't keep those hands down!
His medicine seems to help him like his car seat for short spurts.
p.s. he has a cute happy face here, but the backside of this social media facade - 20 min prior he pooped so much it oozed out of his diaper, up his back, all over the car seat, and on my leg.. and arm.. and hands... while we are at the mall haha. Needless to say, how do you like Beck's new shirt we had to buy?
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