Happy one month!

Last Monday, baby T. celebrated his one month birthday (yay!) It's amazing how fast time flies. I know the first few weeks I couldn't wait for time to pass by but now, as I am slowly getting used to my new life and falling madly in love with my little pumpkin, I can't believe how quickly the days and weeks are passing.

Given that he's still small and we can't celebrate his birthday in a big way (we'll wait for the 1-year mark for that!), we did a mini celebration with C. and Grandma Cho. It was very low key. Truth be told, likely more low-key than I would have liked and mostly because I couldn't get my act together. Every time I was meaning to go out to get some proper props for his birthday (e.g., cute birthday hat, birthday napkins, etc.) or was thinking about baking some birthday goodies, I would be either out of time or luck (store would be closed or I would miss my chance to go out/bake). The 2 hour window I would have in between feedings would mysteriously disappear. Thus, I'm embarassed to say that the cupcake was from the local supermarket (gasp to all my epicurean friends!) and his birthday outfit, which was what he was wearing that evening plus his bear hat, totally mismatched in a major fashion faux pas way! Next time, mommy will have to bake him a proper cupcake and/or cake and get a cute well-deserved birthday outfit for this worthy celebration. Shame on mommy!

Also, a few days after his birthday, we also went to see his doctor, Dr. Chapman for his 1-month visit. Things we found out ---

• As of his 1-month visit, Tristin weighed 8 pounds and 14 ounces! (yay..given only a month ago he was 5 pounds 2 ounces!) and was 20 1/2 inches long.



• He also jumped from the 5th percentile weight to 25th percentile



• Doctor said we shouldn't worry about overfeeding -- infants usually know when to stop and there's no way you can overfeed. He didn't seem to worried about T. eating 4-5 ounces/feeding



• His newborn screening tests were all normal



• During this visit, he also got his second hepatitis shot
  

Next month, he will be getting a series of more vaccination shots (e.g., Polio, DTP), some of which may have some side effects, like fever. Not looking forward to see the little pumpkin in pain!

Baby T. getting ready to blow out his candle (just as soon as mommy removes his pacifier)

You did it, Tristie! Happy birthday kiss from daddy

Happy 4 weeks!

Last Friday, Baby T turned 4 weeks! Yipee!! Happy 4 week birthday! (Ok, I know I'm becoming one of those obsessive mommy who wants to celebrate every week and day of his life!)

Week 4 was a turning point for Baby T & myself. Not in a major way but just in the fact that I told myself at week 4, I would feel more relaxed about taking him out and about (not that C. and I didn't beforehand). I would also give myself the option to begin weaning him off breastmilk and increasing his formula intake (which I've decided not to do yet..) It's also the week I started to focus on "me" -- meaning I am allowing myself to exercise and get out of the house to go running/head to the gym/etc. Needless to say, week 4 was the first time in many long, grueling weeks where I felt like I had made enough traction in my long baby marathon run to get a "second wind". I was starting to truly enjoy motherhood.

I no longer fear the sleepless nights. Instead I embrace it as a chance to spend more solo time with Baby T. In fact, in a strange way, even in my state of slumber, I look forward to waking up and seeing him cry. And at week 4, I feel even more in love with my little blob -- even if he has no clue who I am nor likely care that I feed and change his diapers.

Don't get me wrong -- it is not that things are any easier -- I think I'm just more used to my new life and have gotten more accustomed to the routine. I'm now able to embrace the challenges vs. fear them.

Enough about what my mom thinks. Facts about me (Tristin)

• I hate diaper changes!! I don't know why mommy and daddy make me do it but everytime they change me, I cry! Wuahh!
• I like to poop and pee -- in fact, the last time daddy changed my diaper (this past weekend), I pooped and peed while he was changing me (daddy had to also change thereafter!)
• I don't like my pacifier. Mommy keeps giving it to me to shut me up (I think!) but I like to spit it out (he he)
• I like making a lot of grunting noises when I sleep. Actually, I like making a lot of grunting noises period!
• If my milk doesn't come when and how I want it (fast let down preferably), I become Mr. Cranky!
  

"Check out my muscles!"

"Wazzup again"

Hanging onto grandma's finger

Hanging out on mommy and daddy's bed

Daddy and me - do we look alike?

"Don't let go, grandma!"

Bathing like Beckham (like my mohawk?)

Our chunky monkey

Can you overfeed an infant?

One of the big dilemmas C. and I are facing these days is whether baby T. is eating too much. He takes in 4-5 ounces of breastmilk or formula per feeding about every 2-3 hours. In many cases, 4 ounces isn't enough and it isn't until he's had about 5 ounces that he is satisfied. Concerned that we might be overfeeding our Chunky Monkey, we started doing research on the internet.

Although we still have yet to get a doctor's opinion (we will do that in a few days when we go for our 1-month checkup), it seems there's no real way to overfeed an infant. In most cases, you'll know when an infant is full -- they will either turn away and not eat (even if you try to force it down) or they'll regurgitate (non-projectile) the milk you give them. Further, all infants are different and some will eat more than others so the best thing to do, it seems, is to just follow your baby's cues.

If you are very concerned that your baby is over-eating, you can opt to give the baby a pacifier to make sure he's not eating when he really wants to just suck and use a slow-flow baby bottle. We're trying to do both to make sure he's eating what he wants.

Truth be told, I am happy that Baby T. is eating well and heartily. He was likely so hungry in mommy's tummy that he's compensating for the nutrition he didn't get. Also, it's quite funny to see him eat -- he becomes a piggy monster. He'll grunt and make a lot of noises as he's sucking. Sometimes, he'll momentarily scream and cry (who knows why?) and then continue to suck. In most cases, he'll also grab either your finger or the bottle (likely because he wants to make sure you are properly feeding him!). As my mom always mentions, there's nothing "feminine" about this little boy -- he eats like a true Korean ajushee. Gobbling up everything in sight. Mouth full.

Bottomline -- don't get in his way of eating. Piggy monster (who has become a chunky monkey!) is on a mission!

On daddy's back getting ready for a burp

Baby T. likes to lift his head on daddy's back.

"I wonder if I can jump over daddy's shoulder...tired of all this burping junk"

"Stay away from my bottle.."

To "B" or not to "B"?

This may be TMI (too much information) for most people who read this blog but in the life of a breastfeeder, there comes a time when a bottle must be introduced. For some, this bottle comes during the early days. For others, it comes much much later. For baby T., it came at the end of week 3 for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, despite my lactation consultant visits, I was still feeling more pain than I wanted to endure. Right before Baby T's hungry cries would ring through my ears, I would dread the upcoming feeding sessions. Nights were especially bad because Baby T. would be especially hungry and would tug, whine, push and pull himself away from me. It would take a while to get him to latch and then once he did, it was a fight to keep him happy.

Second, I was noticing that even after each feeding, baby T. was still hungry and unhappy. And last but not least, I was getting consumed by the whole notion and act of breastfeeding. I was living, breathing, interneting breastfeeding and I needed some form of sanity back (as well as flexibility). So, I introduced the bottle and decided to pump. I still wanted baby T. to get the benefits of breastmilk...just not at the expense of mommy pain.

So, here we are at the end of week 3. It's not a perfectly harmonious relationship because pumping is still painful and even with the flexibility of bottlefeeding, I am still up every 3 hours. Yet, I am grateful for the decreased night "fights" with baby T and the increased "lower-pain" bonding with Tristin.

And of course, am loving the fact that he's getting the amount of milk he wants and well-deserves (4-5 ounces per feeding every 3 hours!) and he's putting on some double and triple chins which C. and I find absolutely adorable. Can't wait until he's one big ball we can bounce around!

Baby T. on grandma's shoulder after a feed -- "can you count how many double chins I have?"

Hanging out on the couch in his pooh bear onesie

Pondering after a big feeding

"Welcome to my 'hood.."

"Yo, whassupppp?"

Mommy cradling Baby T. after he passes out after a feeding

Daddy feeding Tristin (C.'s fav thing to do after work!)

Trying to pass incognito

Hanging on grandma Cho's shoulder after a burp

Daddy bottlefeeding Tristin again

Pics from the weekend

Baby T.'s toes

Being held by grandma Cho


Staring at grandma during a feeding

"Why you looking at me? Leave us alone.."

Waking up from a nappie

In my crib with my pacifier and Ellie

Hooray, he's awake!

As an infant, there are very few moments when Baby T. is wide awake and in his active alert stage. Of course, this has been slowly changing over the past few weeks and Tristin has started to slowly become more alert but for the most part, his daily routine still consists of eating, sleeping and pooping/peeing. However, for the sake of balancing all the photos of him sleeping, I decided to take and post pictures of him during his short, albeit sweet "active alert" moments.

He looks bigger in these pictures than he really is -- from the photos, he looks like a few months old but it's all an illusion - much thanks to the close-up shots. Also, as his face gets fuller, he's starting to look more like C. when he was a baby (will need to get a baby shot of C. so we can compare!)

Tristin holding mommy's finger

My, oh my, what am I doing here?

Trying to maneuver my way out of the swaddle

YAWN......

Putting my hand in my mouth (one of my favorite things to do)

Staring off intently

T is also for Three (week 3!)

The challenge continues. Despite the fact that week 1 and 2 were, by far, the hardest weeks I've endured in a very long time, week 3 still proved tough with some good days and some bad days. The highlight, however, was the fact that baby T. passed his hearing exam -- for which we were incredibly relieved. During his first few days in the hospital, his right ear had failed the initial exam and both C. and I were incredibly nervous of what that would mean (needless to say, with my raging emotions, I was a mess!) Although the audiologist mentioned that most babies pass the second or third time around (and the main reason why they don't pass the first time is usually because there is still fluid in their ears), the pessimist in me wondered if baby T. woud be the exception. Luckily, two times (and not three) was a charm for us as he passed his hearing test this week! What a HUGE relief! Yay!

Its put the past few weeks of challenges all into perspective!

Above picture is one of the sleepy smiles we were able to capture while he was nestling on Grandma Cho's chest

Baby T with Grandma Cho

Another picture of Baby T sleeping -- even when we try to swaddle him, baby Houdini somehow always manages to wiggle his arms out of the swaddle (here's the proof!)