Jack-to-date

I haven't really posted about Jack yet, and I need to. I should probably have this disclaimer before each post, but this blog is mostly for Sean and I to remember little things that happen everyday, things that may be easily forgotten, especially if we are blessed with more children. So I understand if this is dreadfully boring for even grandparents :)

He had a rough start at life. By day four, he had a staph infection and had to be put on antibiotics. It was terribly traumatic for me, as I worried about the possible implications for having to medicate such a young baby, not to mention the HUGE risks that exist with a staph infection. Fortunately, it was not a resistant strand, and he recovered quickly.

Then he had his first cold at 6 weeks, thanks to a loving sister, but that too resolved itself with a little nasal saline and lots of hand washing.

From the time I was pregnant, I had in my head that Jack would be my easy baby. I knew I needed that after so many sleepless days during Ambree's first months of life, and all of the crazy days since. And Jack did seem easier. Sure, I knew better what I was doing, and thankfully did not have to suffer through baby-blues this time, but he really was easier. Then about 5-6 weeks, maybe even sooner, what I thought was just gas, started to seem more limiting. He wanted to sleep all day like most babies, but kept waking and coughing, and seemingly gagging on spit-up, only sometimes spitting-up. After more observation, it seemed he had reflux. The second medication seemed to work, plus we took him to a cranio-sacral therapist, who really seemed to resolve some of his issues (we need to go back for a follow up visit). And I stopped eating chocolate, caffeine and tomato-based foods. By 10 weeks old, most of his reflux had been calmed by the above measures. I plan to try taking him of his medicine at 3 months to see if he's okay without it.

Now without any sickness and less reflux, he is doing great. He started sleeping through the night 8pm-8am at about 9 1/2 weeks, with one night feeding. And he does really well on a three hour schedule. I noticed even from the first few days that he seemed to prefer a schedule, or set himself to one on his own. And the last couple of weeks, he has been taking a LONG afternoon nap 2-5, right when Ambree naps! He still naps a little between each 3 hour feeding too.


He is easy to transport, usually content to stay in his carrier, unless he is really tired, and then he will fall asleep in his sling quickly. He loves being swaddled for sleep.

He found his hands about two weeks ago, and is remarkably preoccupied with sucking on his knuckles even when he is not hungry. In fact, this new "skill" sometimes requires practice during nursing.

He is happy to lay on his activity mat and watch a ceiling fan or his hanging toys now. This took a while, since we didn't really lay him flat for the first 2 months of his life because of his reflux.

Jack is very social. He likes to smile and is laughing out loud, especially at his sister. It is such a delight. Ambree was a very serious baby until about a year, so this is different.

He doubled his weight about a week after his 2 month mark, so he is a big boy. He gained a lot of weight early on, probably because of his reflux.

There is tons of mommy-guilt with two little ones, feeling like my time is split and I may be missing out things while tending to the other sibling. But I love having two babies. I pray this guilt will be absolved as I watch them grow to be playmates and friends.

So that's Jack in a quick blog-nutshell.