barrett matthew: 1 month

Barrett Matthew is 1 month old!  

This is just the start of time flying, I'm sure.  I knew this would happen.  I remember the night before Barrett's birthday talking with Matt about how it'd be in no time that he'd be here, 1 week old, 1 month old, etc. and I couldn't fathom that.  As sad as I am that he's not a brand new newborn anymore, it is so amazing to see him change and develop everyday and I absolutely love it!

I would definitely consider Barrett a "good" baby.  We've had our ups and downs (and meltdowns), but I know we are very fortunate and blessed with an even-tempered baby who is a champ at eating and actually likes to sleep at night.  I just hope he keeps all of that up!  Don't get me wrong, he definitely has his moments-the evenings are his fussiest times and it can get a little overwhelming sometimes, and he has days where he won't take a good nap or let me put him down or is just fussier than normal, but overall he's a good kid :). 

I feel like we are starting to get into somewhat of a routine and figuring each other out.  Being together 24/7 and having him be completely dependent upon me with do that to ya.  When he's fussy or uncomfortable the immediate go-to's are burping him, picking up/holding him, walking around and bouncing, rocking in the chair in his nursery, or putting him in the wrap carrier.  He is getting to the point where he doesn't love being put down for very long.  He does well for a little bit, but then wants to be held and cuddled instead. A usual day looks like this:

*7/8 AM feed

first feeding of daytime

*morning nap

 in Rock and Play or papasan chair 

*10/11 AM feed

*play time 

(tummy time with giraffe, we just introduced the play mat, laying on mom's legs and looking around, mamaroo) and then usually little nap

*feeding/playtime/nap on repeat

He is super awake and alert after most feedings, then gets a little fussy and wants to take a little nap before next feeding. Some feedings he takes a solid nap afterwards though.

*6/7 PM feed

-usually needs extra holding, bouncing, rocking, carrying around in wrap after this feed to stay happy

*9/10 PM feed

last feeding of daytime

Mom rocks to sleep in nursery (usually with some DMB pandora too)

*bedtime 

Will usually sleep 4-5 hours after this feed. Sleeps in SleepSack Swaddle in his bassinet in our room with a sound machine going-rain or the ocean :) 

*2/3 AM feed

Will usually sleep another 2-3 hours after this feeding in bassinet

Rinse, wash, repeat.

We add in errands (I'm getting braver leaving the house!), baths twice a week (Barrett LOVES bath time), walks when it's nice, and as much cuddle time as we possibly can.

1st time trying a bottle and Dad getting to feed him! We are starting to do just a couple bottles per week so he's not shocked with them when I go back to work.  He did great with it!

One month old brought 0-3 month clothes and we said goodbye to newborn sized clothing :(.  He is a growing boy! Most of the newborn clothing fits width wise, but he is too long for them. I can't believe he wore newborn clothing for the whole first month! I thought he'd be so big that he wouldn't even get to wear them. 

1 month old Barrett loves:

Mom and Dad

Eating

Rock and Play

Sound machine (machine and his giraffe)

Being held (likes burying his face into your chest/shoulder), bounced, swayed, walked with, back patted

Rocking in nursery chair

Car rides

Wrap carrier

Bath time

Running fingers through mom's hair and scratching at her chest (his little hands are so grabby!)

Playing on his back

SleepSack Swaddle

1 month old Barrett doesn't love:

Dirty diapers (although he doesn't always love the process of changing it either)

Being burped/having a burp to get out

Too much tummy time

Late evenings

I got my first little smirks from him the day after his 1 month birthday! In the morning, he was acting like he wanted to.  Later on that afternoon, he was laying on my legs looking up at me and he gave me a couple little smirks while I was talking to him and kissing him! It was amazing! He is definitely not consistent with it, and I don't know if he actually meant to but it was so cool nonetheless :).

Weight: 9 lbs 10 oz (52%)

Length: 23 in (99%)

Head:15 in (78%)

Happy 1 month birthday baby boy!  We love you so much!

barrett's newborn photos

When Barrett was 6 days old, my good friend Jamie came down to visit, cuddle Barrett, and take his newborn photos!  I am so so glad we had these pictures taken.  She did an incredible job and now we have these pictures to always look back on and see just how tiny he was-because I am sure he will grow like a weed!

He behaved...for the most part :).  He was wide awake and alert for the first half, fussed a little once we tried to get some nakey shots so I fed him just a little snack, he fussed a little more, and then he fell asleep for the end.  We got such great shots of him and some awesome ones of the whole family too! I can't begin to even express how obsessed I am with these pictures.  I love them SO much!