Blog Update - 32 weeks old

Age:  32 weeks 

Weight: He is due to be weighed on Tuesday but I'm thinking somewhere between 16.5 and 17 lb.

Health: I gave him some Weetabix with cow's milk (just a couple of spoonfuls) and he had a lot of vomiting and discomfort so I don't think we're quite over the intolerance.  His reflux has been worse this week but that could be due to teething/drooling a lot.  He had a reaction to an Ella's Kitchen purple pouch today too with quite a bit of vomiting and a rash all over his face and wherever the vomit touched.  He's had a similar reaction before to the same pouch so we're pretty sure it's that - the ingredients are only apple, banana, strawberry, blackcurrant and lemon juice so it's got to be the blackcurrant or lemon as he eats the others regularly with no issue.

Feeding: I'm so proud of how well he's getting on with his solid foods and he's stretching out his breastfeeds a bit more too, he tends to feed 2 hourly but his solid meals count as one of those feeds so he can go 4 hours.  He's eating pretty much whatever we put in front of him and his dexterity is improving by the day.

Sleep: This has been a BIG thing this week.  We put him in his cot on Friday night but then he had major teething issues and ended up screaming so we brought him back into his crib.  On Saturday we put him in his cot and he stayed there all night but I was getting a lot of back pain trying to feed/settle him in the nursery as there's no room for a comfortable chair.  We have decided that it would be prudent to move his cot into our room so on Sunday we did just that and he's been sleeping in there since (although usually ends up in our bed by around 4-5 am).  I was getting really stressed out about it and it's led me down a path of discovery that we have a "high needs" baby, so I'll post more about that later.  We really hit the bedtime routine/consistent timing hard but it was just stressing me out excessively and making OJ really upset so we're just back to letting him lead.  The TV is going off at 7 pm at the latest every night and after that we just read, sing nursery rhymes and have quiet play then when he starts showing signs of tiredness we go upstairs and get ready for bed, feed and try to put him down.  If he refuses and wants to play I'm not pushing the matter and just bring him back downstairs until he seems sleepy and try again.  If he is obviously tired I persist a little more (although don't always succeed).  I've lined his cot with my dressing gown which seems to help him settle easier when he wakes up.

Routine: We are playing about with things at the moment so it's all up in the air.

Likes/dislikes:  He really likes being on his feet and being on the move.  He loves mealtimes.  He likes noisy toys and bathtime.  He doesn't really like sleep but neither myself nor his dad do either so we can't complain.  He's starting to enjoy books as well, particularly We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

Firsts:  First night in his big boy cot.  First time trying to walk (aided of course).  First visit to a dessert restaurant (our favourite).

Milestones:  As of today he's started taking little steps when held in a standing position which is absolutely incredible - he'll walk with his little trundle truck if you support him too.  He's now in his big boy cot too.

Things we did: We had some friends round on Saturday and made our own pizzas then went out to the dessert restaurant which was yummy!  On Sunday we spent most of the day shifting the bedroom around and moving OJ's cot (which involving taking it apart and putting it back together again).  Over the last few days we've been swimming, had a visit from Nana and Grandpapa, been for a lot of walks, been to Once Upon a Rhyme and spent lots of time practicing standing. Yesterday we got the bus into town again so I could get an outfit for our nephew's christening and a cute little outfit for OJ too.  ALS and I also made some homemade sugar-free carrot muffins for OJ to enjoy... but forgot to put the cinnamon in so they're rather bland, not that he minds!  I also bought a spice rack full of spices from Costco which is possibly the most "adult" thing I've ever done, including having a baby. 

Me: I'm really getting into cooking at the moment thanks to weaning so I was very excited about the spice rack.  I didn't get to the gym this week as we were busy trying to sort out the bedroom and cot but I've done LOTS of walking.  I'm really wanting to learn at the moment and finding my brain is a bit bored so I've been looking at free OU courses that I can take, mostly just for fun, to keep my mind active and discovered that I received a Certificate of Higher Education for the courses I did previously when trying and failing to do my degree.  I've also been doing some brain training.

In terms of parenting I've struggled this week with trying to get OJ into a routine and getting him to sleep (as he's no longer feeding to sleep and often wants to be put down, but has to be completely drowsy and almost asleep before I attempt it).  I actually found myself wanting to just shake him or yell at him and it really worried me even though I knew I wouldn't do it, so I've taken the pressure off and let him take the lead again and I already feel much better.  As I mentioned above we've discovered that he's a "high needs" baby and I've already bought some books on high needs parenting so hopefully they will help.  I'll do a post once I've read a bit more on the topic!

31 weeks 1 day - chomping on his toes... sometimes he sucks on his big toe like it's his thumb.

31 weeks 1 day - we were switching out toys in his toybox and took him for a little ride around in it!

31 weeks 1 day - first night in the cot so I put the monitor in the crib so I didn't feel like he was too far away.

31 weeks 1 day - 2 hours later he was snuggled up on my boob after screaming the place down for 20 minutes with what we assume was his teeth hurting.

31 weeks 2 days - little snooze in Costa while daddy was at work.

31 weeks 2 days - fakeaway with homemade pizza, wedges and peppers.

31 weeks 3 days - last time sitting in his co-sleeper crib before we dismantled it, playing with mummy's pillow.

31 weeks 3 days - playing with his bath toys on the bed.

31 weeks 3 days - his little play area while we set up his cot in our room.

31 weeks 5 days - trying a little tummy time (which he immediately rolled out of).

31 weeks 6 days - he actually entertained being on his hands and knees for almost a minute!

31 weeks 6 days - chomping on his straps in the pushchair on our way to meet daddy at work.

31 weeks 6 days - every time he stirs he shoves his legs through the cot bars but it's too hot for his sleeping bag at the moment!

32 weeks - he loves this elephant and I hear the songs in my sleep.

32 weeks - little Flash, he's such a smiley boy in a morning!  We are more of a Marvel family but he has far more DC outfits.

32 weeks - looking dapper trying on his outfit for his cousin's christening (that shirt is a PAIN to get on as it's a vest and has no give so you basically have to contort his arms to get them in).

32 weeks - he stared at me like this for about 10 minutes straight.

32 weeks - put the baby in bed only to find the cat lounging in the pushchair!