Thursday, February 07, 2008

Dexter's Sleeping, and AJ's Not

My Two Little Men



Dexter Update

So, Dexter, you have been giving us some good sleeps. You are definitely not 'just like AJ'. You always want to go to sleep right after you eat which I'm trying to undo, but I can only do so much. You are very restless during naps, but yet, sleeping. I have to intervene many times. However, starting back last Monday night on the 28th, you've begun to give us some nice long stretches of sleep. you'll go to sleep shortly after the dream feed, so at about 10:45pm and then sometimes sleep until 3:00 or 4:00am. It's great. It's all I can ask for, really. You usually will go back to sleep until 7:00am or so after this feed, but sometimes, you are restless like your naps (VERY GASSY), and instead Daddy or I will take you out to the living room in the bouncy chair and bounce you with our foot whilst we try to rest on the couch.

You are VERY alert. You are very strong. I wouldn't dare leaveyou on the change table unbelted, as I'm sure you're going to be able to roll any day now, and I wouldn't be surprised if you were crawling by 2 months. Crikies, you're nutso wanting to move around so much, just like in my tummy.

You like to suckle. You'd breastfeed all day long if I'd let you. We are thanking goodness for a soother because it keeps you content until nap time when needed. We have to be really careful with the swaddle because if anything even grazes your cheek, you go berserk. Poor little guy.

I think you went through your 3 week growth spurt this past few days. You had some extra feeds and some extra top ups.

I keep wishing I could put you to bed at 'bedtime', but I need to remember that I didn't start a 7:00pm bedtime with AJ until 6 weeks, and you were born 2 weeks before him, so I'll need to relax on that issue.

Some days, we're trying different things with your feeds or seeing how your naps are, and sometimes, you want to sleep all afternoon or after dinner and then it kills the night sleep, but here's a pretty average day, give or take 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

E-Eat A-Activity S-Sleep Y-Mommy's 'You time'

E - 7:00am
A - after the feed
S - 8:30-10:00 (this has been great for taking you to AJ's music class)
Y

E - 10:00am
A - after the feed
S - 11:30-1:00 (and AJ sleeps 12-2:00, so I get one hour to myself)
Y

E - 1:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 2:30-4:00pm
Y

E - 4:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 6:00-7:00pm
Y

E - 7:00pm
A - after the feed
S - 9:00-10:00pm
Y

E - 10:00pm (DF - formula while I pump)
A - no activity, straight back to sleep
S - 10:45pm until 3:00 or 4:00am
Y - I go to sleep

E - 3:00am while I watch 90210 YAY!
A - Nope, right back to sleep, usually
S - 4:00am-7:00am
Y

sometimes, I can't seem to keep you awake after the 4:00pm feed and then you want to be awake after. I may have to do some cluster feeding. Just trying to watch you and see what works best. Each day's a little different.

Sometimes, you wake at around 1:30am and 4:30am. That's not too bad, except that I don't get to watch 90210.

You had your 'operation' last Monday on the 28th and it went well. Like AJ, you pretty much slept through it. The timing all worked well. It didn't seem as stressful as when we took AJ. Thank goodness I had your daddy with me. He went in the room with you. I just can't do it.

Your daddy took you to your follow up appointment a couple days later, all by himself. He took some expressed milk in a bottle for you. it was weird for me to be baby-free that morning, but AJ I spent some special time together. You were a good boy for Daddy.

Have I mentioned how wonderful your daddy's been? He virtually had no sleep the first week doing all the caring for you since I was still incapacitated, and would bring you to me for feeds and then do everything else himself, including keeping the kitchen. Much tidier than I keep it, I'll add.

Even though, he gets to sleep more now that I can almost be my normal self, he still will help at night by warming your top up formula, bringing me a drink, or bouncing you in the bouncy chair if you won't go back to sleep.

Daddy also does your baths. I've never bathed you. I can count on two hands the amount of times I've bathed AJ. Daddy is the bath-man.

AJ Update

You sir, are getting more and more manipulative at bedtime. You will do anything to not actually go to sleep. Sometimes, you will bring your car case into bed, so we have to keep that out of your room. You were taking crayons into bed, so we've had to put those up high at bedtime. You'll go get all of your stuffed animals, or every book in your room. It's ridiculous. Even though we put you in bed between 7:30pmand 7:45pm, you aren't falling asleep lately until 8:30 or 9:00pm instead of 8:15pm on the button like before. You are sleeping until 7:30am though, and rarely waking ever in the middle of the night, so you're getting a good sleep.

About once a week, you'll not go to sleep for nap time, or you won't fall asleep until near the end of nap time.

I hope you aren't one of those kids who grows out of their nap early. YIKES!

You are being a great big brother and very helpful. You enjoy our special playdough or colouring time during Dexter's 10:00am feed.

You still love to colour, love books, especially the library book It Looked Like Spilt Milk. I'm going to have to buy that for you.

We are planning your 2nd birthday. I can't believe you're almost 2!! We'll keep it small this year and have it at Go Bananas. You really like that place, but whether or not you'll actually play is hit and miss.

I've pin poited your whacked out mispronunciation of words ....
you hardly use consonants. Like for Ice Cream Cone, you'll say,
i = ice
eee = cream
own = cone

Hmmmm, not sure what that's all about.

You are also still facinated with signing. It's like you're rediscovering it. It's pretty cute.