Braxton Allen - {1 Month Old}

I can't believe you are already 1 month old!!! 

It really doesn't seem fair that the past month has went so fast. But it honestly has been a great month and has went so much better than we could have every asked or imagined! 

When Christian was itty bitty, we went every week to a New Mama Class at Amma Parenting Center where I was able to weigh him every week! I had exact weight measurements for him every week and month! We haven't exactly made that trip yet, and our scale at home hasn't seemed too accurate....

You do seem to be filling out, though! 

You are now 21 inches long and your head is measuring 16 inches around -- that's 2 inches bigger than at birth! 

Look at how you've changed over the past 4 weeks!

It doesn't really look like it in the pictures, but mommy thinks your hair is getting a little lighter and your eyes are too! 

You have started to outgrown some of your newborn clothes, but a lot of them still fit, although they are getting tight! You are also starting to fill out your 0-3 month clothes! 

You are also still wearing newborn diapers. Size one is getting closer and closer to fitting well. You do wear size 1 at night, though. I expect you to be fully in size 1 within the next week or so. Mainly because we will be out of newborn diapers and the size 1 won't be too too big. 

You are quite the little nap fighter. You will be obviously tired but will just fight it! You aren't always crabby about it, though. I was just reading about Christian at 1 month, though, and it looks like he started napping in his crib at 1 month! Maybe that would help you! Christian is probably a bit too distracting and noisy! 

Your sleep hasn't been super consistent. You have slept a few 7 and 8 hour nights in the past month, but generally you are up 1-2 times a night still. Your last feeding is usually about 9:30pm and then I lay you in bed asleep and you will wake up to eat again anywhere between 3am and 6am. Mommy loves when you make it to 5/6am! Then she can get up and start the day before your big brother! 

You have been napping in a variety of places -- usually the bouncy seat or swing, sometimes in the baby carrier if you're really fighting it, and sometimes in your car seat when we are out with Christian. 

For night time sleep you are still in mommy and daddy's room. Once you start consistently sleeping through the night, you will move to your crib and share a room with Christian. 

Likes: 

-Booby time...sometimes I think you are just using mommy as a pacifier...

-Mommy's milk 

-The baby carrier ... FINALLY! 

-Being held

-Skin to skin time with daddy 

-Playing with big brother and watching him 

-Looking outside

-Lights 

-Music

-Bath time 

Dislikes:

-Pooping...although you don't seem constipated or anything 

-Having a poopy diaper 

-Being hungry 

-Being forced to sleep...you don't want to miss anything!

Milestones:

-You have slept through the night a few times 

-Starting to smile/smirk 

-Making eye contact 

-Starting to track objects 

-Cooing ... oohs and aahs and little squeaks! 

-Holding your head off mommy's shoulder and pushing yourself up....although you aren't a fan of tummy time 

I think it's been unseasonably warm....we've gotten lots of outside time in! Don't you look cute all bundled up! 

Snuggles! One of your favorite places to sleep

Our first walk to the park! You fussed at first but then you fell asleep and enjoyed the ride

More naps in mommy's arms

You had your first trip to the zoo! Both with and without daddy! 

Mommy naps again...this is our favorite thing to do while big brother is napping. 

If you can't nap in mommy's arms, then you usually nap in your bouncy seat all swaddled up. You're working on some pretty nice cheekers! 

All dressed up and stylin' for church.

Sleepy time!

Play time with big bro! He loves playing with you on your play mat!

Little brother...at a ladies only Bachelor finale party! 

One of the first pics of mommy and her boys! 

While we were taking your 1 month photos, Christian wanted his picture taken too! 

He's "2 months" from turning 3 years old! 

He was pretending to be a baby.

And there's one of your little smirks/smiles sneaking out! The first time I was able to catch it on camera! 

Hanging out with big bro in your crib!

You took your first nap in your crib today! It was very short...but I think that was more because of Christian being so loud and crazy....naps could get interesting for you little man. I apologize in advance. 

Wow! We survived the first month with 2 kiddos! You are SO loved little man! I can't believe how lucky you are to have such an awesome big brother. He has been great with you and is always so gentle! Although, I'm sure he can't wait for the day he can roll around and wrestle with you! In the mean time, mommy wants to savor these baby days, so don't grow too fast! We love you little man, more than words can say! We can't believe we are so lucky to get to have you in our family! Can't wait to see what the next month brings! 

Braxton Allen {3 Weeks Old!}

Braxton -- It seems so much like you've always been a part of our family, yet at the same time, I can't believe you are already 3 weeks old!!! 

I'm starting to see some differences from when you were just 1 week old. 

Braxton Allen at 1 week old

Braxton Allen at 2 weeks old

You won't go back to the doctor again until you are 2 months old.  Mama was able to weigh Christian every week when he was itty bitty and going to the New Mama Class at Amma Parenting Center....But we will have to settle for a general guess on our scale at home...

You are probably right around 9 pounds....I weighed you on our scale and it said just over 10 pounds...but that can't be right.

Believe it or not, you have become EVEN MORE alert! You are actually quite the little nap fighter if we're being honest. You have stayed awake for a good 3 hours plus a few times! However, you are starting to like the swing more if I swaddle you first and then, it still takes a bit, but you will zonk out. Once you are out, you are out cold! 

As strange as it may sound, you NEED to take good naps during the day if you are going to sleep well at night. When you stay awake so long you are too tired to eat well. But if you get good naps, you have given mama a few 8 hour stretches at night! I think its safe to say that you "slept through the night" when your first wake up is around 5:30am...

Most often you wake every 4 hours or so to eat, though. 

During the day you still eat about every 2.5 hours. 

You have started to outgrow some of your newborn things already and that makes mama so sad! 

With that said, some of your 0-3 month clothes are actually starting to fit too! 

You are still wearing newborn diapers. We are almost out of this size, so I was hoping to move to size 1, but they are quite huge on you still! However, they are good for night time diapers, as we've had a few leaks overnight with the newborn size. 

Mama has been trying to soak up all the snuggles with you that she can get, so you haven't gotten as much floor time in as Christian had at your age. But after reading about Christian at 3 weeks old, I was reminded how much he loved to kick and move and boy do you too! 

We survived our first week at home without daddy too! 

You also started cooing this week and finding your little voice! It's so cute to hear you squeak! 

I haven't been able to catch it on camera, but you've snuck out a few little smirks too! Can't wait to see your sweet little smile but I know we have a bit before that happens! 

Pictures from the Past Week

Mommy has to sneak in her snuggle time when Big Brother is napping! 

Post nap snuggles with Big Bro who was still waking up

Christian loves "playing" with you! He was showing you all of his cars

Aunt Megan and Uncle Justin came to visit you over the weekend

I still can't believe Christian has a "little brother" 

Brother bath time! Christian loves getting to help wash you up and is very gentle. 

More play time together. 

We also tried tummy time for the first time this week -- you weren't the biggest fan nor did you really even try to lift your head...Although, on my shoulder you can lift your head and hold it pretty steady! 

I can't believe how fast time is going! You're already growing up too fast -- stop it! :) haha! 

Love you little man! 

Christian at 3 weeks

Braxton Allen {2 Weeks Old}

Man! Time flies! I can't believe you are already 2 weeks old! I feel like time is going even faster with baby #2! And I'm more emotional about it not knowing if we will have a baby #3. Trying to soak up every minute of your tiny squishy self! 

As frustrating of a nurser as you can be (on again off again latcher), you are gaining weight like a champ! And following right in Big Brother's footsteps -- you weighed in at exactly the same weight at 2 weeks old!!! 

8 pounds, 11 ounces 

That's a 12 ounce gain in the past week or so! Whoa baby boy! 

You are starting to have more alert times -- especially in the mornings and early evenings.

You also are sleeping just as well as your Big Brother at this age -- you even gave mommy an 

8 hour stretch this week!!! 

On average you sleep between 4 - 6 hours straight, with a few 7 and 8 hour stretches. About 1 feeding a night. 

During the day you eat often, though! Usually you are crying hungry about every 2 hours. 

You also were circumcised this week. Daddy thinks it was more traumatic for mommy than it was for you, but I'm not so sure.

Thankfully you are starting to like your swing! You weren't the biggest fan at first. Swaddling you first does seem to help, though! 

With more alert times, you are starting to get some play time in with Big Brother! He is a major fan :) 

However, I don't think you have had as much play time on your play mat at this point as big brother had! Leaving you unattended on the floor just isn't as safe when you are baby #2! 

You also are learning to like being worn in the baby carrier, but its still hit or miss. You often like to be held, but also get angry in the carrier because it makes you just want to nurse even if you just ate.

We had our first outing this week without daddy! He did help us get out the door, but we went to Moms Group at church all by ourselves. I was most nervous about dropping Big Brother off in child care as he has been crying and not wanting to be left since you were born. We helped him make a friend, though, and we were able to leave without any tears! From anyone ;) 

You started spitting up quite a bit this week. Usually just once a day or so, but it often would be a TON! Luckily we realized it was mainly because mommy hadn't been burping you -- oops! Christian never would burp so I gave up with him and then just never did with you. You have some good burps, though, and it keeps you from spitting up! 

Big brother has been wanting to "feed you" too! 

He loves you so much! He asks to hold you a lot and will often inspect you saying things like "He has hands like me! He has ears like me!" 

We had a beautiful day over the weekend -- it was in the 50s!! Very unusual for February. But we got out of the house and you took your first trip to the park! 

Big Brother reading to you. He can't wait until you can play garbage trucks with him...and I can't wait to watch you interact more! 

Sneaking in some snuggles between feedings and playing with Big Brother. 

Slow down time. 

We love you so much little man and can't believe we are so lucky to have you be part of our family! 

Just for fun -- You can read all about Christian at 2 weeks old here