14 weeks

Tate is 14 weeks old now – 5 weeks adjusted. He has changed so much in the last week. He is smiling at us a lot now, is starting to make some coo sounds and trying his best to suck on his hands. He occasionally gets them into his mouth but mostly they just flail around as he tries his hardest. His eyes have turned more gray than blue at this point. So I’m guessing they’ll turn dark like Hudson’s did. He’s starting to get more fuzz on the top of his head, so eventually he’ll even it out and have hair on top too. His right ear is starting to lay flatter too. It’s definitely flatter on its own, but if I push it down, it will stay that way for a little bit too. So I think it will eventually lay totally flat. It will just take a little more time. He’s also starting to “stand” a little bit, as in put some pressure on his feet when he is in a standing position. He’s holding his head up really well and still enjoys tummy time for the most part. Still amazes me cause Hudson always hated it. But Tate likes to hold his head up and look all around. He’s starting to rock side to side a little bit, but no rolling over yet. We moved him up to size 1 diapers, although they’re still a little big. He’s still wearing newborn size clothes.


The last few mornings he has been ALL smiles when he wakes up! There’s nothing like waking up to his smile. I’m loving it – even though the waking up is a bit earlier than I’m used to! His sleeping is still pretty random. I haven’t figured out any kind of pattern to it, although the last few days he’s been staying awake for a little bit after he eats, then sleeping for about an hour, then just being awake till it’s time to eat again. But I’m sure it will be different tomorrow…

And more exciting news – it finally “clicked” for him on the breastfeeding. Last Thursday or Friday he nursed really good and then slept for 3-4 hours afterwards (I fed him about 10 pm). Ever since then he’s been nursing much better and going 2 ½ to 3 hours before wanting to eat again. I’m so excited! I am going to up him to 3 times a day towards the end of this week cause he should be up to 10 pounds by then. I’m VERY tempted to just nurse him every time and see what he does, but I still can hear the NICU doctors telling me not to do much cause it will wear him out. So I’ll probably just do 3 times for two weeks or so and then up to 4 times. He goes back to the pediatrician mid March for his 4 month checkup and I’m hoping he’ll tell me it’s okay to switch over totally by then. The annoying thing though is that I’ll have to continue pumping after every nursing, since he doesn’t totally empty the breast. If it isn’t emptied that is what triggers the body to stop producing as much, since the baby doesn’t need it. He doesn’t eat it all right now but soon he will (he’s up to 100 mls now) so I don’t want my supply to decrease (and the vice versa as well, the more he nurses or I pump, the more milk supply I’ll have). The pumping is very annoying – I feel like a dairy cow! And it’s frustrating trying to nurse, then remember to pump afterwards and making sure I stay on the same schedule as Tate so that I can nurse when it’s time too. I am more than ready to switch over to nursing totally and pack the pump away and never look at it again.

Hudson drinking his milk in his bottle. (tate's bottle without a nipple on it.)

Tate went on his first walk this week.  Hudson was at my mom's for the afternoon so I finally was able to get out.  And I just kept walking, and walking and walking. It was SO nice to get some exercise and some sunshine.