The last few days have been extra-exhausting. My parents watched the kids a few nights ago so Mike and I could go out, which was really great, but the downside was James and I got on different schedules. It took a few days for the two of us to get back into a rhythm where he needed to eat at the same time I needed to express milk. I was forced to pump more than I would like and that meant my schedule was all out of whack.
Speaking of schedules, I had definitely forgotten about how just when you think you’re on one, the baby changes things up. The only thing James does reliably is wake up between 6:30 and 7:00 am every morning, even if he ate only an hour before. That’s a little bit brutal for a night owl like me, so I am trying to make adjustments. And by trying I mean, every night at 1 am I think, “crap, the baby is going to be up for good in six hours…I’m screwed.”
He is cute when he sleeps.
Besides occasionally getting off-schedule from James, I am still having some breastfeeding ups and downs. The kid takes forever to eat. FOREVER. And my breasts hurt all the time. Not my nipples, but my actual breasts themselves. They hurt before I nurse/pump, during, and after. Constantly. Just when I think it might be starting to get better…it isn’t. But everyone says it gets easier, and I certainly don’t remember pain when I was pumping for the girls, so I’m just waiting for this magical day when it starts to become a super! awesome! experience!
James is a little more than seven weeks now, and the day he hit six weeks old he “woke up,” so to speak. He wants to look around at everything, and often the only way to settle him is to face him out toward the room.
Luckily, he’s started smiling on the regular. He saves a few of the grins for me, but the majority of his toothless smiles are directed at Annabel. He makes her earn them, though. She’ll dance a foot away from his face and smile and say, “Hi Jamesie! HI! It’s Annabel! Where’s my smiiiiiiiile?” And he obliges.
Watching them interact is a super awesome experience.
Lilian says:
Oh my, James is starting to look so much like Maddie! Gorgeous! As a side note, the Royal baby is being born at the same hospital (and wing) that I was born at. This is my royal claim to fame! (I’ll be up all night waiting for the birth announcement!).
Heather says:
OHHH! That’s a fun factoid! I’ve been watching the royal press go nuts on twitter while I’m up feeding James, but I have to grab some sleep since he’ll be awake in…five hours now!
Lilian says:
Yep, you need to get some sleep! (I remember those days!). I’ll keep on Royal Baby watch for you!!
Martha says:
I remember sitting and nursing my son while listening to the radio waiting for new of William’s birth!!
Molly says:
My oldest daughter was born there almost six years ago now! So exciting.
Lilian says:
Molly! We both have a Royal claim to fame!! I’m glued to the TV awaiting the royal arrival!!
Jenn says:
He is so flippin cute Heather!!! I hope you can capture one of those Annie smiles on video. I LOVE being a mom & I’m so Happy you do too!! xoxo
Mary Ann says:
He looks so much like Maddie. I love his expressions, and that sleeping picture is perfection. Hope you get some rest soon.
Claire says:
Your >this< close from nursing becoming awesome! I promise you! Right around 6-8 weeks is when your boobs get the hang of the whole idea and he will speed up and your milk will regulate. Your so close. Good job for sticking it out it's so worth it!
Jacky says:
He is sooo cute. And I see so much of maddie in him! Also wanted to repeat my offer of crocheting a table runner for you! Just tell me color and size of table…….
JustAWife says:
I’ve been away from the blogosphere, and I’m thrilled to see you have a healthy baby boy! I’m looking forward to watching him grow up!
Julia says:
James is looking so much like Maddie in that picture! He’s like a hologram — sometimes Maddie and sometimes Annie!
Lisa says:
Hang in there! For me, nursing didn’t become painless until 11 weeks – then it all just clicked. I literally cried tears of joy (and then called my lactation consultant, mom, and sister to share the news). I had desperately wanted to quit, but I’m SO thankful I stuck with it. There were still some goofy phases later with distraction and whatnot, but no more of the torturous pain of the early weeks. My child peacefully self-weaned at 20 months. Wishing the best for you!
JustAMom says:
Oh my gosh he looks SO much like Maddie in this picture! Really hoping you get some rest soon – as much as I miss the baby days – I don’t think I could go through the exhaustion and breastfeeding struggles again. I remember crying once at 3 am and thinking “NOW I understand why they use sleep deprivation as a torture method!!”
Tammy M. says:
Hi Heather,
One of your Candy Crush friends here…..
I also see a lot of sweet Maddie in James. Do you?
You have the most adorable kids!
T.
Amanda says:
Check his mouth for white spots – you might have thrush.
Kimmie says:
love that he looks just like Maddie here!
Missy says:
I found that breastfeeding all of a sudden got easier around the 8 week mark, so hang in there!!! My LO is usually up at that 6:30-7:00 time frame too, but if I lay her on my chest in bed, we can both buy a few more hours! I’m soaking it all up cuz in a few more weeks the older 2 will be back in school, then I’ll have no choice but to be up at 6:30 am myself
casie c. says:
Sounds like you may have ductal yeast. Call your Dr/midwife right away. A round of diflucan will work wonders if that’s what it is. Important to note that he may not have any white in his mouth (thrush), but you may have ductal yeast if you had any antibiotics for labor/surgery. I ended up with 2 x 14-day cycles of diflucan, but it finally cleared up and things were WORLDS better! I had same symptoms you describe. Hurting all the time. Used to hurt when he latched and while nursing, but hurting while NOT nursing is a sign of something else.
Nicole says:
What a sweetie! I know it’s probably been said before, but he looks so much like Maddie! He’s the perfect mix of Maddie and Annie!
Krystin says:
At the beginning of June, I went back and began reading every post you guys have made since the day you announced that you were expecting Maddie. Today I have caught up and am saddened that I can no longer spend every extra minute reading about you all! As a NICU nurse I am intrigued with your pregnancies. I have laughed with you and cried with you.
Congratulations on a beautiful family, I look forward to continuing reading!
Heather says:
Wow, thank you!!!
Paula says:
Looking at pictures of him make me, at almost – 43, want to have another baby. Then I read the rest of the story…and it goes away. So maybe I should stick to text only.
He is so incredibly gorgeous.
Brandy says:
No advice. As you know from having two previous infants, it will get better…and then you will forget how tough it was. I must say, he keeps changing. He went through a period where he was all Mike (IMHO) but now I see Maddie through his eyes again. So for now, he’s a mishmash. I love watching little ones to see where their face eventually settles – neither of my kids look REMOTELY like they did as infants – but regardless, he’s absolutely adorable!
edenland says:
Oh hon he looks SO much like Maddie. I hope you’re ok with so many people commenting about it all the time, but he does. Those eyes, and his gorgeous shaped forehead. You really do make beautiful babies.
xxxxx
Heather says:
I AM okay with it – I love it. I love that I can see her in him. xoxo
Auntie_M says:
That first picture makes me want to cuddle up & kiss his him: those lips & nose are begging for kisses!!!
Breanna says:
I’m not sure how useful this will be, but when I first started breast feeding (for the first two and a half months or so), my breasts hurt like crazy. The one thing that really helped was taking baby wash cloths and getting them wet with ice cold water and just laying them on my boobs. They were the perfect size and the cold helped so much.