Settling In

It's been two weeks since we brought Jacoby home, and he is fitting in really well with our family.  We had no expectations for his personality type, we were just praying for good health.  And thankfully, we got it.  He is very healthy, and doesn't have any of the sleeping issues or immediate allergy problems that Justice had, and he isn't nearly as temperamental as his brother Jack.  He is very sweet and good natured.  He also eats and sleeps like a champ, and only really makes a fuss when he is cold.  He does NOT like to be cold, he prefers to be swaddled in blankets and very warm.  So we keep him that way, and he pretty much just hangs out and chills most of the day.

And for all of that, we are very grateful.

But it also begs the question "Who are you, and what have you done with my baby?"  Because we don't have these kinds of babies.  We have babies with bad tempers and bad bellies that never sleep.  They are grouchy and make you want to lose your mind and randomly cry for no reason because they are colicky and no amount of rocking or dietary changes or ANYTHING helps.  Eventually they outgrow it, but it leaves one fearing the newborn stage when things are pretty much miserable.

But not this time.  This little baby is a sleeper.  He's the baby you have to wake in the middle of the night for a feeding so your milk supply doesn't suffer.  He's the baby that you can feed and put right back down in the bed and he goes back to sleep without a peep.  He also doesn't have any colicky gas problems because he farts like the grand-master of all farters.  He farts every ten minutes, awake or asleep, loud and proud.  No chance of anything getting pent up in his belly or digestive track.  And there is also no chance of trying to convince the random people at the store that you didn't cut the cheese, because it's too loud to even dream that a baby is responsible.  So just say excuse me and keep moving.  He burps the same way.  I've never heard a baby burp that loud, it's impressive to say the least.

He is also the baby that actually loves to take a bath, under one condition.  The water must be very warm and it must be running directly from the faucet onto his belly the entire time.  As long as he is wet and warm, he is happy.  And he doesn't cry in the least while he's taking a bath.  Well, except for the time he peed all over his face.  He cried.  A lot.  

And this is a typical scene during the day.  Jack with his baby brother snuggled on his lap.  Jack could literally sit with him for hours.  And Jacoby just snuggles up with him and stares at him, making the occasional random baby noise.  

Jack is in love.  Deeply in love.  I never, ever would have imagined how quickly Jack would fall in love with this baby and how doting he is.  

He is eating very well.  I am breastfeeding, but I am having to supplement some formula in (soy) because he eats far more than I can produce.  Mooooo.  Because of the other boys terrible allergies, I'm eating a VERY restrictive diet that is killing me.  I'm not eating any of the "gassy" vegetables, no acidic fruits, no nuts (except almonds), and no dairy whatsoever.  After he turns six weeks old, I will add them back one at a time to see what may trigger any food allergies.  This is making it very difficult for me to lose any weight.  Most of the gassy veggies are my favorite, and they include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, etc... you know... all the stuff you need to make a salad.  I can't eat oranges, strawberries, peaches, just to name a few.  I'm REALLY thankful I only gained 25 pounds with this one, or I'd be really miserable right now.  I've lost 15 pounds, but still have ten to go and the scale hasn't moved in over a week.  I cannot fit into any of my old clothes yet and that is really frustrating.  I know, it's only been two weeks.  But that's not how I roll.  I hate to be overweight.  And the doc was right about my abs never being the same.  It's going to be a long road. 

He's filling out a little, losing that newborn scrunched up and wrinkly look.  He is very tiny.  He still wears newborn clothing, the 0-3 month clothes are WAY too big.  We have never had a tiny baby, so we have all had to be more gentle with him than the others, and that's taken some getting used to.  I don't birth cute babies, so I don't know whether he is legitimately cute or not, or if it's a Mother's Love sort of phenomena with this kid.  I always think they are cute until years later when I look back at the pictures and say "Woah, hey there little sea creature..." Sheesh.  But here he is, in all his alleged cuteness.  

And here in all its controversy, is where little man sleeps.  Tucked into our bed, nice and snug.  We are co-sleepers and baby-wearers.  Shandi slept with us until she was almost 7.  Justice was also 7.  Jack was 3.  They went to their own beds when they were ready, we put no time limit on it.  People think we are nuts.  Maybe we are.  But we like having the kids close to us when they are little.  The number one question people ask us is how we get any "private time" together, and I know that's running through your mind so I will go ahead and address it.  It's a pretty simple answer.  The bed is for sleeping.  We improvise.  It keeps things exciting.  We have plenty of "private time" together.  And honestly, it endears me to Joe that he wants our babies close to us when they are little.  Co-sleeping isn't for everyone, we get that.  There are 1001 ways to raise a child, and it's ok to do it however it might work for you and your family.  

So, all in all things are going very well with baby Jacoby.  I'm not sure what aliens took our real baby, and I have no idea what they did with him, but they can go ahead and keep him.  

We will keep this one.