the little things - reaching two months

Ten little things from the last couple of weeks:

1. Smiles, smiles, smiles! The smiles were less frequent before but now he doesn't stop! The bigger smiles I give the bigger smiles I get! He also responds to my voice and movement - the higher the pitch the bigger the smile. Sometimes I'll turn to face him and he'll just have been staring smiling at me - it's a wonderful feeling!

2. When I say smile, I don't just mean a visual thing as it's usually accompanied by lots of gurgles and coos. Some of them sound like a cats meow. He also pants and squeals in excitement when he's smiling in response to something.

3. Seeing his tongue move lots makes me so glad I sorted the tongue tie! He copies your tongue when talking and tries to chat back to us making different noises.

4. He loves being laid down and will kick his legs about and pant with enjoyment. It's especially good if something is over his head that he can look at - either me, a rattle or things hanging from his playgym.

5. We've learned lots of nursery rhymes and songs at baby groups which Hugo loves me singing back to him. I'm gradually getting to know the words and movements but it doesn't really matter as Hugo just loves any sound and movement I make - the higher the pitch the better.

6. He's a bit wriggly when being held unless he's fast asleep. He prefers beings laid down or sat upright. It's getting harder to hold him up for long periods as he's getting heavier, but he can now sit against something with just a little security from me at the side to make sure he doesn't fall! When he is sleepy or relaxed enough for cuddles he's been more willing to be on my chest than before.

7. His poos are settling down to one or two a day. He's most wriggly and frustrated before a poo and at his happiest after! They no longer make a sound but the smell is much stronger so I'm able to change him straight away. There have been a couple of times when he's been constipated so I've used water to get things moving again. 

8. He's way more alert and is awake for most of the day and will sleep more at night. Because he's alert he'll easily be startled by a big noise but won't be too bothered and doesn't notice it a second time.

9. His hair seems to have stopped going lighter and is gradually getting thicker. He had flakey skin on his head a couple of weeks ago but it's all smooth again now.

10. He doesn't like things over his head when getting dressed. He doesn't cry but will wriggle and moan a bit. Although I didn't want to dress him just in blue, there's not been many other options and to be honest, he really suits blue! I end up putting him in the same outfits that I love over and over and some things will hardly be worn!

the little things - 6 week update

I'd intended to do a monthly update from now on, but it seems like a month is way too long to make note of the little things - half his life so far(!) so here's an update about Hugo between 4-6 weeks.

Sounds:

- his crying has become slightly more frequent, but still only when he's hungry and I don't get the bottle in time (he's having to be more patient than breastfeeding) or when he's windy and I can't get rid of it

- he's still snoring all of the time - I thought it may be a phase while he had a cold but it's definitely just him!
- when he's startled, he'll scrunch up his face and his bottom lip will come out, as if he's about to scream, but nothing comes out and he'll settle again - apart from the odd occasion when he's let out a slight whimper
- he's a very noisy eater, perhaps the reason for lots of wind as he breathes lots of air in

- he still absolutely loves singing and will follow me as I dance!
- I've been singing 'Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes' and 'If You're Happy And You Know It' while changing him, to get him used to body parts and 'Round and Round the Garden' and 'This Little Piggy'
- 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams is currently played a lot and so often in my head, but the songs are more varied at the moment. I've tried some nursery rhymes too but don't know the lyrics!

smiling to changing time songs

Movement:
- his smiles light up his whole face and eyes and he oos and aahs at the same time

- he still gets windy smiles too which are different, with more of a closed mouth
- when he's still half asleep and I pick him up he'll stay tucked up in the foetal position
- his head and legs continue to be strong and he can turn his head from side to side when on his front
- he loves being up on his feet
- his grip is very strong too - he can pull on my hair
- he's found his thumb, but doesn't suck it just yet
- he responds to me and Adi and definitely knows who his parents are! I was giving Hugo his bedtime feed, Adi came in and he literally let go of the bottle in his mouth and let out a massive grin when Adi showed his face!
- we've managed to put him down to sleep while he's awake a few times now, not every night, but the majority
- if we need him to be settled for any reason he'll fall asleep straight away in his swing seat
- he sleeps with his arms above his head, it's how we can tell he's fully settled
- he likes the bouncer seat upstairs, but not so much downstairs
- he still responds most to black and white patterns and shadows

standard sleeping position

Feeding:
- he's now on the bottle having gradually moved over to formula over the past week or so
- he's started to use his tongue to indicate he's hungry, rather than rooting
- it's sometimes hard to get the bottle in his mouth because he'll be eating his hands
- he holds the bottle or grips my fingers while feeding rather than his face (most of the time)
- he'll feed all in one go most of the time, with a wind in-between
- he is more windy, but will burp properly so doesn't get trapped wind
- he's often sick after eating, especially if laid down to change too soon after a feed
- he has less hiccups but still more than most!

hand in mouth

Changing and Bathing:

- he enjoys his nappy being changed now as he responds to my face and voice as I change him
- he'll now cope with being taken out of the bath so enjoys the bathtime routine

- his poos are explosive, as they are more built up and less frequent than the breastmilk poos
- we've had some poo incidents - in the bath, on the play mat and up his back

kicking about in the bath, but slightly cautious

Features:
- his face is filling out, so it's becoming more round, with less of a jawline
- he's getting a little fat on his skin, but still very thin
- his hair is almost all lighter now, just with a few darker bits around the side, as if he's had a bowl cut
- everyone says he looks like his dad, but that there is definitely a bit of me in him
- he's got incredibly dark eyes, I think they are turning from blue to brown
- he has a half smile that turns into a full smile
- all of the newborn size clothes have been put away as they no longer fit
- some of the 0-3 month clothes are massive and some are small, he'll outgrow the tops much quicker than the bottoms as he's got a long torso
- I love putting him in all-in-ones, they suit him the best

filling out and more alert

the little things - reaching one month

It's incredible to see every tiny development before our eyes. It happens so quickly and as much as I can't wait for certain big milestones, I want to savour each moment! Here's some of those little things from two weeks to one month.

Sounds:

- he coughed and it came out as a laugh
- a couple of times he's sounded like he's giggling when catching his breath
- when Popa Need was describing a tinned/microwaved meal when he was working away, Hugo let out a 'urgh' sound, after being silent for hours - perfect timing
- snoring to rival his daddy!
- he's found his voice a little more, particularly since the tongue tie snip and can certainly let out a proper cry now!
- in the fourth week he's been much more vocal with lots more noises, moaning, grunts, oohs and aahs
- he is more alert to sounds which will make him startle or rouse if half asleep
- he's much louder on the boob, with a squeaky noise as he's sucking
- he's very noisy when pooing, often moaning, rolling around and grunting before with lots of farting and wet poo noises!
- he loves being talked to but even better, sung to - songs I've been singing include 'Edelweiss', 'Doh Ray Me', 'Kum Ba Yah', 'Twinkle Twinkle' and 'Silent Night' - probably not the right words and completely random!

concentrating on something...

Movement:
- he's even more smiley due to wind, but the smiles are starting to happen at other times-
- he can stand up when being held and push himself off you with his legs
- when he's overtired or hungry he will be very wriggly
- he can focus and follow us, looking into our eyes rather than just the eyebrows
- we've started to do daily tummy time and he can support his head and turn to the side
- he's incredibly strong when upright too, holding his head up
- he will happily lie on his play matt for up to an hour at a time
- the black and white patterns and light/ shadows are his favourite
- he's not so happy in his bouncer seat and won't last for long without being bounced
- when he's lying in the pram he'll put his arms out to steady himself
- he'll fall asleep in the car straight away - which has been useful at times!

focusing on the black and white 'Cookie cat'

Feeding:
- his latch is off and on and I have to support him very well to ensure a good latch
- if Adi picks him up when he's hungry he'll try to eat his nose
- in the evenings he'll get more trapped wind and can often be fractious
- he's been having lots of reflux too but it has started to calm down

the favourite winding position

Changing:

- he's a lot more settled having his nappy changed, unless he's really hungry!
- he now loves the bath, but hates being taken out of the water and put in the towel

- he'll often be sick while being changed, and will sometimes pee too

finally settled after bath time

Features:
- his limbs are still very long and he's thin but there aren't as many folds to fill
- the darker hair is falling out and the hair left is turning much lighter
- he still looks like his dad, particularly his mouth and eyes
- the shape of his face is more like mine and we think he's got my double crown

one of many happy and content facial expressions

the little things - the first two weeks

Pictures can be wonderful to capture some moments, but they often miss the day-to-day, tiny details that I don't want to forget. 

Here is a list of the little things I've loved from Hugo's first two weeks:

Sounds:

- he rarely cries and just makes random cute noises as he stirs to be fed

- he let's out sighs, like 'oh my life's so hard' when he's had to work at the boob or is tired

- when he sneezes, both arms and legs lift up for each sneeze

- occasionally he will miss a sneeze at the end which comes out as a funny noise

- he gets the hiccups sometimes after feeding and looks so unimpressed

- noises don't wake him but when I coughed while he was feeding he cried for about a minute 

- I love just watching him sleep and make cute gurgling noises

sleeping with his hands above his head

Movement:
- the movement in his hands and arms is really expressive - perhaps a future pianist or dancer

- he smiles when he's windy and I've had glimpses of a dimple on his lower right cheek

- his eyes gradually focus and follow, occasionally going cross-eyed when there is too much to take in 

- sometimes one side of his mouth lifts up on it's own

- his grumpy face is so cute, with his nose and mouth scrunched up

- he gets bed head on one side when he's woken up

- he looks so chilled out when he sleeps with his arms above his head

pulling at his face during a feed

Feeding:

- before feeding he'll pant faster and faster
- he tries to eat his hands when he's routing for the boob
- if ravenous he'll shake his head from side to side when trying to latch on
- he grabs his face really hard when feeding, as if the harder he grabs the more milk he'll get

- when he comes off the boob he has a funny puckered face as his lips come over the nipple

- he will then head-butt my boob and use them as a pillow with a big sigh of satisfaction
- I love staring at his face as it changes from satisfaction to smiles and grumpy when he's windy

post-feed satisfaction

Changing:

- sometimes he hates his nappy being changed, but other times he is content

- at the moment he doesn't like a bath or being cleaned with water

- he often stretches out and concentrates when about to poo

- sometimes he will poo three times in a row (while Adi's on nappy duty)

- despite advice from mums of boys, we've still had peeing incidents while he's being changed

windy, smiley face