Three weeks - a short update

I have lots of pictures to post but not a lot of time, so they will have to come later. This past week has been a rather rough one. Quinn hardly slept (i.e., 1 hour a night one day last week, and about a total of 3-5 hours in naps) and has had a lot of painful crying bouts. We have both been worn out! On Monday I took him to the doctor to see if he has reflux and the doctor prescribed Zantac for it. So far it seems to be helping. He is sleeping more (though still staying awake for 5+ hours at a time, which is unusual for a newborn), and has had very few painful crying bouts. We are hopeful that it will fix the issue. At the same time, I contracted mastitis. I've been home on bed rest for a few days, trying to rest as much as little Q will let me and drinking tons of water. I had a fever, chills, body aches, and pain where the clogged milk duct is. Today I am feeling better - the flu-like symptoms are gone and I am hopeful that the clog is on its way out. My midwife thinks I probably just got dehydrated and exhausted trying to keep up with a baby that cries and won't sleep, as well as having returned to teaching and trying to prep for a move that will happen in a week and a half.
Fun news - Quinn weighed 11 pounds at his appointment - that's a pound and a half gained in one week! He is out of his newborn clothes and about to grow out of most of his 3 month old clothes. He is such a joy and getting super chubby!
More later when we are both well!

Two Weeks Old!

 Hello, Quinn here again. Yesterday I turned two weeks old. My mommy and daddy can't believe it. I have grown and changed so much already! At my one week check-up, I had already surpassed my birth weight, weighing in at 8 pounds. At my two week check-up this morning, I weighed 9 pounds! I am focusing my eyes more, especially on faces. I am also working hard to hold my head up all by myself. I smile a lot in my sleep, and mom and dad are looking forward to my first socially induced smile.

We do a lot of this in the mornings...

I'm still nursing around the clock; for example, I nursed yesterday morning at 6, 7,7:30 and 8-9:15! I am a hungry boy and nursing is also great bonding time for me and mommy. Most nights are getting a bit easier. I still wake up almost every hour to eat, but I'm getting better at going back to sleep afterward. I am a very content and sweet baby, and my only ailment is that I get a bit gassy some days, which involves an hour or two of inconsolable crying. I apparently swallow a lot of air while gorging myself on milk. I'm already a popular guy, because I get a lot of visits from family and friends.

Cake from some wonderful students - there were also blue balloons and banners all over the classroom!

Mom is excited to be losing the "baby weight"

This week mom went back to teaching her class in the evenings. Both nights I curled up on daddy and slept through the entire class. Her students even threw her a welcome back party with a cake with my picture on it! Mom is also excited to have lost her "baby weight". She highly recommends a strict diet in pregnancy (thanks to gestational diabetes) and the breastfeeding diet!
It's tough not getting a lot of sleep sometimes, but my parents feel that their lives are already so normal with me around. Big brother J.J. is starting to feel comfortable with me too - he gave me a big kiss this morning! Mom will post sometime soon about the birth - she says she is still processing the entire event. In the meantime, here are some fun pictures that my grandma took this week.

Dreaming of boobies...

Hello, my name is Quinn!

My mommy and daddy have been very busy taking care of me this week, but since this is my one week birthday, they figured they should post some pictures of my first week. I was born at 3:33am on Thursday, September 27 at the University hospital. We went home on Saturday, and we are all doing great. I eat all the time and have hardly lost any of my birth weight. I am a very calm baby except when I have gas. Mommy is pretty tired and is grateful for donated food and showers, but loves being my mother. She nurses me all day and sings to me. Daddy spends lots of time with me on his chest and plays his guitar for me. Despite a somewhat difficult birth, we are all bonding beautifully in our first week as a family. Here is our first week together in photos. Mom will post more details about my birth and our time at home when things calm down a bit.

 

 

Checked in to our hospital room - 11am on Wednesday, September 26.

Mom after 14 hours of labor. Almost time to push!

Our first family photo.

Mother-son bonding.

Sleepy.

Getting ready to leave the hospital at noon on Saturday.

Daddy-son bonding.

Quiet alert time with daddy.

Crashed on mommy.

5 days after my birth.

I have my daddy's hands and feet.