2 months plus shots!

   I can't believe my baby boy is already 2 months old! Time is flying by! It's amazing to see how much he's changed since he was born, both physically and mentally. So here's an update so you all can experience his growth as well!

*Jacet from Day 1 to 8 weeks!*

I want to start by saying that taking care of a baby is a definite learning experience for us all. There are times where my patience is tried and times where I'm just so exhausted, but I have learned to put these things aside for the sake of my baby. 

I have learned that there are many "cranky" and "fussy" stages in a babies life. During specific growth spurt periods the baby will most likely be more fussy and cranky and also want to eat much more often. These growths spurts usually last about a week and they occur at about 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and basically every 3 months. We went through the 6 week phase recently and honestly it wasn't so bad. He wasn't anymore fussy than usual, but he did eat a lot more often, almost every hour! 

Jacet is now 8 weeks and has been a lot fussier than normal. I was wondering if maybe it was another growth spurt and did some searching online. I came across this book called "The Wonder Weeks," which apparently explains the different phases and changes a baby goes through. I haven't read the book, but there is a chart that goes with it that outlines each week. It shows that 8 weeks is a "stormy" period. The website explained further that most babies go through a developmental milestone at this time. They are beginning to see designs and colors, and learning to reach out their hands to grab things. Since they are experiencing these changes they may feel overwhelmed and hence cranky and clingy. Well, Jacet has definitely been clingy and fussy! 

I also found this website which explains the book in more detail: http://www.whosthatmom.com/wonder-weeks-week-by-week/

So now I can be prepared for the rest of the "stormy" periods!

*all smiles!*

We had a bout of constipation around 7 weeks. He would wake up at night screaming when he tried to pass gas or have a bowel movement. I would move his legs in a bicycle motion which helped most of the time. I think that was caused by me drinking too much milk. I have cut bak a lot of dairy and while his gas isn't gone, it's definitely better. There were a few days where he had not pooped but was passing very smelly gas which had me worried. But then he EXPLODED after about 4 days. Thankfully it all stayed in the diaper. The next day he exploded again which did NOT stay in the diaper and I was fortunate to have had him on my lap at the time...while wearing the new shorts Tomo had bought for me just the day before! I managed to get them soaked and washed in time before the stain set in though! Can't even tell it happened.

DAILY ROUTINE:

This is mostly for my benefit so I can compare as he gets older, or reference to when I have other children :). But maybe some of you will like to see what we do during the day. 

It's basically a 3 or 3 1/2 hr cycle of eat, play, sleep. I let him sleep as long as he wants at night so our day doesn't always start at the same time, but here is a general breakdown:

*he loves his light up crab and Mr. Hippo!*

7:30 - wake up and eat 

8:00 - play

9:00 - nap (walk if weather permitting)

10:00 - wake up and eat. 

REPEAT
7:00pm- eat

8:00 - bath time 

8:30/9:00 -bedtime

11:00 - late night "dream feed"

4:00am - middle of the night feed (sometimes)

7:30 - wake up and do it all again

MILESTONE UPDATES:

I'm just going to make a list of new things that Jacet has started learning and doing recently. 

- he now smiles on purpose

- he coos and ahhs a lot

- has very good neck/head control

- he reaches out his arms to try to touch and grab things

- he's very good at grabbing hair
- starting to drool

- he found his thumb to suck on!

- he "stands" when you put him on his feet, with support of course

- he mostly sleeps through the night! 

2 MONTH STATS:

In Japan they do not do a 2 month check up. The next check-up we have is at 3 months, so these measurements were done by me and probably not totally accurate. 

Weight: about 11lb 11oz 

Length: about 23 in 

Head Circumference: about 15.7 in 

Poor baby got his first two shots today! Cried up a storm and sadly the nurses took him away from me just so the Dr could explain things too me, which he could've done beforehand! They always seem to do that, at birth they did, at his 1 month check-up they did, and now for his shots! That's one thing I don't like about the Japanese system. 

*a note on vaccines* apparently we have to pay for rotavirus, hep B, measles, and chicken pox. And it's not cheap! But the Dr. said that if we stay in Japan we do not need Hep B as it's not common here and most babies do not get the vaccine. There is also the BCG (I think it's for tuberculosis?) vaccine they do here but he recommends that if we stay in America, we don't need it.

As for me, I'm working on losing the rest of my pregnancy weight! It's going slower than expected but I'm trying to be patient. Priority is staying healthy so Jacet is healthy.

So I think that's about all that happened the past month! Stay tuned for next month's update, which will be after we return from our trip to America!

*sleepy-head*