Fun with Ellie-phant

Weslee loves this little elephant toy. If you pull the string on top, it vibrates and he gets a kick out of it. It was the first toy he paid attention to, and the first thing he started "talking" to. He can spend so much time just holding, tossing, talking and eating "Ellie". The name came about in a random sort of way, with me saying "elephant" in different voices for Weslee. He reacted positively when I named it "Ellie-phant". He also has a small Eric Carle chime elephant we've named "Eli Elephant". If you put any blue elephant in front of him now, he will talk to it and give it a big smile!

April photos

Family photo

Tummy time

Having fun on the play mat

Dad and baby

March photos

This is a project we did to make a little footprint for the wall. Ken and Weslee seemed to enjoy it!

some spare time

I noticed that I haven't blogged in almost three months! We've been so busy around here that I just haven't had much time to sit down and write things. So I'll try to give a short update and then hopefully blog on a more regular basis.
We're still working with Weslee on his feeding issues. The tongue clipping didn't solve his latch problem. We recently were referred to an occupational therapist, who has determined that he has a sucking disorder. His muscles aren't developed enough to latch onto a breast, and when he gets tired he has trouble latching onto a bottle, as well. We are doing exercises with him to help him realize that he needs to use those muscles.
Our little boy sure is getting big! At his 4 month visit he weighed 14lbs 6.5oz and was 23" long. He can sit assisted now, and sit unassisted for a few seconds. He also loves to chatter with people. He's a big flirt!
I'm going to post several picture blogs so people can see how he's developed over the past little while. Somebody recently pointed out to me that you know you're behind on blogging when your mom reminds you to write (and my mom doesn't even blog).

surviving the nights

Weslee is now just over 6 weeks old, and he's growing up so fast! He's now smiling at mom and dad and mimicking faces, as well as making little cooing noises when he's talked to. We have been pretty successful in getting him to sleep in his bassinet, but we have a little ways to go before he sleeps in his room. Hopefully we'll get there in the next couple weeks.

I am thrilled to tell you that Weslee is sleeping 4-5 hours a night, which allows me to get a much needed block of sleep. Napping here and there is just not the same as getting hours of sleep in a row. My milk supply finally seems to be keeping up with him, which is good because he seems to have a sensitivity to formula that gives him a nasty diaper rash whenever we supplement. I'm still hoping we'll get the feeding thing down and won't have to do so much if he can learn to latch and feed efficiently.

We have to keep a close eye on our little guy, because he's been able to roll himself over since birth, and gaining weight has not stopped him from being able to do so. Today he rolled over and wiggled his way to mom when I turned to get on the computer. He didn't want to lay on his own, apparently.

I've posted some pictures, but unfortunately haven't been to get a really great one of Weslee smiling. I keep catching the end of the smiles, which isn't very impressive. Hopefully I'll be able to post some more of his cute facial expressions soon.

Wish List

I love reading. I miss reading. I haven't had much time to read recently, but I was thinking about it tonight and realized that I could be reading when I'm nursing, since I can't do much else during that time. I've read the books I own, and I enjoy getting new books, but haven't done that in quite a while because the money just isn't there right now.

So I've made a little list of the things I would get if I had the money. I think I'll start saving and get them over a period of time... I should be able to get about one a month if I cut out everything else I might spend my $5/week on.

-Fireproof: DVD, Study Series, Love Dare
-I Promise by Dr. Gary Smalley
-Intended for Pleasure by Dr. Ed Wheat
-Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
-The Duggars 20 and Counting by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar

The First Weeks

We have made it to Weslee's due date (February 15) and the little guy is such a joy to have around. He does the typical baby stuff... eat, sleep, make diapers- but those quiet moments where he is alert and focused on your face are just priceless.

We've been working with his feeding skills since we brought him home, and we continue to see lactation specialists every week to monitor his weight gain and see how much he is eating during meals. Weslee weighed more than his birth weight at two weeks, after having lost about 15% of his body weight in the first few days of life. He continues to thrive and is a voracious eater.

We are so blessed to have such supportive family and friends that have been helping us adjust to this new phase of life. It is certainly different and challenging, but also very rewarding.