Nursing

CALLING ALL MOMMIES

I need your help in deciphering some nursing things....

So my bug has decided that he is wanting to take OVER an hour to nurse. Once he nursed for an hour and a half, this can't be normal...or is it? I was just doing one side at each nursing and Colton would eat for about 30 minutes and fall right back asleep but then the feedings were getting to be longer and longer and longer so I then switched to doing each side about 20-25 minutes each (thanks to my mother in laws advice) but he STILL seems to be hungry....he still roots around for a "milk source," puts his hands in his mouth (I'm afraid he will find his thumb here shortly!), and just squirms and fusses. So after about 2 days of this I decided to give him a bottle after a feeding and he ate 4 oz AFTER having nursed for about an hour! SO, what am I doing wrong? Is he still too young to lay down and just let him cry it out? Is he too young to have figured us out, (mom and dad) in that if he cries we will hold him or if he acts hungry we won't put him down? I just want to keep him on as much of a feeding schedule as possible and at the rate he is nursing and sleeping it's getting all thrown off and even though he may be too young to start establishing a routine (is he??) I would like to try to stick to as much of one as possible for the sake of me and dad's sanity and schedules. SOOooo, I would love ANY and EVERYONE's advice and help. Cman is 3 weeks old so I just don't know how old is old enough or if he is still just a newborn and trying to figure things out. Thanks for the Help!!

In other news, we went to the pediatrician last Friday (Jan 14th) and he is doing great! He has gained all of his birth weight back plus 2 oz and grew an inch! He now weighs in at 7lbs 14 oz and is 21 inches tall! We go back in march when he will be 2 months old....can't even think about him being that grown up already! I just love me some colty bug! I will have to take some more pics and upload them another day, sorry for the picture-less post today. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday!

a few more pictures

So we have now had Colton for 2 weeks. It seems to be going fast and I wish time would slow down. I just can't get enough of this little bug!

A few updates....

After about a week we had finally mastered nursing by day 8. Whew, talked about stressful! Glad my momma was in town for that first week though because she kept me on track for nursing and not just giving up and giving him a bottle. A lot of people had said that nursing was tough but seriously I thought it was harder than birthing the little guy!

We are now on a more regular eating schedule which is good for him. He eats about every 3 -4 hours and he is pretty much always right on that schedule. This is nice because if we plan to go anywhere we just make it around his eating schedule and then have a happy sleeping baby wherever we go.

He also pretty much sleeping through the night giving dad and I about an average of 6 - 7 hours of sleep. If he eats at 2 he won't wake up until about 8 or so. We feel pretty blessed that we are able to sleep so much already.

We have successfully trimmed his nails, given him a couple sponge baths, washed his hair a few times under the sink and taken him on a couple field trips around town. (I had to get out of the house for a little bit.) All in all, we are doing great and just so in love with this guy!

A little bit of a smile

big Yawns

dad and c

my bug

nana and colt

melts my heart!

Colton Royce Gray

Oh.My.Gosh!

Can you believe this face?!

Me either!

We are in L. O.V.E.

I will quickly update about the delivery and bringing home baby since I have snuck away from the apartment really quick with my mom and hubba in charge of the new little man.

So, we planned on inducing on the 29th of December and meeting our new boy. I didn't want to say anything about it because I am superstitious and new that if I said soemthing there wouldn't be room for us at the hospital and we would have to postpone. Which ALMOST turned out to be the case. Since we were an elective induction the hospital will only take those who HAVE to be cared for first and then start on the elective inductions list. I called in to the hospital at 6am and asked if they had room and I was told not at the moment but probably by later that afternoon....and to be expecting a phonecall. I was a little bummed but new that this was a possibility. I hung up and wondered what to do, cancel and move it to tomorrow or see if they called back in a few minutes. By the time I had decided to give up and call them back I got a phone call from the hospital at 6:30 and they said they could take us and to be there by 7:30 or 8. I woke up Justin and we anxiously loaded up the car. Once we were finally, officially admitted and I was hooked up to all my LOVELY drugs we were on our way to labor by about 9:30 or 10. I started having pretty intense contractions by about 3 (I think) and then asked for the epidural. Once I got that I was happy as a clam! So by about 6 I had progressed to about 4cm and was making progress...slowly but progress nonetheless. Finally by about 11pm the Dr.'s checked once more and I had fully dilated and was ready to start pushing. The first contraction came and I pushed and the nurse said it was not going to take long so she called my dr. and had him come up to the delivery room. A second contraction came, I pushed and then was told to wait....ha...ha...The nurse called the dr. back to check his location and he was in the parking lot. As soon as he came in the room and got situated, we pushed one more time and Colton made his appearance. Oh happy day! He was delivered at exactly midnight December 30, 2010. We were (and still are) over the moon!! We had my family in town but a few had to leave and get back to dallas which I was totally bummed about but that night Colton was able to meet several of his family members and I was so happy to have so much family there with us to help celebrate his birthday!

We were in the hospital for the rest of the weekend and Colton had to stay an extra night because his jaundice numbers were too high. I was a mess that day because I had been discharged from the hospital earlier that morning and was told we would ALL be leaving together but was later informed Colty bug had to stay another night. Lots of tears. But I knew he needed to get better and there was no better place for him to be....and hubba gave me lots of hugs and kisses to make it "better." The next afternoon(Sunday) my mom made it into town and we went up to the hospital to check in on Colton and we were given good news that we would be able to take him home. We were elated!

Since we have been home Colton has been an amazing little baby. He sleeps for hours and doesn't fuss unless he is dirty/wet or hungry.... I don't want to jinx it but I sure do hope he stays this way. We are soooo blessed to have a mellow baby, even if it is just for now. I can't believe how much my heart grew with love for this little man. He melts my heart and I just sit and stare at him all the time. I think he is just so handsome too! I love all of his dark hair and long little eyelashes. We are still trying to figure out breastfeeding but it is something I am dedicated to, even though it most certainly tests my patience. He is getting better at latching on but sometimes he is just too worked up to focus. All in all, this last week has been amazing and I am trying to soak up every minute I have with him before I have to start thinking about going back to work. BOO! We are all doing well, sleeping well and so in love. Hope all of you are doing well also! these pictures are the only ones I have for now... ENJOY!

Grandma and CRG

SWEETNESS