1 month old

First month of life. 

This month has gone so fast it's crazy. I can not believe how fast he has grown up, how big he is already. 

So he is now weighting 8lb 9oz. And gone up to newborn clothes. He is now more stock and like a baby rather then this tiny fragile doll like baby in premmy clothes. He was born at 6lb 6oz but was just soo tiny. Definitely more fragile and skinnier then ariyah even if he was heavier. 

Anyways he doing well she now alot more awake and alert, starting to really look around and take in his surroundings. He is very strong, as he is holding his head up alot now, as well as rolling from back to side and side to back again. Not quiet a full roll but getting there. He is pushing with his feet to slide forwards when he is on his tummy. He really love tummy time too. He loves lights as he watches the star fairy lights and follows them. Also this owl hanging toy on his play mat. He is starting to use his arms and feet to hit the hanging toys as well. He give lots of smiles, little cheeky ones to like Ariyah. And pulls all sorts of funny facial expressions. He just started to make little coo noises to try and respond to us as well which is amazing as he is only 4 weeks. 

He has now met lots more of his family and friends. We have also take him to our regular baby group that we take ariyah to at the church where he got some cuddles off the lady that runs it. He been to his first birthday party and a christening of our friends children's. As well as stayed away from home at his uncles house (with us of course). He got a very busy social life haha. 

Ariyah-mai is absolutely besotted by him. She kisses and cuddles him, asks to feed him his milk. Also tried to actually feed and share her snacks with him which we have to keep telling her he is to young to eat. She plays with him on his play mat and shows him all the toys. Even tilggles his toes. She is just so sweet. She read and sings to him. He also loves her, when he is awake he watches her and even gives her smiles. His eyes light up as he follows her or watching her dance. Can't wait to just watch their bond grow as they grow up together. She does have her jealousy moments or times where she say no to him if he looks at her, which I'm sure we have many more with them agruing and fighting over toys but it's all learning and part of the fun of having siblings. 

We have recently had some very unsettled and difficult times with Layton. He was very consipated which made him uncomfortable, screaming in pain. We couldn't bath him as he still had his cord on. When it did come off baths and massages did help abit. However then after that he had bad diarrhoea which left him sore and still in pain. He had some blood in his stools too. He was still tensing and screaming even with really watery and sometimes green bowel movements. He started to be very hard to wind, arching his back ,, kicking his legs and wiggling in discomfort. We spoke to a GP and health visitor who just said wait it out. Then the GP gave us gavison for possible reflux. We tried infocal and comfort colic milk formula but that did not seem to work. 

He was hungry all the time and wanting more milk, which was the only thing that settled him however it then made him bloated and more uncomfortable, creating a vicious cycle. We didn't know what to do. He just screamed and didn't sleep. 

Coming up to 4 weeks old it was getting worse, he was also getting mottled skin after feeds and not sleeping at all, therefore we took him to A&E who straight away prescripted him specialised milk for possible reflux or milk allergies. Exactly like his sister, although unlike Ariyah he was not vomiting, gaging or had the acidy giggling noise which made us think it was more the milk intolerance rather then reflux or a full allergy. 

We just started on the new milk now so will update on how he does over the next few weeks, finger crossed he settles and can be his happy baby who can play and be put down and sleeps again. 

Ariyah at a months.   Layton at a month 

First week of life

 1 week old already! 

Can not believe it has gone this fast and he is already a week old. He is getting so big already and been home now all week.

When we brought him home just 1 day old, he just settled into our routine and family so quickly. He is a great sleeper and feeds well. He drinking 2-3 oz every 3 hours. He then sleeps 4 hours in one stretch at night. He hardly crys really and just shows he wants milk by suckling and sucking his hands. So it's easy signs and he calm. The only thing is he not a huge burper so he does get trapped wind. 

 He is also very alert. During ariyah nap he been awake so we had 1:1 time with him while taking in turns to nap. Then the other person will nap in the morning or afternoon. 

Routine: 

We managed to set a little routine where in the day we take turns to nap, while one of us has cuddles and to skin 1:1 time with Layton. Then ensure ariyah gets time with her brother, with us all as a family as well as 1:1 time with us both separately. Then at night we take in turns to do the feeds, as Ben can sleep early where as I can't. Therefore Ben will sleep from about 8/9am until 2/3 ish. Then il sleep after 11/12. When he has the last feed. Ben will then do early hours and morning feed. This way we both get a should 5ish hours and sleep in-between the feeds. 

Aso Layton doing really well he feeding well having 3oz every 3 hours, then at night he can go 4 hours. He was abit consipated for a few days which was hard and he was crying and squirming around in discomfort. There was nothing we can do but rub his belly and move his legs around. This was because his cord had not fallen off so we could not give him a bath, which helps consipation. 

He was to little to have any water, or medicine to help relieve his tummy. He also is not a very burby baby so we think he gets lots of trapped wind. Luckily his tummy started to ease again which was so much better for him, As he was getting sore as well. 

Ariyah is being such an amazing big sister, it so beautiful to watch their little bond form. She really loves him and when he is awake he watches her with some much love. His first little smile was playing on the floor watching his sister dance for him. She comes and gives him kisses, cuddles and blanket. She loves playing with him and will bring him all her toys, we working on just the soft toys as she trys to give him her bigger hard toys. But she will lay on his okay mat with him  showing him all the hanging toys saying what's this to him, thinking he will talk back to her

She will put his dummy back in and helps give him milk. If he is upset she stroke his head and says it's okay baby. She has helped change his bum to by handing us nappies and wipes. She gets a baby wipe and wipes his belly bless her. She also has started calling him brother and saying his name Layton instead of baby. Although she does call him 'my baby' it's just so precious how she been with him and couldn't ask for any more. As we were worried how she be and if she be jealous or upset when we busy tending to his needs and she having to wait. But she been very patient and understanding. Don't get me wrong she had her moments where she gets jealous or had pushed him away but overall that's to be expected, when majority of the time she is so general and loving to him. 

Therefore we are all doing very well this first week and can not believe how much he is growing already, despite still being in premmy and tiny baby clothes. I'm amazing how good I feel and how we just fit right into a routine and spending time as a family. I will keep you updated on how we are all doing but right now everything is just perfect!! Our little family. 

Photos of them both this week.