Sleeping Thru the Night - 10 hours

At 14 weeks, Nathan's sleeping 10 hours at night. He's done that 3 nights in a row, and I'm pretty certain that it's for the long haul. He sleeps at 9pm and wakes up at about 7am. After a nice warm bath, I'd settle him in his bed. We'd thank God for the day and pray for ourselves and our loved ones. Thereafter, I leave him alone in his cot, and he falls asleep on his own. Yay! He's stopped waking up at 1am to fuss and does not need the 4.30am feed anymore. Finally more sleep for mommy and daddy. He still wakes up about once or twice in the middle of the night. Thankfully, getting him to go back to sleep is pretty easy. I'd give him his pacifier and say, "Nathan, it's still night time. Go back to sleep...". And he usually falls asleep soon after.

I'm so glad he's sleeping thru the night. As much as we've prayed so much that Nathan will be able to sleep thru by 8 weeks, and read about how a fixed routine and a correct feed-wake-sleep cycle will help babies to sleep thru from as early as 8 weeks, I was still pretty doubtful as I've also heard of babies who still require both their night feeds when they are 15 months old. I'm so thankful that Nathan's able to rest well at night without waking up for night feeds. Another answered prayer. :)

The next step would be to move him into his own room. He sleeps in his own room for day time naps, but has been sleeping in our room (in his own cot) at night. I'm hoping to move him to his own room when he stops needing me to coax him back to sleep in the middle of the night... hopefully by the time he's 6 months old.

3 months old

Dear Nathan,

You just turned 3 months old...

You smile spontaneously and coo in response when we talk to you. Mommy's enjoying every moment with you. Once, daddy came home after a hard day's work. We were sitting in the living room reading a book. Daddy opened the door and saw us. He sat beside you and started talking to you... "Hi Nathan, did you miss daddy? ... What did you do today? ...", you smiled and responded in a language that we didn't understand yet fully understood. Daddy remarked that it is so heart warming especially after a long tiring day at work. We're so thankful for you.

You first discovered your hands this month, and sucked your thumb for the very first time. Mommy couldn't help smiling to myself when I saw you lying in your cot, asleep, with your thumb in your mouth. So cute! You've also started sticking your tongue out and have learnt how to blow bubbles with your saliva.

You attended your first wedding service and behaved real well... though half the time you were under the nursing bib, drinking milk.

You said you first word... in response to daddy's question of "Nathan, how was your day?" You responded with "GOOD!" We were rather tickled.

You continue to bring so much joy to mommy and daddy. We love you loads!

Hugs & kisses,

Mommy

The Struggle with Bottle Feeds

The struggle with bottle feeds started about a week ago and we're still trying to find out why Nathan is refusing the bottle. Daddy's the one who feeds Nathan when we want to give him the bottle. When he was about 1+ month old, we started giving him the bottle every now and then. We were advised to give him at least one bottle feed a day when he turns 1 month old so that he'll be comfortable drinking from both the breast and the bottle. We have not been diligent with the bottle feeds partly cos it is so much easier to latch him, and also cos daddy's schedule hasn't been regular. I suppose because of that, he's now rejecting the bottle. :( Getting me really worried as I'd be going back to work in March.

We've tried varying the temperature of the milk, holding him in different positions, and even bought all the different teats available in the market to see which one he prefers. Other than the numerous brands available (we've tried Avent, Pigeon and Nuk), each brand also has numerous options (different sized holes that'll affect the flow speed, different material, different shapes). Gosh! We've exhausted our options, but he still doesn't want to take the bottle. He was able to finish a bottle of milk in about 10 minutes in the past... now, he takes more than an hour! Am praying that we'll figure this one out real soon.