Friday, January 21, 2011

Varen - 2 months

Varen @ 2 months - January 21, 2011


Weight & Height - 10 lbs 4 oz & 21 1/2" long


Sleeping Patterns - I moved Varen into our bed and Van moved into the other room, lol. While he was going through his 6 week growth spurt I was dead tired and it was either co sleep or stop nursing, I did my research and practiced during the day with Van in the room watching me and felt secure and safe about co-sleeping. It made a world of difference in my sleep and his. But just recently I moved him back into his bassinet so Van could come back into our bed. Now that he's a little older he sleeps fine in his bassinet.

He naps poorly unless he's being held, but that's ok because I get a longer stretch at night.

Varen is however a loud sleeper, he farts, snores, grunts and makes other loud noises when he sleeps, which is the main reason Van moved out. lol


Eating Habits - Still breastfed, and nursing well, he has about 1 bottle a day at night with the vit D in it.


New foods he likes - Ok maybe this isn't a food but Varen loves Gripe Water. lol. He gets all excited when he sees the lil syringe. lol




New discoveries - umm nothing more than his hands.

New Milestones - He is starting to take things from us if we tap his hand with them, like a pen. Holding his head up more and doing little baby push ups.


Places baby went - He went to a friends house but it was really a play date for his big brother, lol

Anything else - Varen failed his newborn hearing screen in the hospital so I recently took him to have the diagnostic test and he passed on both ears. Praise God.

How is older brother- Doing well, very understanding of when the baby needs to be changed or fed. He's more into playing with brother bear at the moment.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

My Last Baby, My Way

Most people learn from their mistakes when subsequent children are born. After our first we learn that sometimes even the very loud cry means, nothings wrong, and I just need some more attention. We realized that we can leave a diaper on until the baby is actually done doing their business, because diapers are expensive to buy. We threw out the baby books and our elders advice and we do it our own way.

One of the things that most first time parents end up dealing with is the "needy baby", the baby that always has to be held or at least be able to see their mommy every minute their awake. So the second time around we let the baby cry a little longer in hopes that they will learn some "independence".


When I was early pregnant with Vayden I knew all the things I was NOT going to do with him that I did with Vashon. Vashon was a pretty good baby, but our issues which still stand were eating and schedule. Vashon is a very picky eater and we can't seem to actually stick to a schedule that works. That means lots of fights over food and crazy nights where he can stay awake longer than us. I knew for sure with Vayden I would not make the same mistakes. Then we lost Vayden :(

So here comes Varen and the things I swore to do different were all by the book. He was going to sleep in his bassinet on his back and I banned anyone including mommy and daddy to fall asleep holding him. Unlike Vashon I didn't want anyone around Varen for at least until he was 2 or 3 weeks. I didn't want give him a pacifier because Vashon was addicted to his and I was going to train him to love all the crazy contraptions we bought for him like the swing, bouncy seat and boppy pillow.(Which meant that I wasn't going to hold him a lot).

Sounds pretty cold huh?

Well you all can sigh in relief because pretty much everything I swore I wouldn't do I have thrown out the window. Varen loves his paci, but loves my breast more :) guest were at my house when he was just a few days old (however I have stuck to one of my rules not allowing children around him) He co sleeps now for most of the night because breastfeeding is much easier when he's laying in bed with me and can eat while I sleep. And although he uses all the cool baby gadgets we hold him quite a bit and of course he favors being held over anything.

Today I was nursing him and he fell asleep while I was burping him, I could have probably held onto him for a few more minutes then put him down, but my arms wouldn't let me put him down. So I sat there rocking my sweetheart and found myself staring at Vayden's picture, I looked down at Varen and heard a lil naggy voice in my head saying "you're going to wish you didn't hold that baby so much". I went to put Varen down and once again I just couldn't, and then I realized that I didn't have to. I'm a SAHM and I will be for a long time, if he develops a need to be held it wont be anyones burden but mine, but like many other things Varen wont go to High School in my arms.

I didn't get to hold Vayden all night long and didn't get to feel him wiggle in my arms. So I'm going to hold Varen as long as I want and I'll deal with the consequences of my actions if and when they come, but one thing I'll know is that I enjoyed every moment of the baby stage with Varen which many times parents miss out on when number 2 + are born. Varen is already 6 weeks old, so clearly time is speeding by and since he is my last I'm just going to soak it all in.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Hello 2011, I'll miss you 2010

I must say if ever I wanted a year to last longer it would be 2010. That year was filled with multiple blessings after blessings after blessings. Not much went wrong or bad in 2010 and after the year we had in 2009 I was ready for a good year. So I am going to miss 2010 because it was such a wonderful year. My husband and I finally took a real kid free vacation, we bought a brand new car, we became pregnant and welcomed our rainbow baby all in 2010. In 2010 I continued to honor Vayden's memory by donating more teddy bears, sharing his story with more people and working along side some great bereavement resources here in Oklahoma City. Vayden's story was shared on the local news 2 times in 2010, even after a year our angel is still being remembered by people other than his family. In 2010 my husband started attending church more than just on Easter and after a pay raise, we even went as a family during football season (those that know Van, know that almost NOTHING trumps football). My husband and I fought less and loved more. Vashon has become so smart, was hardly ever sick, and was able to experience new amazing things. I spent lots of time with my family in California which is very special and important to me. God truly blessed the Stewart family in 2010.


What more could I ask for of 2011? That God continue to bless us, our friends and our family.


I wish everyone a wonderful new year and if 2010 was more like our 2009 for you my advice is to stay faithful to the Lord, God wont put you through something without getting you through it. He keeps all his promises I know this is true because 2010 is what I call my testimony year.