Varen 6 Months Old (Already??)

Oh my where does the time go. Varen is 6 months old today and I am a little emotional about it. I've always felt like I've had to try my best to ensure that Varen got the same treatment as Vashon. But it's just not possible, knowing what I knew before Varen was even born. I'm less trigger ready to randomly buy something for Varen that he wont care about or play with. Clothes although he does get some new are mostly hand me downs and if I can find it I'm more inclined to purchase all those expensive baby contraptions off of craigslist. On the positive side I take twice as many photos of Varen than I did with Vashon and I've welcomed myself into the world of videos and youtube and my youtube page is filling up with "random things my baby did". I spend less time reading parenting books and magazines that swear they have the sure fire way to get your child to sleep through the night, crawl early or READ.

I don't compete with other mothers and their babies because since Vashon I've realized that every child is different and you CAN drive yourself mad trying to keep up.

I'm happy to announce that I'm still breastfeeding Varen and have no intentions of stopping anytime soon.

For 6 months I've just enjoyed my baby being a baby, watching him change with everyday. I have my days where being his mom is really hard. Nights where I pace up and down the hall holding him trying to get him to calm down, and sometimes I'll think "maybe this is because I didn't let him CIO, or because he's spoiled, etc", then I remind myself of my beliefs on training babies and that I didn't become a mother thinking it was going to be easy. And while some of my friends may have sweet sleeping non crying babes that doesn't necessarily mean it's because they've done something right and I've done it wrong. It means they just got Lucky.

So to you Varen here is your 6 months update - Happy half a year sweet boy

Varen @ 6 months

Weight - 20 lbs (since 2 months Varen has been gaining 3 lbs a month, at 5 months he weighed 19 lbs so I think his weight is starting to slow down now)


Sleeping Patterns - Still co sleeps/bed shares, occasionally I will put him in the pack n play next to my bed. (we are currently visiting in CA so even if I wanted to he couldn't be in his own room) I will honestly say that bed sharing is for my peace of mind and success in breastfeeding. I don't know how long I plan to do this but I am trying to get him used to sleeping without me.


Eating Habits - Still breastfed, still nursing on demand. I started Varen on solids at 5.5 months I tried to wait until now but he kept grabbing stuff out of my hands.



New foods he likes - Sweet potato's, squash, apple sauce, avocado, bananas, pears, carrots, oatmeal. He hates rice cereal (I wouldn't blame him) now that he's 6 mo old I plan to start some of the techniques of baby led feeding.


New discoveries - He's starting to like toys a lot more and is kind of getting interested in yo gabba gabba

Varen Jacob @ 6 Months

Yep, all those rolls, and I love them. ;)

New Milestones - He sits up unsupported now. YAY!!!!! Varen

Places baby went -He attended his first funeral as his grampie passed away (RIP Grampie)

Anything else - He's starting to teeth and boy is he a beast of a child. Nothing like Vashon. He's pretty much given up the paci we can still use if for a quick soothe but he doesn't NEED it, unlike Vashon. In 6 months Varen has been sick once and he's taken NO medicine. I've pretty much used my breast milk to cure everything. lol

How is older brother - Vashon is good. Loves his brother but doesn't love to share.

My Vashon

Vashon is an amazing kid. He drives me mad at times but amazes me everyday. When they say kids are like sponges they are talking about Vashon. He soaks in everything so much we have to ask "where did he learn that from?" He's 4 yrs old now and everyday I look at him and think he's no longer my baby he's my kid. I have a KID. LOL. He reminds me of Van and myself but is the spitting image of his father.

He starts pre school this September. I'm excited and nervous I'm going to miss him. We are about to walk into a whole new world now is the time where I've become passionate about education because now it effects my children and sadly I'm not to happy with the turn education has taken. Vashon will be attending a private pre k but I don't think we'll be able to financially swing it for both boys in the yrs to come.

I'm trying really hard to pick my battles with him and let him just be a kid, trying not to freak at every scrap and ruined pair of jeans. I wish I could give all my time to him but Varen demands so much of my time. I remind myself that vashon had his time to shine for 3 yrs. I remind myself that I am not Vashon's friend I'm his mother and it's not always my job to just play with him all day or say how high when he says jump.

I have so much planned for him its very exciting so stay tuned.

The Nolan's - The last family photo

I don't know if many of you know but my father passed away late April. You can read vayden's blog for further details. The night we found out that the Dr. was giving dad 6 mo to live I contacted a photographer friend. My brother was in town I was here visiting and with the news it was something I think we needed. Our last family photo aside from in front of a the house was taken over 20 yrs ago. Only by the grace of God did she have a cancellation and was free to come take photos for us. At the time we were grateful but had no idea how important those photos and that experience was going to be. 6 days later my dad passed away. That Saturday was the last day we all sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful day. We laughed and even though my brother and I are adults and married with kids that Saturday we were the Nolan's.
I am forever grateful to my dear friend Taryn.

Varen - 4 months old

Varen @ 4- months - March 21, 2011

Weight - 16 lbs

Sleeping Patterns: I recently moved Varen into the pack n play in my room at my parents house. I miss him so much being next to me. He's doing fine with the change it does take him about 30 extra min to go down, he still wakes up at 3 am to nurse then cuddle with me for about 30 min including nursing and burping. I love him in bed with me but I'm sure than when Van gets back he's going to want to sleep in the same bed with me.

Eating habits - Still on SUPERMILK aka Breast milk . I don't plan on starting him on rice cereal until about 5 - 5.5 months. and good at 6, unless he starts to show the cues but right now he's fine on breast milk.

Varen at 4 months old

New Discoveries: He is starting to hold onto more toys and give them a little shake but I don't think he has a big interest in them. He does seem to focus in on Vashon a lot more.

New Milestones: Varen started smiles at about 3.5 months and OMG he has my smile and looks so much like me. I just love this lil guy to pieces. He also has great control of his head (see photo below) he's rolled over once but has not done it again.

Places Baby Went: The boys and I took a road trip to California and Varen did amazing. We drove 12 hrs the first day and 7 hrs the 2nd day. We had scheduled stops but only had to pull on the side of the road once for a blow out nasty diaper. So in less than a week Varen went to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Anything Else? Another baby? lol People actually see me out with both the boys and my massive sit n stand stroller and actually have the nerve to ask me if I want anymore. As if a toddler and an infant aren't enough. lol No I don't think I want anymore kids.

How is big brother? Vashon is starting to really love his brother and he's taking care of him in the best way he can. Telling me what the baby needs. lol. Vashon will be 4 yrs old in April and I am going to cry. My baby is not a baby anymore. :(

Since When Did Breastfeeding Become So Bad

I thought when I gave up breastfeeding before I even tried with Vashon that outsiders looking in would shake their heads at me in shame. But who would have thought it would be the other way around. Although people are not disappointed that I've chosen to breastfeed Varen I do think their jealous and been getting unsolicited advice and/or comments.

Many of you know I wanted success in breastfeeding just as much as I wanted a successful pregnancy and delivery. This was very important to me and I put myself out there asking numerous amounts of questions and reading anything and everything I could find. I took classes and prepared myself for the good, the bad and the ugly but I never thought I would have to prepare for the ugly things that people were going to say.

"He only wants you, because I don't have breast"

"You have that baby spoiled, you're always holding him" (umm I'm always feeding him)

" He's so FAT"

"He's overweight"

"he could stand to drink some water"

"What are you eating?"

"What? Nursing on Demand! That's why he so damn big"

"You're going to roll over your baby, while you're sleeping with him"

"you love him more than your other son because you didn't breastfeed him"

"This baby is HUGE"

"You're feeding him AGAIN"

Is my baby really BIG or is he just BIG to you? It's funny because almost EVERYONE that has something negative to say about Varen's size either didn't breastfeed or was not breastfed. Let me first start by saying that Vashon was tiny 4 lbs 14oz at birth and dropped to 4lb 6oz by the time we went home. He being my first set the mold I guess for what a normal baby is supposed to look like. But lets be real, a 4 lb baby is not normal and what everyone seems to forget is how often they made comments about how "small" Vashon was. But I guess in a world that is so fearful of obesity being a skinny baby is the better of the two.

Varen is NOT HUGE, he is a healthy baby at 17 weeks of age weighs roughly 16 lbs give or take a few oz. (when I weighed him at home this morning the total came to 15 lbs 4oz) Yes he's doubled his birth weight already but that's what he's supposed to do. He's happy and healthy and he is 100% breastfed. No water, no cereal, no food, no juice.

So why the harsh and complex building comments. I don't mind people calling him a chubby baby, he is a chubby baby, but when you walk into the world of saying my son is overweight, needs a diet or maybe I should space out and time his feedings I feel personally offended. The worst thing a person can do is tell a mother they are doing something wrong with their child. Varen doesn't just eat all day but it may seem like it, because I nurse on demand and he snacks. He takes bottles only when I'm away from him which is not very often and the amount doesn't exceed 3 oz.

It's been said that breastfed babies grow rapidly in the first 3-4 months then slow down and by a year are mostly leaner than formula fed babies.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp

I was told to nurse on demand until I started solids and then starting solids would create somewhat of an eating schedule. It is hard and rare that a breastfed baby, baby on breast will be overfed. Despite what all you naysayers thinks babies know when they are done and they can also change their sucking to switch from nursing or just sucking for comfort. I'm fine with Varen using me as a pacifier.

Yes I bed share and yes there is a possibility in me rolling on my baby, just as there is a possibility in me sitting on him, forgetting him in the car, or in a basket at the grocery store. These a risk I take as a mother and to tell you the truth and most mothers that bed share will say the same. When sleeping in the bed with your child you are NEVER 100% fully sleep. I often tell people that I get 7-8 hours of rest which in my opinion is the equivalent to a new mothers 3 hours of sleep.

But overall Varen is happy, he is healthy, he is chubby but with the older brother that he has I guarantee that once he starts moving he will be as lean as Vashon.

I am not going to put my 4 month old on a diet, I am going to continue to nurse on demand and I am also going to enjoy every single moment with my baby as a baby, because it does go by fast and while everyone else is so worried about sleep training and feeding schedules I'm more concerned with never missing a moment.

Varen - 3 months

Varen @ 3 months February 21,2011

Weight - 13 lbs


Sleeping Patterns - Sleeping longer, wakes up once or twice to nurse then back to bed. Still co sleeping.


Eating Habits - Nursing on demand, only drinking breast milk.


New foods he likes - None

New discoveries - His voice, he's found his voice and likes to use it. But it's so cute to hear him try to talk to us.

New Milestones - He's loving tummy time, lifting his head up, good control of his neck, smiling and laughing.

Places baby went - No where special, it's still cold and flu season so we try to stay in more than out.

Anything else - A lot of people ask what I want to do different with Varen that I didn't do with Vashon in regards to eating or schedules. Because I am blessed to stay at home, training Varen to sleep and eat when I want him to is not a big thing for me. To be honest the first yr we pretty much let the baby call the shots. I don't believe in CIO and I'm not into reading all those baby books. So we go with the flow, we try new things and we do what works for us.

How is older brother ? - Vashon is doing good he actually loves Varen a lot more and is finally taking pictures with him.

Vashon 3.5 yrs old Varen 3 months old

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.