5 weeks (1 month)

Wheeler had his 1 month checkup last week. Besides a clogged tear duct causing a crusty eye all the time, he is doing great! He weighed 10 lbs 12.5 oz and was 22.5 inches long, which put him in the 75th percentile for weight and length. Strangely, Sipsey was 10 lbs 12 oz and 22.25 inches (90th percentile for both) at her 1 month checkup but I didn't take her until 6 weeks old, so that skews the numbers just a little bit. I'm anxious to see how he continues to grow because I have bought some brother/sister matching outfits for next Spring and Summer and he better not be too big for them!

He's not really sleeping that great. From my last post, I determined that he has colic at night. It takes some work to get him calm enough to sleep and once he does sleep, he will wake up to eat every 2-3 hours and go right back to sleep again. I'm thankful for that. I'm just craving a sleep cycle longer than 3 hours! One night, we got him to bed by 11PM and he only woke up once to eat at 3AM! He woke up again at 6AM and then it was time to start my day. It was a great night but the very next night he was up every 2 hours. :(

Sipsey is adjusting better to having attention-hog Wheeler around. Believe me, she gets PLENTY of one-on-one attention from both of us. We make it a priority to make sure she feels included and loved, etc, etc. She's just a diva 3 year old and something tells me she would be just as sassy even if Brother weren't around. Ben and I are adjusting better too! I cleaned my bathroom! And vacuumed the den! And filed some paperwork! I'm learning that it doesn't have to be spotless...good enough works just as well.

In his cute "little brother" outfit from my friend Krisli! Not my best photography, but you have to work with the time and lighting that you are given!






I put this cap on him during the AU game, and he writhed around like crazy trying to get it off!

4 Weeks

Wheeler will be 4 weeks old on Friday! I am currently typing with one hand and holding him sleeping in the other. Sister is at school, which she is not happy about. None of y'all told me or mentioned on your blogs how hard it is with 2 kids! I could care for Wheeler with no problem! Add a preschooler to the mix and it is tough getting through the day! Sipsey only goes to school 2 days a week. The other three days are challenging. My only accomplishments are showering, loading/unloading the dishwasher, and doing one or two loads of laundry. There is dust 2 inches thick on every surface in the house. I hate to wish time to pass because I am cherishing these moments, but I really wish for the time to come that Sipsey will be used to the baby (who she loves, just not me caring for him so much) and Wheeler won't need me so much during the day.

Wheeler eats about every 2 hours in the morning and is awake a lot during that time too. He sleeps a lot during the afternoon and can go 3 hours between feedings. At night, he has this weird "witching hour" between 8 and 10 where he won't eat well but he acts hungry. Then he'll act sleepy and we have to WORK to get him to sleep. And all week, we have not been successful at that until 10. We have tried giving formula when he won't nurse and that doesn't help. He just doesn't know what he wants and I guess is exhausted by 1o and finally falls asleep. Last night he was awake from 6:30 to 10:00---far too long for a baby his age in my opinion! Fortunately during the night, he eats every 2-3 hours and goes right back to sleep giving us 2-3 hours of sleep at a time. We are learning to be happy with such little sleep!

I want to document that today is the exact day in time, as far as the baby's age, that we found out my dad had passed away. Sipsey was one day shy of 4 weeks old. I feel like so much of Sipsey's infancy was shrouded in shock and sorrow. We are trying to really appreciate these days, as hard as they may be because we certainly didn't have a normal experience the first time around.

He purses his lips like this all the time!




Going on a walk for the first time. Also the last time for now. We've tried 3 more times=baby screaming.



I can't believe I have a child who sleeps like this.

When his sister HAD to sleep like this. We have tried this position with Brother and he won't have it!

Wheeler Arthur Beck

It's about time I updated the blog with our new arrival! Wheeler Arthur Beck was born Friday, August 19 at 6:01 am! I went to my regular appointment on Wednesday and the doctor wanted to induce me that afternoon! I was 3 cm dilated and he didn't think I would make it through the weekend. And he was going to be at a clinic in a neighboring state all weekend, so he was ready to get the baby out so a stranger wouldn't have to deliver the baby. We explained that we needed a little more time to get my mom here to take care of Sipsey so we went in Thursday afternoon after Mom got here. It was the longest induction ever, even longer than Sipsey's, but I finally reached 10 cm, pushed 5 times and Wheeler was here! He weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and was 21 inches long.

We are pretty sleep-deprived around here. It is a different ball game having a 3 year old to take care of in addition to a newborn. And FYI, it is NOT a good idea to start preschool one week before bringing home baby. We are ALL sick and have been since day 1. I was suctioning yellow snot from Wheeler's nose after being home 2 days. Then we took Wheeler to his 1 week check up last Friday and had to take Sipsey back that afternoon with an ear infection! Ben has had to sleep in her room with her since my mom left to intercept her when she wakes SEVERAL times crying throughout the night with a stuffy nose, sore throat, and croupy cough! AND I woke up this morning with matter all over my bloodshot left eye. Wheeler is doing great at night, but with all of us being sick, it has not been a great 2 weeks at home. If we can all get well, I may start to enjoy our family of four!

Kissing the belly goodbye!

Ready for the 13 hour labor.

It was worth it!

Big sister is soooo excited to hold the baby!

Ben and I had been awake for about 30 hours at this point so we look like zombies.

Sweet going home gown that my mom smocked for my sister and me in case we were boys!

Going home! We went home on Friday, just one day later. We were ready to be in our own territory.

Sweet big sister.

Photo shoot at 9 days old.

LOVE!