Ari - 1 month

Weight: 8 lbs, 6 ounces

Length: 21”

Likes: You love to be swaddled!  We bought so many different “swaddle sacks” in an effort to make it easier on ourselves, but you are still too small to use them.  We can only swaddle you in this one set of Carter’s blankets, though, so I had to order another set on Amazon to have as a back up!  Even though you want to be swaddled all the time, you are a master at breaking out of the blanket as soon as we wrap you up.  I’ve tried everything – double-wrapping you with a burp cloth pinning down your arms, pulling the blanket so tight it resembles more of a straight jacket than a baby-safe blanket – but you are just an escape artist.  Those arms pop out and you let us know pretty quickly that it’s time to rewrap you and start that sleep process all over again!  I like to think that it’s just a sign that you’re going to be a pretty strong kid, though.

You also love white noise.  It took us a few nights to realize that it was making a difference, but now we have an old iPhone set up with the sound of white noise and rain falling.  And you like it L-O-U-D.  Being sleep deprived new parents, we of course oblige, but your dad commented last night that sleeping with sound is definitely a challenge for him.  We’re those people who always slept in absolute SILENCE!  It’s okay though.  You really seem to like it so it will stay! 

Lying on dad’s chest is one of your new favorite things to do.  He sits in the big leather chair with you swaddled up, face-down, while he plays video games or watches tv.  I think you really like how warm he is because you definitely don’t enjoy it as much with me.  Not going to lie – your dad really likes that time too.  We know the window for cuddles is probably pretty short so we enjoy them while we can. 

Your pacifier is one of your (our) favorite things.  For a week or two, you would only take a Chicago Bears pacifier that was probably made in China and would make your pediatrician scream because it isn’t orthodontist approved.  We’ve since managed to migrate you over to a more baby-safe Soothie.  I’ve contemplated every possible way I could keep that thing in your mouth.  Short of duct taping it to you (which I don’t think anyone would approve of), we spend a lot of time popping it back into your mouth when you are half asleep and freak out when you realize it isn’t there.

We’ve only gone on one walk so far, but I have high hopes you will enjoy them. You love car rides (I take you falling asleep as a sign of enjoyment, sorry), and I anticipate walks in the stroller will be pretty similar.  Unfortunately, being born in mid-November means that there are only a few chances for warm enough weather to take you outside, even in our mild Tennessee winters. 

Dislikes:  Man, you hate being naked.  This poses quite a problem when you think of the things that require a baby to shed some clothes such as diaper changes and baths.  You are slowly accepting diaper changes as a fact of life (probably since we do it about 12-14 times a day right now), but every once in a while, you will just scream bloody murder throughout the whole process.  If we add in a wardrobe change, especially one that requires something to go over your head, the neighbors had better plug their ears.  Your lungs are definitely healthy!  Bath time is becoming less traumatic as you are embracing how relaxing a bath can be.  Getting OUT of the tub, however, is a whole different story.  You hate being naked and you hate being cold.  Those 30 seconds between getting out of the tub and drying off are extremely traumatic, no matter how fast I get the towel around you. 

Milestones: This whole first month has obviously been completely new for all three of us, but we can tell how much you’ve grown since bringing you home.  You still give us the occasional cross-eyed stare, but you’ve started focusing a lot more this week.  You recognize our voices and can follow our faces when we get close to your face.  You did roll over from your tummy to your back a couple times when we had you on our bed, but I think the soft mattress may have helped make that feat a little more attainable.  Dad put you on the play mat yesterday and said you reached out for some toys and seemed to enjoy staring at yourself in the mirror.

You sleep pretty well.  I won’t go so far as to say you sleep a long time, but you do sleep.  Your dad and I take turns getting up with you in the middle of the night so thankfully, we’re both only somewhat sleep deprived as opposed to one of us completely exhausted.  Also, you LOVE to be rocked/bobbed/bounced to sleep so I’m anticipating my upper arms to look pretty good by springtime.

Firsts: You’ve started vocalizing a lot more.  Rather than just the standard grunt or cry, we’re getting happy baby sounds.  You also give us this crooked smile when you are falling asleep.  I like to think it’s because you are truly happy, but I know it’s probably just gas.

Your dad went out of town for three nights for work when you were almost 3 weeks old.  Those were some tough three nights for both you and me.  I think we both realized how much we love and need Dad around to help!

Fun Fact: Oreo hasn’t eaten you yet!  You have no idea how big a deal this is!  In fact, we think the dog may actually kind of like you or is at least intrigued or concerned by your presence.  He gets up with us for every nighttime feeding so the poor pup is pretty exhausted too.  He loves to lick your ears, but you aren’t very thrilled about his wet nose.