Duke at One Month

I’m a few weeks late on this one…but better late than never! I’ve decided to blog about Duke once a month until he’s a year,  including pictures, developments, and special moments 🙂

Obviously, this first month was a special one! He was born on December 5th and was a lot bigger than expected…meaning it was a full month of recovery for me 🙂

We had family over almost everyday, and Greg’s mom stayed with us a whole week to help! My sister and brother in law came to stay with their four kids, so Duke got to meet his cousins. They were all obsessed with him. Needless to say, Duke hit the jackpot with all our family. During the first two weeks, all we did was sit on the couch and stare at him. We just couldn’t – and still can’t – believe the miracle he is. We always say to each other, “How did something so perfect come from us?”

His first Christmas was such a special time. Even though he was only 20 days old, he got about 3x the amount of Christmas presents we did 🙂 He spent his first Christmas being held by his grandparents, uncles, and aunts.

He’s already changed so much! When he was first born, being swaddled would alleviate any fussiness. When he was circumcised, he cried until Greg swaddled him back up…then he instantly went back to sleep! Now it requires a little more work to make him settle down…but Greg is the calming master! He uses the “five S’s” from the book The Happiest Baby on the Block; Fully Revised and Updated Second Edition: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer. They include swinging, shushing, swaddling, sucking, being on the side/stomach (not for sleeping, of course). He can always get Duke to settle down!

His features have changed a lot…and sometimes it seems like he has changed during nap time. His eyes got bigger, his cheeks a little less full, and his head went back to a normal size (the cone head thing at birth is so real!). His hair is falling out and is being replaced by permanent hair. His back hair fell out (thankfully!!) but his ear hair is still prominent 🙂

 

After two weeks he became a lot more aware and awake. I learned quickly that some things do not agree with him, like imitation cheese and Cambodian food. The days I ate those things he screamed almost all night long. Poor boy was just so gassy from them! Around the 2-3 week mark he flip-flopped his nights and days. Being entirely candid, I would get so frustrated when it was midnight and Duke would be wide awake. Most of the time I would hand the baby to Greg; I’m so grateful for a patient husband who deals with things when I just can’t. Thankfully now, a few weeks later, he’s on a more normal schedule. He also started cluster feeding during the day, meaning he was eating every hour or so. Being candid again, that has been frustrating for me as well. Although breastfeeding is special and I treasure the fact that he needs me, it’s emotionally draining being available to someone at all hours of the day; especially when they need you at the most inconvenient times. But that’s parenthood, right?

 

He makes the cutest pouty faces and although his smiles are few and far between (and almost always in his sleep!), we treasure them. Being his parents is the greatest joy to Greg and I.