Scarlett and Clark - One Month

I'm pretty sure I'll say this every month, but I can't believe these babies are a month old already. The last month has flown by in a sleep deprived haze. I really can't complain too much about the lack of sleep though. Both Scarlett and Clark are very good about waking up, nursing, tolerating a diaper change or two, and then going back to sleep. Yes we've had a few sleepless nights, but they definitely understand when night and day are. They will both usually give us one 4 hour stretch at night, unfortunately it's not always the same 4 hour stretch. Sometimes, like last night, we get lucky though and enjoy a solid 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep. We do wake one of them to eat if the other is up, as long as it's close to the 3 hour mark. They both sleep in Graco loungers, like a rock and play, next to our bed. Occasionally if someone is extra fussy and needs some snuggles or an extra nursing session, I'll pull them into bed with me. We exclusively coslept with Harrison and Brooke, but are trying to not have to go the sleep training route with S and C like we did with H and B, so minimal time slepnt sleeping in our bed.

Scarlett

Little miss is usually the one who needs extra snuggles at night, She would gladly snuggle up to a warm body all night. She loves taking cat naps while curled up on some one's chest or in their arms, especially during the evening hours. She likes to nurse every 2-3 hours and will gladly take a 4 ounce bottle of pumped milk if given the chance. She doesn't burp easily, and therefore seems to have issues with a gassy tummy. She doesn't spit up often, but when she does, it's a whole lot. She has definitely covered me, and her, and our bed, and the carpet with 2+ ounces of milk on a few occasions.She will gladly take a pacifier, but it has to be the soothie she got from the hospital. We've tried a few other brands/shapes of paci, and she's not a fan of them. She is a fan of her finger though, so we've been leaving her hands free of mittens more often lately.

If she can't be held, she like to nap in the Sungabunny swing. She likes it on the lowest motion setting and with music playing. When we put her in the swing awake, she's usually out within 5 minutes. We've started an eat, play, sleep schedule. She is doing well with it, but sometimes can't be bothered with the actual play part. When she does play, she likes to have time on one of the play pats or in her bouncy seat. She thinks it's really cool when her brother and sister bring her their toys to check out. She's been hit and miss on tummy time. Sometimes she loves it, but lots of times there is crying involved. She does have great head control and is already rolling over from her tummy to back on a regular basis.

She had her one month check up today and the doctor said she is growing great and looks very healthy. She weighed in at 8lbs8oz, up from 6lbs2oz and her one week appointment, and is measuring 20.75". Her head circumference is 37.5 cm which is in the 75th percentile, but somehow all of her newborn headbands are too big. She has a pretty extensive case of baby acne, but it doesn't go any further than her face and head. Between the baby acne and her talon like nails, she has red marks all over her face all of the time.

She started out with a hate/hate relationship with her car seat, but has now decided as long as she's moving, it's ok to be strapped in. Good thing too, because they get carted around a lot. The grocery store, target, H and B's school, The Y, she and her brother have seen a lot for only being a month old. I guess that's how it goes when you have older siblings.

Clark

Mr. Cheeks! This boy is too much and reminds us so much of Harrison when we look at him. Personality wise though, he couldn't be more different. Clark is so laid back! Most of the time he's happy to be wherever we put him down. The motor on his swing went out, and he couldn't have cared less. He was happy to sit/sleep in a non moving swing and watch the birds spin round until he finally dozed off. He'll happily sleep in a bouncy seat or propped up in their nursing pillow. When it comes to play time he will lay on a play mat for 20+ minutes happily watching what's going on around him. He's tolerant of tummy time, and is starting to get some neck strength. Most of the time he only cries if he's hungry or during a diaper change, he really dislikes them.

He is a champion nurser, just like his sis, and is just as good at burping as he is at nursing, not at all like his sis. He usually gets burped at least 3 times per feeding. He swallows a lot of air during let down, but thankfully burps it right back up. Very rarely does he even spit up. With the exception of a couple nights where he has wanted to cluster feed from 6pm until bedtime, he's content to go 3 hours between feedings. he often gets bumped up to 2 hours between since I most always tandem nurse them in order to keep them on the same schedule. He like his soothie pacifier from the hospital, and has recently started using it a lot at night of he isn't fully asleep when we put him down. The whole put your baby down drowsy but awake thing, equates to me replacing a pacifier 5 times before he's finally out.

He also got a great report from his one month check up. Our big man is weighing in at 10lbs1oz, up from 7lbs5oz at his one week. He's 22" long and has a head circumference of 37 cm. I'm not sure how Scarlett is beating him out on head circumference, but she is.

He likes his car seat, and he too has been all over with us. He, and his sister, have been away from mom 3 times so far, and all for short times. Two times they hung out with Rob while I had some H and B time, and one time he held down the house with Grandma and Grandpa, plus his siblings. He's happy to hang with anyone.

Both Scarlett and Clark

• lost their umbilical cord during the third week
• have taken a couple baths with their big brother and sister, and one just the two of them
• seem to be developing a minor case of cradle cap
• like to be swaddled in a sleep sack at night
• enjoy pats on their butt to help them get to sleep, Scarlett especially
• don't have an established bedtime yet. Sometimes they're in bed at 9 and other times it's 12 before we lay them down in their loungers
• are out of newborn sleep and plays and into 0-3 months/3 months. They can still wear newborn onesies, but even those are starting to get short.
• are still wearing newborn diapers, and going through 10+ diapers each per day.

We have had such an amazing first month with these two, and while it's definitely been a big transition, it hasn't been nearly as difficult as I anticipated. It's a lot of work juggling the newborn and preschooler schedules, but I have a feeling we'll be settling into a more solid routine over the next month or two. I can't wait to see how they grow and develop, and how their big brother and sister react to the changes. We are so blessed, and so busy. Happy one month Scarlett and Clark!!