Timeline - First Year With Son!

Here is a summary from my blogs about Logan's first year!

0-1 MONTHS (April 18-May 18):

Logan was born on Friday, April 18, 2008 at 10:30 AM, weighing 7 lbs, 13.7 oz, and 20.5 inches long. (25th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height.) We came home from the hospital on Sunday, April 20.

Logan's first pediatrician appointment was on Monday, April 21 where he weighed 6 lbs, 15 oz and was found to have a high jaundice level of 21. So, we spent the night at Children's Hospital so Logan could be in an incubator under phototherapy lights and on IV fluids.

The next day, Tuesday, April 22, his weight had risen to 7 lbs, 2 oz and his jaundice level had gone down to 15.4, so he was released with a fiberoptic blanket.

On Wednesday, April 23 his weight was 7 lbs, 3 oz but his jaundice score was up to 17.3. After being unresponsive the entire day (he never awoke to eat in 24 hrs), we were told to go the ER. Thankfully, his level had gone down to 16.7 - however, the next day, Thursday, April 24, it was back up to 17.5. His weight had dropped again and I was told that I must stop breastfeeding and instead supplement formula because he had "breastmilk jaundice" which meant breastfeeding was making it worse (and jaundice will cause brain damage if not treated). It worked. On Friday, April 25 his level dropped all of the way down to 14.4 and his weight went up to 7 lbs, 5 oz.

On Saturday, April 26 his jaundice score was 11.9 and his weight 7 lbs, 9 oz. We were told to continue the formula and fiberoptic blanket until Monday, April 28. By then Logan was fully recovered from jaundice and his weight was 7 lbs, 11.25 oz, so I resumed breastfeeding. It was slow and much harder than it had been prior to the formula (plus, my milk supply was incredibly low so I had to take More Milk Plus, an herbal supplement). I bought an electric breastpump and I pumped and nursed around the clock. For nine months it was the most exhuasting and difficult experience of my life, but worth it!

The good news was I was recovered from childbirth by day three as far as no pain or discomfort, stopped bleeding by the end of the week, and could fit into all my clothes/had my old body back by two weeks post partum.

Our parents had visited us in the hospital the day Logan was born, but Joe's mom stayed at our house with us April 27-April 30 and my mom & stepdad stayed May 7-May 9 to help out.

Prior to having a baby I had worried about post partum depression. I had the opposite -- I'd never been on such a high in my life! Unlike the stereotype of the first month being the hardest, I found it to be surprisingly easy & natural. I kept telling everyone that having a baby was easier than when we got Bella, our first dog. With her we had actually gotten up during the night for at least an hour for the first two months, but with Logan there were only five nights during his entire first year that we were up with him for more than five minutes after the age of two weeks old. He didn't start sleeping five hours no interruptions until six weeks old (which is good "sleeping thru the night" for breastfed babies that age), but since all he wanted was a five-minute snack, the only time we were sleep-deprived was the first two weeks when he had his days & nights mixed up.

Night or day, Logan hardly ever cried (only when he was hungry, so his cries always stopped immediately with milk). He was content doing nothing but eating & sleeping all day. He was very predictable and peaceful. . .I was in pure heaven. . .I thought I'd found my niche!

He finished the month at 9-10 lbs.

1-2 MONTHS (May 18-June 18):

We were still in the honeymoon phase! Logan rolled from front to back on two occasions at four weeks old (because he didn't like tummy time). At six weeks old he began smiling every time we smiled at him, as well as we could make him laugh, he could hold his head up indefinitely while lying on his tummy, and he watched faces. He also frequently said what sounded like "hi!" Also, at six weeks old he kicked a box of wipes across the room and could stand on our laps while we held his arms. That had been the first trait I'd learned when I was pregnant: that he was physically strong! Even as a newborn the nurses & doctors were impressed with how he could fight anyone who tried to hold him down - so he hated diaper time and bath time until two months old.

The second thing we had learned about Logan was that he had a healthy set of lungs! He was the loudest in the nursery and has always been quick to lose his temper, but has always gotten over it incredibly fast. He'll go from the loudest scream to smiling and laughing in one second. Thankfully, we learned after his first week that 99% of the time he is easy-going and happy, so we've had very few experiences with the fighting screamer.

By two months old he was cooing. Sadly, we learned at his two-month check up that Logan had a brachial cleft fistula in his neck and would need surgery.

Breastfeeding began to get a little easier for me, so I didn't have to pump as often (but Logan was still eating every two hours during the day which he did until a year old!)

Logan finished the month at 13 lbs, 6.5 oz. (90th percentile)

2-3 MONTHS (June 18-July 18):

As Logan left the newborn phase and began to show his personality, our days together became the most fun of my life! He was constantly smiling and happy - it was very rewarding. I was shocked to feel that my life was the least stressful that it had ever been in all my years!

Logan began to enjoy tummy time and could scoot (move with his limbs straight out). His black eyes turned brown and we could tell they were mine :)

During his first year we were lucky to not have had any problems with colicky behavior, acid reflux, skin issues (his only diaper rash prior to his only intolerance at 11 months old was during his first three days from the hospital diapers), sensitivities, gas, or any of the very common other newborn issues. I wanted the month of July especially to just freeze in time. . .I didn't think it could get any better.

Logan began following moving objects, playing with hands & feet, making high-pitched squeals, and picked up objects to put in his mouth. He still slept a lot during the day and now had 8 hour-no-interruptions-nights. He continued to have a low-maintenance personality.

He finished the month at 15 lbs. (90th percentile)

3-4 MONTHS (July 18-August 18):

Logan had his first fussy days (meaning, he'd never cried for over five minutes before, but that month had several where his cries lasted a full hour), so I had my first hard days - i.e. the honeymoon phase ended and I felt like I needed my first break, but aside from a couple of weeks, the rest of the days that month were easy and he never cried that long again for the rest of his first year. He had begun to teethe so that may have been why, also he didn't poop for the first time (until then he'd still had 8 poopy diapers each day, but went four days without one and since then has had one a day). He also began fighting his naps - two days that month he didn't take any at all and then after that only wanted to take three a day (which is average for that age; I found out later that until then he'd slept more than the average baby his age during the day, probably a leftover habit from the jaundice). On the bright side, that meant 12-hours-no-interruptions for his nights now.

Breastfeeding got hard for me again (my milk supply went down just as Logan had a growth spurt) so I was pumping and nursing constantly again and went on fenugreek (another herbal supplement).

Logan no longer took his pacifier. He's always been surprisingly independent/naturally secure. Although always affectionate, he was never one for long-holding or babywearing or co-sleeping - not even with a blanket or stuffed animal. He's tended to be a self-weaner with everything, and never hard to get to sleep; aside from one week during his fifth month when it took 20 min. after I stopped letting him take naps in his carseat (which he had often done until then), otherwise we could always just place him in his crib for naps or at night without any rocking or routine, and he'd go immediately to sleep on his own (no crying which is good because we are against the crying it out method)!

He finally had a consistant schedule to each day. (I never forced him against his natural instincts his entire first year.)

He finished the month at 17 lbs 1/4 oz. (90th percentile)

4-5 MONTHS (August 18-September 18):

It was a great month for the both of us. Major milestones began to occur! Logan stood holding onto a table on his own on August 24, sat unassisted on August 28, and rolled over both ways on August 31. He could also hold his own bottle.

I had my first virus (a cold) since Logan's birth that lasted a week, but still none for Logan - healthy boy! Breastfeeding was the easiest it had ever been - I went the entire month without pumping.

Logan finished the month at 19 lbs. (90th percentile)

5-6 MONTHS (September 18-October 18):

Logan began showing a need for stimulation. For example, he stopped sleeping in public - he wanted to be involved in whatever action was going on. He was still playing well with his toys by himself, though.

We fed him his first organic rice cereal on September 20th. It was another good month (no fussy days) except that Logan began waking up twice a night for two minutes each time. As soon as I'd nurse him he'd go right back to sleep; I learned this is common when babies are fed solids for the first time. Also, with his new "trick" from last month of rolling over, he was getting caught in his crib bars! (There was an entire week where he didn't take naps, either.)

My hormones returned to normal on October 1st.

Logan began eating veggies and fruits on October 10.

He finished the month at 20 lbs, 6.25 oz. (90th percentile).

6-7 MONTHS (October 18-November 18):

My second time for feeling I needed a break. But the pictures from that month are the most special to me because it was such a transitional month. Logan truly became my little buddy! He went from living the life of a baby to suddenly having a mind of his own which meant several fussy days! Until then he'd been 100% content on his own. He'd eaten, he'd slept, he'd spent time in his bouncer, pack n play, swing, and play gym - but had never needed much from me. During month six, that all changed, he began to get bored and no longer played by himself the rest of his first year.

It was hard for me to adjust to my life being different for the first time (unlike what people had said when he was born, my life really didn't change - he was just "an addition" - until six months old). He began needing less sleep (traded his three naps for two). I had to put forth a lot more energy towards entertaining him the hours when he was awake, which made less time for myself or anything else. I had always taken motherhood day-by-day, just gone with the flow and not really had a set way of doing things. Until then I had felt in control and able to handle anything. During his sixth month I felt how I would have expected myself when he was first born: clueless! Being a stay at home mom was no longer "easy," (and Logan was no longer mellow - he's been the energizer bunny ever since!) so I understood why it's considered the hardest job in the world - however, I still enjoyed being a SAHM and felt very lucky to be able to have the most important profession on earth! Logan responded positively to me more than ever, and I had never felt so close to a human being!

His first two teeth (the bottom front) popped up with no fussiness on October 28. A couple of weeks before the teeth, however, he had resisted nursing (as well as bottles so we had to feed him pumped milk through a dropper and give him Tylenol for the first time) for two days and so I began pumping regularly again and had another "issue" so I thought I might quit breastfeeding altogether, but I perservered (and pumped the most I ever would in one sitting: 15 oz)!

We gave him a sippy cup but he didn't like it; he did fine with the regular cup, though.

Logan finished the month at 21.5 lbs. (90th percentile)

7-8 MONTHS (November 18-December 18):

I was still getting the hang of my new life with my new little man now that he had wants (not just needs). He tried baby food meat for the first time and hated it, and continued to be a vegetarian the rest of his first year.

He began crawling which added more anxiety for me because he was into everything (in a dangerous way) so we had to childproof our house.

He traveled for the first time to somewhere other than Iowa, as we spent Thanksgiving in Colorado. He'd never fussed in the car before then, but it took an entire month after that for him to go back to enjoying long car rides. It stopped again around 11 months old as far as anything over a half an hour unless I sing. :p In Colorado, he was Mr. Adrenaline (not taking naps, not eating, and waking up almost every hour during the night). Thankfully, he returned to his normal pattern as soon as we came home. (But continues to be a social butterfly whenever we are spending the night at someone else's house.)

He stopped getting his legs caught in the crib but instead began wetting the bed through his diapers.

His third tooth (right top canine) came in.

He finished the month at 22 lbs. (90th percentile)

8-9 MONTHS (December 18-January 18):

It was an excellent, easy month - I felt adjusted again and like I had a handle on motherhood again. Plus, Logan was fuss-free! (Christmas helped because he had enough new toys to keep him from being bored.) Logan even did well with his first virus (a cold & ear infection) that lasted a couple of weeks. The only hard day was when he had the CT scan for his brachial cleft fistula. It was tough to see him get pricked for the IV (they couldn't find a vein and then when they did, it blew), but he was a trooper and back to normal the next day.

Thanks to goodnight diapers and pull-ups, he stopped wetting the bed.

It was so much fun to start seeing the world through a child's eyes, as his life became about exploring, discovering, and learning.

He finished the month at 22 lbs, 2 oz. (75th percentile)

9-10 MONTHS (January 18-February 18):

Logan was walking (running) along furniture, zooming up the steps, trying to climb anything, and he weaned himself from breastfeeding which put an end to him waking up for those two minutes two times a night which he'd started at five months old. There were several fussy days, though (he had his first moment of separation anxiety, but his second didn't come until two months later and it was never severe), and teeth #4, #5, and #6 came in (the top front two and the left canine). . .also, I had my second virus since Logan was born.

Logan had his first adult food, but baby food & formula continued to be his main diet.

He finished the month at 23.5 lbs. (90th percentile)

10-11 MONTHS (February 18-March 18):

Logan had his second virus (another cold, it lasted a week) and surgery for his brachial cleft fistula. Thankfully it went smoothly & flawlessly and we were able to leave two hours after the procedure. Logan immediately returned to his active lifestyle and never showed any pain, discomfort, or memory of the surgery. Also exciting that month was he began walking unassisted!!!

Logan changed from taking two naps a day to just one nap. It was a great month for Logan behavior-wise, but an exhausted month for me as I felt my third need for a break. I realized that never having time away all year was getting to me. Although I didn't want to stop being a stay at home mom, I was feeling burnt out. So, Logan spent his first weekend away from us, at my mom & stepdad's house. He was an angel for them and didn't care that we weren't around.

He finished the month at 24 lbs. (75th percentile)

11-12 MONTHS (March 18-April 18):

Logan started going to his first babysitter (two mornings, or 8 hrs a week). It was a perfect fit for us. Logan was able to play with other kids and toys on a regular basis and I was able to start taking care of myself again. I hadn't thought anything would compare with July or January, but March was our best/my favorite month of the entire year - even though he caught his third virus (another cold, but it only lasted 36 hrs).

Logan weaned himself from all bottles & baby food (began feeding himself finger food and drinking from a straw cup--even though he can do a sippy cup now, straw cups are healthier). He could mimick/follow instruction and understand us when we talked, but not speak himself yet (although he babbled frequently and said all of the "fake words" from his age-group). Although I tried to teach him sign language starting at 9 months old, he showed no interest; instead he began his own signing at a year old that made it easier to communicate with him.

Every now & then he has started throwing healthy, very short temper tantrums (his first was at 9.5 months old but then not again until 12 months), but he's never cried or been hard in public yet (knock on wood) and is very sweet, fun, and well-behaved. His babysitter says he's still low-maintenance.

Overall, we had more easy months (April, May, June, July, September, December, January, and March) than hard months (August, October, November, February). All were special & memorable. I appreciated each day and didn't take one minute for granted!

Logan loves the outdoors, cars, trucks, and dogs. He is a morning person (we have to force him to stay up until 8 pm and his favorite time to wake up is 6:30 am), he is charming, very active, loves to wrestle, and has a kind, gentle soul. He gives kisses and hugs, has always been very perceptive of others and is still as happy as he was last summer. He likes to do things on his own and so far they've come easily for him (he doesn't get frustrated very often). Our personalities match very well, I hope that he and I will always get along and be close! :)

P.S. By his pediatrician check-up he had seven teeth (his bottom right next to the bottom front two came in) and weighed 23 lbs, 7.5 oz and was 30.5 inches tall (50th percentile for weight & 75th percentile for height)!