6 weeks old

Dear Noel,
Today you are 6 weeks old! You are just precious. You've started doing some little coos a little more often and you've taken a liking to your swing!! You saw the doctor today because you were doing this weird deep inhalation while sleeping -but the doctor says it's normal for babies. But you've gained so much weight! You are at 11lbs 4oz. as of today. :) My little porky baby ! :)

Smiles for me today at the doctors!

You just finally went off your antibiotics on Sunday and you're feeling much better. Although, you've been attached to my (mommy) hip or else you're more fussy than you've been! You usually don't mind daddy holding you and even Mamee once in a while - but lately you just want your mommy. <3

Your happy face! With daddy <3

Qetsi kissing your hand.

Silas being a guard dog :p

 And just to top it all off, your loving pets <3

5 weeks old!

These eyes <3

Dear Noel,
Today you are 5 weeks old! Time goes by so fast. -- Last Thursday I took you to an ENT appointment. I took you because of your tongue tie. I don't know what the right choice to make is. I don't know what you would want me to do as your mommy, if anything at all. I could get your tongue clipped - and it will hurt, you will cry, but then I'm told you'd nurse and sleep it off. It has a slight chance of re-adhering or not healing correctly which could cause you to need to get it re-clipped as a toddler. I also don't want to force you to endure a procedure that could possibly be unnecessary. You could grow up and learn to talk just fine.
But if I don't clip it then you could have issues when you're older. My biggest concern is it affecting your speech and causing you to become speech delayed. I worry about how other children would respond to you if you were to be speech delayed and how that would affect your emotional and mental wellbeing as well as your self-esteem. I also worry about your teeth. Most people use their tongue to get food that is stuck in their molars - out. But with your tongue tie, you'd never be able to. Since you wouldn't be able to then you'd have to brush your teeth more often and you have a higher risk of having dental problems - such as cavities, due to the food sitting in your teeth.
I could also wait until you're a toddler to see if it DOES in fact affect your speech. And if it does - THEN clip it, but then you may have to go to speech therapy and it wouldn't be a guarantee that you'd be able to pronounce letters that you struggled with before the tongue clipping. Plus if I wait until you're a todder than you'd need to be put under anesthesia and under your tongue would require stitches, which are both scary.
I don't know what to do - I can't tell the future.

Later that night you started getting fussy and difficult - you were also warm. I took your temp under the armpit like they told me to at the hospital and it read 100.03 and I read online that that was a fever - so I told your mamee (my mom) and she said she'd bring you to the hospital. So I rushed you into Memorial because it was the closest hospital. They then transferred you to Hasbro Children't Hospital. At Memorial they put you on oxygen because you were having some trouble breathing and your temp was even higher than at home - 103.8. I was freaking out. I was so worried about you. I cried so much on this night/morning (2am Friday). You were eventually diagnosed with a bladder and a kidney infection, they don't know what caused it. :( You were admitted to the hospital and placed on antibiotics while they checked the result of your blood and spinal tap - to make sure you didn't have Meningitis or a blood infection. I was so scared for you. I also hated seeing you with the IV's on and the oxygen and having to get all the tests done. :( But you were a trooper!! Mommy's brave little man. <3 God, I love you so much and you've been in my life for such a short period of time. But I can't even imagine you not being here with us, in our family. You're amazing.

You've started cooing a bit!! :) And you smile more often as well - although, it's still pretty rare. You sometimes look at people but that's still rare too. You're always off in your own little mind. :) You love looking up at lights and looking around - you seem quite curious. You also tend to sleep with your little fist tucked up near your chin or face quite often, it is the cutest!!!






Your big sister loves you to pieces. I asked her earlier today what she thought of you and she said,

"I love him!" <3

She loves to hold you, cuddle you, and talk to you! And you seem to love her right back! You look up at her and you give her more smiles than you give anyone else!! So adorable.<3

I love you both so much!

1 month old!

Dear Noel,
Today you are 4 weeks, 1 month old! You have grown so much in just a short month. I already can't imagine life without you here with us. I love you so much. You are just so sweet. I can't help but to cuddle you, kiss you, and stare at you for hours as you sleep. You look just like your daddy! Although, I think you may have my cheeks and big forehead lol. But the rest of you is certainly daddys genes!
Yesterday we had an appt where you were weighed. You weighed in at 9lbs 13oz. Almost 10lbs! My big boy!! You certainly do love your mommys milks!

Recently you've been holding your head up better, looking at peoples faces more often, smiling in your sleep more frequently, and fussing a bit more too. I've been trying to figure out why you've been fussy lately but I'm unsure. I think it's just air in your belly -- once you burp and spit up a bit you usually feel better. <3 I'm hoping you'll feel better soon, mommy doesn't like it when you're fussy or crying, it breaks my heart. You're also a curious little fella - always looking around the room wherever you're at with us. You're such a content baby -95% of the time. Seemingly so happy and calm. :) I hope you stay this way lol

Like daddy like baby. :p You've been getting to know your daddy
more often. Looking up at him, studying his face, and getting
used to him. He loves you a lot you know. He loves to stare at you,
hold you, cuddle you, smile at you, and talk to you.
He also helps mommy with your burps and diaper changes lol

Mommy loves you so much.
I love you to Pluto and back -
actually, even more than that.

Your sister Lailah loves you a lot too.
She loves to hold you and talk to you.
She helps daddy with diaper changes even.
Whenever you cry she talks to you, trying to calm you.
She's an amazing big sister.
I hope you both grow up to hold onto a great bond.

3 weeks old

Dear Noel,
Today you are three weeks old. You have grown so much in the past 3 weeks it's incredible. You are such a gift to have. I am thankful for you every day. You are such a good baby. You are often content. You search for me when you're hungry but you rarely ever fuss or cry. The only time you fuss is when you want to be changed or you want to be with mommy. And the only time you cry is when your diaper is being changed.
This week it should also be known that you peed and pooped all over the place as daddy was changing you lol. It was hilarious and I actually got it on video. But it won't let me upload it to this blog.





You seem to love your car seat, love for me to wear you,  love shower times, and you love your swaddle outfit.

You often sleep with your eyes open - they flit around aimlessly and the faces you make during this are just too funny! :p It's a little creepy at the same time though. But I've been told it's completely normal and that you're in a state of REM sleep. 

You love nursing. :) It's our bonding time. It's comforting to you
and it fills your belly with warm and satisfying mommy milks.

:) Little Brother! Plus a penguin on your outfit
which is what we called you when you were
still in my belly. :D

2 weeks old !

1 week photo. Taken on Christmas day.
You are the most precious gift. <3

Dear Noel,
This week you turned 2 weeks old. It's crazy how fast time has flown by since you've arrived. I have barely spent any time away from you. I've had bathroom breaks and shower breaks and that's about it - and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so happy that you're here and you're a member of our family. It's insane how close our bond is. With your sister, I unfortunately didn't create an instant bond with her as I have with you and now I regret it because having this bond with you is amazing and I wish I could have provided you both with it. You certainly know your mama and I know you too. You very rarely cry or fuss, your mama knows just what you want!! :) I'm so happy to know you so well too. You only fuss a bit when you want mommy milks or when you have a wet diaper lol you hate being wet. Daddy helps a lot with diaper changes and he helps with burps when he's home from work. I like to believe you enjoy that time with him, although you still love to be with me, your mommy. :)

2 weeks old. :) Mommy loves Dinos
so you're going to be wearing them
frequently ! :p

Our snuggles after your Mommy milks
with a full tummy - no more yucky formula !

On Tuesday you had your 2 week appt. You were 7lbs 4oz at birth and 7lbs 1oz when I took you home. At your appt you were 8lbs 8oz!!! My little porker! You sure love your mama's milk! That is amazing for a breastfed baby! Most babies are still working on gaining back weight to reach their birth weight but you are soaring in health! :) Makes me so happy! You were also 20 3/4 inches from the 19.5 you were at birth. :)

I also took you to the hospital with me on that day (and actually the day before too but I was sent home) because I was having bad belly pains and I'm your food source so I took you with me. I ended up going home but going back again the next day in worse pain than the day before. You somehow knew my pain. When I cried was the only time you cried and when daddy couldn't soothe you I "shhhhhhhhh"ed really loudly and you just went quiet and listened to my voice, as if you just needed to hear me and know I was alright. Then when you were hungry and crying and I was crying because I couldn't give you mommy milks due to the pain meds I was on and we had to give you some formula, once you were laid next to me - you looked up at me and fell silent, seemingly just happy I was there. Then you only took the bottle for me. You didn't really like the formula lol you were making all sorts of funny faces. :p So cute though. Soon enough though I could give you mommy milks and we resumed our precious bonding time. <3

We love you so much,
Love Mommy - and sissy and daddy too :p