June 23, 2013:
It seems that time has run away from me again. It's already been about 1.5 wks since I wrote last. RJ has been doing fantastic. He has had a few visitors over the past 1.5 wks and has done well w/ his tummy time. He's getting those arms and neck strengthened. We've of course been enjoying every time he coos and smiles. Robert thought he heard a lil laugh. I'm thinking it was just coincidence. It's hard to believe that our lil miracle boy is already 5 months old!!! He seems to have developed a hole in his stomach b/c he wants to eat all the time! He's about 8 lbs now, so I went up on his feeding amt and he seems to guzzle at least one full bottle a day. I've started trying to wean him off the nipple shield again. The past couple days he gives valiant efforts and then gets lazy and wants the nipple shield again. Silly boy...
A big event happened this past Thursday. RJ experienced his first road trip!! He did surprisingly well. I was super nervous of course. We stopped 2 times to feed and it ended up not adding much to our trip. We tried to coordinate gas/bathroom breaks as well. RJ even attempted to drive. :) I need to get the pic from Robert to show RJ at the steering wheel looking out. :) It was precious. It just so happened that Robert's brothers and parents were all able to get off work and all be able to meet up in Roanoke! The brothers have been having a blast and RJ got to meet his uncle Chad for the first time. Friday was Robert's and my 4 year wedding anniversary and we ended up going down to his parents boat dock to spend the day on the lake where he proposed. It was also RJ's first time to the lake, so it was definitely a momentous day.
I was unsure how RJ would do being out of his normal environment w/ sleeping and all. He has done great in that department. We have had to give him the paci a whole lot more when other people want to hold him. I guess it's soothing to him when he's held by unfamiliar people. I was worried when we were at the lake yesterday and there were quite a few people and he was being passed around. I'm so used to being there for my baby and knowing what he needs and then to not be holding him, I feel like something is missing. I'm glad he's been able to meet more family and be exposed to different environments. We have to slowly introduce him to more noise. He's not the most excited about lots of noise around him, especially when he's trying to fall asleep. :) He's developing some funny quirks. He doesn't like it when the person holding him is talking while he's sleeping, in particular falling asleep. He does not like his back rubbed, only patted. I'm not sure if I mentioned this one before, but he likes not only his milk warm, but the nipple (if it's been refrigerated). He's also very impatient when it comes to his hunger. He can go from being content looking around to his angry cry demanding food now.
The other night I miscalculated when his next nighttime feeding was. I had set my alarm for 1am and I was abruptly awaken around 12:15am by RJ screaming his cute cry. He would not stop until I temporarily stuck a paci in his mouth till the milk was warm. It woke Robert up as well, so he was changing RJ's diaper while I got the milk warm. Then he fed RJ while I pumped milk. It make the process go much quicker.
I guess it's a good thing RJ gets some bottles, b/c it gives the family a chance to feed him as well. :) I'm just trying vigorously to keep up w/ my pumping to fill his bottles. It's tricky when I'm breastfeeding him as well. I have to time it all just right. I did try to thaw some milk the other day and he was not excited about the bottles. I was told in the NICU that sometimes babies don't like the frozen milk b/c it's taste has been changed. I need to find out if there's a way to make the frozen milk appetizing b/c I have over 70 partial bottles in our deep freeze!!
Welp, the lil man has awake and his auntie Liz is holding him. I must get the next bottle ready and pump some more milk. Thanks again for all your prayers, support, and love. Keep it coming!!!
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