The End of the 4th Trimester

I can’t believe it. Our baby boy is 3 months old, and we’re finally finished with the 4th trimester!

In the last few weeks we’ve seen big changes in Ethan. Since week six, he’s been a champion sleeper (racking up 10 or 11 hours of sleep a night!). His lengthy sleeping pattern in the evening has lead to a more awake and alert little guy during the day. While not always a fan of tummy time, he’s a pro at sitting up in his Bumbo, and has recently begun to play in his Exersaucer. (Who comes up with the names for children’s toys?)

…and by “play” I mean accidentally hit toys with his flailing hands.

We’ve also witnessed a number of physical changes. During the past two weeks alone Ethan has had a rapid weight gain. He’s now somewhere between 12 and 12.5 lbs, which makes for one heavy bundle of joy. Relatively, of course; he started out at 6 lbs 13 oz.

I’m happy to report that his hair color (which currently matches his mommy’s) has not changed since birth — most of our family thought his brunette locks would fall out and be replaced by blonde hair, like his dad’s. His eyes, however, have gone from a deep blue to more of a gray. Verdict’s still out on this one, as their eyes can change color up until their first birthday.

I’m sorry, but have you ever seen more beautiful eyelashes?! This kid got lucky.

The most wonderful thing I’m taking away from these last few weeks, however, has been the addition of new moms in my life. I joined a mommy and me group at the hospital where Ethan was born, and for the last two months, a dozen of us have been getting together weekly and sharing stories, trading tips, and getting to know each other and our little ones. We’re all first time moms, and definitely benefit from each other’s experiences and support; all of our babies were born within a few weeks of each other, and are thus developing and reaching milestones together. Another added benefit? My facebook newsfeed is constantly blowing up with adorable photos of newborns.

Since my last update, I’m happy to say that Ethan and I have had a complete turnaround with breastfeeding. Around six weeks, it just clicked. The majority of our problems went away, and we’ve been happily nursing ever since. At that point, John and I decided we were finally ready to introduce a pacifier. We probably could have survived without the use of one (we had already made it six weeks without), but it calms Ethan, and for that I am thankful. Babies require so little from us: they need nourishment, a clean diaper, a warm body, and love. If sucking on a pacifier can soothe Ethan, I have no problem with him having one. Or five.

That’s really it. Our days are filled with countless smiles (which seriously melt this mama’s heart), lots of snuggling, and helping Ethan learn about the world around him. We’re looking forward to a trip down south next week to visit our family in Florida. Hope Ethan is ready for some sun!