Breastfeeding has brought many more challenges and tears than I expected it to. He did so great during his first feeding that I thought it was going to be a breeze. After the initial feeding we struggled with latching, sucking, and supply. I cried many times about it, but I've realized that it isn't the end of the world if I can't breastfeed. We've settled on me pumping and then feeding him the milk from a bottle. It isn't what I originally wanted to do, but I am happy that he is getting the nutrients that he needs.
According to dad, Hudson really loved his bath in the hospital so on Tuesday we chose to give him his first bath at home and see if he was still a fan. Turns out that he loves them so far :) He was so relaxed in the water and only cried when we took him out and he got cold. The pacifier might have helped with this though..
On Tuesday (day 3 of Hudson's life) we took him to meet everyone at Taylor's work. The ladies were absolutely smitten with him. I certainly can't blame them though because he is adorable.
After leaving his work we went shopping for some groceries and baby things that we didn't realize we wanted. (Don't go shopping three days after giving birth. Ouch.) Hudson chilled in his car seat the whole time sucking on his pacifier.
Day 3 was also the day that Hudson fell in love with his pacifier. He took it really well Monday night through out the night and then loved on it all day Tuesday. I might regret saying this when we have to take it away when he is older, but I am so happy that he is taking one.
He had his first doctors appointment on Wednesday (12/24). They said his color was really great and we only had another day to be on jaundice watch before we would be in the clear. He weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces which was cause for concern. Newborns typically lose 5-7% of their original birth weight and Hudson was down almost 10%. We were told to feed him lots and thankfully since my milk has come in we have been able to do that.
He interlocks his finger regularly. Usually it is every individual finger that gets interlocked. We have put mittens on him and sat there and watched him as he got one off and then grabbed the other. Once he had them off he put his hands back together again.
He went from having one or two dirty diapers in a twenty-four hour period to going through seven different outfits and four blankets in twenty-four hours.
Christmas with him was the best. He didn't have a single present to open or stocking stuffer, but he didn't seem too upset about it. Taylor's family spent a little time with us in the morning and Hudson got to meet his Uncle Nathan over Skype.
"Santa's little helper"
Lehi, Brei, and Maverick came down for a Christmas dinner. I did a good job at screwing up most of the dinner, but who puts a brand new mom in charge of dinner anyway?! It was great to get to spend some time on Christmas with some of my family members. I was just barely snuggling their newborn in April so it is interesting to see them snuggling mine.
Two words: baby stretches. He started stretching two or three days after being born and his stretches have got to be the cutest thing ever. He usually pushes one hand into the air while keeping the other tucked under his chin. He spends a good five minutes stretching before he is fully awake.
His umbilical stump is barely hanging on. I'm guessing that it falls off any time now.
Hudson has his nights and days mixed up so that has been fun. He is wide awake for hours on end at night, but spends most of the day sleeping. We are trying to keep him awake as it gets later in the day so that he will be more tired at night, but one can only do and expect so much.
Right now Hudson is doing a mix of co-sleeping and sleeping in his own bed. When we first got home from the hospital he wasn't waking up to eat or really ever letting us know when he was hungry and he really wanted us to snuggle him. These things combined meant that him sleeping with us worked best. Never in a million years did I plan on letting a baby sleep in my bed, but I've realized that I will do anything to get some sleep. He has started sleeping in his own bed more and more every night so it shouldn't be too long before he spends the whole night in his own bed. Last night he didn't join us until 4:30 so we are making progress.
I have been so grateful to have Taylor home with me this week and for the next week. With the extra time that it takes to pump and then feed I don't know how I would have done it without him. He is so good with Hudson and so in love with the boy. They spend lots of time snuggling together.
