Thomas: 3 Months

So, what has been happening in Thomas's world? He has rolled over belly to back--he did that the first week of August. He's working on rolling back to belly too, and he's almost got it; but he kind of hates being on his belly, so we're not sure what he's going to do once he succeeds. He still hates car rides, and sweats a lot in his car seat from all the crying. I also tried taking him for a walk in his stroller without the car seat, and he didn't like that either. I'll keep trying; I need to do more walking, and as the weather starts to cool off, I'm going to enjoy it.

He fell asleep on a car ride, and even in his sleep he hates it. Oh, little bear.

He is such a joy. He is so smiley and loves to stand on our laps and "talk" to us. I love this age so much. The kids call him "Tooty," short for "Tooty Thomas." Annie also calls him "Mr. Tooterson."

 

During the weeks-long heatwave that lasted July into August, our pool temperature was like 91. It wasn't refreshing at all in the heat of the day, but it was perfect for taking Thomas swimming in the evening. I hoped all that kicking around in the water would remind him of being in my belly.

Getting him to sleep, especially when it's time to go down for the night (or most of it anyway) can still be hard. I have had some luck with singing to him -- "Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty has been a favorite. I also just discovered a playlist on the Hallow app -- "Summer Praylist" -- that really seemed to relax him yesterday. His sleep habits remain the same as last month: a few naps during the day, not on any schedule; and between 8 and 9 he goes to bed in his bassinet and sleeps till somewhere between 12 and 2, when he gets hungry. From that point on I keep in bed with me until it's time to get up. He's quickly outgrowing his bassinet; he practically reaches end to end lengthwise. Fortunately, he does not sleep stretched out like that, and I think I can make it work a little longer. Meanwhile I'm keeping my eye out for gently used pack 'n plays.

He's big enough for the Ergo carrier now. Here's Annie, wearing him in the same one I wore her in when she was a baby. Since then, Ergo has been making carriers in a variety of colors, prints, and styles. But how could I ever part with the original? (And I have parted with a whole LOT of stuff over the years!)

When it comes to baby gear, we keep it to a real minimum here, especially since this being the fifth one, we know what works and what doesn't. One thing we have that we get plenty of use out of, is his play mat with the dangling toys. Those have always been a winner, and they're easy to find used. This one was around $10 on Facebook Marketplace. But I know if you ask 10 parents what are baby must-haves, you get 10 different answers.

This came up in my Facebook memories not long ago: Annie would fall asleep in hers!

One last thing I forgot to mention that is a funny part of his personality: he does a loud, dramatic fake cough when he gets bored and frustrated -- usually while he's sitting in the bouncer and I'm trying to eat a meal. He pumps his arms up and down, kicks his legs, and then cough! cough! He is hilarious.

Thomas: 2 Months

I can not get over the difference a month makes! We went from having a newborn who was fussy almost every waking minute to a chunky, smiley baby we can't get enough of. Except for when it's his evening fussy time, then we pass him around like a hot potato. He really turned around, just as I hoped he would.

Again I'm pretty late with this post, but managed to take the picture the day he turned two months.

This month he weighed in at just under 14 pounds and measured 24.5 inches long. He is wearing 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers, although I think he could have gotten away with size 1 a little while longer. I just didn't want to buy a big box of something he seemed on the verge of outgrowing. He nurses about every two to three hours during the day, and once or twice in the middle of the night. He starts out the night in his bassinet next to us, usually swaddled. Once I bring him into the bed the first time to nurse, I unswaddle him and keep him there the rest of the night. I love going to sleep with a baby nestled at my side. It's the best.

He still hates car rides for the most part. Sometimes he's OK with it, but if it goes much more than 15 minutes, he usually starts fussing.

He has been smiling at us since about six weeks, I think, maybe a little sooner. He coos and kind of gurgles at us too, and it is adorable. I could eat him up. I can make him laugh by rubbing my chin against his ribs. He loves to stand on our laps like the other babies started doing at this age. 

He needs many naps throughout the day, but getting him down for each one is kind of a fight, and sometimes not worth the time I have to invest, especially if we have somewhere we need to be anytime soon. It might take me 45 minutes to get him down for a nap that lasts maybe 45 minutes. That can be frustrating, the need to keep dragging an overtired baby around from place to place. I do wish I had a tried and true way of getting him down for a nap that doesn't take forever, especially when he grinds his little face into my shoulder like Mama, please help me go to sleep! Nursing to sleep works like a charm for most babies, but he likes to nurse upon waking and only sometimes to sleep.

His sister Annie, who I call his Annie-Nanny, likes to play with his hair--what's left of it anyway. What kind of hair will it be when it grows back in? Auntie Karen says he'll be a redhead. We shall see, maybe in another month or two.

Topsail 2022

The whole Schlosser clan (with the addition of two new babies!) made the trip this time, and it was a great week.

Living our best life with our fancy sparkling water and our babes

They were playing Apples to Apples.

Walks with Thomas in the wrap (especially in the evening) saved us during his fussy times.

Thomas turned 1 month right before this trip, and Israel, 2 months.

 printed at least a couple of the beach pictures my sisters took, and I'm going to frame at least one. I just love looking at them.

Grandy with her oldest and youngest grandchild. Aspen is 16.

Obligatory family pictures on the beach. We didn't do it with the whole group this time. A couple of families stayed a couple places further away, which would have made it harder to coordinate; but I don't think anyone wanted that pressure anyway.

It wasn't my intent to have him wearing the swaddle for pictures, but when the light was just right and it was now or never, he was sound asleep in it, and there was no way I was waking him up. 

I was so glad we didn't have to say goodbye to my parents on the last day of vacation; instead they came back to New Bern with us and stayed three nights in an Airbnb on the river a few minutes away.

They look like they're social distancing around the fire, haha.

On Monday I took the kids to spend a few hours at the Airbnb, and that was really nice. The kids had a lot of fun with the kayaks and paddleboard, and inside the buoys where they stayed, the water never went any deeper than a couple feet.

This is the Airbnb owner's house. He had two buildings for rent: a small cottage and a converted garage, the latter of which my parents rented. It was a charming and peaceful place on the water with lots of nature to enjoy -- my mom said she could get lost looking at things. There were also a few animals in residence, including a rooster who took his job as security for not only the hens but the entire property, very seriously. They said wherever they went, that rooster would turn up, and he'd be watching them out of the corner of his eye. The kids liked the animals, except for the rooster -- they said he was mean. My dad said he saw two dolphins swim by the end of the dock, maybe only two feet away. 

We weren't there at night, but my mom took this picture, and it looks like a lovely place to watch the sun come up.

Phew! Finally done with the Topsail post just in time to leave for Massachusetts in a couple days.