Hunter's growth and Breastfeeding

Hunter had his two month check up on Monday.

He now weighs....DRUMROLL PLEASE....14 lbs. 6 oz. and is in the 95th percentile for weight. He is 24 inches long and in the 90th percentile for height! All my joking around about his pumpkin head that is like his Daddy's, but his head is in the 50th percentile.

The nurse jokingly asked if my breast milk was pure cream. Ha ha. Very funny.

Like I explain to everyone, I didn't expect to have a tiny little munchkin for a child, after all, look at his parents! Neither Daryl or I are tiny!

Hunter is doing fabulous all around, healthy and on track, meeting the milestones he should for his age. He also received his shots and oh my LORD, did my poor baby scream. His little cheeks turned bright red! I felt so bad for him. After one oral vaccine, and three shots, I immediately nursed my upset little man and he settled right down.



And speaking of nursing, I have to say, I am so glad I decided to breast feed. It's such an amazing experience and definitely a way that Hunter and I bond together. I am sad at the thought of it ending too soon, although I have no intentions of stopping just yet! I would love to nurse him to at least 5-6 months.

We do give him about one (sometimes two) bottle(s) of formula a day and that is usually so my mom or Daryl can give him a bottle. I was religiously pumping in the beginning so that we could give him breast milk in the bottles more often than anything AND I was trying to build up a frozen supply as well, however I was getting very discouraged at the puny amount of breast milk I produced through pumping.

I will admit, I was feeling like a failure. I know so many people that can pump a ton and they were able to freeze it for when they went back to work, so their babies never had a need for formula. I cried over this to both Daryl and my Mom, and made myself crazy...I was like a pumping soldier who HAD TO GET IT DONE. I felt like a robot, a motorized breast, a milking cow. And not getting the results I expected, I felt horrible and like I had failed (even though I breast feed him all day and Hunter is obviously thriving!).

It took me a couple of weeks to turn my mindset around.

I have come to the realization that I have done an awesome job...nursing Hunter has completely exceeded my expectations so I had to stop beating myself up over not being a pro-pumper. I have a nursing plan for when I got back to work in another month. I am determined to keep my milk flowing but I do realize that when I'm back to work, there is the potential for a decrease in my production,, due to less nursing throughout the day AND also the stress that I anticipate at work.

But I can't focus on that!

In the morning, I leave for work approximately 8:45-9:00 AM and I get home from work at approximately 6:15 PM in the evening. So my plan is to hopefully get in two nursing sessions in the morning before work, then pump at least twice throughout the day while at work, and then nurse two times in the evening. Right now, Hunter nurses between 6-7 times a day.

I know pumping is not as productive as a baby nursing, but I'm hoping those two times I do it will be enough to convince my body to keep producing! But I remind myself daily, if I am unable to continue to breast feed, at least I have done the best I could! I will have at LEAST nursed him for three months.

And I am proud of myself for nourishing my son and helping him grow and thrive.

Dear Hunter,

Today you are two months old.

I can't believe it. My newborn baby is two months old!


You are a blast to be around. In between Mommy eating and kissing your beautiful cheeks, nonstop (sorry, kid!), you smile and laugh and are enjoying your baby life! You love to be sung to and so far, your favorite seems to be "The Itsy Bitsy Spider". Mommy and Daddy also think you are starting to try to imitate certain faces we make, which is hysterical to watch.

About two weeks ago, Daddy weighed you on his work refrigerant scale (in your car seat which itself, is nine pounds...talk about a workout!) and you were 13 lbs 4 1/2 oz. My big handsome boy. You are wearing clothes sized 3-6 moths OR even 6-9 months, with a little room to grow.



You are looking more and more like your Daddy every day. You're broad across the chest just like Dad, which makes it hard for Mommy to sometimes get you into shirts. I think you are going to be tall like both of your parents. You have incredibly ticklish feet and yet we can blow raspberries on your belly and you barely even flinch!

You love constant motion. Whether it's napping in your swing (the ONLY place I can get you to take any naps longer than 15 minutes), driving in the car or being rocked and cuddled, you are a happy boy. You sleep through the night like a champ in your crib and after a morning snack, you go back to sleep, blessedly giving Mommy a few extra Zzzz's herself.


Your eyes, which are slowly turning brown, follow Mommy and Daddy adoringly no matter where we are. Daddy sometimes gets mad that he'll be holding you and you are staring after me, but hey! You are a Mommy's Boy, and that is a good thing! Also, you've started paying more attention to your doggie, Tucker. I even witnessed him smooch you and your giggle in reply, this afternoon.

You have already watched your first and second football games with Daddy and you LOVE when Mommy reads you books at night before bed.

You are also a baby who loves water, much to Mommy's relief! Bath time is fun but you LOVE talking showers with your Daddy! Even if the water accidentally squirts you in the face, you blink a few times and then coo contentedly. You love to "talk" to your stuffed animals, toys and mobiles and also you stare in fascination at all the pictures on the walls, so Mommy has started to point everyone in them out to you.


Hunter, you are a silly boy! Your laughter is contagious! While Daddy got his eyes checked at the doctor's office, Mommy walked you around the brightly lit waiting room and you stared in awe around you. Your eyes landed on a picture of a woman modeling glasses and oh my goodness, the silly giggles that you let loose with! I didn't care who heard me, I could not help but laugh right along with you!

Your smile is like the sunshine that brightens up our days. Neither Daddy nor I can imagine life without you.

Thank you so much, little man, for blessing us with the gift of parenthood. You will never know (until the day you have your own children) how much it means to Daddy and I!

We will continue to love and cherish you forever!

Love Always,

Mommy

P.S. I promise to kiss those chubby cheeks until you are an old, OLD man.