My PB + J

a Letter To Brayden – 3 Months

Dear Brayden-
  Today you are three months! You are growing into a little boy and it is so fun to watch how fast it is happening. I am in awe of you on a daily basis and I continue to smother you with my kisses. I cannot help myself. You are such a happy baby, so happy to the point where I am worried once you have your surgery in two weeks that the restrictions will put a damper on my baby’s happy demeanour. You are so your daddy. Speaking of your daddy, it is funny looking at you two side-by-side. I now understand what he and everyone else see in your sister and I. You have really started cooing, and just the other day you started to giggle. It truly warms my heart. You follow objects really well, especially me. Your daddy says you only love me, I know this is not true, you’re just my little boy. You have found your hands and yesterday you discovered your legs. You love to sleep with your hands on your face or on top of your head. You are a little snuggler which I love. You started sleeping through the night last month and now you go down around 9 PM and wake-up around 5 AM. Thank you. Even though, I am holding you, I don’t mind. I sleep better with you in my arms. You were also given rice cereal because you started sticking your tongue out…a lot! We tried with a few spoonfuls and you loved it. Today you at about fifteen spoonfuls. You still act like you aren’t getting enough to eat but you’re constantly eating. You drink 4-8 ounces every few hours. We’re going through formula like crazy over here so we are hoping that the addition of cereal will help curb your appetite a little. This is your last month with your cleft. We are two weeks away from the big day and tomorrow we meet with your pediatrician to get the clearance of health so we will be on a lock down for the next few weeks. I get anxiety over what your new face will look like. You are such a handsome baby and the repaired lip is only going to make things better. I just pray that you can start sucking on the pacifier afterwards, your suction now has it days. 
three-month stats:
  • 13 pounds 3 ounces, again up just about three pounds since last month. Keep it up! 
  • Size 2 diapers
  • 3-6 month clothing 
  • sleeping 8+ hours at night, we wake-up change your diaper and get a bottle and then you are back down for another 3-4 hours, giving us just about 12 hours total. Plus you take a good 3+ hour nap in the late afternoon. 
  • you have rolled over on our bed and made it 98% of the way on your mat. 
  • still lovin’ your swing.  You sleep in there from 5 am until 9 am or whenever your sister gets up. 
  • the activity mat is getting a lot of use, too! you can now grab the toys above you and coo at yourself in the mirror. 
love you brady-boy! 

A Letter to Brayden – 1 Month

Dearest Brayden-
   I cannot believe you are already a month, it seems like we just brought you home yesterday. Time is surely flying by a lot faster with you being home with us now. You are such a sweet and calm baby boy. You definitely get this from your daddy, because we know I am anything but calm. I do have to say that since you have arrived I have been a lot more calm, maybe not so much when you and your sister cry at the same time or choose to have opposite nap times but this will all get better with time. Your eating habits have gotten much better and you are now taking two to four ounces with ease. The days in the hospital where I thought we would have a really difficult time feeding because of the cleft (taking in too much air and spitting everything out) have all gone away now that you have figured out how to suck. While I tried to breastfeed you it did not work because we really needed to see how much you were consuming since you lost 1+ pound after birth. This time around I am okay with this outcome unlike with your sister. I know you are thriving and honestly, that’s all that matters in the end. Dr. Martinez was also watching you for jaundice, you had several bilirubin tests to rule it out and after two weeks you have been cleared. You also had your first ultrasound on your kidneys to check them now that you’re an outside baby. The results concluded that your right kidney is still dilated and you have to go in for a small procedure. We also met with your surgeon, Dr. Sinow, for your surgery consultation. He completely ruled out the cleft palate now that he could see all the way down your throat unlike in the hospital when you just screamed at him. We went over the procedure and he said that we can expect the surgery to be performed around the three to four month mark instead of two to three since you were technically a preemie. You need to gain some additional weight and stay healthy and then it’s a go! This first month has been full of appointments, excitement and joy; you truly fit right in to our crazy little family. Daddy and I truly don’t know what life was like without you in it, because it seems like you have always been here. You complete my heart and our family. I love you sweet, sweet boy.

One-Month Stats:

  • 7 pounds 4.4 ounces – finally catching up to your almost birth weight
  • 20.3 inches, up 1.3 since you were born. 
  • Still in newborn diapers and size 0-3 month clothing. You are a skinny little one! 
  • You love the swing which is amazing for mommy. 
  • You sleep in two to three hour intervals and the longest you have gone is five hours. 
  • Nicknames: baby brady (sissy), buddy buddy, turtle, b, brady, boo-boo and love bug.