Wednesday, October 31, 2018

tatum ross | 1 month

oh sweet tatum.
here we are.
a whole month already! feels like it has flown by.
the world has just been spinning on around us while we are living slow within the walls of our home. and there's no other way i'd have it. and truly don't plan to have that change anytime here soon. these are the days that i live for with a newborn in our family. the most precious, cherished days.
baby boy, you are a dream.
you are the sweetest, snuggliest, most calm + content.
we are all in awe of you and couldn't love you an ounce more than we already do. you are adored by your big brother + big sis. as they've been running around the house playing hour after hour, day after day, i can't help but imagine the day that you're right there along side them giggling and playing all together.
YOU ARE LOVED, MY BOY.

beyond your arrival (labor + delivery :: birth story still to come!), and joining you into our family, it really has been quite 'uneventful' this last month. and i am thankful for that. it's been an adjustment, but also such a smooth transition adding you in. i couldn't ask for it to be better. you fit right in here and fill up a space that was made just for you.
TATUM:
one month old :: 11 lbs 6 oz (85%) :: 23.5 inches long (>95%)

birth: 8 lbs 2 oz :: 20.5 inches
2 days: 7 lbs 10.5 oz
12 days: 8 lbs 10 oz
name sign :: quincyjeanart
banner :: hooray everyday
sweater outfit :: h&m


.eat.
so thankful this boy has been a good nurser from day one, hour one. he nursed soon after being born, and has had a great latch and been an efficient nurser ever since. and it shows with his growth!! it's 100% breastmilk for him straight from the source ;)
he's started to get those sweet chubby cheeks + a couple thigh rolls... and i'm IN LOVE.
i don't watch the clock for nursing, just go on demand. there were times in the first couple weeks we had lots of cluster nursing in the late morning or early afternoon. basically, if he's hungry, mama will help him to fill up that tummy. he certainly isn't the hungriest of babies i've had though- i remember tanner at this age- ate, and ate, and ate! as of late tatum has kinda fallen onto a routine of eating once he wakes up from sleep. that's not always, but often. over half the time, he'll usually wake to eat and then fall right back to sleep. he's still a sleepy guy and loves his rest!
(being slightly jaundice contributed to some of his sleepiness in the beginning)
- - although it wasn't creating a problem with nursing, we did choose to have sweet boy's tongue + lip ties taken care of. my midwife is amazing and very preventative. i trust all that she says as she's been with us since pregnancy with harper. she shared with us that there have been lots of findings with various complications related to ties. i would suggest researching it as it is actually very fascinating all the things that can be related- -


.play.
it's minimal of course! during his wake time, we all love to talk to him and watch him as he takes in his world around him. in the first week, first days, we got those sleepy smiles from him, and then just this week we have gotten awake smiles and it make my heart burst! having him look at me (us) and him to smile back warms a mama's heart! he has just the sweetest smile!
we haven't done much (and as of his one month check up yesterday morning i was reminded we need to be on it), but tummy time! that will be our next new thing to add in during the few hours that he's awake in the day.


.sleep.
he is rocking it in this department!
first couple weeks it wasn't uncommon to get a 5-6 hour stretch of sleep out of him. which was much appreciated as his older siblings were adjusting to the changes of having a new baby and finding themselves waking in the night. (which isn't a norm for them!). brandon joked, but not so jokingly, that the older two were waking us (him) more than the newborn was. and some nights it certainly was true. thankfully they've fallen back into normal of sleeping all night. a little sticker chart bribery did wonders. ;)
as of late tatum is waking more on the 3-4 hour marks. wakes from hunger. then it's a quick diaper change, swaddled back up, nurse, and then back to sleep. 
during my pregnancy we debated and debated on whether or not we wanted to buy a snuggle me or dock-a-tot. so glad we did! we went with the snuggle me and baby boy sleeps right on our bed in between us. i don't even have to step foot out of bed in the night. it's heavenly!
he's a bit of a loud sleeper and grunts and squirms. during naps and night time. which i'm finding is kinda keeping me on my toes in wonder of if he's actually about to wake or not. but more often than not, after he gets it all out, it's back into his sleep he goes. 
we've been experiencing some fussy time in the evenings 'witching hour' the last few nights. it's been due to getting overtired during the dinner/bath/bedtime hustle when we're all running around and before we know it he's been awake for too long and then has a harder time actually getting to sleep. 


.things i never want to forget.
:: that fresh newborn smell + feel when you were first born and that week to follow.
:: your little {loud} grunts and swirms
:: somehow your face when you cry is actually so darn cute
:: sleeping up on mama's chest is your favorite way
:: that perfect little button nose
:: such a tough little one you are. shots/pricks and "other things" ;) haven't hardly bothered you
:: that epic "mess" you made (multiple times) right before your first bath
:: how you love your fingers to your mouth and occasionally suck on them
:: your HAIR. and LIPS. and NOSE.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
photo dump..pics in order from birth to present :)

you are loved sweet baby tatum!!
can't get enough of you.

tatum at birth HERE :)

Xoxo
-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth

Monday, October 15, 2018

welcome to this world sweet baby tatum

we are all head over heels in love with this precious soul who God has gifted us.
he is pure love and perfection.
a whole sixteen days now we've had our sweet tatum ross in our arms.
after a birth experience that was not what i was expecting and quicker than i could comprehend.

this little is such an angel.
sweet, calm, content. and truly hardly cries.
he's gotten an extra special place in my heart as he has been letting me get some sleep!
all the praise hands!
i'm up 1-2 times with him in the night. it's a quick diaper change, swaddled back up, nurse, and then he's back to sleep.

and here he is! the first moment of holding him in my arms.
emotions resurface as i look at this picture and i see all the love and support surrounding me and our newest baby who had just entered this world. no better feeling than holding my baby for the first time.

...Tatum Ross Hjelseth...
born september 29, 2018
5:14 am
8 pounds 2 ounces
20.5 inches long

weights since birth:
birth:: 8 lbs 2 oz
2 day:: 7 lbs 10.5 oz
12 day: 8 lbs 10 oz

the last two weeks have felt like such a smooth transition for our little family.
with the support of my mom staying with us for the first week and a half, and then brandon taking time off work to be home, we have all been able to soak in these first precious days.
tatum fits in so perfectly and has the best brother and sister who give him all the best loves and kisses.

i have such a thankful heart for my amazing midwife, susan (who has helped me to bring all three of our babies into the world). she is such a blessing to me and gives me strength and support to help my birth wishes come true.
also how grateful i am for the birthing inn. to have a beautiful, peaceful place for me to birth my babies... i can't imagine it any other way.

we love you sweet baby tatum!! so thankful to have you in our arms to love and kiss on you. i can't get over your sweetest hair and beautiful features. what a pretty baby you are and your mama loves you ever so dearly my precious baby.

(i'm working on our birth story, so that to come!)

Xoxo
-Brittney

follow along on instagram @brittneyhjelseth