Baby/ Behind The Butter

Grayson Allen: 2 Months

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I can’t believe our little guy turned two months old this week!

I look at photos of him when he was a newborn and can’t get over how much he’s changed in nine short weeks. It’s crazy!

This month has been full of really fun firsts like our first family vacation! We rented a house in Lake Tahoe with a bunch of family and friends the week after the 4th of July and it was great to have a change of scenery. We had a few stressful moments {which come naturally when you travel with an eight week old} but for the most part, it was great. Grayson thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention and I thoroughly enjoyed having lots of extra sets of hands to help out!

2 months

As you might be able to see from the top photo, Grayson has started to smile this past month! Everyone told me this but WOW, what a difference a smile makes! I hate to say it, but it’s like I am starting to see a reward from all my hard work the past few months. His smile is the best and I pretty much spend all day now trying to get him to do it more. He’s starting to recognize faces and is developing quite a little personality.

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I’ll tell you what — this boy likes to be on the go! From sunup to sundown, he wants to be moving. His favorite thing right now is when daddy gets home from work and plays “jet plane” with him aka “flying” him around the living room making lots of dips and soars.

We are still battling the “witching hour” but playing jet plane certainly helps with that. In terms of sleeping, he is doing much better these days! Currently I only get up once with him and usually {fingers crossed} he goes right back to sleep after. Our current schedule is bedtime at 9pm, wake-up at 3am to nurse, and up for the day at 6:15. We’ve tried a few different bedtime approaches, including putting him down at 7pm, which worked for a few weeks then started to fail miserably as he got more alert and unwilling to go to bed. I was putting him down at 7 then spending the next two hours in and out of the room because he refused to go to sleep. Finally, I threw in the towel and just started keeping him up until 9. I figured if he is going to fuss anyway, I’d rather have him fuss outside or in the living room.

Based on many recommendations, we have started following the “Moms on Call” schedule with Grayson. It’s been working great so far! I know baby schedules are sort of a hot button topic these days and they don’t work for everyone, but it has been really working well for us so far. Grayson seems to be thriving under a routine and I feel waaaaay more rested now than I did a few weeks ago. The only thing that we don’t do that Moms on Call is adamant about is the swaddle. We quit swaddling G-man last week and he’s been doing longer stretches of sleep ever since. Ever since birth, he has hated the swaddle and spent most of the night fighting to get out of it. When I finally let him have his arms free he was a MUCH happier camper.

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Currently he naps in his crib during the day and still sleeps in our room in the RNP at night. We are planning to crib train him this week or next week, depending on how brave I am. The nursery is only ten feet away but…but……..

related: adam thinks he looks like a merMAN in his sleep sack but I love it! It keeps him really cosy. This is the one we have and love.

Cloth diapering is still going great! We’ve moved into medium sized {!!} prefolds to accommodate his, err, growing booty. This boy has a BIG booty and it’s just so cute covered in fluff! Wool covers have become my new favorite. So nice and breathable for his bum. Comfy, too!

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In terms of myself, I am feeling great! I’ve started exercising again and it’s helped me feel a lot more like myself. I started doing online videos from Revelation Wellness {based on my friend Jessi’s glowing reviews!} and also Barre3. Unfortunately, I’ve been suffering from a lot of back pain over the past month or so and my chiropractor is really helping with that. I need to work on strengthening my core so I can safely haul around this 15 pound load of baby all day!

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Grayson was sooooooo happy here! hah.

Not quite sure on his exact weight but he was 14 lbs two weeks ago so I’m guessing he is definitely 15 lbs by now. We have our two month appointment on Wednesday so I’ll know for sure then. He’s wearing all sized 3-6 month clothes now except for 12 month sized Gerber Onesies! Woah.

This next month is going to be very interesting as we make our first cross country flight as a family of three! We will be gone the first two weeks of August, first going to Austin for our godson’s first birthday party, then visiting Adam’s family in East Texas and finally heading east to DC then West Virginia to spend a few days with my mom and dad. Our trip will involve lots of planes, trains and automobiles….literally! Adam will be working in DC and I’ll be taking the train with Grayson by myself to my parent’s house. Pray for us! 🙂

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Grayson’s first encounter with a pine cone. He was enthralled!

 

 

 

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  • Nicole
    July 15, 2014 at 3:01 am

    He is so adorable!!! I can’t believe it’s already been 2 months

  • Maryea {happy healthy mama}
    July 15, 2014 at 4:10 am

    Oh my goodness that picture of him in the sleep sack is so stinking cute! He looks much happier with his hands free. 🙂 Thanks for sharing an update with us and good luck with your upcoming travels!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    July 15, 2014 at 4:19 am

    Aww Jenna he is gorgeous! The three of you all look so happy. That little sleeping sack is super cute, and it sounds like when he’s not sleeping, he definitely keeps you on your toes!

  • Julie @ Coastal Runner Girl
    July 15, 2014 at 5:08 am

    Love these updates! I’m due in 2 weeks so I’ll have to check out that ‘moms on call’ program! Thanks for the tip 🙂

  • Brynn
    July 15, 2014 at 5:15 am

    I really enjoy your updates. As a mom to be, there is so much information and opinions, and like you said, all we can do is what is best for us. Everyone is different. However, thanks to you, we are trying cloth diapers! Baby will be here in two months and I am excited to see how this adventure will unfold!

  • Dana
    July 15, 2014 at 5:36 am

    Grayson is so sweet! The time truly flies and I totally agree with the smile–it’s so infectious!! Just wait until the laughing and ‘cooing/”talking” starts. It’s amazing. I have a 4 month old and she’s all giggles now. I cried the other day. it’s just so awesome hearing that.

    She’s also..hilarious. 🙂

  • Laura @ Raise Your Garden
    July 15, 2014 at 5:39 am

    9 week old baby Grayson is just sweet giggles! Enjoy him before he grows up on you!

    I know, I can’t stand that, when people tell me to enjoy my 2 year old and 4 year but it’s true, they grow too fast and then your sitting around wondering where baby is!!!!!! My 4 year old sassed back the other day and I almost cried! Oh well. I can always enjoy other peoples babies!!!

  • Dana
    July 15, 2014 at 5:43 am

    Grayson is so sweet! it’s truly amazing how fast times flies! And I totally agree with the smiling- it’s so infectious!! Wait until he’s laughing and “talking”–it’s awesome and hilarious. I cried the first time my 4 month old did an actual ‘laugh’. 🙂

  • Amber
    July 15, 2014 at 5:47 am

    Gerber onsies and jammies run SO Small!

    Glad things are working for you. You seem to be handling it with grace. Babies are tough. Routines are great. I hope vacation goes well for all.

  • Debbie
    July 15, 2014 at 5:48 am

    He’s so adorable! Makes me miss having a baby! Mine is 16 now!

  • s
    July 15, 2014 at 5:48 am

    aww, i loved this update! good luck with your travels!

  • Chicago Jogger
    July 15, 2014 at 5:55 am

    What a sweetheart he is 🙂

  • Leia Bryn
    July 15, 2014 at 6:12 am

    He is too cute Jenna! His little smiles are so adorable. Blessings on your upcoming travels!!

  • Nic G
    July 15, 2014 at 6:17 am

    He is so sweet! My 11 week old twin girls hated their arms swaddled and sleep just like Grayson in that picture. Thanks for the updates, these posts make me feel like I’m not the only one going through the trials and errors of having a 2 month old!

  • Emily
    July 15, 2014 at 6:19 am

    Such a fun time! Love his sleep sack! How long/tall is Grayson? My daughter is 13 months and weighs 16 lbs. Just curious how they would line up. Keep enjoying it all, but remember it’s ok if you don’t enjoy every second. Sometimes there are some hard moments, and that’s ok! 🙂

  • Kelly Mitchem
    July 15, 2014 at 7:35 am

    he is so adorable! loving the baby updates!

  • Aynsley Keller
    July 15, 2014 at 7:41 am

    You are so right about controversy over sleep and schedules and actually, everything. The important thing to remember is GOD MADE YOU-YOU-YOU-YOU GRAYSON’S MOMMY…NO ONE ELSE. Therefore, what your instincts tell you are best. He would not thrive in anyone else’s care quite like he will in yours…and God designed him that way. You’re his mommy and mommy knows best. 🙂 My 2nd little boy turned 3 months just a few days ago so I’m preaching to myself too!

  • erin @hooleywithaz
    July 15, 2014 at 7:45 am

    i have a gut feeling that our little one will not be interested in being swaddled either…just based on how much he/she has been moving inside me up til now. you are getting me so excited to meet our baby in about a month(!!), grayson looks like he is just thriving and such a joy.

  • clare @ fitting it all in
    July 15, 2014 at 7:46 am

    he’s precious, jenna! glad you’re finding things that work for you.
    and i’m in the big butt group too — we’re alright!

  • Bri | Bites of Bri
    July 15, 2014 at 7:47 am

    So cute! I enjoyed reading this Jenna. Thanks for indulging us on the sweet pics.

  • Kristen @ Vitamin K Girl
    July 15, 2014 at 7:57 am

    Haha! Well he’s definitely the cutest “merman” I have ever seen;-)

  • Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner
    July 15, 2014 at 8:22 am

    Aww, that sleep sack is adorable.

  • AshleyL
    July 15, 2014 at 8:35 am

    Do you ever have issues with Grayson feeding more than 45 min. Sometimes my two week old will feed for an hour it’s exhausting! I think towards the end she’s using me as a pacifier! I noticed you use a pacifier. Is it helping?
    Your posts have been so helpful. I often reread them at two am feeding to remind myself I’m not alone.

  • Katie D.
    July 15, 2014 at 8:36 am

    My daughter is 2 weeks and we have already ditched the swaddle. She hated her arms swaddled, so we left them out. But when we changed her at night, the unswaddling and reswaddling waked her too much and she wasn’t going back to sleep. Lately we are on a streak of only 2 wakeups per night and everyone is much happier!

  • Laura @ She Eats Well
    July 15, 2014 at 8:42 am

    Your little guy is so precious. Sounds like you’re doing an amazing job! Thanks for sharing these updates!

  • Susan H
    July 15, 2014 at 9:37 am

    So funny about the swaddle…my sister was a swaddling guru–her kids stayed well-swaddled for 6-9 months. Mine each broke out of the swaddle between 6-8 weeks. Every child is different…every family does what works. 🙂

    I’m so enjoying reading your early mothering stories…reminds me of my first…she’s 11 years old now, so it’s been a long time, but I loved going on long walks with her in the mornings during the summer and the beginning of the fall. I would sing to her everywhere we walked in the neighborhood, for at least an hour or so. She loved it and so did I. Enjoy the peaceful times…and file them away in your memory for when things are crazy. Have fun!

  • Jen D.
    July 15, 2014 at 11:54 am

    So cute!!! It’s just crazy how lightening fast time flies and how rapidly things that seem like huge deals tend to be short stages that seem so much smaller the more distance you have from them… RE: transitioning Greyson to a crib – – When my little guy was around two months old, we moved him to his crib to the room right next to ours. Prior to that point, he slept in his pack n’ play that was right outside our door. I was always so sure something would happen and I’d not hear. My husband knew he would be fine, but I had to take teeny tiny baby steps. First, he was in our room, right next to my bed. Then right outside our door with the door wide open. That segued into right outside our door with the door cracked, finally, we closed the door as I trusted I could hear him if something were wrong. Then at two months we put him in the crib, and left both his door and ours open. Then his door cracked, loud fan running in his room for white noise, and our door wide open. That transitioned to his door closed, with a loud fan running for white noise, our door wide open. Finally we got to the point where his door was closed, fan on, our door barely cracked. I was just so unnecessarily anxious that something would go wrong and I wouldn’t be able to hear him. Silas is 11 months old this week and I finally trust that I will wake up if something is wrong. This set up allows me to sleep through the normal baby REM waking and returning to sleep, the normal grunts and squawks and “complaining” that usually mean he is just trying to get comfy or got annoyed at a bout of gas, but wants nothing more than to fall right back asleep. I definitely hear him when he needs me/us. Anyway, go easy on yourself, but also know Greyson will probably transition like a champ and you can save yourself a little bit of anxiety. : )

  • Holly
    July 15, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Hey Jenna did you watch the moms on call online video or read the book? I’ve been thinking about doing one of the two but I’m not sure which one. Thanks!

    • jenna
      July 15, 2014 at 3:09 pm

      Both! If you only choose to do one, I recommend the book!

      • Michelle
        July 15, 2014 at 5:17 pm

        And the APP. The app is fabulous.

  • Amber
    July 15, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    Grayson is growing so fast, and getting cuter by the day!!! I have been following you for awhile but first time commenter here!

    My son is also named Grayson and he was born a month before yours! Great name choice :). I’m enjoying reading all about mommy hood for you and it always makes me feel like I’m not alone with the good and the bad! Month three is full of changes and time flies before we know it!!

  • Emily @ Fit as a Mother...
    July 15, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    Looove the sleep sack picture!! 🙂 Good luck with the flight!

  • Purelytwins
    July 15, 2014 at 4:47 pm

    and what a cute booty he is too 😉
    Grayson is adorable and love this updates!!

  • Valerie @ Bubbles and Gold
    July 15, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    Wow, that was fast. I feel like you were posting pics just the other day on you waiting for Grayson to arrive. He is so precious!

    You’ll be fine traveling. As long as you prep before hand, it’ll work itself out. And if there are meltdowns, you get a free pass because you have a newborn 🙂

  • Amy Walters, A DESIGN DOCK
    July 15, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    What sweet pictures! Blessings as you guys travel!

  • Kristin
    July 15, 2014 at 9:43 pm

    Embrace the 9 pm bed time. My daughter went to bed at 9 pm until she was 6 mos old and slept through the night. I went back to work and she started going to bed earlier and woke up several times a night. I truly believe 9 pm works for some babies. Embrace it if it’s working for you!

  • Katie
    July 16, 2014 at 5:34 am

    Congrats Jenna! You should ask Grayson’s doctor for tips to prevent airplane ear when he flies. That could help prevent some meltdowns.

  • Laura@SneakersandSpatulas
    July 16, 2014 at 9:45 am

    You look amazing, being a mom really suits you!!!

  • jan
    July 16, 2014 at 10:22 am

    Such sweet pictures! I’m glad he’s doing so well and that you’ve starting to fall into a routine. You look great!

  • Shannon D'J
    July 16, 2014 at 10:49 am

    Love the Grayson updates, Jenna! We are expecting our first little one in September and your updates give me a good idea of what to expect. Glad to hear the nighttime sleeping / nursing thing is getting easier. It’s the part I worry about the most! Glad you all are adjusting well as a family of three.

  • Ella
    July 16, 2014 at 3:28 pm

    He will be the perfect age for all that travel! And honestly I can’t think of a better mode of transportation to do solo than a train. You can get up and walk whenever you want unlike a car, there is no take off and landing where u must sit down, you won’t be quite as smooshed as in a plane – so ideal!

    We have traveled with our kids (now 2.5 yrs and 9 months) at all different ages and truly the 4months and under bracket is the best. Love these updates! You guys all look wonderful.

  • kk
    July 17, 2014 at 12:32 pm

    Love that you are doing Mom’s On Call!! I found everything so helpful and love their approach of caring for your family with love and faith!

  • Laura
    July 17, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    sounds like everything is going great!! i am glad mom’s on call is working for you guys–i’ve seriously only heard outstanding things about it! i’m excited to hear about how your travels go; i know there will be a lot of curveballs, with time changes, plane rides, etc, but you guys will get through and enjoy it! i’ve never researched (aka googled) this, but i have heard to try and nurse the baby while you guys are both taking off and landing; i think even a pacifier will do the trick, as long as they are sucking on something.

    love hearing the updates and following you on instagram! i think i say this every time i comment, but my little girl is only two weeks older than grayson, so we are going through pretty much the same things right along with you guys.

  • Allyson
    July 20, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    Love that you’re cloth diapering that sweet boy! What do you use to wash and lanolize your wool? I’m starting cloth diapering in a month and bought some wool covers based on recommendations, but I’m not sure what to do with them

  • Steph
    July 23, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    Congrats on getting more sleep, finally! My little guy did the same thing when we tried an early bedtime around 2 months. I was in his room every 15 minutes until 8 or 9, when he’d finally go to sleep. Don’t totally discount the early bedtime yet, though! You may want to try again around 3.5-4 months. Obviously all babes are different, but around that time my guy responded really well to a 6:30 bedtime (and I loooooved getting some time in the evenings again!).

  • Laci
    July 25, 2014 at 9:24 am

    You will do great on your trip! I would recommend packing a small hand-held battery powered fan in your diaper bag for sitting on the plane on the hot Tarmac in the Texas heat!
    I just got back from my first solo flight with our little guy who is 3.5 mos old & I was SO thankful I had that to keep him (& Me!) cool while waiting on the plane for delays. Grayson is adorable & congrats to you and Adam again!

  • Michelle
    July 26, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    We LOVED moms on call. Evie just turned 1, and I am still using it (I got the iphone app, btw, which is fabulous.)

  • Danielle
    July 28, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    If you can while you’re in DC, check out the Barre3 studio here! It’s in an amazing space in Georgetown and of course the classes are the best! They have childcare too (I’ve never used it since I don’t have kids) and it’s only $5. I’m actually headed to a class there right now, love it!