Luke is ONE MONTH old
I mean seriously. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?
In some ways it seems like he just arrived, and in other ways it seems like he’s been here forever.
Luke is such a happy, easy baby. He’s a great sleeper, a pretty good eater, and is happiest when being held (especially by my dad).
I have bonded with Luke as a newborn much faster than I did with David. I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but I imagine there are a few different reasons that contribute to it. The biggest is not going through the dramatic life change of a first baby. Justin and I were blindsided by how much our life changed when David arrived. And David wasn’t even a challenging baby.
We had no idea (and I’m not sure that you really can) how everything changes with a baby. So, in anticipation of Luke, we imagined some things would change but it wouldn’t necessarily be a major life overhaul like it was with David.
I made it a point to have Luke on my chest for as much as possible in the hospital. And I was greedier with holding him even after we got home as well. It also helps, I’m sure, that I didn’t have to think about a big holiday right after his birth like I did with David who was born right before Christmas.
The biggest change that I feel with two kids is that there simply isn’t a spare minute. And if Justin is with one boy, I’m with the other. Otherwise, Luke sort of just fits into our daily routine around these parts.
I’m breastfeeding Luke and it’s going exceedingly better than it ever did with David. I mentioned it here but I went into breastfeeding with a very open mind this time around. I wanted it to work, but wasn’t going to endure weeks of escrutiating pain if we were going to have the same problems David and I had.
In a nutshell, David had a shallow latch which caused damage on me that never healed and only got worse with each feeding. To answer the well-meaning advice that is usually offered in the comments when I talk about this, I did see an ENT for a tongue-tie, I had multiple Lactation consultants help me, and basically tried everything that anyone ever advised. So, at 6.5 weeks, Justin and I made the call to switch him to formula, which I do not regret, and all was much happier around the Bryan household.
I assumed I would have the same issues with Luke, because I tend to be negative sometimes, I was shocked to experience breastfeeding without toe-curling pain. I probably mentioned it to whoever was around me for the first week or so too. It genuiely was like doing something completely different than I ever did with David.
Still, though, Luke had a little trouble putting on weight in those first weeks like David did. However, after seeing a Lactation consultant again, I’m happy to report he has exceeded his birth weight of 7 lbs 7 oz! So, I plan to continue to breastfeed for as long as it works for us.
David is starting to notice Luke more and more, but still doesn’t seem too put off by his presence. He’ll bring me Luke’s blankets or pacifier when I’m nursing him, so I know he is aware of him! And I think it’s adorable that he knows what is Luke’s.
Like I said at the beginning of this post, I simply cannot believe it has already been a month. I’m loving having two little boys, and am so thankful that this first month has been pretty darn easy and enjoyable!
