Dodge Is One Month Old

Today is Dodge’s 1-Month birthday! He looks just like Max at this age.  Can you tell which one is Dodge and which one is Max?

Baby Weight And Breastfeeding

Our second son Dodge was born two weeks ago on 3/1/13…an awesome palindrome date if ever I saw one (3113).  He joined us at 3:37 AM weighing in at 7 lbs and 9 oz.  My wife Kate is a bit of a math nerd and loves the number 3 as well as powers of 3.  Our alarm clock is set for 7:11 (7+1+1=9 and 9/3=3), when slicing up the Quiche in the morning there are 9 slices instead of 8, and as we travel along the road she points out how many things we have encountered along the way in powers of 3.  So it’s no coincidence that if you add up the numbers of Dodge’s birth date and time (3+1+1+3+3+3+7) it equals 21…which is of course divisible by 3.  Stick with me here: 21 divided by 3 is 7…which is how many pounds Dodge weighed.  3×3=9, which is how many ounces Dodge weighed.  Okay…now you know a snippet of how my wife’s brain works…if you understand why I love that is how my wife’s brain works then you understand a snippet of how my heart works.  Now, enough with the math and on to the cute new baby.

Dodge was a screamer in the delivery room and a crier in the days following.  I knew that Max (our first son) had been a “sucker baby” luring us into thinking babies were easy.  Max had been calm in the delivery room and spent his first few days flirting with everyone, sleeping in my arms, and smiling.  Dodge?  Crying.  Both boys had been C-Section babies that were two weeks “late” so they were a good comparison.  Max was a full pound heavier, quieter, and was happy to be held by others.  Dodge was a crier, tiny, but would sleep so long as someone was holding him.  As with any baby, they lose weight after birth and the goal of your 2 week visit is to get back up to their birth weight.  Dodge weighed exactly 7 pounds when we left the hospital meaning he needed to put on 9 ounces in two weeks.  Could it be done?

Kate’s milk came in faster than with Max, most likely because this was not her first rodeo.  Both boys were fantastic eaters but Max barely put his weight back on at first and then started growing later – which is most likely why he was able to control his head early and started walking at 7 months.  Dodge, it turned out, was as chill (if not more) than Max once he was full.  The best part is that Dodge takes a 2-3 hour nap in the middle of the day at the same time as Max!  At night…he sleeps in 3-4 hour chunks!  Seriously, we have had two super babies (understanding this could all change next week – knock on wood).

This morning was Dodge’s 2-week checkup and we were excited to see if he had put back on the weight he needed.  His nickname is “Little Chicken” because he has tiny chicken legs.  He pee’d three times before heading into the exam room for measurements.  Arg!  There goes that water weight.  The nurse measured his height and he had grown over an inch!  Wow.  I wasn’t expecting that.  Then she put him on the scale, the numbers beeped around, and “zoink” they stopped on 8 lbs 7 oz.  Dodge put back on his birth weight and added on an extra pound for safe measure.  Woohoo!  Mon petit poulet.  Then he wow’d the doctor by tracking with his eyes, something he had been doing at home for the last few days.  She told us that was something she looks for around 1 month so it was great to see he was doing it early.  I’m not bragging, I’m just happy to know I have a healthy baby boy who is progressing as he should and seems very happy.

Now I’m not going to lie, Kate and I make cute babies.  So far it would seem we also make very happy and calm babies which I entirely attribute to Kate’s calm demeanor and the fact that both boys were breastfed.  Both births the boys were brought to Kate’s chest as fast as possible and since there were no complications with Dodge’s birth he went from womb to chest in a matter of seconds where he instantly started rooting.  Now that Dodge is eating well and sleeping he is putting on weight at an awesome rate.  Max would cluster feed which was exhausting.  I can’t wait for the point where Dodge will lay off a bit so Kate can pump and I can feed him too…plus we can start getting a sitter.  All and all, I am humbled once again by the amazing female body and the things it can do.  Everything I can do Kate can also do…plus she can grow a human being inside of her, birth it, create food for it, and feed it.  I cannot do that.  I can convert food into flatulence more efficiently…but that’s not something to brag about.

Both births we have had great luck with breastfeeding and I understand it isn’t always as natural and easy as we’ve had it.  I remember the cluster feeding with Max and thinking, “This is ridiculous, let’s just give him some formula and shut him up!”  However, Kate stuck with it and before long we had a great schedule going.  If you have a new baby and are getting frustrated with breastfeeding I urge you to seek help and stick with it.  With Max we went back to the hospital and met with a specialist who gave us pointers on what we could do better.  Kate joined a La Leche group where she really found the info she needed as well as the support group she was looking for.  You can find info about groups near you and speak with professionals on your local or the international La Leche League websites.  As always, you gotta do what you feel is best so long as it is not endangering you, the baby, or anyone else.  I can’t wait to get home from work today and play with my two son’s…maybe the “Little Chicken” will be a crawling rooster before long!

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Max Is Big Boy Now?

Brining home a new baby can be a lot of change for a toddler, and there was no exception for our 2-year-old Max when he met his little brother Dodge last week.  Things started of fine with hugs and kisses but have daily descended into the expected pit of regression as Max acts out in an attempt to still be “the baby.”  Temper tantrums, fake crying when Dodge cries, insisting that Dodge’s toys are his, and everything else you’d expect from a toddler robbed of being an only child.  I feel bad for him…but at the same time I’m suddenly aware of how stinky and massive he is. Max is not a baby…he’s a big hulking kid.

The hardest part in all this is that Dodge got all tangled up during birth so we had to have a C-Section…meaning Kate can’t lift Max.  So not only is he coping with not being the baby, he has to do it without Mama picking him up.  It’s a lot for a little guy to digest.

I’m working from home this week but fully aware of the fact that next week we need some solutions for how Kate will be able to handle both Max and Dodge…so we started celebrating “Big Boy Moments!”  Max can already go up and down the stairs all on his own so even if it is me (who can lift him) he’s been asked to walk on his own like a “big boy.”  Diapers can be changed on the floor, he can get in and out of his car seat in Mama’s car, he can sit at the table and feed himself.  He’s pretty much fully prepared to be a big boy with the exception of one thing…the crib.

Max In Crib

Knowing it was a lot to throw at Max all at once, I took the front of the crib off and threw a “Big Boy Bed Party” for Max which pretty much consisted of showing him the bed and reading books with him in bed.  Max was very excited to have a bed that was just the right size for him and loved crawling in and out of it at his leisure.  We discussed the rules of the bed and how once it was night-night time he had to stay in the bed.  He agreed.  Then it was nap time…and the true test.  Would he stay in bed?  I tucked him in, kissed him goodnight, then left to observe from the camera.  This is what I saw:

Max touches the floor to see how far it is and prove he can reach it.

Now two hands on the floor…still technically in bed.

Next Max sends his favorite stuffed animal “Muffin” out to test the waters.

As Muffin has survived the floor test it is clearly safe to add more stuffed animals.

Next up, the orange monster tests out the floor…”Yup, all safe down here.”

The orange monster and Max check under the bed to see if there are other monsters.

Max sends Muffin down to help then looks up at the camera to see if he’s busted.

BUSTED! Max pretends to be asleep.

After a quick re-tucking…Max goes to sleep.

Between the Muffin and Orange Monster tests there was a brief out-of-bed experience to help Muffin back to bed.  Other than that…he has stayed in bed.  On his third night he fell out and bonked his head, since then he has slept in the back corner instead draped over the edge.  In the morning he gets out of bed on his own and plays with his toys, reads books, and dresses Muffin.  Then he knocks on the door and says “I’m up!” and we come get him.  Not too shabby.

The Gates Boys

Since implementing the “Big Boy” test he has also attempted to pee in the potty twice, started doing his own dishes, and tries to help with Dodge.  When he can’t help with Dodge he plays pretend with Muffin and acts out the role of parent.  Muffin recently found his way into the bath and is currently tumbling in the dryer out of sight.  Adding a brother to the mix will be beneficial to both children as they will fight, compete, love each other, and eventually learn to work as a unified force in defeating Mommy and Daddy and getting into trouble beyond my wildest nightmares.  For now…we are all in transition.  Kate and I are learning how to be parents of two while maintaining our identities as individuals, a couple, and professionals.  Max is learning how to be a big boy, a big brother, and not the center of attention.  Dodge is learning that the dark blurry shape in front of him is Dada.  So long freedom!!!

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Max Meets Dodge

All questions as to if Max understood we were having a baby have been answered…he gets it. He’s met Dodge twice and is quick to point out, “that’s the baby.” We explained his name is Dodge and Max calls him “baby Dodge.” He knows to be quiet around him, wash his hands, loves touching his soft hair, and kisses him on the head every chance he has. Today we bring Dodge home and I’m excited to start our lives as a family at last!

My boys

Dodge’s First Few Hours

Dodge’s first few hours have been very calm and he is a happy guy. He went skin-to-skin immediately after delivery and rooted right away. He fed immediately and is in great health. So far the first 12 hours of his life have been full of eating, sleeping, and being held by grandparents. Very precious time and we are looking forward to taking him home Sunday morning.