Elijah turned eleven weeks yesterday. He also had his two month appointment. (a little bit late) He weighed in at 12 pounds, to me he seems so unbelievably BIG, I can’t believe how quickly he’s growing.
I really mean that. I have stopped wishing away the newborn phase (yes, I did, I admit it.) but now, oh my gosh, he is just such a treasure. I am so excited to watch him grow up but for now I’ll take exactly what he has to offer us, which is Elijah being Elijah, at this moment.
I can remember coming here when he was just two weeks old to tell you guys what a difficult baby he was – and he was. SO HARD. I was scared to come to you because I didn’t want you to think that I was complaining about this amazing blessing in our lives, something we had hoped and prayed for for so long and here I was – COMPLAINING.
Your response was nothing short of the best thing I could have heard. Words of support flooded my comments and my inbox, I felt so loved and mostly I felt not alone.
So, it only makes sense that I come to you and tell you the good things, things have changed drastically since that moment nine weeks ago.
-HE SLEEPS! Not much during the day, just cat naps but that’s okay because when we are awake we can watch his amazing self when he is awake.
-He doesn’t cry as much as more. When he was diagnosed with reflux (four weeks ago?) I was totally skeptical. But there is now no doubt that this poor baby was just so uncomfortable. My only regret was that I didn’t have him checked for it sooner.
-Nursing is so much better. I plan to write an entire post, series, BOOK! (totally kidding – NO BOOK) about my nursing experience with Elijah thus far. Although our nursing relationship is not perfect, it’s GOOD and that’s all I want. On Sunday, for the first time in nine weeks, I didn’t have to give him a supplement! (yesterday, I did, twice- but that’s okay!) I’m thinking it’s a little like pushing a baby out, you get to a certain point and the baby goes back in, you push again, the baby moves, you stop pushing and he goes back in until FINALLY you get the baby over that hump and woooosh, the rest is BETTER.
-His eyes. His eyes are some of the most captivating things I have ever seen. I love looking into my kids’ eyes, I love that they just know to look into YOUR eyes when speaking, there’s no discomfort, it’s just the natural thing to do. Eli’s eyes make it difficult for me to get anything done. He just stares into my soul, it’s like we are conversing through our eyes with no words, the entire time my heart beating quickly because the beauty is overwhelming. And he watches me so closely, everywhere I go, he hears my voice and he looks for me. I am his Mama. And he knows it.
-Back to sleeping, our nights are becoming nothing short of pretty awesome. He typically goes to sleep at ten, if he can hold out that long and sleeps until four. This morning he woke up at 4:30, he ate, I laid him down at 5:40 and then we slept until 8:25. That, my friends, is heaven.
Speaking of heaven, I am missing James and Jake. Watching Eli grow is bittersweet and I am reminded of what we don’t get to see with James and Jake. However, James and Jake help me remember how BLESSED we are to have this family. Every single one of us helps to create our own little heaven on earth.
It’s powerful. And painfully beautiful.
Such a beautiful picture, Beth, not just the photo, but with your words. I remember the hard hard times I had when my sweet boy was a baby, and how alone I felt. I didn’t have the awesome community you have and the support you felt…. I wonder sometimes how we got through it, but we did and more unbelievably, I have some good memories of that time. I’m so glad for you that things have gotten better with Eli. I remember the best part of his babyhood was when he was 2.5 to 6 months old. Then he got a mouthful of teeth AT ONCE. But that’s a horror story for another day.
I love this post. I love that Eli is getting easier and more delightful everyday. I love that you persevered through the hard times and made everything work. And I love that Eli is kind of a representative for James and Jake. From the time he was born, I look at him and picture the twins and what stage they’d be going through. Eli coming into the world made the memory of James and Jake more poignant, but also more real and more sweet. I know they’re with him and us now and they are as proud of him as we are.
How I wish our travels this summer were still going to take us through your neck of the woods. I would stop by simply to give you a hug.
This post, is pretty awesome my friend. And that baby? Absolutely love him!
I’m so glad nursing is better. It’s so hard when they are so tiny, you just worry and hope and stress. Yay for boobies!
Also, Coral had reflux too and I was in the same boat. I was doubtful and struggled with the idea of putting someone so tiny on medication. Then, we did, and whoa. It made a world of difference. She grew out of it by 6 months, thank goodness.
I’m really loving this post. Thanks for sharing!!
How loved this little guy is! And he’s not even old enough to understand just how lucky he is
So glad to hear things are going well.
what matters most is the amazing gift that I know, you know…that you have. It’s clear you are counting your blessings and you see how blessed you are. I am sure that you are reminded all too often of what you are missing with J & J. Just keep lovin’ and snugglin’ little Eli
(and ty for fixing my blog!!)
He is SO beautiful. And yes, hold onto the newborn/new baby phase as long as you can… they do grow way too quickly! My baby boy, my youngest son, he’s already 2 and a half… I can’t believe it. It makes me want another child, but I’m pretty sure we’re done and complete with our two boys!
Just tried commenting – I think the Internet ate my comment, though! I just wanted to say that your baby boy is very beautiful – and that you should hold onto the the baby phase as long as you can – they grow way too quickly! My youngest, my baby boy, he’s already 2 and a half! Amazing how fast time goes by… enjoy!
I’m just so glad to hear that things are better. And I could never think that you were ‘complaining’ but I understand what you meant by that. All babies are a blessing but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t just HARD sometimes! Sounds like you are definitely getting some good sleep and that the two of you are most certainly bonding in all the best ways. So wonderful…
And yes, I have to agree with you on the eyes – AMAZING!!
I never thought you were complaining ever. Newborn babies are HARD. Anyone that has ever had one knows it. Especially one with reflux. Troy had reflux and I was so tired, I would cry in the bathroom when Jeff got home from work. I felt guilty because sometimes I just wanted to sleep (or run away) without Troy crying and barfing and crying and nursing and barfing. Troy also would not nap unless I was holding him. He finally went on his meds (I was reluctant to give it to him, I was) and he was a brand new baby.
Much love.
P.S. I love Elijah.
oh, his little soul. his great, big, little soul.
have i told you how PROUD i am of you?! you are doing awesome and i love how you are cherishing the bad and the good!
Wow. I could have almost written this about my 12 week old son, just not as eloquently. Thank you for sharing your motherhood journey.
Now, THAT, is a beautiful baby boy! Good job, mama.
I love the name Elijah- LOVE IT…..and you take the best photgraphs E-V-E-R. Could he be any cuter? I think not.
I’m so happy to hear that his reflux is better! And YAY for sleep! Seriously, YAAAAAYYYY!!!!
my little baby girl (Makinley) is eight weeks now and it’s FINALLY getting alittle easier, the sleeping and nursing that is. I have an 18 month rambunctious little boy (Zane), who’s into EVERYTHING!!! It’s amazing and exhausting all at once and I wouldn’t trade it for anything..
Your little man is adorable and I enjoy reading your blog so thanks for sharing your moments.
What an eloquent picture you have painted here…such truth and beauty in your words.
He is so sweet.
I have tears in my eyes because this is so beautiful and heartfelt and it made me immediately run to my little newborn baby girl and scoop her up and squeeze her to my heart and tell her how much I love her.
Awe! Our baby boys are so close in age! My Ian is 11 weeks today. He still wakes up at least twice a night but I’m sure he will start to sleep longer soon… I hope anyway.
Congratulations on your new little bundle. He is adorable!
He is so cute!! How you get anything done during the day is beyond me … I could look into those eyes all day long. So glad to hear things are better. Also glad to hear that after your honest post about how hard it was that all your friends and followers showed you it was okay. Being a mom is HARD. Newborns are beautiful and a blessing. But it’s still HARD. Being honest is hard, but necessary.
God bless your whole family!!
Quit beating yourself up. Newborns are hard because it is all so new for them and you. He was all warm and snuggled up in his mommy’s tummy and the next thing you know??? Helloooo world! LOL Kinda like the bouncer thing…(from a post a few weeks ago).
He is so adorable. My babies are now 18 and 15 and I miss those baby days. Just enjoy and God Bless you and your family.
Oh what a sweet post Beth, glad to hear things are feeling better and Eli is doing better with his tummy….he sure is filling out and looking sweet as a ever!
Very cute!! And soo much of what you said about Eli reminds me of my little man… although he’s only 6 weeks!
I wished away the sleepless nights and spit up (those fun newborn days) with my older two. But when we thought my #3 was our lst I started to treasure those days. Now I’m trying to SLOW down these newborn days with #4 knowing that they are soo fleeting.
Eli is just beautiful!! Such a sweet little face:)
What a sweet baby! I mean, look at him! Congratulations.
I drink so much water my friends call me the liquidator. I’m a pain to wait on because I need my water glass refilled so many times…
I’m so glad that you are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel
Those first few weeks can be SO tough! My fourth child had reflux and the Health Visitor knew before she told me, but held off on the Gaviscon powder (only used as a last resort, I was told, because of the potassium content), but when they eventually gave me it for her she was a different child overnight! From hard core vomiting and screaming ALL the time (ear piercing painful cries), she turned into a smiley, happy, relaxed little baby. Poor little thing ~ I felt so bad for her that she’d felt so sore for so long and was really happy that she was pain-free at last! I’m so glad that little Eli is the happy little chap he is now and that your feeding is sorting itself out ~ you are a brilliant Mum 
!!
He is so adorable. I’m so glad that nursing is going better for you, and that he’s happier on the reflux meds. My ds is 2 and a half, but he had reflux, too, and was SO miserable.
Glad he’s sleeping well, too!!! 