Sullivan gained 8.5 ounces this past week. He is now up to 7 lbs. 14.5 ounces. He is still in between the 5th and 10th percentile (small for his age) but within range. Momma and Sully now are into phase IV of Breastfeeding Basic Training. He is still struggling to feed properly so we now have a whole new series of accessories to help the situation that includes tubes, knobs, wires, and tape…yes tape and in a not so nice place. I am starting to feel like a machine. Wish us luck…we’ll let you know how it goes 🙂

Leberknight Visit
Sullivan had his first out of town visitors this week. First time grandparents Kerry and Mary drove all the way down from Pennsylvania are enjoying the many adventures of Sullivan Brown. It has been fun to watch grandpa Kerry change diapers and listen to stories of when Jill and Jim were little. Grandma Mary has been a Big Help and has become a skilled swaddler. Sullivan likes to lounge in her arms and rest for hours. Grandpa Kerry has also taken notice of all the new baby accoutrements these days compared to 40 years ago. And apparently baby Sullivan is a much more pleasant child than the colicky Jim and attitude filled Jill…must be those Brown genes. Two more days of fun with grandparents before they head back up to PA L already counting the days till the next visit and of course still waiting for our first visit with Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Lynn.

New Tricks
Feeding and Growth – Sullivan continues to grow and mature each day. He is finally starting to gain some weight (7lbs 6.5 ounces). Mommy has been forced to feed him formula since he apparently learned some bad habits in the NICU and wasn’t feeding properly and not getting enough food. He is undergoing breastfeeding training AGAIN to break him of these bad habits and help him feed better with Mommy. Now Sullivan has to do practice sucking prior to each feeding and has a special training bottle which leads to a LOT of spitting up and dribbling. And until we work past these issues Mommy is in cow land pump times which are beyond exciting I tell ya J He is also getting quite strong. Lifting his head more, turning to see and listen to things and focusing more on the people and things around him.

Development – Sullivan has taken on quite a fascination with lights. He loves to look at the lit ceiling fans when they move, the light that comes through the blinds, a flashlight, moving light of any kind. Grandpa Kerry and Grandma Mary bought him a multimedia mobile that projects a light show on the ceiling…he LOVES it and can’t seem to get enough of it at night. He also seems to be more awake these days and enjoys just sitting about and listening and looking at the world around him. He sometimes sits and looks about for hours instead of sleeping…pretty funny to watch him sit quietly and look around….Daddy calls him the little old man “thinking about things”….or as we like to call him around the house – Wee Zachius.

Health – He had his first allergy attack. Starting sneezing a lot yesterday and his nose is running a lot today. Daddy is having one of his bi-annual sinus attacks too so both are sneezing, stuffy, watery eyed, and achy these days.

Little Mr. Insulted
Baby Sullivan is still struggling with the growth and development of his digestive system. After many of his late night feedings he moves into what I call his gas dance mode….stretching, writhing, wriggling, and kicking as he attempts to relieve the discomfort from the gas pain. He fusses a little bit while all of this is going on but its not until the gas actually passes that he lets out a cry….sometimes it is simply the comedy of air and other times the very loud rumble or explosion of a full movement…but when it comes he lets out a most unique cry….a cry that sounds more like he is completely appalled with the human digestive process. …INSULTED by the poop in the diaper or the loud sound that just interrupted the quiet night air. I sat in the chair laughing hysterically last night as I listened to Sullivan cry out in disgust over the whole ordeal.

That’s the latest from Mommy’s update Desk.

Momma is way past due on her contributions to the blogspot. Daddy has been wonderful at keeping family and friends up to date so far on the Many Adventures of Sullivan Brown, and both mommy and baby are very appreciative ….BUT, I thought it might be fun for folks to hear from both parents during this wild new journey. So here are a few short thoughts from the new Mom.

First, my thoughts on our amazing new Dad. Along with creating this awesome interactive news site, photography, video, and journaling duties, Daddy has also been the voice of reason, peace, entertainment, and rest for us here at the house. Mama and baby are undergoing an INTENSIVE breastfeeding training camp which is leading both to be cranky, frustrated, tired, tense, and irritable. And as always Daddy provides the positive perspective and calm that we both need to stay the course. We sure are lucky to have such a fun and wise Dad.

As for young Master Sullivan, he has made significant headway in his feeding lessons but we still have a bit to go to make it a more pleasant and less painful experience for mom. Our little gentleman is also undergoing what feels like daily if not hourly physical changes. His eyes seem to be changing color…maybe to brown…they are dark blue/green to light chestnut brown right now but darkening every day. He is also sporting some seriously long limbs AND skinny too! How I produced a long skinny child is still beyond me but so far he appears to have received more of the Leberknight/Bateman genes than the short chunky Gavazzoni frame. Except for his feet….I still think he inherited Pop Pop Louie’s pigeon toed chubby feet (what Mommy thinks are the cutest part of his whole body).

On the whole his temperament is still remarkably pleasant despite his growing periods of frustration with gas, feeding, and sleepiness. He sleeps for long periods at night which Mommy and Daddy appreciate, he smiles a lot, and enjoys looking about and listening and learning new things. The Leberknight grandparents are coming down next week for their first visit with first grandchild. Local Family and friends have been tremendously helpful around the house bringing food and helping with chores and such. I couldn’t have made it this far without them and am incredibly thankful for everyone’s kindness.

Well back to basic training. Will write again soon. Jill

So, looks like the phase one gas has … passed … shall we say? That’s well and good since it returns mommy to only a couple (maybe three) night feedings and much less cranky-ness which she appreciates. We all do, really.

Of course, now he’s transitioned into the “hour-long leisurely dining experience” phase which include stretch breaks, looking around, generally relaxing while mommy waits for the multi-course experience to resume.

We’re also starting to get some unique cries for different needs which is fun to hear. The all-frown wail of general frustration (which typically leads to “baby chicken” cluck-cry if it goes too far,) the stretch, grunt, and squeak of hunger, and the new single-blast cry of bodily function (gas, diaper change, etc.) That’s my favorite so far. The baby equivalent of a husky teamster “Yo!”

Now Sullivan’s mommy will disagree with me. “Agreeableness” is often subjective and baby Sullivan has been less than pleased with his level of life service lately. The gas pains come in waves so we don’t get the constant screaming, but it’s turned him into the “little man who doesn’t know what he wants.”

Eat a little, no not good enough. Hiccoughs wake me up. Frustrating. Now maybe I’m hungry? Nope, just wet diaper. Nope, just gas. Nope, I am hungry. Very hungry. Nope spit up all that food. Why would you give me all that? No, maybe mommy should just hold me all night? Yes, that would be great, thanks.

He’s very frustrated with the whole deal so far.

I can only say, calm down little fellow, it only gets more intense from here. I mean “life.” Hopefully not the gas pains …