How much spit-up can a baby spit-up?

The first two months of Garrett's life, I thought "I have a baby who doesn't spit up" and I thought that maybe it had something to do with breastfeeding. I remember my friend Kim repeatedly telling me how much Nate had been spitting up and all the outfits she went through in a day. Nate is formula fed, so when Garrett never spit up, I was sure I was on to something and that I had made the clearing.

Unfortunately, as soon as he hit the two month mark, the spit up appeared and came in large quantities! Some days he barely spits up and other days he seems to spit up his whole feeding and then some. On those days that the quantity is massive, I begin worrying that maybe he is vomiting and not spitting up. In my frenzy I browse the Internet for the umptenth time to give me the definition of vomiting in infants. I should have the definition and symptoms memorized by now! And then after reading, I realize, his spit up moments are more a surprise to him then anything else because they are never accompanied by pain, aren't projectile (even though it does go everywhere) and he is still gaining weight.

I, on the other hand must endure changing him and usually myself at least 1-5 times a day. You would think I would learn and have a spit up rag on hand (as my friend Kim had warned me on numerous occasions) but I haven't yet. So far, the most outfit changes he has had in a day is 5 and that was today. I only witnessed three spit up episodes myself and each of those occurred almost back to back. Seriously, no more had I picked out a cute little outfit and put it on him before he had spit up streaming down him and me. I have officially become the spit up rag I think! I had the cottage cheese like sustance all over me- a present just for mommy, on my shoulder, on my leg, on my hand....

My hubby seems to think I'm not burping him enough. But, the boy usually burps more on his own than when I try to coax one out of him. I actually think he spits up because he over eats while nursing. For example, tonight he nursed on both sides before dosing off and then woke up about 20 minutes later. I picked him up and played a bit with him and he even had some time on his mat before he went on his spree of spit ups. I am wondering if moving around with him caused some of it as well as the combination of no burping and the overfeeding.

All I know is I don't have a clue how to minimize it and unless he is in pain, I suppose I will chuck up these moments to experience.

Anyone have advice on dealing with spit-up?

*You're gonna miss this*

*Song by Trace Adkins*

I have been meaning to post for over a week now, but with Garrett's check-up to traveling home and now dealing with a bad back (*again) and returning to work...I just haven't had the chance. This left me with a small dilemma, what do I post about since so many things have taken place! Therefore, I will start in order of our madness and go from there. At least, this blog won't be with a loss of words for the next few weeks!

With that said, Garrett's two month check up last Wednesday set into motion our busy lives and I feel as if this was the beginning of true 'family life'. Not that the last two months haven't felt or been 'family' in my mind, I think life for us has simply occurred in slow motion up until now. Kinda like a daydream. And those words we had heard over and over during the last two months: 'Enjoy this time now, because it goes so fast,' have suddenly sank in. Garrett is slowly losing his newborn look and gaining that chubby baby appeal and it actually saddens me. What's more strange is that I have found myself envying pregnant women and those who have just given birth! How insane is that? But, again...now I understand where certain comments or thoughts about these times come from. I guess it's normal to feel this way and miss the tiny baby he was. One day, I imagine I will miss even much more then this. :(

As I had said, last Wednesday was his two month appointment, which meant a great deal of things- for one it meant that we would see how much he has grown since his birth and it also meant the beginning of his shots and a long trip home to visit family. That's why I think it was the beginning to our journey as a family.

When Garrett was born he weighed 7 lbs 1.2 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long with a head circumference of 14 inches. Last Wednesday, he weighed 10 lbs 5 ounces and was 23 1/2 inches long with a head circumference of 15 3/4 inches. The boy is definitely growing!!! I think he's at least 12 lbs now!

It makes me proud to know that his growth is a testament of his mother's milk, no substitutions...all from me. That my friend, is an amazing feeling....no an unbelievable awesome feeling.

We decided that with the recent uproar about autism and immunizations that we would give Garrett an alternative schedule than what is recommended. This schedule ensures he will receive his shots, just a bit behind that of his peers. I found this schedule from my SIL, this particular doctor is actually my niece's pediatrician. The schedule and an explanation of it can be found at The Franz Center (http://www.franzcenter.com/)under the link, New Information. With this schedule he only gets 2 shots at each checkup opposed to 4. I couldn't imagine, poor little guy seemed to have had enough with just 2. His doctor was really cool about it too, which was a huge relief.

After we completed his check up, we piled into the car and were almost set for our visit home...

Strategic Planning

Ah, sweet relief is all I feel as I begin my first attempt at blogging about the joys and pains of mommy hood. I have been contemplating the idea of starting a blog for awhile now, actually even before my little man was born. So finally, without further ado...my journey into Mommy's Little Blog begins.

Mommy-hood has its special challenges, as I try to set up my laptop strategically at my recliner while baby swings in my left arm, patiently waiting for me to plop down, expose my breast and resume his feeding. As, I set the laptop up, I realize essentials are nowhere to be found and off with baby in tow, I grab my bottle of water, a bag of chips, the phone, the TV remotes and Boppy before little man starts to squeal that he's hungry. Social Services might be appalled if they saw me, hmmm maybe I shouldn't be posting this stuff?

Finally, I settle into the recliner. Place Boppy into wrap around position (all the while holding little man) I lift my shirt, undo my nursing bra and take one last look around to make sure everything is in arm's reach. To my left is TV remotes, phone and chips. On my right is my laptop and bottle of water. With my right hand, I quickly turn the laptop on and start its connection. Once this is started, I latch little man onto the breast and get cozy...careful to peer into his eyes as he nurses. (Sometimes, I feel guilty, nursing and surfing the net at the same time...so I make every effort possible to let him know I am not ignoring him) He is so forgiving.

Okay, so where was I? Connecting to the Internet. At least that's what the icon says is taking place. I wait and nothing. Another five minutes go by and I reconnect, this continues for over twenty minutes, sometimes I get lucky, other times I get frustrated and restart the computer- continuously until I do get lucky....either way by the time I do get online, its time to change the little man's diaper or burp him or play with him or give him a nap. Needless to say, its never time for me to blog.
But tonight I have persevered!

I was able to get my sweetie to fall back asleep after nursing and shamelessly, I'm secretly hoping for a repeat session tomorrow night minus all the strategic planning (but that's wishful thinking).

Mommy-hood is Everything I hoped for and
Nothing I expected.