Sleep regression

Another long gap between posts!  Rowan has been going through a sleep regression, so I've not really been inclined to blog.  My normally super sleeper (we're talking up to 10 hours here) suddenly started waking up every three hours four weeks ago.  This is normal, apparently, as babies start having more adult sleep cycles when they hit 4 months, so they cycle from deep to light sleep every 50mins or so.  It can take them awhile before they learn to settle themselves after waking from the light sleep.  This is the time when adults would turn over, or adjust their pillow etc. and then go back to sleep.
It's either that or Rowan is gearing himself up for weaning, since he always seems to be hungry too.  He'll have to wait a bit though, as the earliest I've read they can be weaned is 17 weeks.  I think we'll start dipping our fingers in certain foods though and letting him have a taste as a palate preparation!

In other developmental news, Rowan spent two days rolling from front to back, and hasn't done it since! I guess he figures he has nothing to prove now he knows he can do it.

Anyway, since it's been so long between posts, here are some photos from the last few weeks:

Make sure you put the right one in the right bed...

Bizarre frog impression

I believe he was watching the thoroughly

age-appropriate 'Oz' in this one. 

Tummy time Daddy style!

Meeting Aunty Pod 

All the cousins. From left to right:

Emma, Tom, Lily and Rowan 

Meeting Uncle Mark. Rowan was a tad overtired

by this point. 

Looking rather grown-up

Coolness in a babygrow

Hugs with Nanny

Hugs with Grand-dad

 Rowan recliningon my breastfeeding pillow. His

favourite place!

Rockin' the pink Bumbo

Run Tangent, run! Before he becomes

independently mobile 

First drawing 

Butterscotch vanilla muffins

I made a batch of vanilla muffins with a vanilla buttercream and topped with butterscotch pieces recently.  Maternity leave is going to make me very fat!

'Nuff said

Tummy time!

Rowan isn't a huge fan of spending time on his stomach, but babies are supposed to have some time playing on their tummies so they build the muscles and motor skills to help with crawling etc.  He is holding his head up well now, and doesn't face plant the play gym anymore.

Clever baby! 
Holding head up:  Approx 4 weeks

Apologies for the state of my photos lately.  I'm still not quite organised enough to have time to sort them out on Photoshop.  So they remain uncropped and rough.  When Rowan hits three months we can start working on a routine, so hopefully I'll be able to structure my day a bit better.  Currently I'm focusing on getting through the dishes etc. when Rowan randomly sleeps so the house doesn't become a complete state.  Although we are in the middle of decorating, so it'll probably remain a state for a while yet!

Expression of freedom

Gareth fed Rowan for the first time last week.  It was really nice watching them bond over a feed, and I enjoyed not having a baby-sized nipple piercing stuck to me for an evening.
I don't intend to express very often, so I've been hand-expressing rather than buying an expensive machine.  I spent 40 minutes expressing 3oz, and Rowan downed it in about 5 minutes and I had to top him up myself anyway.  Hmm.  Not sure if it's going to give me much free time!  Although I took a look online and have found a few tips on techniques that should help speed things up.

Bottle feeding

 Gareth offered to do a night feed for me, which I was looking forward to!  Unfortunately, Rowan went back to sleep by the time the bottle was warmed, so I had to get up later anyway as the milk couldn't be re-warmed.  Oh well.  Better luck next time!

It's nice knowing that I can have some time to myself when I need it.  I'm hoping to go swimming in the next couple of weeks, or go for a bike ride, without clock-watching too much. 

Smilestones

Rowan is now definitely smiling.  For a while I wasn't sure if it was just gas, but the photo below shows there is now no doubt!  I had wondered if he might be a bit delayed with smiling since he spent his first few days on NICU sedated with no social contact, but then it was only a few days, so it probably didn't make a difference.

Happy baby
First smile: 6 weeks old

My parents were finally able to visit.  They hadn't seen Rowan since he was 5 days old, so we were obviously thrilled to be able show Rowan off to them.  My parents would have visited much sooner, but owing to several successive colds they didn't want to come up in case Rowan caught one.
I don't think it will be so long before they drop by again!

Overdue hugs with Grandad and Nanny

 After a difficult few days recently where Rowan decided hourly feeding would be great day and night (I had a cold at the time, so I didn't think it was so great), he is now sleeping 7 hours through the night.  Overall we have been lucky with him as, aside from when he's going through growth spurts, he was sleeping 5 hours a night from 3 weeks old.

Thank you cards

Below are two designs I made for Thank You cards for all the relatives/friends who kindly gave us gifts when Rowan was born, and we weren't able to thank in person.
They are a very simple design and quick to make, but considering my lack of sleep I'm just pleased I had time at all to do them!

A dog and his boy

Tangent adoring Rowan