Cooper - One Month Old!!

Cooper officially turned one month old on Wednesday, June 25.  To say that this first month has FLOWN by really is an understatement.  Don't get me wrong - this month has for sure had it's ups and downs.  There were times where the days seemed to drag on.  Really though, when I think about that an entire month has passed, the time has gone by quickly.  It especially has flown by when I think about how much my little man has changed in this past month! 

With LL, I did do some monthly posts, but I wasn't TOO in depth about them.  Mostly, I just posted about stuff she was up to that month.  With Cooper, I'll be posting some about what he's up to, but I'll also be comparing his development with the book What to Expect the First Year.  I think it'll be interesting to see what milestones he's hitting and when.

Here's how Cooper's stats are this month:
Weight: 11 lbs 8 oz
Size diaper: 1
Size clothes: mostly 0-3 months, some just plain 3 months

Schedule: Cooper's schedule is still a work in progress.  We haven't gotten all of the kinks worked out, but we are well on our way to nailing this sucker down.  Here is our GOAL schedule for each day:
6:00 - wake up and eat!
7:00 - 7:30 goes down for a nap
9:00 - eat (formula feeding)
10:00 - 10:30 goes down for a nap
12:00 - eat (formula feeding)
1:00 - 1:30 goes down for a nap
3:00 - eat
4:00 - 4:30 goes down for a nap
5:30 - eat
6:00 - 6:30 goes down for a nap
7:30 - bath, eat, and straight to bed
10:00 - dream feed
(He then usually wakes up between 12-1 am to eat, and then again between 3-4 am).

The issue that we're having with this schedule is two-fold:
1 - He is still getting hungry before these scheduled times for about 2 feedings during the day (usually earlier in the day).  Obviously, if my child is legit hungry, I feed him.  That throws our schedule off.
2 - He is NOT awake this much during the day.  Really, after about 3:00, he is barely awake for must longer than just to eat.

Love this one  :)

I could get really stressed about it, but I choose to just know that he is a baby, he's not going to be "perfect", and we're working on it.  I'm just trying to be as patient as possible, push him to stay on schedule when I feel it's appropriate, and being flexible when we get off track.  This is our daily goal - if we make it, we make it.  If we don't, there's always tomorrow.  Eventually, I know we'll both get the hang of it.  :)

I have a feeling that he will make this face at me a ton for the rest of his life - haha.

Here's how Cooper is doing according to What to Expect the First Year:

Cooper can do all of the things that a baby should be able to do at one month:
-lift head briefly when on stomach on a flat surface
-focus on a face

He can do all of the things that a baby will probably be able to do at one month:
- respond to a bell in some way, such as startling, crying, quieting (I haven't tried a bell, but he definitely responds to a loud noise in these ways).

He can do some of the things that a baby may possibly be able to do at one month:
-lift head 45 degrees when on stomach
-vocalize in ways other than crying (ie: cooing) - {He has JUST started this and I love it!  He doesn't do it often, but it's adorable when he does!}

There was one thing that he could NOT do from this section:
-smile in response to your smile {We still get gas smiles and random smiles.  He did give Daddy ONE real smile, but I decided not to count this until I see an intentional one - haha.}

He can do some of the things that a baby may even be able to do at one month old:
-hold head steady when upright {He's very good at this!  He can't do it for 5 minutes or anything, but he has very good neck control!}
-smile spontaneously {Gas, anyone? - haha}

There were two things that he could NOT do from this section:
-lift head 90 degrees when on stomach
-bring both hands together.  {He does this, but I don't think it's intentional??}

Lastly, here are some things I want to remember about Cooper at this age:
-He is NOT a big burper.  I can only get him to burp about 50% of the time.
-I really think he is going to be a tummy sleeper when he can choose to do so.  He rarely gets fussy during tummy time, and he loves to be held up when the pressure is on his tummy.
-He sleeps swaddled with one arm out (he prefers his left arm out).
-He sleeps with his head to one side or the other - rarely does he sleep with it straight up.
-He never goes to sleep using a paci.  We sometimes have to use it when he's really fussy or wakes up early from a nap, but never to go to sleep.
-He poots like a grown man.  The sound is LOUD.
-He is a VERY noisy sleeper and eater.  He snores like crazy, and grunts and gulps when he eats.
-He wrinkles up his forehead ALL the time.  It's so funny and something that is just SO Cooper.  He looks like a little man when he does it, and it's something that I love.
-He can raise up just his right eyebrow just like I can.  :)

I can't wait to see how much he changes over this next month!!  (If you like his stickers and his hat, I ordered them from this shop on etsy!)