A day in the life of Zachary (and his Mommy)

After 18 days snuggling with our little (big) man, I'm getting used to Zack's schedule, funny faces, likes and dislikes and am definitely starting to notice changes already.

We've gone from nursing about every three hours to no more than two hours most of the day the last couple of days. At night, we are able to extend to about four hours, and we have to set an alarm to wake me up so that I can go wake him up in order to feed him. Call me a mean mommy, but my chest is grateful for the p.m. feedings.

While he eats, the little guy either clasps his two hands together or puts one up near my face, almost in a petting motion.

We have a 1:15 a.m. feeding and diaper change followed by a 4:45 a.m. nursing session, when Scott wakes up to get ready for work. Most days, we just finish up in time for Daddy to give Zack a kiss goodbye.

Mommy and Zack go back to sleep, until somewhere around 8 a.m. Zack is usually the one to wake Mommy up, not the 8:30 a.m. alarm I have set, but that's OK, because this time is one of our best times of the day... Zachary is awake and alert and loves when Mommy opens up the windows in his room. We pick out his outfit for the day and have one of our longest feedings of the day.

Then, Zack hangs out in his crib (usually looking out the window) while Mommy gets a super-quick shower and gets dressed. Then we head downstairs for the day (I still can't do a lot of stairs because of the C-section). Zack hits the Pack 'n' Play bassinet (usually still awake!) while Mommy has breakfast. By the time I'm done eating, he's wearing his Cranky Pants and it's time to eat again.

After that, it's cuddle time for a while. (Like right now, he's belly-down on my chest, arms near my left shoulder, top of his head tucked just under my chin).
At some point, I get up enough nerve to put him down to finish his nap while I eat lunch... before his turn to eat lunch! :-) (See a pattern here?)

We do more cuddling and are usually all snuggled up (watching Little House on the Prairie) when Daddy comes home around 3 or 3:30 p.m. He gets showered and changed and gets us a dinner ready before taking over snuggling duty for part of the evening. (He's a great snuggler, too)

We have bathtime every other day or so, which Scott handles in its entirety while I get ready for bed. Then we do our last feeding at about 9 or 9:30 p.m. and hit the hay, exhausted but blissfully happy.

Zack's likes: Sunshine, Mommy's boobs, snuggling on anyone's chest, looking around at his surroundings, trying to lift his head.
Dislikes: Socks, having feedings delayed, hiccups (which he gets every day, just like in the belly), pants, dirty diapers (he has some OCD tendencies).

New/improved talents: Lifting up his head, anytime there is belly time or snuggling time on a chest or belly; grabbing things with his hands, including his own other hands, your fingers or items on his clothes (like his shirt's starfish today).

That's it for now -- we'll update again soon!