By Katie Nilsson

Even though people told me time would go so fast, it’s still hard to believe Kam is almost 5 months old already! It’s also so hard to believe how fast and much he’s grown!  I got teary over the weekend, packing away his clothes that don’t fit anymore.  It seems like yesterday that I was putting them away thinking, when will he ever fit into these?!?

My “little man” is not-so-little anymore, and everyday he’s doing so much that amazes me!  We’ve finally been able to hear him laugh, and we’ve seen him roll over(although not consistently).  He’s also gotten so much more vocal about things and he’s figured out how to let out these new screams, not becasue he’s mad, just because he can! It makes me laugh, even though I know I probably shouldn’t.  I gave Kam rice cereal for the first time the other night, and I must say, he got more on his clothes, and mine, than what went in his mouth! He really hated it, or I thought he did….

Not lovin' the rice cereal!

Last night was a little more successful. We tried putting him in a different chair, and he seemed more comfortable and excited to eat. Maybe that’s the trick, maybe not guess we’ll see.

We’ve also started the search for baby sitters. It’s a lot tougher than I thought. I’m having a hard time feeling comfortable with a stranger watching him. After several interviews this past weekend, I found two girls I love, but their availability is very limited.  I’d like to have a list of at least 3 maybe 4 we can call if we need to.  We’ll keep interviewing until we find someone. 

Mom & Little Man

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Time flies, I can’t believe Kam is 4 months old already! We just had his check-up this week and everything’s going well with him. The doctor always asks us if we’re doing “tummy-time”, and we try, we really really do, but Kam isn’t a big fan.  He’ll only last a few minutes, then he gets frustrated and starts crying.

The doctor told us to keep working on it with him, because eventually he’ll get mad enough to roll over. Should I be worried that he hasn’t done that yet? I’m starting to become obsessive about it. He makes no effort to roll from his back to his stomach. In fact, he LOVES being on his back and is usually a super happy baby when he’s laying down. When we put him on his stomach, he moves around a lot, but doesn’t push with his arms to try to roll. Any tips to make this happen?

The doctor also told us we could start feeding Kam rice cereal a couple of times a day if we want to. I was pretty surprised, becasue most of what I’ve read says babies under 6 months shouldn’t be given anything but breastmilk or formula. So I guess I could use some advice with this one too.  How do we go about doing that? And how much? Is the purpose to teach him how to swallow and eat from a spoon now, so he’ll be ready when he turns 6 months? Other than that, he’s in the 50th percentile for height and 75th for weight(chunker:)!

The doctor says he’ll likely level off on weight now, becuase he’ll be getting more active. But check out those cheeks!!  I can’t stop kissing them!  I love hearing him try to talk and laugh!  He’s really getting a personality now.

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I’m happy to say, Kyle and I had a wonderful first Christmas with our little Kamden. We’re looking forward to the future, when he will remember them and understand what’s going on. He was a trooper, and did pretty well seeing all of his relatives on both sides of Kyle’s family. I am pretty proud of the little guy, and he loves all of his gifts!

Kam's 1st Christmas

We’re already into the new year and as we said good-bye to 2011, I made a couple of resolutions for 2012.    One, of course, is to get my pre-baby body back.  Another is to try to be more patient with those around me.  But my biggest resolution, is to make my family, my most important priority.   I’m happy to say I’m lucky enough to work at a station that understands that priority.  Some of you may have noticed that I haven’t been anchoring the 10:00pm news since the beginning of the year.   It’s because I’ve moved into a new role here at WREX.   I have taken on a more behind-the-scenes role of content manager during the day.  Which means I set up the stories you see on the air during the newscasts.  I’ll also keep co-anchoring the 5 & 6 shows with Eric Wilson.  The move allows me to have more of a supervisory role at the station and keep doing what I love but, I’ll be able to be at home with my family at night.  I’ve been doing it for the past week now, and have to say I love being at home in time to put Kamden to bed! 

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By Katie Nilsson

I was wondering how things would work, with me being back at work, and surprisingly they just do!  While there’s a lot of stuff to juggle and bags to pack before we leave the house everyday, Kam seems to love spending the afternoons with Grandma, and the evenings with his Daddy. 

If you remember, I told you at Kam’s two month doctor’s appointment that he wasn’t getting enough to eat from me.  We’ve been supplementing formula ever since and I’m happy to report that our not-so-little-man gained almost four pounds in about four weeks!  Check out our little budda-belly!

Chunky Monkey!

He’s also a ton less fussy, and we’re starting to see more of his little personality, which is amazing!  Not only is he smiling more often…

My Happy Little Man!

But he’s also sleeping so much better than he was when I was just breastfeeding alone.  When I was first told that I wasn’t producing enough milk for him, I was devastated!  I felt like such a failure.  Seeing how much better Kam has been doing since we started supplementing has made most of those feelings disappear!  He weighted in at 13 pounds 1 ounce at the doctor on Monday.  That’s closer to where he should be for his age.  I can’t believe he’s three months old already, but it’s so much fun to watch him grow.  He’s obsessed with his hands and I think Kamden is going to be a talker!  We’re so looking forward to his very first Christmas.   He even got a letter from Santa!  We hope everyone out there has a very Merry Christmas, Kyle and I know we’re so lucky to have been blessed with the best gift, our son!

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My maternity time has come to an end, as I return to work at WREX on Friday.   I remember everyone telling me to enjoy it, because it goes by fast, and they couldn’t have been more right.  I feel like it flew by, and can’t believe Kamden is already 12 weeks old!  It feels like he was just born yesterday.  I know it’s time to get back in the saddle, but I have to honestly say that it won’t be easy for me.  I love being at home with him and my husband.  It brings tears to my eyes to think that Kyle will have to put him to bed without me every night.  At least I can feel lucky that I will be the first face he sees every morning.  I wonder if he’ll miss me, because I know I’ll be a wreck worrying about and missing him. It’s amazing to me to think how a child changes a person.  I never knew a love like this before. I hope that things get easier once I get back. He’s been the focus of my life for the last three months and I guess it’s time to start making room for the other stuff that makes me, me.  At least I get to ease into it.  Does anyone have any advice or words of encouragement to make this easier? 

Here’s a Christmas picture we took. 

Mommy's Little Elf

I know I’m biased, but I think he is the most handsome Little Elf I ever did see!

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After several weeks of stressing out, and trying to soothe a crying baby, we may now know why Kamden has been so upset.  We went to the doctor for his two month check-up today, and it turns out our little guy is not getting anywhere near enough to eat from Mommy(Me). For some reason, the doctor says I’m not producing enough milk, because Kam isn’t gaining enough weight. They like to see babies gain about an ounce a day at this age. At Kam’s one month appointment he weighted 8 pounds 10 ounces. Today the little guy was only 9 pounds 4 ounces. He should have gained two pounds, and he’s not even close to that. So, despite my best efforts and even though I don’t want to, we are going to supplement him with formula. It is a relief to know for sure though, that he’s not just “fussy” that there is an actual problem. But it’s very heartbreaking for me as a mom, to feel like I can’t provide what my baby needs. When the doctor told me, I cried. I also feel guilty, because he’s has been hungry, not just grumpy! I know I’ll get used to it, and I’m going to keep feeding him breast milk and pumping it with hopes that I’ll eventually produce enough for him. I’d like to hear if others have experienced something similar? And did you feel like a total failure like I do?

Here are some new pictures, still can’t capture his smile, but I’ll keep trying!

Look at that face!So toasty warm!