Oops, looks like I fell asleep during my turn

My wife and I have adopted a simple system of taking turns. One morning, I'll get a little extra sleep, while she gives the baby the bottle. The next morning, I'll let her sleep some more. One night, I'll handle the bath. The next night, she will. If my wife put the baby down for her last nap, then I'll handle getting her down that night.

We found from way back at the beginning that this was the only way we could really handle things. When Baby J. had her nights and days mixed up, we would take turns, staying up all night long with Baby J. We'd give the other 2-3 hours of sleep, before we'd hand the baby over. It was better than one of us having to stay up all night, and it was the only way to deal with a reflux baby, who had a terrible bout of colic (she liked to scream and cry for hours, and the only effective response to this, was to stay up the entire time rocking her).

I bring it up, because I know some people who never get to take turns, some people who are with the baby all day while their spouse is at work. And then, when the spouse gets home, they don't get relief, they're still taking care of the baby, giving the bath, getting him/her down for sleep. I don't know how it's done. I couldn't do it. I know how exhausting Daddy Daughter Days are and those usually don't last more than 8 hrs before my wife comes back into the picture to help out. If I had 24 hr long Daddy Daughter Days 7 days a week, I'm sure I'd be clinically insane by now. So, for those who do it, how do you do it? How do you keep from going insane?

D.

Boober Enjoys Her Sweet Potatoes

Back when Baby J. was two weeks old, she started showing signs of reflux. She was a breastfed baby, which I've read means reflux isn't supposed to be as bad, but it was about as bad as it gets with Baby J. For awhile there, it was like 95% of what she ate ended up coming back out. Her clothes were always ruined. She always smelled of stomach acids. And she was generally miserable. You could really tell that the reflux was bothering her. Some babies are happy spitter-uppers, Baby J. was not one of these babies. On top of this, the reflux was making it near impossible for Baby J. to gain weight. At one point, she was in the 6th percentile of weight (94% of babies weighed more than her).

Now, when Baby J. turned four months old, we were able to start her on cereals. I know some people wait until six months, but we were immediately ready to try; we were hoping it would help the reflux. Did it help?

Yes It Did! She took to cereals immediately. She loved them. She stopped enjoying breast milk as much (she drank it, but she was less interested), and she wanted more cereals. The trend continued when we tried vegetables. It was like sweet potatoes were the greatest food in the world, because Baby J. would be in heaven when she was eating it. Fruits were even better. Apple sauce? Pears? Peaches? You name it, she loved it.

At her most recent checkup, Baby J was in the 45th percentile for weight. She still looks skinny, because she's rather tall. Still, we're all happy now that the reflux has passed. I know it can last a lot longer for some people.

We laughed.

Baby J. has been one of those babies that's been on the move since she first figured out she had legs. I'd have to check the baby book for exact dates, but I know she was pulling herself along the floor at only 3 months, crawling at 4 months, pulling up around 5 months, cruising at 7 months. And she took her first steps at 8 1/2 months, just a couple weeks ago.

We're proud of her, and I'm the first to admit I kind of show her off to others who are completely incredulous at what she can already do. But at the same time, I kind of envy those parents who have kids that develop physically at a more normal rate. I don't know if it's entirely fair that at only 9 months, we're already chasing her all over the house, so she won't get into things she shouldn't.

Our skinny little peanut at 1 month old.

The best news from the checkup is that Baby J. is now at the 45th percentile for weight. Phew!!! We were blessed with one of those babies with terrible reflux, who had incredible difficulty gaining weight in her first months. At one point, she was as low as the 6th percentile. She had actually lost almost 11% of her original birth weight at one point. Not to mention the constant spitting-up; I don't think my wife ever had to do as much laundry in her entire life as she had to do those first few months. Thankfully, once she took to solids, the spitting-up almost completely vanished, and ever since, she's been gaining weight great.

Anyone else have a rambunctious 9-month old or ever had to experience a baby with severe reflux?
D.