Yesterday we started the day with a trip to the pediatrician. Over the last week, Joshua's belly button had begun to stick out.  When pressed,  it would release air and make a futz sound.  We're also having a hard time kicking thrush and he'd had diarrhea for a few days.  (Yep- you're getting all the baby details.)

At the checkup,  the doctor said that the belly button thing isn't a concern if it stays malleable and that it'll deflate and heal in time. In the meantime,  my son has a musical belly button,  lol.

We were given meds to kick this last remnant of thrush, and she said the diarrhea thing is pretty normal, so good news all around.

At his appointment,  Joshua weighed in at 6 lb. 11.9 oz.! Last week,  he outgrew premie diapers and most of his premie clothes, so we're officially now in newborn land. 

With Paul still working, I'm on the baby night shift.  I've been sleeping in the guest room and have had Josh with me in a -now don't laugh-, but in a shallow rubbermaid tub that I set on my hope chest.  It's been so awesome to have and so easy to carry wherever we're need it.  Anyway, we do diaper changes and feedings by the light of my old lava lamp which, by the way,  is a great thing to have for him to watch when he's having a hard time drifting off.

Two nights ago,  the bulb in my trusty lava lamp burned out, so I had to switch to lamp light.  Both of the other lamps, though I thought they were pretty gentle and mild,  were too much light and kept Josh awake.  It was decision time.

The official recommendation of the Association of American Pediatricians to prevent SIDS is that Josh sleeps in our room for 6 months to a year.  That seems like an awfully long time,  but if these were recommendations that would help keep my baby alive,  I felt that I would be unwise not to follow them. 

Over Thanksgiving break,  my sister and her wife came for a visit.  My sister in law has worked in NICU units and has an extensive infant care and development knowledge and experience base. After talking with her and discussing the other aspects of SIDS prevention ie. sleeping swaddled with no blankets,  keeping the temperature slightly lower,  clearing the crib of other toys, and always having him sleep on his back,  I felt ok thinking about transitioning Joshua to his crib a bit earlier than six months. 

With the lava lamp out, and little one unable to sleep be the other lamp light,  I decided to try the crib out.  We have been loaned an owlet sock baby monitor.   With that on,  I laid him down and retired to the guest room.  I'm sure he got more sleep than I did that first night because I stayed glued pretty close to the baby monitor, which gave me video and audio feed,  and the owlet readings on my phone which showed me heart rate and oxygen levels.   I seriously feel so spoiled and amazed at how many things I have around me that make caring for Joshua so much easier than newborn care has been in the past. I'm so thankful for them.

So last night was night number two in his nursery and he transitioned like a champ.  He slept for two hours,  then an hour and forty five minutes,  and then this last one was three hours.  Things are looking really good.