A little Sophie Action

Noah's starting to really play with his toys.  He's getting the hang of grabbing them (although it's still hit or miss most times). This morning I gave him Sophie in addition to the rings and as you can see he was hell bent on shoving both simultaneously into his little mouth, along with his fist:)

This all ended in tears and then he fell fast asleep...I guess shoving all of your toys into your mouth at once is kinda tiring!

3 months old!

So here we are - 3 months old!  My little Noey is growing up soo fast!  We did our monthly photo shoot this AM and I love love love that he's starting to be more responsive and actually smile when I ask him to (or rather coo and make funny high pitched noises until he smiles).

So, here's the recap:

- We're all getting more sleep!  He goes down around 7 or 8 and is up around 4am to eat then down again until 7 or 8 on most days (this is a relatively new development - normally he's up at 1am, 5am, 8am
- during the day he's eating 4 - 5 oz every 3-4 hours (we're up to 30-32oz a day!)
- he started daycare a few weeks ago and so far so good.  He seems to be thriving.
- he's figured out a few of his toys - if he bats long enough he gets them to flop and make noise.  It's pretty consistent now
- he smiles at everything - the walls, the drapes, other people (women especially - he has every woman in a 10 yard radius of him wrapped around his chubby little fingers almost instantly)
- he holds weight on his legs pretty well.  He'd rather be standing than anything these days. When he's on his back he's just kick kick kicking those little legs.
- still very much loves his baths and actually tolerates diaper changes pretty well.
- he's obsessed with his hands.  He plays with them, clasps them, stares at them and tries to fit both of them in his mouth at the same time.  Now and again he'll manage to get his thumb in but he'd rather just his fist.
- is in size 1 disposables although we're not using a ton as we've switched to cloth!
- he's on the tail end of his 0-3 month clothes and fits most of his 3 and 3-6 stuff.  I tend to size up on the pants due to the bulk of the cloth.

We didn't have a dr's appt for a well check up but did end up there for a sick visit (clogged tear duct) and found out that he's 13.5 lbs.  He soooo doesn't look like he weighs 13.5 lbs...

I calibrated my monitor and I'm not sure I like it...he looks green in all my pictures....I'm hoping he looks normal to everyone else.

A little afternoon photoshoot...

The lighting in the guest room was perfect the other night right before Noah's bath.  I tried a few pics with his cute little shirt on and then he told me he'd had it.  So, we waited until after his bath when he was happy again (he just loves loves loves his bath!)

Mr. Hippo wanted to pop in and say hello too!  You won't find any conventional rubber duckies here...we're all hippo!

Daycare Day 1....

The day I've been dreading since I first found out we were expecting has finally arrived - the first day at daycare.  Dropping Noah off was torture…I made it to the car before the tears started and managed to gather myself enough to drive home.  However, walking into my office where his swing and bouncy seat were staring me in the face finished me off and I ended up curled up on the bed crying.  Macie (our Viszla) was soo upset that I was upset and didn't know what to do with me. I wanted to cuddle with her and all she wanted to do was lick my face and ears. I guess that's her way of saying, "It's okay mom.  It will all be okay."  Have I mentioned how much I love my dog??

I managed to make it thru the day with only a few more teary episodes (an hour of boxing did wonders as it had my endorphins pumping for most of the afternoon) and was ready and waiting by the front door when DH pulled up with little Noey in tow!  He seemed none worse for the wear and his daily report was wonderful.  He napped when he should have napped and ate like a champ at just the right times (guess we were on more of a schedule than I thought).  He did seem exhausted - guess there's lots going on at daycare.  So, we wrapped up his day with a quick walk, a nice bath, a bottle and some cuddle time (I just couldn't bear to put him in his crib even though he was fast asleep on my chest).  I finally put him down around 8:30 and he was out until 1am.

People say you don't know love until you have a child and all childless people think, "um ya...okay...that's crazy" (i know i did) but boy was I wrong.  I know I love my husband with all my heart and I don't want to diminish because without him I'd not be me.  But my love for Noah exceeds anything I ever thought was possible.  It's a different kind of love than what I feel for my husband.  Noah is my heart! Part of me out in the world and quite vulnerable.  This quote said it best:

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

So, here's to day 1 of daycare having come and gone and we're all still sane and happy and hoping that day 2 goes better!

My First Mothers day, a birthday, and a baptism...

This weekend was quite a weekend in our house hold!  Not only did I get to celebrate my very first mothers day and turn 30, we also celebrated Noah's baptism!

Yes, we're a little nutz for trying to fit it all in but it was the perfect opportunity to have all the moms in one place for mothers day.  Our birthday was just a bonus (or rather curse I'd rather forget - the bug 3 OH!) Anywho...since there's no flash during the church service our brother in law had his work cut out for him with the pics.

Noah did okay during the baptism.  He was hungry and proceeded to snack on my shoulder the entire time we were up there (much to the amusement of the congregation).  He started to squawk until Pastor Paul held him up in the air - my son the attention seeker.  He immediatley stopped crying and started looking around (and then started crying again when he was handed back to me).

All in all it was a great weekend.  We spent lots of time with our families and enjoyed celebrating Noah.

Sooo..that's the secret...

So, from day one from the hospital Noah was a fairly pleasant baby.  He slept like a newborn should sleep and when he was awake he was alert and looking around.  However, at about 1 month he started to show his cranky side. Generally around 6:00pm he'd start fussing/crying and only calm down if he was being held.  He'd be like this until 9:30pm or sometimes 10:00pm at which he fell asleep but only for a few hours.  At that point we'd repeat the process - I was exhausted!

Now, we tried a number of things thinking it was gas - gas drops, new bottles, different formula and each had an impact but it was minimal.  So, being the ever loving, ever doting, my-child-is-perfect-in-his-own-way mom that I am I just accepted that he was going to be a grumpy baby and prepared myself accordingly (and reminded myself that this too shall pass). Until one day I was reading a book on sleep training (in preparation for the months to come when we'd set a routine and hopefully have a happy, protest free naptime and bedtime). 

The book suggested that no newborn/infant should go more than 2 hours without a nap of some sort (and some nap every hour).  I looked back at my babybix.com sleep charts and realized that Noah was going for 4 and 5 hours during the day time hours without a single nap and that I was putting him down waaay late.  Little man was only getting 12 hours a sleep a day (which apparently is not enough).  His cranking in the evenings had to do with him being uber tired and unable to soothe himself to sleep (and I likely didn't help what with my singing, dancing, and trying to get him to play with me all the time)

So, I started to watch more closely for his sleepy queues and at that point would try to wind him down into a nap.  It took a while to get it right and I still fight it here and there but it seems to be working.  DH has even commented on how pleasant he is in the evenings now.  Plus, he's sleeping longer at night! Now, that may just be maturity but it could also be the naps!

Who'da thunk that more sleep during the day ='s more sleep at night and a happier baby! 

Here's his schedule:

6am he's up for a bottle and then back down till 8 or sometimes 9.  Then generally he's napping every 2 - 3 hours for at least 30 min each (there's usually one longer nap in the AM or early mid day and sometimes a second in the afternoon.  If he misses that then we just cat nap thru the afternoon ever hour or two).  We start the bed time ritual by 7:00 and he's generally out like a light by 8:00.  There he sleeps until 11, wakes for a bottle and immediately goes back down.  Then, depending on how much he took in that 11:00 bottle he'll be down until 3 or so.  Last night he went from 1am to 5am before he woke up!

I'm sooo happy my pleasant baby is back!  Now, when he's away he's calm and usually smiley (unless he's hungry).  But as soon as he starts to zone out or rub his eyes we know it's time to wind him done and try for a nap!  Hopefully this continues thru our first days at daycare!!

My little model...

Next week is Noah's baptism and since I know we're going to be crazed running around trying to get everything ready and what not I know that we'll likely slip on some of the pics I thought I'd do a quick photo session today with him to get a few shots of the beautiful gown he's wearing.  He was even hanging with me long enough to get a few without the gown on:)

The gown has been used in his family for a very long time.  His daddy wore it when he was baptized as did his gramma before him.  In fact, all of his gramma's siblings, most of their children, and their children's children were baptized in this gown.  The gown has been refurbished a few times and now bears the names of all those that have worn it for their baptism. 

My beautiful boy....

Noah was just chillin in his crib being adorable - gramma will appreciate it:)

Back to work...

So Monday was my first day back to work.  I would say that I'm super sad and missing Noah but I can't  - YET.  See, hubsy is home now for two weeks with little man and since I work from home I can just walk downstairs and get my Noah fix any time I want.  I'm hoping this two week pd will allow me to ease into not seeing him 24 hours a day.  As much as I thought I would need a break from him after 9 straight weeks of Noah 24/7, I'm physically anxious when he's not here where I can see him anytime I please.

Case in point: Hubs took him to the store the other day and while I know he's perfectly safe with him and nothing is going to happen I was sooo anxious. Like hole in the pit of my stomach - couldn't concentrate - want to get in the car and drive to wherever they are to see him anxious.  And when he was back all I wanted to do was sit and stare at his beautiful little cheeks!  I just feel like I'm going to miss something while he's at daycare and that he'll become attached to our daycare provider instead of me.  I know these are totally irrational thoughts but that doesn't stop me from having them.

I keep running thru our budget and trying to arrange it so that I can just quit my job and stay with him for the next 9 - 12 months but no matter how I slice it it won't work.  We can either keep the house and eat or keep the house and have heat and electricity.  We can't have the house, eat and pay utilities off of one salary:(   And selling the house in this market is not a wise decision for us so...we're stuck.  Little man goes to daycare in just over a week and i'm a wreck about it.

Anyone know of any college kids in NoVa that want to nanny for cheap??:) 

2 months old...Middle of the way Joe

I'm sure I'll say this every month but holy cow, I have a 2 month old!!  Some things about Noah now that he's 2 months old:

-  we're done with boobies...he's an all formula fed baby now
-  that said, we're on our second type of formula to see if it helps with the gas
-  he's taking anywhere from 2 - 5 oz a feeding depending on how long it's been since his last meal.  Generally he's eating every 3 - 4 hours now.  Now that we're all formula I can tell he's taking between 24 and 30 oz a day.
-  just last night he went for 5 hours between feedings!
-  he's starting to put weight on his legs if you hold him up and his head control is fantastic! Such a strong little boy.
- he's going to have daddy's super long eye lashes I can just tell.  Plus he's sprouting eyebrows!

Today was our 2 month appt and shots...he did okay - 2 min of wailing and then he was out like a light for the next hour (now he's up and screaming:) )

He's our middle of the way Joe - 50% for everything.  He's now 11lb 12 oz and 24 inches long  (as opposed to 6lb 12oz and 21 inches at birth).  He's growing sooo fast!!!

And to sate the grammas - pictures:)  His two month shot and one telling us how much he liked his shots this morning!!

I have a question....

teacher...teacher....I have a question....

Achooooo....

Enjoying a spring day...

No words needed....:)

A self portrait....

Little Bits...

Just for Gramma!

Noah's falling into a pattern of sorts now and we've found that he's happiest in the early morning.  At that time you can leave him in his bouncer and he'll just amuse himself smiling at the animals hanging over him.  This AM was especially fun because I got him to smile at me finally!!  These are for gramma who said she needs a Noah fix:)

This one is just him bouncing around and having fun....



This one is more bouncing...he's really trying hard to hit the critters hanging over him...


And finally.....he smiles...you have to wait for it and he makes me work for it for sure but it's there!:)

Happy Easter - a weekend late!

So, things with a newborn always take longer right??:)  Easter pictures are no exception...we took them on Easter but it's taken me a week to finally get them off loaded and processed:)

Here is a sampling from the weekend.  It was a whirlwind weekend!  Went to see the great grandparents on Friday, the cousins and aunts and uncles came down on Saturday, and the church met him on Sunday. 

One big happy family:)

Happy Gramma and Grandpa!

Uncle J and Noah spend some good quality time together...

Great Grandpa Don gets Noah to relax...

Great Gramma Mac and Great Grandpa Don make silly faces

Great Gramma Mac says hello!

Grandpa enjoys the nice weather while feeding little man

Great Gramma Peg meets Noah for the first time (we don't have a pic of Great Grandpa Don2 - doh..)

Chillaxin...

I really wish I had a better camera at my finger tips but since the magic of the moment prevents me from moving, the webcam on the laptop will have to do....

 He says - "No more pictures mom"

Debating...

I'm sitting here next to little man who's fast asleep lounging in the Boppy and I'm debating with myself.  You see, from 3 feet away I can smell his stinky diaper.  I know that I should probably wake him and change it but he looks so peaceful and obviously is not bothered by it at all (he can't stand pee diapers but poop diapers are okay to sit in apparently).   Wondering if this hurts my chances at mother of the year??

1 month old...

OMG...I have a one month old.  I can't believe it!  It was one month ago at this time that I was laying in a hospital bed snoozing thru my contractions and waiting to be checked by the doctor again!

Few things we've learned about our 1 month old:

- he's a grunter!  Randomly, while he's sleeping, he starts grunting and groaning.  Generally it's because he's trying to pass gas or poop but sometimes I think it's because he has a bad dream or something.

- he's a noisy sleeper!  We need to keep him in his own room if either of us are going to sleep.  Random grunts, groan, and screams are not uncommon from him (even from a dead sleep).  Generally he calms down on his own, occasionally I have to go in and soothe him.

- he loves loves loves (did I say loves?) being on his belly.  Make that belly to chest contact and he's in heaven.  It's an almost sure fire way to calm him or ensure a nice long nap.  The Moby wrap has been very helpful in letting me get things done when he's in a clingy mood.  The nurses noticed this as well while he was still in the hospital.  He spent most of his time on the billi bed on his belly.

- he has no preference between bottle or breast.  As long as he's getting fed and getting fed quickly he's a happy camper.  No nipple confusion here...

- he gets the hiccups a lot!  I felt them when he was in my belly and now that he's out he gets them at least once a day if not twice or three times.  Sometimes it's right after eating, other times it's just random.  The books say it doesn't hurt him but you can tell, as they go along, that he gets frustrated.

- overall he's a very pleasant baby.  He has his crying fits but can generally be consoled quickly (watch, now that I say that colic will set in and I won't be able to console him!)

And here's his 1 month picture:)  We needed the binky this morning when I took the pic because he was cranky for some reason.

 I still can't believe he's mine (err...ours..:) )