This 'n That

Another week gone. Time is flying so quickly. While it makes the work weeks go fast the weekends seem to zoom even faster.

The time change has kind of mixed things up a little - I never even dreamed about this when thinking about having a baby and the issues that would come with it. The first few mornings we were up at 3:45 (ohmygoodness). Along with that, for whatever reason, he has been sleeping through the night. I was thrilled with the 6 hour stretches that he was finally giving me...NOW though it has been from about 6:00 to 3:45 or so. I keep it quiet and he usually goes back down around 5 am *just in time for me to get ready for work - what a buddy, huh? I'm pushing the envelope to 6:30 p.m. though we usually have bottle in mouth at 6:15. We'll get it. Little by little.

This past weekend we finally had Christopher's baptism. I tell ya, the kid is amazing. Everyone in church was amazed at how "good" he was. He really was super. Aunt Polly held him through the first half of the service. I love how she loves him (yes Polly I know you're reading this). She worries about hogging him. Let me tell ya, if anyone hogs him, I want it to be her! She's awesome with him! Anyway...during his baptism he was super - just squeaked a little when Pastor Craig poured the water on his head. Then when we went out to dinner everyone loved on him again. He even helped Grandpa Jeff teach the bartender at the restaurant how to make a proper Old Fashioned. Then proceeded to pass out - must be tough being a baby bartender. It was pretty cute!



We had another Physical Therapy appointment as well. I must tell you that I walked out of that appointment feeling ten feet tall and bullet proof. After the little struggles we had with side preferences, potential torticollis and the right arm use Jen told me that he is actually ahead of where he should be developmentally. It had been so frustrating the times before because he was always "behind" and it made me feel like I wasn't doing enough for/with him. We have a two - three month reprieve before we go back and were given a few little things to aim for but nothing to catch up on! It was so refreshing!

He's amazing...you know? I hold this little boy in my arms when he is sleeping and just am consistently overwhelmed with such emotion from the love that I feel for him. I have loved before but never like this. My heart is so full of happiness and love. I feel like I have finally figured it out. My job may not be the most perfect, I might not always love the car I drive or the clothes I wear, but at the end of the day there is always Christopher and that makes everything else...enough. Simply amazing what someone so little can do.

Sleepy Sunday

Well hello new followers! Thank you for following me, how exciting!

Christopher is napping...again. I've been able to get quite a bit done around the house; he's been snoozy all weekend. Such a cute little snore! I *can* finally say that he isn't sick anymore. I believe the cold is done - until next time. Day care has had some hella colds and sicknesses. They just implemented a mandatory hand washing upon entering the facility rule. I'm very thankful for that. I hope that everyone respects it.

We had our 4 month check-up last Monday. Little Dude was 15 lbs 5 oz and 24.25 inches. Holy Moly! Dr. Ann said he's perfect. I already knew that but it sure is nice to be reminded by a professional. It has been an absolutely amazing 4 months. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not completely amazed by him.

I put a tub of newborn to three months clothes away this last week. Jared and I were in awe of the teeny tiny NB clothing. I barely remember him ever being that small. I went way overboard on buying stuff for him. There were tons of things he never wore or only wore once. I jokingly said we'd have to have a boy this next time (Lord knows I'd be head over heals either way) since we already have so much boy stuff and I seem to have the boy stuff down pat. He's pretty darn easy (now!).

We've been practicing with the rice cereal this past week. I think I am ready for day care to give it a try this week. He's doing an awesome job and probably gets 75% of it now. I tend to stand to close to him and he kicks me and the bowl and it goes flying. Still learning the logistics that work for both of us.

Jared and I were able to get away for the afternoon last Sunday. We dropped Christopher off at Grandma & Grandpa Olson's and we went down to Appleton to do some shopping and have dinner together. Nothing fancy, but super nice to just get away together. We really need to keep up with that otherwise I feel like we lose track of each other.

Christopher has been rolling over in his sleep and staying on his tummy. We made it through the two weeks of waking up every hour mid-roll. I'm a bit leery about his sleeping on his stomach. Dr. Ann said it was "OK". Apparently I need to sleep too (who knew?!). So our nights have been a lot better. I'm hoping to sleep train him through his first waking and then we'll have the 3:00 feeding and more sleep! I am shooting to keep him up past 7:00 too. We'll see how THAT goes with the silly time change.

We've been venturing out a little bit more again. We went out to dinner with Jared's parents on Friday night. Christopher was SO good and easy. Jared had to cut my steak for me so I could eat one handed but other then that I think we got it figured out! Little Dude & I went grocery shopping yesterday and that was quite easy. He was awesome. I'm feeling more confident again!

4 Months!

Can you even believe that our baby boy is four months old?

One year ago yesterday I learned that I was pregnant with him. The story is pretty cool.

It was my last day of work with a previous employer and it was "highly suggested" that I get the H1N1 flu shot. I really didn't want to so I thought I'll call my OB and see what they are recommending. First thing one of the nurses asks is could I possibly be pregnant. I say no since we had been trying for a while and was feeling down about it. She asks what day of my cycle it was and I said 35 or 36. She suggested I come in for blood work "just in case" since Dr. AJ didn't want his pregnant patients to have the flu shot in their first trimester. So I did. I was convinced that it would be negative. I had just put my fertility test sticks away that morning and had decided to leave it in someone else's hands.

About 2:30 that afternoon I get a phone call from my OBs office and low and behold the nurse says "I have good news for you, you're pregnant!" I was standing at my desk when I took the call and had to sit down immediately and I started to sob. I couldn't even respond to her! She asked if I was OK and I think I whispered yes and the rest...as they say...is history! I never did get the H1N1 flu shot.

Christopher has had a pretty big week here. We hit the big four month mark! WOW!! As previously mentioned, he recently started rolling from his stomach to his back. That is manageable for him as he just starts playing once the flip happens. Yesterday he took it a step further and has begun to roll from back to stomach! And then he cries! Poor guy! On top of all of that happiness he has been sleeping terribly the last week. He gets "stuck" in the middle of a roll and just cries. He's such a wiggly sleeper. I think I have gone in there a good ten to fifteen times a night to comfort him and put him back to sleep. It has made for a pretty long work week with about 4 - 5 hours of sleep a night. Zzzzz

Along with the four month marker came an attempt with rice cereal. He was quite uninterested the first time and spit 99% of it right back at me. This morning he maybe swallowed 50% of it. We'll keep trying! Maybe it will help him sleep a little.

Tomorrow is the dreaded 4 month MD appointment. I do NOT want to go through the whole shots thing again...but we managed last time so I'm sure we will again this time.

Have I told you lately...

Being a Mommy is the best thing in the whole world. I knew in my heart of hearts that I always wanted to be a Mom...I just never realized how ..."find good word to use and insert here"...amazing (not good enough but it will have to do) that it would be.

There isn't a day that goes by that Christopher doesn't do something that I find absolutely stunning. This past week he was taking his pacifier, pulling it out of his mouth, looking at it and putting it back in! Really? When did he learn that? Why can't he do it in the car? I know...baby steps!

He's such a ham. Loves loves loves to snuggle - I love this, eat it right up. Who wouldn't?

Jared, Christopher & I had our first family photo session last Friday. I am sooooo excited to see them. Lindsey does a fabulous job! We had a ton of fun. Christopher was drooling like a faucet and Lindsey found it hilarious. I'm kinda like...yuk...but it still was pretty cute! Did I tell you that I can't wait to see the pictures?

My conference last week went really well - learned lots of interesting stuff and should implement some of the ideas ...eventually. I survived one whole night away! I went to bed around 10:30 and slept straight through to 4:30. Awesome!

Christopher's cold seems to be letting up some...he still has that cough - day care hack? I don't know. He is still really schnuffly and I use that bulb sucker thing to clean out his nose. He puts up with it! But...it isn't like it was, thankfully!

They say time flies...

We've had a busy few days here again - I'm in Milwaukee at a conference and have been up since 4:30 since that seems to be my normal-ish wake-up time. I got 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep which was very refreshing. Hoping that this afternoon when it is time to get the heck out of dodge that I still feel refreshed! It was a long car ride yesterday morning on 3 hours of sleep due to doggy drama.

Christopher's cold is finally letting up. He doesn't cough/gag/sputter nearly as much as he was previously. I'm wondering if this hack is just a fact of day care. He seems perfectly happy otherwise.

We've taken to wearing bibs the past week. He is a total drool monster - so much that day care has even changed his clothes on a fairly regular basis. He also LOVES to eat his hands...every picture I take seems to have his hand in his mouth. I swear he'll get the whole fist in there eventually!

We had some home front drama again this week. I'm laughing now but I'm sure I'll have some frustration tonight when I get home. Tuesday night Jared and I were hanging out together after I put Christopher down for the night. We were actually having great conversation and enjoying each other's company. Kahlua was begging and begging to go outside - which is highly normal except she kept barking and growling. Finally, because I was sick of listening to her I just let her out (on leash thank goodness). She bolted out the door faster than I had ever seen her and returned within the minute. I let her in while saying "gosh it smells like skunk out there".

Yup, she got sprayed and then she came in the house. I have never experienced such YUK in my entire life! Jared got her in the bathtub within seconds and tried helping her - she was foaming at the mouth so it looks like she took a direct facial hit. In the meantime the smell is starting to permeate through our home. NOT GOOD.

We ended up putting her in the garage and evacuating to a hotel. Jared took her to a groomer on Wednesday but I don't know what the status of our house is. I "think" I can still smell it in some of the clothes that I brought to my conference but it might be my imagination. I was so paranoid yesterday hoping people didn't think I smelled - even after 2 showers. I am not looking forward to going home to the smell.

I am however looking forward to going home to see my little boy! I'm missing him like crazy! I'm sure the time apart is good for both of us - everyone seems to think I should "enjoy" this time apart. Easier said than done. How can you not miss them?

The OTHER good drama that happened on Tuesday was Christopher rolling over! I made him cry though because I got really excited. He did it two times from stomach to back rolling over on his right side. It was this perfect little choreographed roll. I am SO proud of him! Jared got to see it too which was great because I feel like he is missing out on some of this stuff. I forgot to ask day care about it yesterday when I dropped him off. So in my book unless I hear otherwise my baby boy rolled over for the first time!

We Have Giggles

Christopher has found his laughter! It is the most amazing special sound in the entire world.

I heard it one night around a 2:30 am feeding. I was changing him and he made this funny ADORABLE sound that I thought was a laugh but I was tired and uncertain and figured he'd do it again. A couple days later I got a little giggle and was ELATED. Ms. Ann at day care said he had been trying so hard and she finally got one on the changing table.

Well this last week he has just been cracking himself up and the first night I just bawled through my laughter - good tears! Makes all the rough stuff that we had to go through so worth it. Most of the time it takes some "provoking" from Jared or I with tickles and touch. Tonight Jared said Christopher was giggling without tickles!! So freaking cute!

Slow Down!

I went to Cranfest last weekend with a great friend. Got pulled over on the way down to Warrens. So I WAS going a little fast and my husband gave me a pretty hard time about it. - Hey I got a verbal warning! But it got me to thinking, what the heck am I always going so fast for? Not just literally but figuratively too. I'm set at 90 mph and can't get it done fast enough... Life is going so fast I don't want to miss a second with Christopher. I'm going to try to slow down as much as I can.

Last night was a little chaotic in our world. I got home about 6:00 and Kahlua had eaten dry wall spackling. We called the ER vet and they said bring her in and we'll look at her for $90.00. She's totally worth it but we decided to wait. Christopher, in the meantime, falls asleep on the living room floor - no fussing - just in the middle of playing. I make supper and Jared & I hang out for the rest of the night. I tried to wake him up around 9:00 to feed him as he hadn't eaten since 5:00. No dice so he fell back to sleep until 11:30.

He scared the crap out of me - He's been hacking and coughing and they've told us it is "just" an Upper Respiratory Infection so we've been going with it. Well the hacking and coughing turned into gagging and gasping for air for about ten minutes. I had intended on calling our Doctor this morning but we ended up taking him to the Emergency Room. He was HUNGRY but he couldn't drink and breathe at the same time so the shit hit the fan. They didn't do jack for us which I get and am thankful that we are still avoiding antibiotics but I felt like an ass for taking him in. I wasn't really thrilled with the ER Doctor. I totally got the "new parent" pain in the butt vibe from him.

I'm calling our regular physician today to see what she suggests. It was a scary 45 minutes or so before he was finally normal colored again and not gagging.

Get better little guy. We love you so very much.