Oh Time Flies

  Today Adam ate milk off of a spoon for the first time.  He was a pro already.  He has been staring at us eating for weeks.  He also started grabbing at our bowls, utensils and cups the last 2 days.  He is so ready for food.  How sweet.  He also rolled over again today.  He started fake coughing as well.  What a funny guy.  He got tuckered out with his activity center and is sleeping like a baby right now.  So fun.

His little hand

Here we go... love the spoon.  Sitting in his eating chair

Sitting on his own with a blanket supporting him, playing away

I Feel

  I feel this house is stunting my creative and energy mojo.  I want to remove the furniture and start over.  I love the feel of this house.  It feels safe, but it promotes the status quo rather than any forward thinking that I might want to flesh out.  I have a mental block in this house.  I cannot see around the curve anytime.  I am so ready for breaking into a run.  I feel I'm walking slowly, dragging my feet right now.  What are my talents and what do I want to do?  Raising Adam is the priority right now.  I feel the pressure from other sources to do anything else and them trying to make me feel guilty about it, but I'm holding my ground.  All things will align in good time.  I am not worried about it. I have a headache and have to be at an appointment at 6 AM tomorrow.  I have to transfer him to the crib now.  Wish me luck.

Taco Night

 Taco Night a hit at extended family in Bootjack.  We would visit more often if gas prices didn't keep going  up.  Fun to see everyone.  Adam is so heavy, I hate to have young ones hold him.  He enjoys watching people, but especially other children.  I love seeing him checking out the world.  Cold, windy and rainy.  No good.

So Cold

  It was 25 degrees today with a cold breeze.  I got used to the 82 degrees already.  Stayed in the Suburban and watched the fog roll in out at the property.  Too cold for the baby to be outside an walk around.  Today I got to get a much deserved massage, after 5 months of a wait.  I walked to a Pampered Chef party that previewed all the new gadgets.  Love me some Pampered Chef.

Teeth are coming

  Love the GCB and Mad Med from yesterday.  Not in Adam's schedule though, he is a trooper.  When he's  not up every 2 hours he sleeps from 6-8 hours.  Very good boy.  So fun.  He misses me when I am gone and I love being missed.  He is my boy for sure.  I never knew what it would feel like to have a baby or to be comfortable with one around, but with time everything feels so natural and organic.  He is easy to hang out with, he just wants to play and be loved.  Love how fun he is and gets better every day. He speaks like I can understand him.  Soon.  We both had a dream that he just got up and walked one day.  I thin everything will happen soon enough, too soon likely.
  The next steps will be sitting on his own, rolling both sides then crawling.  Mimicking words, answering to his name and speaking his first word, but he already does that.  He will grow and develop so fast I will no believe it I'm sure.  Excited and a little sad at losing the baby stage.  All new baby gear in our future.

Growth Spurt & Teething

  Poor miserable guy.  He will scream red faced and uncontrollably until I can get his attention to calm him and to address whatever the problem is.  He has added another feeding in the middle of the night again and is ravenous during the day.  If he keeps this up I will have to give him cereal soon.  I have been trying to get him used to getting out of the house so he does not cry getting into the car seat anymore.  He slept right through my awesome acupuncture appointment today.  What a trooper.

  Now it's time for bed.  Cold 45 degrees with cool breeze today.  Did not stop us from taking Adam for a stroll to calm him down and to get him to sleep.  Tomorrow should be a little warmer and I want to make the rounds of errands.  I plan to de clutter and get the house cleaner for spider season.  Easier to kill and ward off if I can see where they are hiding.  Nighty night.

So Much Going On

  So much going on it's hard to keep up!  Gorgeous weather has finally taken us outside.  Temperatures into the low 80s.  Not a speck of snow in our yard or out at the lake property.  Astounding.  Now we have had daily walks in the stroller that he loves.  He's just chill and looks around.  When we get home he jibber jabbers on talking about what he saw.  Loves to take naps in the stroller as well.  Good for him to get some much earned sun. He had his first visit to the property that went wonderfully.  The last 2 days have been rough.  He's been ravenous and teething.  He must be going through a growth spurt too.  Crying himself to sleep twice yesterday.  Unbelievable how much he's eaten in the last 2 days.  He's eaten more at one sitting than he has in his whole life, without spitting it up that is.  Wow, I'm struggling to keep up with him.

  Got to go into the State Wide Real Estate office a few times.  He's doing better every time he goes.  Will go often to get him used to it.  He does well shopping in the stroller or shopping cart.  We will be moving up to the next size car seat soon and he will not be able to use the swing much longer.  He is just too big and heavy.  I bought 18 month onsies and pants that fit roominly and comfortably for him.  He took his first header this last weekend.  He face planted from a sitting position onto the wood floor.  He got the knot on his forehead for it.  Ah, he is growing up.

  The most exciting news is he rolled over for the first time March 18th!  He rolled twice in a row in his crib.  He did the same thing for his dad the next day.  SO great.  He is stretching out and getting a more toddler shaped body.  He does baby sit ups and Pilates for abs strength.  Fun.  Love every new thing he experiences.

He does not mind the sunglasses.  He will not wear a hat.

First touch of his toes in sand. He loved looking at the lake.

With cousins Cece n Bella

Oh, The Headache Of It All

  Sinuses are all ready in full swing rebellion with this bout of warm weather we are having.  Sinus drainage, leading to sore throat, coughing and sneezing.  Is is a cold you ask?  Well, I do not know.  These symptoms have been hanging on for almost a week now and are worsening through time.  I know anything else that makes sleeping difficult is not welcome to me.  The dizziness just gets me so I get nothing accomplished because I cannot focus.  I did get all my tax information done and sent last night at 2:30 AM.  That is great.  Now, I am on to errands today.

  Poor Adam is burning up with a temperature.  He does not feel great today either.  I hope his Tylenol kicks in and he can get some comfort.  He is still stuffed up also.  I hate to drag him around town when he is not feeling great, but he can feel lousy at home or anywhere as long as he is with his mom.  I think I will be out for only a couple of hours.  It will be nice to get out into some of that sunshine for sure.

  So excited to have my first massage in 5 months scheduled for this coming Monday!! I hope to find a babysitter for Adam for next Friday also.  That way I can get my hair cut also.  My hair seemed to stop growing the second Adam was born and has just been falling out since.  My skin is now more dry too.  Adam's skin is dryer than mine though.  Today we tried the Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion.  I thought we would give it a whirl and see how our sensitive skin reacts to it.  So far so good, but I only applied the lotion an hour ago.

Today Was A Good Day

  So, I did not get much sleep last night.  Adam went to bed by 12:30 AM with Tony's help.  I went at 3 AM trying to get the taxes done.  I am 75% done now and am very happy about that.  That said, my head is hurting and causing me to squint, the pressure is so bad.  I cannot take what works for me, Benadryl, because it will affect Adam's feeding abilities.  Therefore, I am stuck with anti-inflammatories and Claritin, which do not do the sinus headaches I have been getting lately justice.  I was able to nap when Adam napped today so I did catch up on a few more hours of sleep happily.

  We went to Adam's 4 month old check-up at the doctor's today with the mind set that he has been stuffed up and not 100% healthy the last few days, as I have not been either, so we were going to forego the vaccines.  Adam is in the 98th percentile for his weight.  He went from the 50th to the 88th percentile for his head circumference and is in the 92nd percentile for length/height.  He has dry skin, as do I, so instead of shea butter, we have to break down and get official lotion.  We are treating his cradle cap fine and his motor and verbal skills are right on track.  He is just fine for his age.  After discussing skipping the vaccinations and telling her how horrible our experience was with Nicole the nurse last visit, the doctor then told us she had no problems with that nurse and thought she was actually quite good.  That being said, the doctor had a new nurse now and Nicole was no longer there.  Happily we did not have to then request a different nurse.  Also, the doctor said for us to get the vaccines today as he was not feverish and you never know if he will be full blow sick next week rather than just having sinusitis and possibly a cold this week.

  We then agreed to the vaccinations today.  They are required to be at a certain depth and the type of needle used could not be changed.  The other nurse probably just hit a vessel.  Fluke.  However, this nurse's technique was different and ended in very different results.  Adam did not get dosed with Tylenol ahead of time as planned either as we were not going to get the shots today.  He was happy and it made me sad we had to ruin that, but the nurse held his legs and I got his head.  He had tears come to his eyes.  He let out a cry, then she did the other leg.  He made a sad face, another cry and then breathed hard for a few seconds.  The he went back to babbling as he was prior to her doing the shots.  He got the bandaids and barely a drop of blood came out.  He was smiling before we even left the room.  He did not cry at all after that either.

  What a difference!  I am so pleased and am happy all involved had a better experience.  So grateful for not having a sad child for days afterwards.  He is teething also, the doctor confirmed that, so he has every right for some fussiness sometimes.  It does help that the weather is improving also.  Going for walks and being out in the sun will only help our moods. Time to watch Ides of March for a few minutes, then hope Tony is back from the store.  Nizoral for his cradle cap smells good, but I hope it does more than that. Time will tell.

Wee, fun to go for a walk (yesterday) outside

Big tongue while getting his shoes and socks on

Cousins came to visit: Bella-7, Cece-6, Adam & Lizzy 4 months

Ah, How Life Changes

  I was lamenting last night how I would love to have a beer, watch a movie uninterrupted and then go to bed weary whenever I want to.  Those days are long gone.  Now it is, how to get my baby to bed and to stay asleep.  He is stuffy and cannot feel good from teething and sinusitis.  I cannot even get through a 20 minute workout without stopping it literally 5 times.  I have tried to get my tax papers in order many times to no avail.  I am happy to have this happy boy in my life and this is all a learning process for both of us to get anything done.  He now has a jumper roo that we are trying out.  I hope to have him enjoy it and learn to have fun while in it so I can "enjoy" getting my taxes done.

  On this gorgeous day, I would rather be out taking a walk than stuck doing the taxes I cannot get done.  There are more nice days to come in the future.  I just am itching to get going.  I have been doing my exercises at 11 or 12 at night.  This is not efficient, but I am still doing the exercises.  My knees and ankles have started hurting so I have had to back off of the intensity of my effort.  This makes me sad as I want to be healthy enough to just give my full effort rather than taking longer to get the exercises done and therefore take longer to lose the baby weight.  I want to wear my usual jeans already.  That day will be great.

  I thought about buying a Kindle because I love books and they would be cheaper that way, but I have no time to watch a 1.5 hour movie let alone read a book.  Time will change and he will be less labor intensive and he will sleep more, but not right now.  His face has changed recently.  He looks like a big boy toddler. He is so full of personality.  His protest in the Johnny Jumper today was a two handed swipe across the chest, "No." I loved it.  He knows what he wants.

  He is so heavy, very soon I will not be able to lift him out of his crib.  We decided we would do a low rail twin bed mattress closer to the floor so it will be less distance for him to fall and easier for his mom to lay down a sleeping baby and pick up an awake boy.  He was playing so emphatically last night I thought he would spontaneously roll over.  He did not, however.  He has woken up the last two days sideways in his crib.  He discovered the mirror also and was staring into it and playing with it as it was askew when we came to look in on him this morning.  So fun.

Clapping his feet together, he discovered his feet to his mouth this week

4 Months Old!

Lizzy Kangas cousin also 4 months old today

Smile

  SO excited for Adam to turn 4 months old.  I do not have the studio shots back yet as we just took them on Monday, but here are some from today.  Going into the studio we touched public things and he licked the communal football there.  We are now both sick.  My throat is on fire and he sounds raspy.  Oh well, first cold here we are unfortunately.  He's such a big boy.  He is 19.6 pounds on my scale while dressed and fed.  We will see what the doctor says he weighs on Monday... Yay.  Love me some Adam!

At Quincy's Restaurant last month

Pictures, Pictures

  Adam was ready for his close up on Monday.  He was groomed, clean and fed.  He just fell asleep on the way to the picture appointment.  I thought we were going to get sleeping photos, screaming Adam or a happy boy.  Guess what we got?  Happy boy! So great.  The studio picture taking ladies were not that great, but he was a champ and I thought he did great.  I especially liked the family photos as we only have 3 to date.  This will serve as my "before" photo for losing the baby weight.  I am so happy with the photos I purchased some already.  I got a large one of him for his room.  He is just so wonderful.  He is such a great boy.  So happy to have him.

  I got my picture taken for the State Wide Real Estate website today.  I do not think those photos came out well, but it is what I look like today anyway.  For the trip Adam napped, ate and got changed, twice.  He did great for people to hold him.  He did not fuss much to fall asleep in his car seat being rocked.  He is getting closer to being my partner in crime for selling real estate.  Someone has to do it, it might as well be me.  Excited to spend more time at the office.  People are talking about moving and moving on.  Interesting to see the dynamic change at the office over time.

  Excited to take 4 month old Adam pictures at home.  Wish it was his 4 months today we could have taken outside pictures in the 40 degree and sunny weather going on.  Happy to have gotten some outside time in. I did get to exercise again today.  Tomorrow will be day 7 of my 30 day Shred Jillian Michaels workout.  She promises up to 20 pound weight loss.  I am hoping for a number close to that, but am resigned with setbacks.  I hope to do the hip hop abs workout along with it starting next week.  I am sore for sure and see changes in my body already, including on the scale.  What will it take to get my body back?  I am hoping for only 2 months from now.  Especially by summer for me to go to Arizona for some well deserved shopping.  I do, however, have a whole new wardrobe in my closet waiting for me to be able to wear it.  That is incentive as well.

Loves his bath time.  Just chillin'

  Loving the fenugreek and beer for milk production.  Hoping I can up the amount within 5 days.  I am on day 3 without extra pumping.  I have been out and about too much for the pumping.  I will do that the next few days.  I also need to get my tax info. together so I will be staying home for a few days to get that accomplished.  I do not want to neglect my baby, but I need to get things done as well.  Happy with the maintenance of the cleanish house we have going on.  Feels good to not be as cluttered.  I am ready for a more mobile baby, except I want to get more nap mats for the floor for him to be able to roll around when the time comes.  If we push him on his side he will roll backwards or forwards but will not go on his side on his own and complete the maneuver.  Soon I think.  I was hoping by 4 months, but he is sitting so well he is not worried about it I think.  I cannot support him to get him standing so we will try to get a play center that he can touch his feet to the ground in so he can jump and stand when he feels like it.

  The last 2 days he has gone to bed with a nap at 9 PM, eating then sleeping by 10:45 or 11 PM.  Time for me to hit the hay for as much sleep as possible before he wakes again.  The days are blurring together.  I want to get a Kindle to read books, but I have no time or energy for reading these days.  Sometime soon I know I will, but no point in buying it right now.  Might as well wait until I will use it.  The Kindle can only go down in price, I'm guessing.  Now if only I can get more quality time with my husband.  I feel I rarely get to see him and we are always occupying the baby for one or the other to be able to complete a task without holding him or tending to his needs.  Balance will come through time.  Good thing we were married for so long before he came along.  Makes our comfort level even easier.  Nice.  G'night all.

Born a Yooper.  What a cutie :) He's so big, smart and changing all the time.

Well, Good Days & Set Backs

  He slept 9.5 hours yesterday and the napped 6.5 hours.  Last night he slept 5 hours, 2 hours, 1 hour.  I however did not.  I have to pump to amp up supply on one side that is 1/3 the supply of the other side.  Frustrating that this is the way it is.  I hope I can correct this.  Tonight is the La Leche League like meeting.  I hope to make it so that I can get some advice and commiserate with other mothers.  I love to see his progress and wish it was easier to get around when it snows a foot and then a foot again 2 days later.

  His taking to the pacifier is wonderful and helpful to spare his poor fingers.  His fingers got a needed break and are healing nicely.  Today we were working on sitting up in his eating chair, face planting on the pad to turn over for tummy time and rolling guidance.  He tuckered himself out and now is napping.  What a great time.  He wakes up happy and kicking.  Wish I could wake that happy.

  I plan to start Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred today.  Despite the tiredness I want to just do it.  I want to go for it.  Sleeping upstairs is so great.  If I could move his bed time earlier than midnight I would like it, but I will take what I can get these days.  More comfortable sleep will only help with my energy.  I just cannot wait any longer to exercise. It is driving me crazy.  Results are dependent on my diet also.  I am excited that one day at a time is doing well. Ah, getting life back.  The ever changing schedule will keep it interesting and me on my toes.