Week 9: Uh Oh

Week 9

Uh Oh, this was the last week that Jeff was able to take Adam in the morning and let me sleep.  Those 4 week were awfully nice!

Happy 1/6th Birthday! 2 Months Old!!!

Little Dude is now 2 months old!!!  Wow!!!  We are very happy to report that Adam is having more awake time without screaming.  He does spend a fair amount of time pouting with that lower lip and making fussing sounds.  But sometimes his fussiness disappears as quickly as it began.

Adam loves to bring his hands up to his mouth and suck on them.  He is pretty good at head control.  He moves his head side to side while sitting and while laying down.  He loves to track people while the move.  Lights and sounds entertain him.

Highlight of the day, Jeff and I ate dinner AT THE SAME TIME tonight!  Adam sat in his swing and Jeff and I were able to enjoy dinner for about 15 minutes.  Normally Jeff holds Adam while I eat and then we switch.  We'll see what happens tomorrow ;)

I've received a few emails while on maternity leave.  My boss states "We are dying without you."  Makes me feel appreciated but not enough to go back early!

Jeff is doing his rotation at Granby Pharmacy and they asked him today if he would work for them as a pharmacy intern.  He would be able to perform any task a pharmacist does, he just needs a pharmacist there to supervise him.  He'll work a few Saturday mornings out of the month.  This sounds like a great learning opportunity for Jeff, shows his interest and dedication to the field, and will (fingers crossed) help him get a job one day.

2 Months! 

Week 8: Bonding

Sorry, I'm a little late this week.  I was thinking this weekend how much I love little Adam.  When he came home from the hospital, I loved him.  But sometimes when he cried really hard and no one could calm him, there were moments when I wanted to send him back to the hospital.  Maybe not send him back, but I really wondered if it was a great idea to have children.  It was a little late at that point to think that way.

Now that we are having more and more awake time without crying, thirty minutes here and thirty minutes there, I can't believe how much more I love Adam.  Now when he cries I don't question whether it was a good idea or not to have children, I just focus on making sure Adam is fed and in a clean diaper.  I don't think that Adam and I instantly bonded in the hospital.  I feel slightly guilty admitting that, but I think our bond has grown every day.  Now Adam is my little Boo Boo.

Adam has discovered his hands and arms this week.  He loves to suck on his hands or his forearm, it's very cute.  He's also gotten a lot more verbal.  He loves to make noises.  My favorite noise is when it sounds like he is saying hi, hi, hi.

This week Dan and Nicki came over for a visit.  Adam was a little fussy but Aunt Nicki was sooooo good at calming him.  Later that afternoon Jeff and I went to a wine tasting benefiting the Connecticut Pharmacy Association.  My parents babysat Adam and it was a win-win.  My parents had a great time with Adam (so they claimed), and Jeff and I had a great time sipping wine.  Definitely a win-win!

Uncle Dan

Good times with Aunt Nicki

Hanging out with my little dude

Deer in headlights

Look at those little toes!

We can do anything!

This past weekend Adam and I went on a trip to visit the Kroners. Yup, Adam and I flew BY OURSELVES to visit the Kroner family. My friend Nicole and her mom were kind enough to bring me to the airport on Friday. And even kinder to park the car and walk into the airport. And even kinder still, they got security passes and helped me juggle a screaming baby, a stroller, and luggage through security. I'm lucky to have such great friends. After security, Adam ate and he was a peach on the plane. I got to bring his carseat on the plane and even though he only sat in it for 20 minutes, it was nice to have the extra room (and a tiny amount more privacy) for breast feeding on the plane.

 The weekend was a lot of fun. Sadly I don't have any pictures so I'll have to wait until Emilie posts some. The weekend was pretty busy between tons of Kroners and Millers coming over, a baptism, and a birthday party. And Adam and I took it all in stride. Adam was remarkably less fussy, he must like Ohio.

My biggest concern for the weekend, was how am I going to manage as a solo parent? Thankfully Emilie and her mom volunteered to hold Adam so I could do other things, like eat. But I'll be honest, it was really difficult. When Adam cries all I want to do is make whatever is bothering him better, even if it means putting down my sandwich and eating later (or forgetting to eat). I'm breast feeding, so no one else can take my place for that. And when he needs to be rocked and soothed to sleep in the middle of the night, it's just me. I'm not going to walk up two flights of stairs to get Emilie to help me. But there are times when it's ok to let him cry for a few minutes and let other people care for him or help me. Sometimes I need to be reminded of that.

 On Sunday I felt like a pro being the solo parent. Adam and I breezed through security. There were no extra seats on the plane, so I could not bring his carseat on board. However I managed to breast feed, have him nap, and most importantly keep him quiet, all in the confines of my tiny coach seat. Adam didn't even cry until the plane was at the gate and it was time to get off. Adam even got his first pair of wings from the flight attendant!

 Adam and I not only survived our solo adventure to Ohio, we flourished. If we can travel on a plane and have a great weekend 600 miles away, I think we can do anything.

The Delta wings are hiding on his right shoulder

We're making it work, Week 7

Adam Jeffrey is 7 weeks old today.  I cannot believe how big my "Little Dude" has become in such a short amount of time.  I had to remove the infant insert in the car seat and raise the head rest.  He's getting a little bit taller every day.  And when I carry him, he feels noticeably heavier.  He hasn't been weighed since last week.  I'm guessing he is 12.5 pounds.

Jeff is doing his rotation this month at Granby Pharmacy, a family run pharmacy in, yup, you guessed it, Granby.  On Friday Adam and I went to visit Dad at Granby Pharmacy.  We had a great time getting to know the pharmacists and staff.  Friday evening we took a fun car ride around Connecticut with Adam and Jack.  Jack continues to be very well behaved around Adam.  In the back seat we used a mesh screen to separate Jack and Adam, but Jack didn't even attempt to lick Adam.  On Saturday afternoon we went to a Cinco de Mayo party.  Adam lasted about 30 minutes but it was nice to get out of the house and have a beer.  And on Sunday Adam and I went to my parents house while Jeff stayed home and did work.  While at Oma and Opa's house, Adam had a nice nap.  When he woke up, he had a great time playing with Oma.  This was the first time that Oma had seen Adam coo and smile.

No other real excitement this week.  Just Adam and me during the week while Jeff is on his rotation.  We are both really happy when Dad comes home.  This weekend Adam and I are traveling to Ohio for Kate's baptism.  I'm nervous to fly alone with Adam.  I'm also nervous to take care of him solo for 48 plus hours...  I know I can do it, I just might be a little tired.

Helping Mom fold diaper laundry

 Heading out to see Keira

And heading out for a drive with Keira!

 

Hanging out with Mom

It's true

 Nap time on Mom

 Looking cool in my cloth diapers

This was me as a baby with my Oma.  See any resemblance to Adam?!

Tired: 6 Weeks

Adam was late to his 4 week appointment, he had it at 5.5 weeks.  Adam rocked the scales at 11 pounds 13 ounces (95th percentile) and 22.75 inches (90th percentile).  His head was another story, his head is measuring off the charts.  We'll keep an eye on that head growth ;)

As you know, we had an awesome time down in Kiawah.  This week it has been just Adam and I during the day.  Jeff is doing a rotation this month at a small family run pharmacy in Granby.  So far he is really enjoying it.  And Adam and I are doing doing ok at home.

Now that it's just Adam and me again, Mom is tired.  It's exhausting to feed this little person every 2-3 hours.  Mostly because it means that I can only sleep in 1-2 hour increments.  And yes, I am complaining.  I love breastfeeding, I love the bond that Adam and I are forming.  But I'm tired.  I'm really tired.  And I wouldn't have it any other way.  Occasionally we have a long sleep spurt of 4 or 5 hours, but they are rare and VERY, VERY, VERY  lovely!

The best part about this week is that Jack has come back home!  I was really worried that bringing our new baby home and having Jack at home would be overwhelming.  So far Jack has done really well.  He met Adam a few weeks ago at my parents house.  He seemed interested in Adam but not overly concerned.  When we got home on Sunday, Jack sniffed Adam, tried to lick him and then went to lay down on his dog bed.  Jack has been very relaxed around Adam.  The hardest part for me is that Adam sleeps in the bedroom and Jack has been relegated to the living room.  Jack used to sleep in our bedroom, and I am going through Jack withdrawal.  After each night feeding this week I have gone over to Jack in the living room and rubbed his belly.  Jack is taking this better than me.

This is Dad when he was a baby, does he look like Adam?!

Thanks Great Grandma Joyce for the awesome photo!

I have been out walking 2 of my 3 favorite boys every day.

We've also been trying naps in the crib, so far so good!

Trying to blend in with the stripes, Adam was going the wrong way!

5 Weeks Old

Sorry, this post is a few days late!  We had a fantastic time down in Kiawah. Adam repeatedly told Grammy Sue and Grandpa Hank how much he likes Kaiwah.  Adam loved to gaze out from the porch, he also enjoyed walks around the block, and going to the pool and the beach.  Adam was, again, a champion flyer.  He was soooo good on both of the flights Saturday and he only cried when we landed in Hartford.  Oma was kind enough to pick all of us up at the airport.  Jeff, Adam, and I went to Oma and Opa's house today for lunch and took Jack back home.  Jack has been doing really well with Adam.  He likes to sniff Adam and tried to get in a few licks too.  When Adam cries Jack likes to investigate but when Adam's cries reach a fever pitch (and sometimes they do), Jack walks away.  Adam's cries pierce our ears so I imagine they might be a little too much for Jack at times as well.

The view that Adam really enjoyed

Hanging out with Grandpa Hank

Adam got a new hat

Strolling the neighborhood with Mom

Nap time with Grammy Sue

Chillaxin on the sofa with Mom

Trying to smile