The Latest

bobby rolled over yesterday (11/1) from back to front for the first time i think. he's done it on a soft bed but that doesn't count.

he also rolled over the day before from front to back. he did that for the first time around 9/15 but doesn't do it often. he gets plenty of tummy time but just stays there

as far as eating, we have tried the rice cereal 3 times. if you can call if that. it's been about 10 bites or less each time. i basically pump less than an ounce then mix up a very watery paste. he doesn't react poorly to it, i think it's okay to start now if for nothing else to get him to the spoon. once he sees it coming, his hands go to it and i usually spill it on him. if i get to his (closed) mouth, he sort of laps it up. If i get the spoon in, he sort of takes it. sometimes it all comes out, but sometimes not. i consider this progress. usually it comes out about 20 minutes later. i do however think he's ready (5 months old on Wednesday) he just seems to want something else sometimes. i know all babies put stuff in their mouths, but i think he's ready. of course, we'll take it way slow as we are, hardly a meal replacement at this stage, it's almost a novelty.

i have also introduced a sippy cup, which he likes. grabs it with both hands and aims for his open mouth. he never gets it there though. i know this is early, but we will skip a bottle at this rate, he's never taken it easily and has had probably 2 bottles in the last 2 months so it might be hard at this stage. again, just familiarity with the sippy cup, like the spoon.

he is drinking a lot of bathwater that he sucks from the washcloth. even if i take it away from him, he just sucks his wet fist. hmm... he has taken some sips of real water and loves it. also spills a lot but i won't give him much (think like droplets) since he needs nutrition from milk and don't want him to fill up.

and oh yah. he moved into his own room! (thanks mom) so far so good, although we did battle it out last night at 3:30am. I won, if you can call it that at 5am and he went back in the crib. woo hoo.

We went The Little Gym Monday, 45 minutes assisted exercises - tapping feet and shaking things. 4 other babies. i think he was hungry but seemed interested in it. will have to price it out, but might be something we want to do. going to the park later to walk.

October

One handed typing b/c I'm a sucker and want my baby to get a good nap. i do have to put him down soon to feed the dogs.

couple nice days here so we got a lot of outside time, even went to the dog park - what was i thinking! He is still easy enough to take care of but getting more demanding as in, he is actually worth playing with now, so we do, also needy and doesn't like to be left alone.

sleep continues to be irregular, took a 3 hr nap the other day, but last night didn't get to bed until 9:45pm! i would like a routine for naps but am not going to be a slave to a forced schedule, he gets to sleep often, if not for too long.

we have no Halloween plans but will still get dressed up, for a while at least, its supposed to be 80 almost

rick is good, they have storms so power and internet have been iffy. we talk just as if he was in california but i guess just not several times a day.

4.5 months

15 pounds, 7 ounces - 50th percentile
25 3/4 inches long - 50%
42 cm head - 75%

lungs, heart good, head shape good, eyes straight. very simple appt. looked in ears, mouth, etc. nothing really to report. will keep an eye on the spit up in case he starts to get bothered by it, i can start food anytime now, got vaccines but no flu shot for under six month olds.

he can roll over, but doesn't. he is getting more stable at sitting up - assisted for now. very good at putting weight on his legs.

doing well at night, sleeping about 5 hours, then 4 more. continuing to find a routine for naps, it will be better now that the house is back to normal.

going to start back on the vitamin drops since it's getting wintery.

Sleeping

So it's been up and down. Mainly inconsistent, but we're sticking with it. He's been in the crib all night, generally waking up every 3-5 hours still, but last night was better. We went for a 2 hour walk so that might have tired him out, but he took a little cat nap at 5:30 or so, so I let him stay up later than usual. So bath was at 7 instead of 6:20.

He was asleep by 7:45pm, woke up at 12:20, back in the crib at 12:50am and then I got him out of bed at 7am! YAY. napping now in the crib too.

it's cold here, which I like b/c he looks really cute in sweatpants.

Day 1

I know this makes for dull material, but it's my life right now.

7pm Last night went to bed well in the crib. was very tired, didn't eat much, didn't expect a long duration here

7:40 awake, easily put down again. (I guess he's one of those babies who can't put himself back to sleep easily after a sleep cycle)

8 up for a little burp, down quickly

9:10 up and down easily again

10:50 up and down still in the crib

2am awake and ready to go

3am still awake, not drowsy. here i give in. we go to the big bed.

4am he finally nods off after chattering the whole time

7:30am awake for the day

so far i have interrupted 2 good naps, by putting him in the crib. got about 75 minutes out of him b/c i had to sleep too, see above why.

Operation Crib Sleep

Get the baby into the crib to sleep has begun. I know I'm doing it wrong but it doesn't work anyway. I nurse him in a dark room with white noise and he falls asleep, put him in the crib, he wakes up, i burp him, he falls asleep on my shoulder, put him in the crib, he wakes up. Lie down with him in the bed, he falls asleep.

I get the whole, put him down drowsy but awake thing, and have tried, but that just leads to cranky and very awake. I would prefer that b/c trying to transfer him to the crib when he is asleep is asking for trouble.

He does sleep on his stomach (for supervised naps) very well. Will ask the doc if this is okay b/c he has good chest and head control.

Meanwhile, I have to move him out of 3 month pajamas. he is just too long.

Jackpot

Just got back from our second Giants game in two days. And it was all free! Last night we were coming up the elevator and the other family in there asked us if we had tickets yet, we said no and they gave us some, for free! And they were good. lower deck, right field line. The uy worked for Petco and just had extras!

Today, we met Julie for the game who was in town for a ENT conference. She had gone out last night and met some relative of Jon Miller (the Giants (& ESPN) radio guy) and gave her tickets. Also good ones, same area. It was a good game too, but we were in the shade and it was breezy. It is October, but SoCal's supposed to be sunny and 70 all the time right! So we paid $35 for parking for 2 days right next to the entrance. Good to go!

Anyway, final dinner at Outback tonight then an early morning!!!

Four months

Still in California, so no unofficial weigh in. And b/c we were late with the 2 month appt and shots have to be 8 weeks apart, we don't go back to the doctor for a week or so.

Having a really nice time with Rick, he only worked til about 6:30pm (early for him) so we got to hang out this week a fair amount. Bobby and I just killed time, walking, some errands, went to the Ocean, not much. It also meant bedtimes were a little later, but he seemed to do fine with it, he just had to get in some Dad time.

Carolyn came in for work Thursday night, so it was a great coincidence and we were lucky she was able to bring Cash and stay at our hotel. This meant I got to babysit Cash on Friday, which was actually super easy. Mostly due to the fact he took a 3,5 hour nap in the middle of it, and then we just read and explored the rest of the time. Bobby even got his morning nap in undisturbed. There was only one little boo boo ("hurt"). I was watching closely actually but nursing I think and Cash slipped on a book and whacked his eye on his truck I think. He barely whimpered but it looks bad and it's right on his eyebrow so could have been worse, but he's a tough kid, who now looks Tough.

Saturday Rick didn't have to work like usual and we went to breakfast at Mimi's, (they had a seasonal pumpkin spice muffin, yum) Then to the SeaLife Aquarium at Legoland. It worked out so well, it is about 2 miles from the hotel and opened at 10, and we got there 10:30 or something. Plus the cashier gave us coupons so tickets were $5 instead of $18.95! Kids free. It was worth about that. Not crowded, inside, cool fish. Cash was a little stubborn and Bobby slept the second half, but it was a good day. Then Carolyn got on the road earlier than planned so she could get home and rest, but it was a lovely visit.

Saturday afternoon we rested too, because the Giants are in town. So I felt pretty bad driving down to San Diego as the sun set, thinking what am I subjecting my kid to? But he did great at the 7pm game. Didn't sleep b/c it was just too loud and bright, but here it is 10:30 the next morning and he's still asleep. Got to get his 12 hours. (non continuous of course) Silly me thought I'd be able to run a few errands for us this morning.

I leave early Monday and fly all day. Rick leaves midnight Tuesday, direct to Iraq.

Back To California

We made it uneventfully, got to the hotel at 2 am eastern. Plane rides were good, baby slept about half of the way to Detroit. Detroit is a long way from San Diego, basically Canada to Mexico, so it meant for a long second flight (4.5hrs), right about bedtime. It was also 30+ minutes late leaving. Bobby was really good, very happy and quiet. He fell asleep right before 7:30pm takeoff for about 30 minutes, but then was up until 10pm Eastern. Wide awake, very happy. There was another baby, probably closer to a year old, who cried 90% of the flight. Yikes. Then he slept from then on, through landing, baggage claim the drive home. Fed him and got a few more hours out of him. The problem is a one room hotel rooms, means for early evenings and early mornings for everyone. We'll see how that goes. Same with nap time.

He spit up a lot. changed his outfit during the layover. Could have changed mine. Was also one burp away from his third shirt. And he continues to this morning, All done with a big smile, but I think watch my diet, although I had very little dairy (cheese on sandwich) yesterday.

I thought Ricks computer could take my camera card so I didn't bring the connecting cord, so photos will have to wait.

Well, I spoke too soon, the last 4 nights sleep have been really lousy, after his first chunk of sleep 8-12, maybe 1am, he is waking OFTEN. Growth spurt? or just being a stinker. I pretty much hate bed time. I'm just impatient and it's such a crap shoot whether and how I get him to sleep.

He is able to suck up to 3 fingers right now, but doesn't seem to do it at bed time.

Our days in the bouncy seat may be numbered. If he is strapped in, it doesn't take long before he is trying to sit up. Same even in his car seat. Both during his walk and riding around, he does a mini crunch and just leans forward as much as the straps allow. He just can't wait to grow up and sit up :(

Got my nails done, updated for fall season.

We are coping, as we should.

We did it

So the queen bed is a little cramped lately and I'd been meaning to use this week to transition to the crib, so I did it. I put Bobby to bed as usual, just a little late, but nurse, burp, lay down in the bed and nurse while he drift off. But at 10pm when I went to bed, I moved him to his crib (still in my room). He slept until 1am there, back to sleep 1:30-4:30 in the crib, then 4:50-7:30am in the crib! This is good. Harder on me to get up and nurse in the rocker, but I am glad he can sleep "on his own"

He also slept in later, usually he gets up around 6 and can stay half asleep but squirmy until i get him out of bed 7/7:30ish. Sometimes if he wakes 5:30am -ish, he will go back to sleep 7-8. Yesterday we woke at 6am, but nappped 8-10am. So we'll see what today brings. But hooray for the crib. The next step will be moving him down the hall.

Baby Bobby

What's new with us? Let's see....
He actually rolled over twice (front to back) unprompted during tummy time yesterday. He was in mini push up/cobra position and then just went over. I didn't turn him or anything. He had gone over back to front on the bed before but that was b/c it was so soft. He is doing really well on his stomach, where as it used to bother him after about 5 minutes, he now seems to like hanging out there.

He seems really strong for a little guy. You can see it in his quads, calves and shoulders, but probably b/c he's so lean. He doesn't like to bend at the waist. So when you pick him up from lying down, he basically goes straight to standing. One day laying on grammys chest, he straightened his legs and basically stood up. He does though like to be upright in general, mostly sitting propped up or over a shoulder. Sort of past the cuddling, depending on his mood.

Still spitting up a lot. Yay.

Sleeping is hit or miss. Sometimes good, other just okay. I think he's getting enough sleep, but I end up holding him to get in a good nap, and putting him to bed is a solid process. I can usually go from the start of his bath to asleep in 45' but it's a crap shoot whether he sleeps 1 or 3 hours at that point. The other night he slept 8pm to 2am, his longest stretch yet. I think we are still recovering from visiting Timberlake, having the Wilsons here, then picking up Rick from the airport at 9pm. Several days of wonky napping threw us off, but we're back on and today was a good day, napping 8-10am, then 3 other naps of about 45-60 minutes each (including now) so again, bedtime is any ones guess.

What else, still not taking a pacifier, I've abandoned that effort. He can sort of suck his pointer finger and sometimes a thumb (knuckle at least) but not in a soothing manner, just sort of something to do. He likes looking at his hands, sometimes holds his own hand and his grip is very strong when he gets something.

Rick is here, he has lost 10 pounds, I am struggling to keep these same 2 off, so it's tough trying to fatten him up and stick to my plan. Especially when it's so fun to eat out and get ice cream etc. Need Will power this week!

3 Months Today

Approx 13.5 pounds, so that's 1 pound in 3 weeks, about 5 ounces a week. On the slow side of gaining weight, but he's great. Very chatty. And strong. Instead of just kicking the air now, he is able to put his feet down and arch his back while lying down. Have to be careful of this one. He's studying his fist and hands and I think is just starting to reach and grab for things. Just barely though. He's been slow to open up his fisted hands but that's changing as I type. He has a good grip once he gets something, intentionally or not. He is also a "happy spitter." He spits up a lot, but it doesn't seem to upset him, just is a bit gross and stinky and means a lot of laundry for both of us.

Sleeping is hit or miss. Spends about 11-12 hours at night asleep, in bouts from 2-5 hours long, depending on the day. Naps 3 times usually, anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, either in the Pack and Play, big bed, Port a Crib, or even his swing and bouncey seat. I would like this to be about 45-75 minutes 3 times, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. And even if that's enough sleep, I don't like how he's getting it. Needs to be nursed or rocked to sleep, and he sleeps in my bed. I didn't plan it this way, but I will admit, it's much easier in the middle of the night but once he starts crawling and Rick is around, it won't work. I am going to try to get him into his crib more, but he just doesn't sleep as well there.

He's in size 2 diapers. I bought a couple new outfits, 3-6 months size. He is pretty true to size but we are getting ready for cooler days. There are 3 consignment sales next weekend, so we'll be busy! Then Rick comes Monday 9/14 and we are super excited to see him and just allow him to get some rest and family time.

2 Months

Actually 10 weeks. 12.55 pounds, 23.5 inches. pretty average all in all. Got an oral vaccine combo which he actually took relatively well considering he's never had anything but milk. he also got 3 shot vaccines. OUCH. He did really well actually. The first needle he didn't cry at all (yet) and she was really fast putting in the second in his quad then the third in the other leg. Then he screamed for about 10 seconds then relaxed but he still wasn't pleased.

Doctor is nice, no concerns from him or me. He said he has water in his scrotum, so that's why his balls are so big. They won't always be that big. Pretty normal stuff. An innocent murmur and a little bit of cradle cap starting. But his tear duct might be cleared up. it's been gunk free for several days now.

Otherwise just sitting around growing and running errands. It's pretty boring actually and makes me want to work. I miss coaching right now and wish I were involved in something, but my main focus (after him) should be losing weight. No other moms I see are chunky still!

Rick is still getting ready for his deployment out in the desert. We get emails when he can but no cell phone reception. They also go into the field every now and then, where they camp out and eat MREs. t sounds like he's doing mostly legal work at the remote base site. And it's about 105+ degrees, so he makes sure to hydrate. He is coming here Sept. 14 which happens to coincide with Harvey's visit....

California

Quick update while the baby naps. I was all packed up and we were walking out the door when I realized Rick has the stroller in the back of his car, at work. Doh. I can wrap him up but it's a little hot and long for that, so we'll go sit by the pool and hopefully rick can come home for lunch. he's really busy but I'm still glad I stayed, the weekend went really fast.

it was great having the Martins visit. We went to the LaJolla beach for a bit, but weren't really prepared to have a beach day so it was just the right amount of short. Lunch out and then just dinner and visiting after naps. Sunday was pool and lunch. Time flies with children, nothing is quick with us yet and napping dominates. Baby adjusted very well after first night and day. Slept all Saturday night - almost 12 hours with small feeding breaks. and since then has been well rested and behaved and sleeping on pacific coast night time, about 10-7am. He's been very gassy but at least at night has been going back to sleep easily.

Monday we went on the base and took care of adding bobby to the insurance and went shopping a bit. then walmart and best buy. got rick a 10 inch netbook for $300 and it has turned out to be worth it. small keyboard but sharp display and webcam and very functional and light. no CD drive, but for email, Internet and skype, it's perfect.

today we will go over to the Carlsbad outlets and check out coach and gymboree and BCBG and barneys and the like, tomorrow who knows, maybe Judy M can get me out of here, then i take the red eye back at 10pm so hopefully that experience will be smooth too, getting out here was pretty simple, baby was awake but undisruptive. he slept the whole short first flight, but then only about an hour on the 4 hour flight, it helped the guy next to me had noise cancelling head phones but i hated getting him up to change diapers. no movie which i thought was weird but good salmon dinner!

i am really excited to see wiley and archer again and sad i missed the cake decorating party but will make up for it this coming weekend.

The 336

Life in Greensboro is good so far. We have adjusted well and are enjoying it. Bobby is even getting used to the barking, and only occasionally gets spooked still. He was doing great the last couple days, working up to almost 5 hours straight of sleeping for a couple nights. This is however from 9-2am so if I don't go to bed until 11, I don't get all that sleep too. The last two nights have been more of a blur and he has quit sleeping after about 2 and I don't know where the hours go until 7am. Oh well. He is growing and eating. Currently, he's been asleep for 2.5+ hours so I might pay for that later. He's also doing well when we go shopping and run errands, provided he is fed well and generally stays in motion. He has behaved really well for Grammy while I go to the gym and takes his bottle when hungry.

I am still a city person and hate having to drive 12 minutes to the gym. Ick.
And people down here have real thick accents sometimes.

Comparison Shopping

So I've been looking through old flickr a lot. it's actually fun, i just wish they had an easier way to scroll through. Beside the point.

It is wild to see how kids grow. Wiley at 11 months was a totally different creature. when he was just learning to walk etc. wow

then since Carolyn has birth pics up, I've come to the realization, that babies are sort of generic looking. Not in a bad way at all, but they don't look like much at 5 weeks. just cute. I see a lot of similarities btw Cash and Bobby. Cash is a lot chubbier though, even for 9.12, we are at 9 and a half pounds or so but don't have the cheeks Cash did. I think Bobby might be long for his weight right now. I am feeding him a lot, I want him to get big and fat. Also, if that's what brown hair looks like on babies, we don't have it here. Still TBD.

Grammy is on her way, we are excited to have company again.

i'm screwed

so i've been waiting for the baby to get up so i can feed him, but he is out. and has been. basically since 2pm. he's gotten up twice to eat but then goes down again for 2.5-3 hour chunks. this might be a long night for me. i guess i'll lie down now too.
we were up a lot last night and all morning We slept well 9ish-12pm Thursday, and 12-2:30am but then he was up until 5am, slept until 6am, up until 7:30, up after 8:30am then awake until 2pm. so i hope he's making up for that instead of taking away from tonights rest.

July

nothing going on. had a good visit with rick. sad to see him go again.

1 month visit for the kid on Monday. he was 9 pounds, 6 ounces. 21.5 inches or something like that. length was pretty inprecise. got a hep B vaccine. big needle right in his skinny thigh. couple good screams then settled down.

i went to my follow up OB appt today. i am all healed. the nice little old lady nurse thought i was doing good since i was 14 pounds less than my 17 week check up. didn't mention i was still 18 pounds over my 10 week appt weight.

baby is pretty good. he gets fussy at spells and won't settle down but they don't last long at all. he spits up what i think is a lot, and i assume he eats too much too fast but then starts crying for food about 5 minutes later. odd. pooping less which i guess is normal.

i am getting pretty cabin feverish, but there's only so many errands i can create and do. and things i would do inside i can't do unless i ignore him. i don't like walking too long since if he gets hungry i can't plop down on a curb and feed him just like that. so it will be nice when i can hopefully pass him onto grammy to watch at naptime and i can go to the gym or something.

4th of July

Robert is one month old. Yay. It is nice having Rick here. He has changed a lot of diapers for me! Also did laundry and some house errands. And I took a really long shower today. It's nice to just have company too. If I could somehow wrangle a pedicure and massage, life would be great. We have a doctors appt on Monday then Rick leaves in the evening.

We went to the Outback for dinner. Robert did really well (sleeping). We also spent today at the pool while Rick practiced his swimming. Tonight we watched fireworks then walked to Wendys for a frosty in the moby wrap.

Looks like I will be out of here around the 15th. I think that is a good timeline and I am ready to be in North Carolina. I think it will be fun.