I guess I should be excited....

Matthew has completed one whole week of sleeping through the night! And by sleeping through the night- I mean sleeping 10-12 hours without waking. I am NOT bragging, as I know bragging would just mean tonight he'll wake up 3 or 4 times...I'm simply stating a fact to let everyone know this wonderful news. Now I just have to manage not to get up at night to make sure he's still breathing, and I too will have plenty of rest!

Our boy has recently just decided "hey. I think I love to sleep." He is also sleeping a lot during the day. We saw the pedi today for a weight check (up one pound!) because he stopped eating as often and when getting breast milk in a bottle he only eats 2-3 ounces and she said he looks good. He may be going through a growth spurt (I thought they ate more?!) , in which case some babies sleep more. Or he may just feel a lot better from the Zantac working. Also, she said some breastfed babies don't drink as much from the bottle and that many can empty the breast in 5 minutes and be perfectly satisfied. Whatever the case, she said he'll eventually start being more awake during the day (and for now, get my sleep at night while this lasts! It could change again at any moment.)

Matthew's neck/head control is getting stronger. There is a lot less floppy head going on. He hates tummy time, and will only do about a minute, sometimes 2, at a time. But he's lifting his head up when he lays there and he roll himself over onto his back sometimes. He is smiling more and laughing some too. All in all, he's pretty darn good. And very darn cute.

Cute stuff

New Hat

Playing with Pepere
Hi Daddy!
Smiling at the dog

Our Adventure

Yesterday we ventured out to some outlet shopping, since I had a few coupons to use and Matthews needs some warmer clothes. It's starting to get a bit chilly here, so probably about time to pack up the summer clothes. I had an absolute ball shopping Carter's and Osh Kosh, and the coupons made it so much better. Needless to say, he'll be sporting some cute outfits this fall/winter!

On the way back we stopped at the beautiful Multnomah Falls. It was a great day to be outdoors! Matthew, Mom and me walked up about 1/2 mile, and my dad walked all the way to the top of the falls! Lots of good photo ops, hence the above pictures. Since we live in the middle of nowhere our day did consist of 6 hours in the car, and overall, Matthew was pretty darn good. He was clearly SO over being in that carseat for the last hour or so coming home, but really, who wouldn't be? We apparently tired him out....little man slept from 8:30 PM - 7:15 AM, without waking. ALL NIGHT IN HIS BIG BOY CRIB in his own bedroom!!!! Hoorah for that! I don't care if it was a fluke (ahem...the night before he was up at 1:30), it was glorious to be in bed that long. (we did have to check to make sure he was still breathing a few times) :-)

Mama got out of the house

Well, usually he gets the sleepy eyes after the swaddle is on. Last night, he just smiled and smiled at me. I think it's because he was so happy I was home to swaddle him correctly (read story below...)

By myself. No baby, no husband, no dog. And not to a dr's appointment. Oh happy day!

I truth, I've gotten out twice myself-last Saturday to go shopping and Thursday night to play Bunco. On Saturday, when I left the house, Matthew was sleeping in his swing. When I arrived home some 3 hours later, Matthew was sleeping in his swing. Yup. Daddy's first adventure in babysitting was a piece of cake. The boy slept the whole time and then woke up starving about 10 minutes after I got home. Mike thought babysitting was SO easy. Oh, just you wait. The fun is yet to come.

On Thursday I went with a lady from my neighborhood to a fundraiser for a women's organization- it was bunco night! It was my first time playing this game. It was pretty fun. There's not much to it, you basically just roll dice fast. I guess. And there's really no skill involved. I did however win the prize of "the most losses of the night". Yes indeed- I won 2 tickets to next years rodeo. Oh boy.

The funniest part of the evening was when I got home though. Matthew apparently gave daddy a run for his money by crying the first hour I was gone and refusing the bottle. He then gave in a drank...then cried some more. Finally daddy gave him a bath, which always calms him down. Apparently when he tried putting him to bed Matthew was again not having the bottle (probably not hungry since he ate the last one so late). Daddy's instructions were to "swaddle him tight." This is how he falls asleep and stays asleep. Well, Mommy comes home and Matthew's still making whining noises in the room. So, I walk in there.....his arms are free and flailing...the swaddle is tangled up around his legs from kicking....and he flashes me the hugest grin I've ever seen from him as if to say "Thank God you're home!" It was sweet and I laughed myself to sleep thinking about him laying there all a mess with that grin. These are the moments I live for.

Friday I had two ladies over for lunch- I made some yummy food! Mmmm...it was nice to have people to cook for and to have visitors. Matthew fell asleep on my neighbor, it was cute. Tomorrow my parents arrive from Connecticut and I'm so EXCITED!! I'm looking forward to the visit and can't wait for my dad to finally see and hold his grandson!! It will be a great week.

Ten weeks later....

and I am without a wound vac!!!! :-) I officially got rid of that piece of machinery on Friday, AND I don't have to go to wound care appointments anymore! I am super duper excited about this. My incision is almost completely closed. There is still a little section (about 1 1/2 inches) that is open, but it should close up just fine since it's not deep anymore. Phew. What a mess. I go back to my OB tomorrow (yes, most NORMAL people only have a 6 week post-baby visit, but I get to go back over and over). Hopefully he will agree that it looks good and I can be done with those visits as well.

I was talking with the ladies at the wound care clinic last week about how difficult this has been. Imagine having a newborn, who you are trying to get to know, trying to provide a normal and stable environment for, etc, etc. Instead of going with the flow and figuring him out, I was having to wake him from naps at odd times to bring him with me to my appointments, sometimes 4 times a week! I honestly don't know what I would have done without the kindness of the office staff there who would often watch Matthew or hold him for me, as I got my dressing changed. He was often tired, hungry, cranky, or all of the above and there's not a whole lot I can do laying on that table. I am so looking forward to just normal life with him- without the disruptions of medical appointments.

Matthew is doing well. He is a little eater, I have decided. He gains weight just fine, so I don't see a problem- he's just not one to pack away lots of milk at once. His sleeping has overall improved. He loves having a night time routine and is usually in bed asleep by 8:15 or so. He has had quite a few nights where he'll sleep until 4 or 4:30 (8 hours?!?!), wake to eat, then sleep another 3 or so hours. It's been nice. It's not quite consistent yet, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel I do believe.

We are taking a family trip at the end of October!! We are very excited to be able to fly to Austin for my cousins wedding. We definitely look forward to it and to Matthew being able to meet more family finally. After the wedding we are driving up to dallas/fort worth area to visit with all our friends and then probably down to Houston to visit a few other friends. It'll be a long week for the little guy and Mike and I are both complete nervous wrecks about taking Matthew on the plane (he is a loud little guy....we're hoping by then he's calmed down a little bit).

Now that I'm doing better, Matthew and I are enjoying nice walks around the neighborhood. The weather is beautiful in the morning (still a bit hot in the afternoons), and he loves to ride in his stroller. It's very peaceful, and perhaps I can FINALLY get some baby weight off of me. Months of bed rest and then limited activity due to incision malfunction has not been great for me.

That's about all from the home front.

You know you're a reflux baby when....

.....instead of a "security blanket", you have a "security burp cloth"!!

My boy is funny. He has taken to pulling the burp cloth off my shoulder after I burp him and clutching onto it. He even falls asleep with it snuggled up next to his face, and cuddles it in the car.

Who needs a ducky?? (wink, wink...some of my aunties out there will get that one.)

Watch my Montage...turn on the volume for music!!

My Montage 9/7/08

Football Season has arrived!!!

My boy seriously likes to interact on the diaper changing pad.
I'm just chillin' (yes, yes, I KNOW he's not buckled in..I was right there and it was in the laying down position...I don't make a habit of it).
hmmm...not a fan of the Baby Bjorn. Guess he likes his sling and wrap better for now.
People watching at the mall.
He finally enjoys the bouncy seat!! And, he actually enjoys the toys on it now too! Phew...another way to entertain this kid.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL????

We no longer have to think of things to do on Sundays. Football season is here, and the whole family is excited! Daddy and Matthew are hanging out watching the game already, and mommy is just waiting for the Cowboys to come on later this afternoon. Matthew WILL be a Cowboys fan, whether he likes it or not :-)

2 Months Old!!

Quick..take the picture. I'm about to fall.
This is much better.
Enough with the kisses Mommy!!
Phew....that was quite the photo shoot.

Matthew turned 2 months old yesterday!! My how time flies...

-apparently 2 month olds don't like to sleep. At naptime, or at night time. Unless in a swing. Then it's the best sleep ever.
-he is smiling more and more every day.
-today he laughed at mommy while getting a diaper change. Not full out belly laugh, but an open-mouthed grin with little giggles. It was too cute for words.
-almost all of his newborn clothes have been packed away now- there are a few outfits that remain, and even a few labled "newborn" that are too big for him. But for the most part, he's in his 0-3's now. Same with diapers- he's officially in a size 1.
-socks will not stay on his feet. Ever. He kicks too much.