Reflecting on month 1

I cannot believe that a month ago today I was given the best gift in the world!!

I am really lucky to have already had 4 weeks off with him and I still have 6 to go. I could have probably taken the rest of the school year, but I really don't mind going back to work. I am going to miss him, like ridiculously so..but I only have to get through 7-8 weeks and then its summer break. :)

So now that he is a month old, he is almost to the point where he smiles at mike and me in reaction to something we do. I can't wait for that first smile or first laugh. I need to get a video recorder so I dont miss anything. I have already noticed that his cry is different. I know that sounds weird, but when he was first born, he had the CUTEST cry. It quivered at the end and melted my heart. Mike noticed yesterday that he doesnt do it anymore. It made me sad because it was sooooo cute! Should have recorded it.

I feel lucky because I have him to bed by 10 every night. On REALLY good nights, he is in bed by 8:30. I normally start the process between 8-8:30. Most nights he sleeps 3-5 hours at a time and wakes just long enough to eat for 20-30 minutes and falls right back to sleep. I am ok with this routine. :)

My current struggle is helping him take naps during the day without him needing to be held. I decided to help him by recreating what I do for his nighttime routine. I swaddle him and rock him and hopefully it will work. We are 15 minutes into nap time and I am hoping for an hour or more. Guess we will see!!

I also havent been away from him yet. :-/ Every moment of his life...I have been there. I may try to give mike some alone time and go buy a pair of jeans soon....and maybe we will try a date night soon. I just dont want to be away from him...but if I am going back to work, I know I will need to experience it sooner rather than later.

Happy 1 month birthday, baby boy!

Mr. Man is Getting Bigger

Why are you getting so big? I knew this would happen....but so soon?? You're only 2 1/2 weeks old!!

At 2 and a half weeks old:

-I can already tell by looking at you that you're bigger. You are longer and more filled out. Some of your newborn clothes are getting too small.

Only a few days old here. I can tell a huge difference already!

-You love to snuggle and lay on your belly. Your favorite is to lay snuggled up on my chest near my neck. You are also getting more fond of tummy time.

LOVE THIS FACE!!!!!  (loving on auntie jodie)

-When you lay on my chest or your tummy, you are able to hold your head up. Last night, I cried because you held it up for almost 30 seconds just looking around the room. Seriously....stop getting so big!!

-The night we got home from the hospital, we tried putting you in this Infant-to-Toddler Rocker and you were too small. Your head fell forward. Luckily daddy noticed how to make it appropriate for infants. Today I tried it out as a rocker and you fit just fine!!!! Seriously.....stop getting so big!!!

Playing in your rocker

-I just realized today that I haven't read any books to you. I don't know what I was thinking!! I changed that and you just sat on my lap and looked at the books I read to you. I know it is a combination of being comforted from my touch and my voice, but I would LOVE it if you loved for me to read to you.

-After some advice from friends, last night was the first night you slept in your crib. ((YOU ARE SOO BIG!!)) It went wonderfully. I fed you, rocked you and had you asleep and laying in your crib at 10:30. I turned on the "heartbeat" sound on your mobile, checked the monitor and went to bed. You slept until 2:30!! I was able to feed you and put you back to sleep by 3 and then  you slept until 7! Then I fed you and you stayed awake until 8:30ish...napped until 10:30....we played and you are starting to nap again at noon. I know this sounds choppy, but with you not being right next to me, I got a deeper sleep. I am assuming you did too because I didn't pick you up at every little murmur you made.

-You alread have a ton of nicknames: Bubby. Bubba. Bubs. Little Man. Mr. Man. I tend to call you Bubby a lot. Not sure where it came from...just kind of happened.

-As much as I love watching you learn and grow, I don't mind if you slow down. You aren't far away from already being a month old. I am not looking forward to that. ((Well maybe a little)) :) 

We love you more than either one of us could have imagined

I LOVE YOU, BUBBY!