Gimme Some Pears

We introduced Jack to some solid food today for the first time - Pears! He has intrigued by them. I was really expecting him to get all excited and gobble them on up, but he seemed more curious and focused than anything else. I figure solid foods will be "recreational eating" for a while, since I plan on breast feeding for quite a while longer.

He definitely did not reject them, though!

It was a good Easter weekend. We spent all day Saturday in the yard mulching and blowing leaves. We spent this afternoon planting some azaleas. The yard looks like a park now. I will post pictures soon. Only one downfall, Dan and I both are having some sort of allergic reaction to something in the yard. I was up most of last night itching and scratching my face and hands and today Dan's hands and arms have some sort of itch rash. Not so fun...

We headed to grandma's and granddad's for lunch with GiGi, Michael, Jenny and Caroline. It was a blast! All of the little ones are getting so big! Caroline is picking words up left and right! So cute!

Teething Reflection

I am having some mommy emotionalism. We think that Jack is getting ready to sprout a couple of teeth and it is making ME very emotional (hormonal, who knows). I know that I should be celebrating every milestone (and I am), but I am also very aware of the fact that my baby is rapidly shedding his infantile ways. Yes, you say, it is only natural that he grow and change. But, why does it have to happen so quickly?! Why can't the baby years last longer? I guess this is why you really have to enjoy every day with them.

Night Moves

It's 3 am and I am up. Not because I am feeding Jack, but because I have to pump. This is Day 3 of no swaddling. He has been doing great. Just a little crying each night when we first put him down. The first night, he woke up twice to eat; second, once and so far none tonight. *Yawn* I am done pumping, so off to bed for me.

Visit from the proud Grandparents

These are some pictures from Dan's parents visit last weekend. Jack had such a great time with his grandparents! And, I am pretty sure that grandma and granddad enjoyed themselves as well. They spent a lot of time together, which gave mom and dad a chance to get some much needed sleep. Between Jack's booster shots last week and bunking in with us this weekend, he has gotten a little off on his sleep schedule. All in addition to him wanting to stay up and visit with the grandparents!




Dan and I also decided last night that it was time to go ahead and try to break Jack of his swaddle. Last night he cried for about half and hour and then was out. He woke up a couple of times during the night (and successfully convinced mom to let him eat both times), but went back to sleep without too much ado. We also turned off our monitor (although I admit I kept sneaking a listen).

We also decided to add just a smidgeon of rice cereal to his milk tonight to try and fill him up through the night. I am too easily convinced to come to his feeding rescue. Once a night I really don't mind - it is great bonding time, especially with me back at work. I think I would be OK with just an early morning feeding before I go to work though. It is weird to think that I have not slept through the night in more than 6 months! I don't know what I will do with an abundance of sleep. I may also just miss our 3 am feeding - but hopefully not that much...:)

Doctor Visit

Jack had a visit to the doctor's today. Everything looks great. He is 17 lbs 15 oz (95%). I guess my previous weigh in was off. He is also about 26 1/2 inches (90%). He got his booster shots - 4 in the legs. He was a pretty tough little man though.

We had a rough night last night. Mr. Monkey was up several times and eventually i just gave up and decided that we were up for the day at about 5:30 or so. We had some play time and then a nice big nap.

Hopefully tonight will be better. The doctor says that we should be able to transition out of the swaddle soon, but I don't think that tonight's the night for us to start trying.

Morning of Wonder

Jack was so funny this morning. We awoke to sounds of him cooing and singing over the monitor. I went in to feed him and he was just lying in his crib smiling away. He was so distracted that he barely ate! He'd crane his neck to see what the teddy bear behind me was up to; he'd twist the opposite way to see if any of the pictures on the wall had changed since last night; he'd eat a little bit and decide it was more fun to just smile at me and play with his blanket. Very cute! Thank goodness he has so much chunk, otherwise I would be afraid he would starve!

Sling baby

I love my Maya Wrap and my Peanut Shell (although I think Jack may be too big for it now). Jack rode around in the sling all morning while we were doing some shopping. He is big enough to sit "kangaroo-style" facing outward. He loves looking at everything that way versus staring at the inside of a pouch. It is also nice because strangers are much less likely to touch your baby if he is attached to you! :)

Meet Jack

Jack just turned 4 months old! All day long he sings and talks and coos. We actually got our first real laugh earlier this week, although he will only do it sporadically. It really melts my heart to hear it. I thought his first smiles were good - this is somehow even better.

I think I see a future Wahoo here!!!




He is at the point where he seems to be changing daily. He is definitely a little chunk of a man. We go for a doctor's check-up on Tuesday. I will update then, but I think that he is pushing 20 pounds!


He loves his monkey, hippo and, of course, his daddy pony. He has started to stand and sit-up with assistance, but still needs some help with balance - laying down is for babies!!



Since this is my first blog, here are some pictures over the past four months to catch everyone up...

After about 35 hours of unproductive labor, Jack was delivered via C-section. He weighed in at 8lbs 1oz and was 20 inches long. He is, of course, the most beautiful baby in the universe.

I think this picture was taken at about 1 month old. Cute little bugger, isn't he. We used to head out of the house and walk around the outdoor malls in town as soon as I could get him up and fed. We had so much fun window shopping together!

His cousin, Caroline, was so excited to see him for the first time in this outfit. I think that she was convinced that he was an actual little teddy bear! So cute!

Jack has always been a very cuddly little man. He just loves to snuggle up with mommy and daddy. It is just like heaven! Some mornings when I am feeding him before heading to work, we just sit and cuddle in the rocking chair. I could stay like that forever!

This was probably about the time that he started smiling. The thing that would always get him smiling was me peeping into his crib and saying, "There is my handsome man!" I am sure that he is going to think that his name is Handsome.

Christmas at the great grandparents! What fun! Jack is about 2 months old here. And already starting to get big! I really notice it when other people hold him.

And here he is with his GiGi. This is Grandma Jack, one of his namesakes. He loves when she sings songs to him.

Our little child prodigy! He must take after his daddy, because mommy has zippo talent. He actually did like to ping away at the keys a little bit. I am sure he will grow into his skills! :)

This is Jack a little bit more than three months old. He is in 6 month clothing pretty much exclusively at this point. Apparently his daddy was a chunk at his age, so perhaps that is where he gets it...