Thursday, March 1, 2007 - feeling especially large and pondering how late you would arrive, mommy settled in to watch a few episodes of the Wire on DVD (courtesy of aunt maureen) -- not appropriate for babies to watch, but a very well-written drama exploring the underworld of the Baltimore drug-world -- I digress -- after 6 episodes, you decided this would be the day that you started your journey to the outside (very punctual - as your due date was March 2nd) and around 3:45 in the afternoon started making your decision to enter this world known. 19 hours and about 20 minutes later, we got to 9 cm without an epidural (CRAZY MOMMY!), 1 cm with an epidural -- you, little boy made your grand entrance at 10:04 am on Friday, March 2, 2007 - right on time. And now a much briefer recap of the past 4 months.
March 2, 2007One week after you were born, mommy was back in the hospital with multiple infections (kidney, uterin, bladder)...not a good start to our life together. You were a trooper though, settling in with nana and daddy for a few days while mommy got better. And a funny thing happened while at the hospital, we discovered your love of the vacu
um as a soothing sound, after spending a long day at the hospital you were upset (rightfully so) and wanting to go home, daddy was helping me get setting in my hospital room, you were crying and then the cleaning lady started vacuuming -- you were quiet, she stopped vacuuming to come see you, you started crying - quick - "TURN ON THE VACUUM!" we then strategically placed vacuums and dust busters throughout the house to calm you in your most upset moments and now, you are lulled to sleep with the sound of the vacuum playing on your CD player - whatever works, right? During those first few weeks I made the first of many "first time mommy mistakes"(hereafter known as FTMM)...waking the sleeping baby to eat. They tell you in the hospital, don't let the baby go more than four hours without eating, wake him up...well, I think you gladly would have gone longer had I not frantically watched the clock in the wee hours of the night and woken you up to eat - dumb mommy. Month one was relatively uneventful, punctuated by visits from lots of friends and family, lots of sleeping on your part and not so much on mommy's part! We capped off your first month of life by attending a housewarming party for Chris Schmalz -- and with it the first sign of the nap "trouble" to come -- you just did not want to close your eyes, instead preferring to stay awake and join the party -- more on naps to come.
April 2, 2007Eat, sleep, poop...repeat...much of the same and during this time another big FTMM -- naps -- one thing they do not tell the mommies and daddies in the hospital (that they should) is that not all bab
ies just magically close their eyes when they are tired and go to sleep -- no, instead some babies (yours truly) have to learn to take naps...well, mommy just assumed you wanted to be awake -- not true -- the result was that at the end of month two we had one OVERTIRED and cranky baby on our hands, time for some new nap guidelines...no more than two hours awake and then down for a nap. Speaking of naps, some would consider it a FTMM others just say "go with it" - for better or worse little boy, you are a motion junkie -- moving (swing, car, 
stroller) = nap, not moving = awake cranky baby - has made for some interesting naps (more to come in month four on that)...definitely a nap theme developing in this post. Other highlights from month two - smiles, you started handing them out during month two and haven't stopped since - and what a great little smile it is - i love it and enjoy every minute, knowing that you won't always smile for mommy. During month two you were also diagnosed with acid reflux, we put you on some baby Zantac...it got you through until you felt better (around 13 weeks) -- on to month three...
May 2, 2007Definitely our most difficult month together so far - but what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!
There were lots of tears on both our ends this month as you stopped napping, choosing to only close your eyes for 30 minute stretches (even in your swing), developed what we think was a lactose problem as you screamed as though all of the devils in hell were stabbing you with hot pokers pretty much all day -- however we then switched you to a soy formula and you stopped screaming. Not all difficult times though- you started "talking", you slept through the night (once), "sitting up" with the help of mommy or daddy is a favorite pastime, went to your first softball game, watched baseball with daddy on TV and settled into a nice bedtime routine. June was great, so rather than dwell on the turbulent month of May, let's move ahead to better times.
June 2, 2007My favorite month with you so far...after deciding to spend one more month at home with you before going back to work, we had a great time throughout the month of June - your smile and laughter are infectious, definitely mommy's little boy, you greet each morning full of smiles and laugher ("GOOD
MORNING MOMMY!!!!) and by 8:00 pm are ready for bed. This month was full of firsts...you took your first road trip up to Connecticut to visit Nana and Pop-Pop - and you did great, dozing most of the way (you also caught your first cold while up there, but didn't get too out of sorts), first time in a pool, you also attended your first wedding (of many more to come) and you were a perfect gentle
man, first trip into the city - other than to go to mommy's work and most importantly (according to some) made your first trip to happy hour. Your motion habits continue, with Nana and Pop-Pop literally swinging your hammock for an hour and a half at Aunt Kris' wedding to keep you asleep -- we figure you'll grow out of this eventually, until then, swing away little man, swing away. You are also destined to be a traveler -- we traveled out of town twice in June and both times you slept through the night - then once back home it was back to your normal up once during the night sleeping habits...you had your first cereal eating adventure, with 90% of it ending up on your face and 10% in your mouth. And on June 25th, mommy headed back to work and you and aunt maureen passed the time playing together, practicing rolling, having tummy time, taking long walks and even some longs naps.
July 2, 2007And now, at four months old you continue to delight and amaze me every day, last night you spent 20 minutes blowing raspberries at daddy, aunt maureen and I, followed immediately by vomiting all over yourself, then laughed...happy four month birthday little boy.
love,
mommy
4 comments:
Grandmom & Grandpa think you are very adorable and wish we didn't live so far away so we could be with you more often.
Grandpa has babysat for you and enjoys feeding you your bottles. He isn't fond of changing your diapers though.
Grandmom likes to hold you when you're not fussing and likes to watch TV with you, too. Changing your diaper is no problem for her.
And Kaz would like to kiss your feet. You must come to visit more often. Love ya :)
Jack-Man! We had so much fun when I got to stay with you for almost 2 weeks in late June when Mommy went back to work. We got up early, took a lot of walks around the block and to the Andorra Shopping Center, sang with your caterpillar, and of course, took naps! You have a great shy smile and when your Mommy's holding you and you smile, you tuck your face into her shoulder like a little shy bird. But anyone who has seen you wake up from a nap knows you are far from shy, smiley boy! See you again soon!
Little Jack-ster -- I had SOOOO much fun with you last week. We went for long walks, played "Patty-Cake", introduced you to cereal (which you loved), and took naps (very important!!!). I kissed your little baby feet and we both laughed! We went to see your great (grand??) Aunt Marge and Uncle Bill, and of course, they thought you were adorable! Sending flowers to Mom today (your first day of "school") was such a great idea -- always thinking my little boy! Love you - Nana
Great work.
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