6 Weeks!!

Wow! What a fun week!

Last Saturday, a very dear friend hosted a sip and see for my Mom's friends to meet Nate. A lot of her friends were out of town so it was a small gathering of 10 to 15 people... It was perfect. It was great to see the people who came and I wasn't over whelmed by it. Nate was an angel. Slept a little into the party, woke up and ate then was alert and happy for about an hour before he got sleepy.

On Sunday, Nate went to church for the first time!
It was wonderful! Great to be back at New World and rock out to the band, The Way! Nate slept through the whole thing! He stirred during the sermon but was conked out while the band played. :)

On Monday we went to Justin and Rachel's to meet Nate's new cousin, Reagan. Rachel and I had due dates one week apart from the beginning. Then Nate came early and Reagan was born exactly one month later.. On her due date. :) She's so beautiful!
Nate got all dressed up to meet his cousin and did the cabbage patch dance while Daddy took pictures. :)

When we got home we went upstairs to get the rooms ready for our friends to come visit from Florida! I am so excited to see them!! Nate was asleep in his carseat so we put him in his crib while we worked. So technically he slept in his crib for the first time.

On Tuesday, Nate and I loaded up the car and drove up North to meet his Denton Family! He got to meet the Ya-Yas, his Darlin, Aunt Jan, Aunt Katie, Aunt Jamie, GG, Uncle Ben and his new best friends, Logan and Riley.

Katie and I have been best friends since 6th grade. We were so excited to be pregnant together and her son Riley was born a little less than a month after Nate. So excited to raise our sons together!

Today, we are headed to Possum Kingdom. So grateful to be able to show Nate our happy place!

At 6 Weeks, Nate is:
Watching out the window (can watch for about an hour if his belly is full).
Eyes sometimes cross while trying to focus
Slept from 1am to 6am on Monday
Needing more calming this week
Using sound machine outside of Simba and right in his ear to calm him... It's working!
Read our 1st book! Nate actually focused on it. It's a black and white book from his Great Aunt Susie.
He's just a dream!!

Weighed him at home and it says a little over 11 pounds. Growing Boy!!!

5 Weeks

Kevin and I have a difference of opinion when it comes to nicknames for our son. Mine, angel face. Kevin's, fart sack. Seriously.

I got on the scale at my house, took a mental note of the number (I'm down 5 lbs from where I was when I got pregnant... Which is awesome.) then held a swaddled Nate who just ate... Was shocked to see the number.. Exactly 10lbs. Not the most accurate way to measure, but it gives us an idea. He was 8 lbs and 5oz last Tuesday. So in 8 days he's put on 1 lb and 11oz. That's 3.25 oz a day. Talk about a growth spurt!!! Thinking I need to take off a few ounces for the blanket and full belly, though.

I'm not gonna lie. It's been a rough couple of days. On Tuesday night, Nate screamed from 8:30pm to midnight.

He ate 4.5 oz at 8:30pm and started screaming and rooting when the bottle was done. He normally eats 3oz a bottle. We thought, there is no way he's still hungry! So we thought it was gas. Then an hour later he was still screaming and rooting. So we gave him another ounce. He ate it and continued to fuss and root.

At 10:30pm we gave him 2oz. At this point he'd had 7.5 ounces in 2 1/2 hours. Wasn't spitting up at all and still screaming and rooting.

We decided he was exhausted. Put him in the car seat to calm him down. Normally when he's tired that will put him right out. Nope.

At midnight he was still rooting. We feed him one more ounce and he finally calmed down. Put him in his sleeper. Slept for 15 minutes and woke up screaming again. Kev brought him between us on the bed and laid him on his side and he was out. So we got the snuggle surround back out and he slept between us last night. Guess he really tired himself out because he slept until 5:30am!

We finally watched the "Happiest Baby on the Block" video that Katie gave us. We were already doing most of the things... But when we swaddled him, we'd leave his arms out. He likes to have his hands at his chin so we thought, why fight it. Well, we read that having their arms unsecured can wake them up. We've swaddled him with his arms down today and he calms down so fast and is sleeping really well. Praise Jesus!

On Tuesday, Kev and I took Nate back to the hospital for bloodwork. We were supposed to take him by like his 8th day of life, but we forgot. Luckily they still had the paperwork and we were able to get it done. Nate took it like a champ. Didn't even wake up when she pricked his heal and squeezed the blood out. I was all ready to soothe him too. :) So glad he didn't need it.

His war wound:

Nate at 5 weeks:
Starting to grow out of newborn clothes
Noticed the lights of the TV
Followed my phone screen when it was lit up
Watched the mobile spinning in his pack and play
Has moved back to the snuggle surround for sleeping as he sleeps longer on his side and stretched out. Longest he's slept so far is 5 1/2 hours.
Is cluster eating at night (eats full amount then still hungry and will eat another ounce every hour until next feeding) sometimes this type of eating is accompanied by screaming, for 3 hours. Not often. But not fun.
Still sleeping well in the late hours and early morning.
Crying more and more aware of sounds
Will eat anywhere from every 2 to 4 hours.
Grabbed my hair and kept some in his hand when I pulled my hair out of his hand
Likes to root on Kevin's nose (and its starting to hurt Kevin)
Saw his Grandma at her house for time 1st time on her birthday.
We are worried his head is starting to flatten on the back.
Will stay awake for 2 to 3 hours at a time.
Met his Uncle Jeff at 4 weeks and 5 days

Lots of 1st

We'll start with Father's Day. We had a very relaxing day. After Nate's midnight feeding, he and kevin were sound asleep. So i snuck into the dining room and wrapped his present. Since we are both on summer break and both staying home a lot I was wondering when I'd get this done.

Nate woke us up for his early morning feeding around 5am. Kev went to let Murphy out and didn't even notice the gift bag and cards on the counter. Ahhhh, my hubby. I mentioned it to him and like a kid he wanted to open his off right then. Who could blame him?

Nate got him an engraved frame with his favorite picture inside and a new smoker. Not a bad Father's Day. The rest of the day was spent in our normal routine of feeding, changing and pumping. But we Nate and I did to to my parents house to see his GDaddy on Father's Day and to give his own Daddy some much deserved alone time.

Happy 1st Grandfather's Day to my Daddy!!

Proud GDaddy and Glammye!

Nate got his GDaddy a new money clip the is engraved with:

GDaddy
5-16-2013

Nate's birthday and also the day he became a grandfather.

It was a great day!

Nate also got to meet his Uncle Jeff for the 1st time this week!

It's so good to see my brother. He drove down from Colorado to meet Nate! He also can't get enough of his nephew. He's headed here in a bit. :)

My Cousin Justin and his wife, Rachel had their 1st baby, a girl, on her due date! Who does that!!! Nate and I were able to go meet her for a quick visit on her birthday.

Reagan Diane was born on June 16th. What a great Father's Day gift!! She's so beautiful!! Can't wait to watch her grow!

As for what Nate is doing. I'm going to save that for his 5 week post tomorrow. Can't believe how fast time is going. He's so precious.

4 Weeks!!

Seriously!!! Time slow down! For the past couple of days I've really been dreading nights. I don't mind pumping during the day... I don't mind waking up at night to feed my angel... But I hate knowing that I'll have to stay up for even longer after I get him back to sleep to pump. Blah. That whole process, feeding him, getting him back to sleep and pumping takes about an hour. Which is not so bad when he wants to eat every 3 hours... But lately it's been every 2 to 2 1/2. He is a growing boy. And this too shall pass.

But I had a moment today. I was looking at the clock and realized the day is almost gone. It's going by so fast. Before I know it, summer will be over and I'll be back to work. So I need to treasure the late night feedings... Stare at him while I'm pumping... Hold him a little longer.

We went to the Dr last Tuesday because we were worried about acid reflux. Luckily our Dr doesn't think he has it. Gave us some feeding and burping tips and they seem to be working.

Going to re-evaluate at his 2 month check.

But he did get his stats taken.
At 3 weeks and 5 days:
8lbs 5oz
21 1/4 inches long
37" head circumference

So he's gained 22oz (1lb 6oz) in 11 days! Most babies gain an ounce a day! Praying my body can keep up with this growth spurt. So happy he's growing and healthy!

This is my nightly set up. Anything to save time in the wee hours. Trial and error has lead to a pretty great system.

Fun facts about Nate at 4 weeks:

Sleeping in Fisher Price Rockin' Play sleeper next to our bed.
Will stay awake for 2 hours at a time.
I swear he followed my finger the other day, hasn't since.
Recognizes our voices and will turn head and eyes trying to find us.
Loves to kick his feet.
Eating a TON! Ate 6oz of breast milk in a 4 hour span today.

Spitting up less using these techniques:
Level 1 nipples
Hold him up and let him rest every 1/2oz then burp by rubbing back and lightly patting if needed. (He still hates burping, but he's burping better and spitting up way less)

Tummy time:
has led to him trying to crawl.. Aka snaking.
Used hands to push upper body up.

LOVING every minute.

Amaze-balls

Omigoodness this little man is growing before our eyes. Went to my parents house on Saturday. Really wanted to know how much he weighed so we did an experiment. Not 100% accurate... But if puts us in the ball park. At 2 weeks he weighed 6lbs 15oz.

Mom got on the scale, weighed herself and then held Nate and weighed herself. Then we subtracted the difference. We got 8 1/2lbs. That means this little guy put on a pound and a half in one week! Doesn't surprise me. He's eating like a haas!

The Heldt's came over last night and Payton, Brooks and Nate were cute as could be. Kevin made a brisket. It was delicious!!!

After dinner the boys stayed at the house and Julianne and I took Payton to our community pool. She loved it!!

I love this little guy so much! I know I keep saying he's been more alert... But he has. He'll spend 2 hours just chilling, hanging out.. Fussing a little... No big deal.

Hello Summer!!

So excited for 12 weeks with my little family! Seriously never knew happiness like this existed.

Went to my school today to say goodbye to my friends and faculty family. It's bittersweet to leave. I know I will not regret to decision to not coach next year. But I will miss my best friends at school. Particularly the two that get me through the day.

I am excited to go to my new school. I have felt so welcome and wanted from the beginning. I'm so comfortable there already. I just wish I could bring my friends with me.

I went to my classroom to get a few things. I still need to clean it out and pack it up. I plan to do that a little at a time next week.

I have a tradition that I do every year. I do not allow the kids to write on my board throughout the year. But I always tell them on the last day they can write all over it. Well this year I wasn't there to tell them. But luckily one of my babies remembered and convinced the sub it was OK.

Then I found this note from my 5th period:

Ahhh!! I'm going to miss those kids!

In other news, Nate has a new hang out.. The rock'n play sleeper. So far he's loving it. This will be the first night he doesn't sleep in his snuggle surround. Finger crossed it goes smoothly. It'll be nice to have some room back on the bed and still have him right next to me.

And we got Nate's smile on camera!!! Been trying to get it for about a week. We took this family photo to celebrate summer and Nate was super excited his parents will be home with him for 12 weeks! So happy!!

Can't wait for the best summer yet!

3 Weeks Old!

I can't believe our angel is 3weeks old!!!

Fun facts about Nate at 3weeks:

Loves:
To hold his bottle (clasps hands under chin while eating and it holds his bottle up)
his hands on his face
To sleep poop and toot
Skin to skin
Laying on your chest
His pacifier
The car seat
The swing for about 2 minutes
Showing his strong neck muscles
Stretching
Baths
Making noises while he sleeps
His Simba sound machine from his Glammye and GDaddy


Hates:
Burping (breast milk comes out nose)
Being patient
Being cold
Having diaper changed

Nate:
Sleeps between us in his Snuggle surround
Eating 3oz of breast milk every 3 hours. Sometimes every 2 hours (only in the late evening)
Sleeps most of the day and cries only in the late evening when he's hungry, tired or needs diaper changed.
Will go 30 to 45 minutes of being alert and looking around.
Eyes are starting to lighten. Think he will have blue/grey eyes like his Daddy.
Not bothered by Murphy's barking.

Things people have said:
That's a good looking kid
Look at him holding his head up!
He looks like Kevin.
He looks like Alyssa.
He has Alyssa's nose.
He's perfect.
Look at those gorgeous blue eyes.
He's gripping my finger.
He's a doll.
He's so little.