August 1 - Getting SO BIG

Saturday, August 1, 2009 - 

Your days are filled with lots of kicking and punching as you lay on your back and look around. When you lay in your playpen, you especially like to exercise. (We think you like it in there because at the top level it is BOUNCY and you are able to see the little blue hippos move... or MAYBE the only thing REALLY moving is YOU, but to you - it looks like everything else is moving.) 

Daddy is convinced that when you make your little fists and box your hands into the air, that it must mean that you are asking for A BOXER (puppy). You keep your hands clenched in tight, sweaty fists for most of the day. You like to hold onto things... especially to mommy's shirt when you are nursing. Sometimes, when you are getting really hungry - you hold onto your own clothes, which is kind of funny.

After a diaper change, you like to lay on the floor and look around. This is often when you are the smiliest and most talkative as well. You like to kick your legs, especially the right one. We joke that you are trying to get a motorcycle started, but can't quite get that kickstart. You've sure got LOTS of practice at it though!

When you lay on your back, there are a lot of times that you have your arms straight out from your sides. You quickly move your feet and then, it looks like you are trying to scurry across a tightrope. When you sleep in your crib at night, you also like to sleep with your arms out.

You still LOVE to stand up and look around, supporting most of your weight on your own.(You pretty much just need us for balance.) Jumping is so much fun for you too. When you bounce up and down, Mommy often sings "My baby's dancin'... my baby's dancin'..." which you think is funny. Daddy just thinks that Mommy is silly when she does that and he insists that you will have to learn dancing from him because he took dancing classes in college. (You stand, jump and dance like that in the bathtub, too!)

When you are trying to talk, you work really hard to figure out your tongue. You smile a lot and seem to get REALLY EXCITED when you finally figure out the sound that you were working so hard to achieve. You say COO, AH-GOO, GAH and OOO. When you say AH-ROO, you sound like a little werewolf-in-training.

Last night, daddy was holding you out on the sunporch and you had started crying MAAAA. (We noticed that your cries - that used to be WAAAAA have now turned to MA. We're not sure if it is because you are picking up on the references to MOMMA or MOMMY, but you've definitely picked up on the sound.) In fact, last night, you clearly said MA-MA... quick just like that! It may have been a pure accident, but it was as clear as day. Daddy and I just looked at each other in surprise. Then, daddy handed you to me - because we figured you had just asked for MA-MA. We had both wished that we had the camera running to capture it though.

You are up to 13 pounds 5 ounces. Your old 0-3 month Gerber sleep 'n plays are getting too small for you. You take up every inch of height in them and have recently been sporting 3/4 length sleeves. (We just bought you the 3-6 month Gerber sleep 'n plays this week, which should fit you better.)

You are getting SO BIG!

9 weeks old - photos and video

TODAY you are 9 weeks old and you weigh 13 pounds 5 ounces.

Caption Top Photo:

TODAY YOU are 9 weeks old. You hold your head up during TUMMY TIME. You love to stand and jump! You love to look around. You love to lay on your back to kick your feet and wiggle your arms. (Looks a lot like TAE-BO!) You smile a lot more now and you COO more each day. YOU are a delight!  07.30.09

Caption Middle Photo: 

The Many Faces of Sydney: We're just not quick enough with the digital camera yet... with that 3 second delay... to capture all of those smiles that are melting our hearts. 9 weeks: 07.30.09

While enjoying TUMMY TIME, you are enjoying looking at your book "Baby's First Animals". Today, you enjoyed the pictures of the Ducks, Pig, Cow, Horse and Rabbit. Someday, when you are bigger, Daddy wants to teach you that Bunnies CLUCK (Cadburry Bunny). I'm not sure how well that will go over when you go off to kindergarten though.

Someday, I picture this conversation:

Mom/Dad: What does the Cow say?

S: MOO

Mom/Dad: What does the Pig say?

S: OINK, OINK

Mom/Dad: What does the Bunny say?

S: CLUCK, CLUCK, CLUCK

Mom/Dad: What does the Duck say?

S: AFLAC!

and Daddy's personal favorite (which he'll be 100% responsible for) will be this...

Dad: What does Mommy say?

S: NO, NO, NO!

It's TOTALLY worth the price!

During our first week of being parents, we received a card from an Olson Family friend congratulating us on the newest addition to our family. Inside that card, she wrote: I know that you two will be awesome parents! Have fun.

I wondered, for a second, how she knew that we would be awesome parents. Was it a fellow mother's intuition? (Granted, we had both wanted this baby more than anything in the world and had spent the better part of the past year nourishing my body so that we could spend our lifetimes nourishing our child.)

Tucked inside of her card, was a printout called "The Price of Children". We sat on the couch and read it together, finding it touching. By the end, we were both choked up and had tears in our eyes. It was the perfect thing for us to read... being new parents and all. And being that we both had the same sentimental reaction to these words, I'm thinking she was right: WE WILL BE AWESOME PARENTS!

Here's what it said:

The Price of Children

This is just too good not to pass on to all. Here is something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but THIS is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

• $8896.66 a year,
• $741.38 a month,
• $171.08 a week.
• A mere $24.24 a day!
• Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is: don't have children if you want to be 'rich'. Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00?

• Naming rights. First, middle and last!
• Glimpses of God every day.
• Giggles under the covers every night.
• More love than your heart can hold.
• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
• Endless wonders over rocks, ants, clouds and warm cookies.
• A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
• A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:

• finger-paint,
• carve pumpkins,
• play hide-and-seek,
• catch lightning bugs,
• never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

• keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
• watch Saturday morning cartoons,
• go to Disney movies, and
• wish on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray-painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

• retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
• taking the training wheels off a bike,
• removing a splinter,
• filling a wading pool,
• coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and
• coaching a baseball team that never wins, but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:

• first step,
• first word,
• first bra,
• first hit,
• first basket
• first date,
• first time behind-the-wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You get to teach religion, psychology,  nursing, criminal justice, communications and human sexuality that no college can match...

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. This is quite a deal for the price!

Love enjoy your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren! It's the best investment you'll ever make!

First Date and Babysitter Post-Baby

This afternoon, Daddy worked until 2pm. When he came home, we enjoyed a quick lunch and then scurried off for our first "DATE" since having a baby. Mom had her cell phone tucked into her bra - on vibrate mode - just in case we were needed while on our outing. We went to see the new movie "The Ugly Truth" and we both enjoyed it.

I had been a little apprehensive about leaving him, but think I handled the separation anxiety rather well. Sounds like Sydney did just fine, too!

When we got home, Sydney was sleeping and mom spotted a pacifier on the table. (OOPS, TOTALLY slipped my mind to find one before we left... thankfully, there was a dirty one on the counter, but I'm told Sydney didn't want it anyways.) We're told how puzzling it is that Sydney can go from fussy to sound asleep without a moment's notice. The walk in the stroller was reportedly a very short distance because Sydney fell asleep so quickly. (We're often amazed by this phenomenon as well.)

A few days ago, Daddy manually ran the piston off of the breast pump supplies so that we could extract some milk for baby while Mommy held the rest of the apparatus. (Daddy has been wanting a chance to feed Sydney since it has been the better part of 6 weeks since he has eaten from a bottle now.) Unfortunately, Sydney appears to have forgotten how to drink from a bottle and was getting fussy with that option while we were trying to prepare dinner. Eventually, we gave up on the bottle and Sydney got to go to Mommy for his meal. (Which was probably a RELIEF for both of us!)

Daddy cooked our Cabbage Bake for dinner; although, with the house being 80°F, it wasn't the best time to run the oven. Then, we all enjoyed dinner and some more smiles & talking from Sydney.

Sydney has been a busy little boy... smiling more and more each day. He's also starting to "TALK" a little more each day. His periods of WAKE are mostly happy and alert. He LOVES to look around. He, and daddy, are currently sleeping. So, I'm thinking that I may forego the dinner dishes, grab a quick shower and get a little sleep myself. 

Yesterday, Sydney ate QUITE frequently. (Earlier morning feedings; then, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 5:15pm, 9pm) I had to wake him for a 9pm feeding before I went to bed last night. Then, he slept until we woke him around 4am. He sure was a sleepy little guy!!! So, we'll see if I wake him for a feeding before I go to bed... that buys me more time during the night. It sure is nice when he sleeps through the night!

Off to grab that shower...

8 weeks old today

Today, Sydney turned 8 weeks old. 

Hard to  believe how fast that went! 

He's had a rather fussy day today. Might elaborate later, but for now, I'm hoping to get some much-needed sleep. (And hoping that he will settle down for the night soon too... he cries every few minutes, but IS tired.) Crying again; Better go check on the little squirt, but by the time I get there, he might just fall asleep again... just one of those days!

Napping w/ Uncle Mike (self portrait)

Uncle Mike shut down his rig here - at a truckstop just minutes from our house. Sydney and mommy picked him up late morning. Then, we all enjoyed some breakfast before Uncle Mike napped.  When Daddy got home, we snuck out of the house to go downtown for Iowa license plates. When we got back, Sydney settled down in Uncle Mike's armpit for an afternoon nap. (Daddy had to take "Frank the neighbor" to the hospital after mommy saw him fall down his front steps; new bifocals are to blame for the arm/shoulder injury.) Sydney is having dinner now so that the big people can go out for dinner to Carlos O'Kelly's for mexican fare.

PHOTO: Self portrait via iPhone

Documenting 7 weeks old with pics and video

Sydney is 7-and-a-half weeks old now. Here are a few pictures from the past week, as well as a photo from yesterday's nap and Sydney's special bonding time with DA-DA (caught on video without Daddy knowing it). ENJOY!

Be careful what you wish for - Talking to baby

For a while now, mommy has been having to remind daddy of the importance to talk to Sydney. She reminds him that Sydney gets to hear her voice all day long and that it is necessary for Sydney to hear daddy's voice as well.

Well, sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for....

Within the past few days, daddy has been busy talking to Sydney. As they sit in the recliner, Daddy tells him "You get to sit with DA-DA in DA-DA's recliner and watch the television with DA-DA." 

(He throws DA-DA into casual conversation wherever it is humanly possible because he is hopeful that if he keeps working at it, DA-DA will be the first words uttered by that precious little voice.) Daddy REALLY wants DA-DA to come before MA-MA because he feels that mommy has the advantage of spending 24/7 with baby and is convinced that mommy and baby practice MA-MA all day long while daddy works, which is FAR FROM TRUE.

Daddy has gone as far as to tell Sydney "You see that lady over there? Yes, that is DA-DA's wife and she will be providing you with supper since DA-DA doesn't have milk for DA-DA's baby, but DA-DA's wife does." Then, as he passes off the baby for his feeding, says "Here you go DA-DA's wife. Here is DA-DA's baby who is hungry - like his DA-DA. That's right... DA-DA."

As obnoxious as it is, it is actually kind of funny.... especially when the What to Expect the First Year book states that "despite many-a-mother's dismay, DA-DA is most often uttered before MA-MA despite the countless hours that baby spends with mommy; most likely because DA-DA is simply easier to say."

Needless to say, mommy asked for it! Mommy requested that Daddy talk to Sydney.

Every day, we ask Sydney "Can you talk?" The best time is when he is well-rested and has just been diapered. (This is the time that he tends to enjoy laying on the floor and kicking his legs. This is when he is smiley and you can tell he's trying REALLY HARD to talk, but can't quite grasp the concept of his tongue and vocal cords working together to make sounds.)

He says COO and A-GOO somewhat regularly. (Mommy asks him "Who is this A-GOO you speak of?", to which he just smiles or squeals with delight.)

Mommy warns daddy that because she is a stay-at-home-mom and has all the time in the world to talk to Sydney, he will most likely be a chatterbox, like his mom. (You can imagine Daddy's excitement about that.)

Funny how you spend countless hours encouraging them to talk, but once they learn to be sassy, you spend years wishing they would be quiet. (We'll hope for minimal sass.)

Tonight, Sydney made a MA sound. That's when DA-DA passed him off to be fed. (Maybe we'll just pretend that he meant to say that...)

Looking up

When reading about 7 week old infants and their abilities, we are surprised by Sydney. For just 7 weeks old, we find him to have great strength. He holds his head up very well. He likes to stand up and jump. Sometimes, when he is in just the right mood, he likes to make eye contact, smile and coo.

We read that he should be tracking objects. We've noticed that he doesn't really do that all that much. He loves to look around. He loves looking at items with high contrast of light/dark. He likes staring at the windows. Instead of looking directly at our faces, however, we notice that he often looks over our heads, making us wonder WHY he's always looking UP?

Mike theorized the other day with many examples and reasons WHY he would look up. Here's some reasons that we came up with.

Maybe someday, you will be:

• an air traffic controller
• a pilot
• an elevator repairman
• a window washer
• an electrician
• a weatherman or storm chaser
• a lightbulb changer
• a birdwatcher
• a painter
• a hot air balloon tracker
• an astronomer
• OR the president of an Optimists Club.

Keep looking up, kiddo! Reach for the stars!

A perfect blend

The middle and right babies are mommy and Uncle Mike in September '77. (We were due in July, but born in May.) The way I figure is that we MIGHT be close to the same size as Sydney (left) is now.

In a recent email, a past co-worker of Daddy and I exclaimed that Sydney looks JUST LIKE his mom. I admit, Sydney DOES have an Olson chin and takes after the color of his Uncle Mike's blue eyes, but I don't see THAT CLOSE of a resemblance.

I'm still going with this...

Sydney looks like a great combination of his mom and his dad because at times, he flashes an expression that screams OLSON, but most of the time, he still looks an awful lot like his dad.

7 weeks old

Sydney, at 7 weeks old, you:

• Smile a lot
  
• Hold your head up quite a bit, looking like a Bobble Head doll when you get tired
• Are starting to find your voice with little coo's
  
• Know mommy & daddy's voices (and smells)
• Are starting to sleep longer stretches at night
• Wail less - having distinct cries for gas/burps, hunger or wanting to be held
• Smack your lips when you are hungry (or lick the shirt/arm of whomever is holding you)
• Love to look around outside
• Love to stand up with assistance
• Love to jump with assistance
• Love taking baths with mommy or daddy
• Love being held
• Love to snuggle, especially when you are tired
• Love to ride around in the Moby Wrap or front pack
• Have huge hands and you use them to hold on tightly to mommy's shirt so that she has a harder time sneaking you into your bed at night or for naps
• Have very good hearing
• Get hiccups a lot, which makes you throw up after eating
• Like to fall asleep while eating... must be because it is so comfortable in mommy's arms
• Clench your fists tightly when you are mad or when you are really, really hungry
• Still like to keep your hands near your face when you eat. You often put them right up by your eyes.
• You don't track things with your eyes yet, but you LOVE to look around with your bright, blue eyes. You love to look at the pictures on the walls of the living room - which have a lot of contrast against the wall color. You really seemed interested in things on the walls at Grandma & Grandpa Olson's house because they had all kinds of shapes - hearts, stars, circles, half circles, rectangles and squares. (Our house strictly has rectangles and squares on the walls.)
• Have had a good head of hair on your head since birth. You have a cowlick swirl on the back of your head. Daddy says you've got some cowlicks in the front too because it is especially easy for daddy to give you a mo-hawk by styling it with daddy's fingers.
• Still have little control over your hands. You tend to hit yourself in the face and then become upset,  but forget about it quickly. We're waiting for you to find control over your hands in the coming weeks and months.
• Have almost NO baby acne left on your face. You do, however, collect milk in a fold under your chin when you throw up.
• You tend to poop when we're trying to change your diaper in the morning. Sometimes, you manage to spray us. (If you keep that up, mommy threatens to call you SQUIRT.)
• Love to lay on your back and exercise. You throw your arms and legs in the air as if you are participating in a Billy Banks TaeBo class. 
• You tend to still flail your arms when you are getting tired.
• You are becoming a good sleeper and each day is getting a little easier to put you in your crib. Last week, you still insisted upon being held ALL THE TIME! Last night, you cried for less than one minute when I put you in your bed. Tonight, you did not make a peep. (You were still awake when I laid you down both times so, you're doing great!)
• If you are breastfeeding when you are over-tired, you cry.
• You become upset, turning it on and off like a light switch. You do the same with your sleep patterns.
• The past few days, you have been both sleeping and eating A LOT! We think you are going through a growth spurt. Weighing in at 12 pounds 7.4 ounces, you would never guess that you ever had problems with breast feeding after you were born. You now do it like a champion!

You are so much fun! You have changed our lives immensely, but we love you more than you will ever know!

Whoops, fell out of new routine

Perhaps I have jinxed things by posting about how well the baby has been sleeping and how nice it was that he had gone 7 hours between feedings the other night. To me, at just 6 weeks old and sleeping for 6 hours at a time during the night, I looked at that as basically sleeping through the night.

I worried a little bit yesterday that the baby had slept too much during the day and that I feared he wouldn't sleep well at night. I'm guessing that he is going through a growth spurt because he has been eating and sleeping A LOT lately.

Yesterday, besides his earlier breakfast sessions, he ate around 11am - just after Mike left for work. Then, napped for a while before waking to eat again during the 12 o'clock hour. A little before 1pm, we left for the breast-feeding support group where he decided to eat yet again during the 1 o'clock hour and into the 2 o'clock hour.

Around 2:30, we took lunch to Daddy. Then, after having lunch and attempting to solve a sudoku puzzle, Sydney and Mommy left to continue running errands. (Sydney slept for the entire lunch date and almost all of the errands.) We grocery shopped at Wal-mart, returned & exchanged some belts at Kohl's and shopped at Sam's Club.

I was a little embarrassed at Sam's Club because all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Sydney would wake up SCREAMING and WAILING, but would then fall back asleep just as fast as he brought it on. I was afraid that people would be looking at me for shopping with a screaming infant, but by the time my cart approached them, he was sound asleep again and I would then be able to look at them like "What screaming baby? See, mine is sound asleep. It must've been someone else's baby screaming." He woke with his screaming fits three times at Sam's Club, but thankfully not at the checkouts.

On the way home, we were just turning onto our street (by the college) when he started screaming and wailing again in the back seat. I kept telling him that I knew he was hungry and that I didn't forget he was back there. Funny thing... by the time we got home, he was sound asleep again. In fact, I was able to carry in all of the purchases and put them away before he woke up again. By then, though, this kid was HUNGRY again!

Last night, I think he ate around 5:30 and again around 8:30. Then, he was fed again around the 10 o'clock hour. He slept until 2am, ate and went back to sleep around 2:45. I probably got 15 or 20 minutes of sleep before he woke to eat again during the 3 o'clock hour. I didn't manage to get back into bed until 4:30am. He then slept for a few hours before waking to eat again. Eventually, we all slept until nearly 10am.

He's eaten just a short while ago and WAS sleeping, but as I type this, he has hiccups and is crying from his crib. He's starting to get mad so, I had better go. 

Time for baby to eat (and sleep) all over again. And TODAY - Mommy will be enjoying an afternoon nap as well.

Getting some Zzzzz's

Baby Sydney has started sleeping pretty well for us lately. He's been managing to clock in 6 hour stretches of sleep at night and is able to go about 7 hours between feedings. Pretty good for almost 7 weeks old!

Today, at breast-feeding support group, he weighed in at a whopping:

 12 pounds 7.4 ounces!!! 

(Last Thursday, he weighed 11 pounds 14 ounces.)

He woke around 4am to eat. Then, went back to bed (as did Mommy).

Woke again around 8:30am to eat. He's slept on and off all day today. I'm starting to hope that it is a growth spurt and that he will still sleep well tonight.

After the last feeding, he fell asleep again. He's having some tummy time on the living room floor... kind of cute the way he pushes his little butt into the air. (Maybe I will post some pictures later.) Thinking that I will take him outside in the carrier soon as he LOVES to look around outside.

YEP, hope the little man sleeps for me tonight! Otherwise, will make for a LONG DAY for mommy since she didn't nap.

Watch for upcoming photos. (We'll have to show you what 7 weeks old looks like... tomorrow! Hard to believe he is THAT OLD already!)

Busy, busy weekend brings new tires and safe travels

Sydney traveled with Grandma Olson and Mommy to WI this past weekend and had LOTS to see and do. We went to WI on Thursday night and pulled over partway home because the tires had been making a loud noise. Sydney slept nearly the whole way - only letting out a squack when the car was stopped partway home at a drivethru. We were met by Aunt Sue, Uncle Willy and the girls (after 9pm when we arrived home) because Willy and Rachel hadn't seen Sydney yet and they all "just wanted to touch him". That night, Sydney slept in the playpen in the same room as mommy, but mommy didn't sleep very well because Sydney bounces around and makes noises all night while he sleeps. (The next night, he got to sleep in Uncle Mike's old bedroom so mommy could get adequate rest.)

Sydney stayed with Grandma Olson on Friday morning while mommy went to the dentist. Still, at this age, mommy has NO CAVITIES! Hopefully, Sydney will take good care of his teeth like his mommy does/ Then, he was just waking up when mommy got back home. Sydney got to go all over town to meet all kinds of people. It was no wonder that after eating around dinnertime, that he would be tired since he had such a busy day being dragged all over town; although, he did sleep a lot of the day. He rode on mommy's chest in the Moby Wrap as Grandma & Grandpa Olson walked, with mommy, down to our favorite place for Friday Night Fish Fry. Sydney slept on mommy's chest and the entire way home again.

He'd been sleeping VERY WELL at Grandma & Grandpa's house. The one night, he ate around 9pm, went to bed around 10pm and slept straight-thru until 4am. By then, of course, he was REALLY HUNGRY and mommy was just as eager to feed him... for some relief! He was a good little sleeper though, which mommy appreciated a lot.

Saturday, we ran around to see more people, attended a bridal shower (briefly) and attended a family reunion picnic. There were countless people there who commented on what an honor it would have been for mommy's grandfather and great grandfather, who were both named Sydney, but that mommy's grandfather Sydney would have been especially touched to know of the namesake.

Sunday, we stayed at grandma & grandpa's house and company came to visit us. Great grandma even walked past Sydney sleeping in his carseat because she didn't know that we were visiting and somehow, missed seeing him. 

Grandpa Olson rotated the tires on the car Sunday afternoon, but we discovered that they were out of balance even worse after rotating so, Monday morning Grandma took the car to the local tire shop where they determined that the tires really SHOULD be replaced. (Needless to say, Mommy and Daddy are getting an early Christmas present from Grandma & Grandpa Olson - 4 new tires for the car - which we needed SOONER rather than later. The ride back home to Iowa was considerably smoother and quieter. THANK YOU FOR THE NEW TIRES!!!!)

Sydney slept the entire way back to Iowa, but was pretty hungry when mommy woke him after we got home. Overall, he LOVES his carseat and is a very good traveler.

On a gauge of 1-10, with 10 being unbearable, daddy says he missed us 8.75, which jumped from Sunday's rating of 7.25. (Daddy said the cats rated a 12!) Good thing we came home when we did! 

Tonight, it will feel good to be together as a FAMILY... as OUR FAMILY. 

Olson Family Picnic JULY 2009

 

Olson Family Picnic - July 2009

Prepping for baby's first trip

Last night, following a bath, Sydney was wrapped in his Polartec snuggle wrap in an attempt to get him warm. Turns out, when he was warm, he went right to sleep. (I had propped him up slightly on our bed so that I could pack.) At first, he fussed, but then he leaned towards his daddy's pillow and went to sleep. (Must have been comforting that it smelled like daddy. Sydney likes to nap on top of his daddy's chest so, he is familiar with his smell.)

I managed to get most of my stuff packed last night. Then, I moved onto packing for BABY. Going through his drawers, I made note that he's starting to outgrow a bunch of his clothes already. Even though it is getting a little small on him, his I LOVE MOMMY onesie is coming out of the drawer for a final ensemble.

Daddy is fearful to have mommy and baby driving alone so, Grandma Olson is coming over today and will leave her car here . Then, Grandma, Mommy and Baby will venture over the river to baby's first car trip (other than his many trips locally within our zip code) and his first sleep-over at Grandma & Grandpa's house. 

I'm sure that Daddy will miss us, but will appreciate a few nights of un-interrupted sleep (even though he normally doesn't hear Sydney cry and has been able to sleep through the night most nights since we brought him home from the hospital).

Sydney will attend his first FAMILY REUNION PICNIC on Saturday. That is where he will meet his Great Grandpa Sydney's siblings and their families. Sydney will also be the only BOY in attendance at a BRIDAL SHOWER; however, I plan to keep that visit brief, as not to steal the thunder from the bride by distracting with a baby.

Since I woke early, I think I will ATTEMPT to sneak down the creaky stairs and get myself something to eat for breakfast before Baby Sydney wakes to eat again. (He woke more frequently during the night to eat so, I'm thinking he's going through a growth spurt again.... he's our BIG little boy and we love him!)

NOTE: If time permits, I may add a video clip of his recent TUMMY TIME where he kept lifting his head and looking around. Otherwise, watch for that another time... either way, I will send an email to my regular family/friend blog followers to let you know that there is an update posted with that video clip.

At least he's sleeping

Especially for the past few days, we have been almost unable to put Sydney down. He LOVES to snuggle! He LOVES to be held! He protests sleeping in his own crib because he prefers to be lying comfortably in your arms or resting on your chest.

Granted, it is WONDERFUL to snuggle, but it is also nice to feel like a human and be able to perform ordinary household functions. Instead, I fear getting bedsores on my butt from the countless hours spent nursing or snuggling in the recliner.

Yesterday evening, Sydney went into the front pack and we walked outside until he fell asleep (holding my finger tightly in his chubby hand). Then, I put him into his playpen. That is... for a few minutes anyways.

Around 9pm, he was sleeping in my arm while I chatted on Facebook with Aunt Nicki with just one hand. Then, I decided that he had been sleeping long enough that I could put him down and HOPEFULLY get something to eat for dinner. (He REALLY likes to fuss whenever I attempt to eat, which makes me feel like I'm ALWAYS having to quickly scarf down my food without ever enjoying it anymore.) I had a few minutes to myself. I was able to go to the bathroom and take the newest load of clothes from the dryer. However, as soon as I got myself a plate from the cupboard, he started to wail. I attempted to let him cry it out for a few minutes to see if he would go back to sleep. HA! He would NOT! (While I waited, I made a peanut butter and strawberry/rhubarb jelly sandwich and cut it into 4 pieces for easier eating while holding a baby.)

He fussed and fussed. He cries even harder when he hits himself in the face with his hands that he appears to have VERY LITTLE control over. (In time, he'll realize that they are HIS HANDS and that HE is in control of them, but until then... we're forced to remind him that he hit himself.) So, with all of his fussing, even though I thought he couldn't possibly be hungry, he seemed quite satisfied to eat again. So, he ate AGAIN; then, fell asleep. So, I snuck him back into his bed.... AGAIN... and AGAIN... and AGAIN!

When Mike came home around 10:45pm, I was still ATTEMPTING to get him to sleep in his own bed. (Like always, it takes anywhere from 1 minute to 10 minutes before he wakes and realizes that he isn't being held anymore.) Needless to say, at this point, after an over-filled day of holding him, I WAS EXHAUSTED and my back/neck/shoulders were begging for a break!

The little stinker even started getting smart with me! His new thing is to hold on tightly to either my bra or my shirt so that it is EVEN HARDER to lay him down. (SMART KID!)

He ended up sleeping until almost 2am. Diapered (by daddy), nursed and put back to bed. Then, slept until almost 6:30. Diapered, fed and put back to bed. Then, slept again until almost 9:30am. (Mommy and daddy BOTH took advantage of the sleeping baby... mommy kept going back to bed as well since it felt SO GOOD to sleep for a change!)

We managed to have 2 POO blow-outs so far today! The first was out the leg of the ill-fitting diaper, through the sleeper and onto the crib sheet and mattress pad. The second was a blow-out... out the leg of a good-fitting diaper, but it was overly saturated with POO. Mommy also received a SHOWER when attempting to clean up the first escaped POO by a Baby that is starting to earn the nickname of SQUIRT. (You get the picture!)

He's been sleeping inside the Moby Wrap for a while now, but HEY, at least he's sleeping! While he rode on my front, I managed to get the garbage cans inside, go through the mail and fold three baskets of laundry PLUS throw in the newest load of  crib sheet, mattress pad, diaper changing pad and two outfits. To me, that feels like a rather productive day already (especially since Daddy encouraged me to take a REAL SHOWER before he had to leave for work). 

I should end the blogging session now and go get myself something to eat.... SQUIRT will want to eat again pretty soon, too - I'd imagine. I just have to remind myself that someday he won't want to snuggle with his mom anymore and to take advantage of it now for that very reason. (He sure is cute and lovable!)

Happy times too (w/ video)

Despite yesterday being a rather difficult day, we DID have happy times too! Sydney was smiling and talking... and even showed off his strength by standing! (Check out the video clip.)

He was a little stinker again last night where he didn't want to go to bed, despite being tired. He just wanted to be held. We'd get him to fall asleep in our arms and then after a few minutes, would coax him into his bed; however, within a minute or so, he would figure out that he wasn't being held and WAAAAaaaaaaa, WAAAAAaaaaaaa, WAAaaaaa!

Once he was FINALLY in his own bed, he managed to sleep pretty well. One middle of the night feeding and snuck him back into his bed. Then, after an early morning feeding, he went right back to sleep... and so did Mommy! When he woke around 8:30am, Daddy took a turn with him.... that's when Sydney came back to bed with us and slept on top of daddy's chest for a little while.

Having a baby is tiring though so, an afternoon nap may be on the agenda. Well, I'd better go... he just realized that he isn't being held anymore!

I'm coming, baby..... I'm coming!

Times are trying with the crying

This morning was a VERY trying and tiring morning. Sydney was VERY fussy for no apparent reason, other than being tired. He was diapered, fed, and burped. He did not appear to be suffering from gas. One moment he wanted to be held; the next moment he screamed again. I tried the Moby Wrap in two different positions. We stood still. We sat. We walked. We laid down. We bounced around gently like a washing machine.

All of these techniques offered only 2-5 minutes of sleep before fussing again. 

In an attempt when all else failed, he was offered A MEAL. That lasted a few minutes as well.

At last, it seemed like I had won and he had fallen asleep for more than five minutes. And then, when I looked down at him laying in my arms – he was WIDE AWAKE! He was looking around, staring at me and smiling with those bright blue eyes.

I changed his diaper and clothed him in his I LOVE MOMMY onesie. At that point, I needed some encouragement since the morning had been so trying from this little stinker. Then, he happily laid on the changing pad on the living room floor - looking around and smiling. 

Shortly thereafter, I put him in his carseat and we went out to run errands. We even had a lunch date with daddy. Sydney seems to like car rides, but prefers for the car to be moving. While we waited for our snack packs at Culver's he grew fussy because we were not moving, but regained his happiness once we started moving again. By the time we got to see Daddy, he was sound asleep and stayed that way for two more stops of shopping.

That happy little boy even posed for the video camera - smiling and talking. (Maybe I will try to edit that and post it tomorrow.... that is, if he ever lets me set him down.)

Times are trying with the crying, but still - we wouldn't trade him for the world!

First visit to park

This morning, after a good feeding, we decided to take Sydney to a local park. He got to ride in the front pack carrier and he was as happy as a clam. We used a burp-rag to keep the sun off of the top of his head.

Daddy has been to the park before, but it was a first for Sydney and Mommy.

We were able to view the lock & dam and enjoyed a near perfect day. Temperatures reached near 80. Skies were blue. The few clouds that were in the sky were "mostly puffy". It was a little warm and sticky with the infant carrier on, but otherwise a beautiful day.

Early afternoon, we cleaned all of the junk out of our vehicles. Daddy also cleaned up a bunch of mess in the garage. Sydney HAD TO BE HELD for almost the entire afternoon/evening. Each time we try to put the sleeping baby down, he wakes and cries.

Tonight, we enjoyed grilling chicken and eating on the deck. (Sydney discreetly enjoyed his most recent feeding from inside the Moby Wrap, also on the deck.)

Overall, it was a good day. Except for Daddy discovering that someone – presumably a deer that has been seen in the backyard – has eaten the one cherry tomato that we had planned to pick today. Also, the pepper plants have considerably less fruit (and leaves) on them. Backyard vegetation is now sporting an armor of chicken wire. (Backyard neighbor's garden is also without peppers and peas, compliments of the deer... tracks visible in their garden.)

First Bath with Daddy

We celebrated Independence Day on Friday, July 3rd with an airshow and fireworks display that were viewable from our deck. Sydney slept through most of the evening's events, but woke for dinner right as we were trying to eat. (Sadly, that seems to be a pattern for him to want to eat whenever mommy wants to eat.)

Sydney wore a red, white and blue outfit before it had started to cool off, but he was not overly cooperative with his photoshoot so, we have no (good) pictures documenting the patriotic outfit that had been given to him from a MN teacher's aide.

This past week or so, Sydney has been getting BABY ACNE, which is common starting at 4 weeks of age. Despite the acne, he's still pretty darned cute. (Although, he wasn't nearly as cute in the middle of the night when he kept mommy awake from 1:45am until 3:30am because after eating, he wanted to be held instead of sleeping in his crib.)

Tonight, on the 4th of July, Sydney enjoyed his first bath with daddy. He normally likes taking a bath, but was a little fussier tonight. We made sure to keep a wet washcloth over the BOY PARTS to prevent spray, which worked pretty well. After his bath, he got dressed in warm jammies and is still sleeping in his swing as this blog is posted. (Mommy needs to stop blogging to take her turn in the shower now.) Sydney should wake soon for a feeding and then, we can all get a good night of sleep. (At least, that is THE PLAN!)

5 weeks: growing boy smiles

Yesterday, Sydney and Mommy went to the Breastfeeding Support Group. This was the first time we ACTUALLY attended... the other times, we just snuck in to see how much he weighs and then, promptly left. Sydney slept through the whole thing. In fact, I thought it was cruel to strip him down to nothing just to weigh him... talk about a rude awakening, eh? So, I kept him in his diaper and sleeper for the moment of truth. 

July 1, he weighed in (with diaper and sleeper) at 11 pounds 10.2 ounces! (June 22nd, he weighed just 10.)

Today marks his 5 week birthday. This morning, after a good feeding, he sat with his daddy while I ran the video camera. In this video, we even got him to SMILE!  We're still working on talking. Enjoy!