Our Little Bair: Week 9

Today the Bair had his two month well baby check up. Poor guy had a couple shots and ended up with a little bit of a fever. I pretty much refuse to use the tush thermometer so I appreciated the pediatrician telling me we could use a normal thermometer under his arm and add two degrees. Of course if you are close or over the 101.3 cut off for calling the doctor you have to brace yourself (and baby) for the real deal or just take them in. Our ped also told me you can tell how intense the fever is if you're nursing, when it starts to get in the 100s you can feel baby's mouth get hot.  What a wealth of knowledge this lady is :)

He slept a good 5 hours post shots, almost straight through with only a little fussing in between after which he fell back to sleep on his own.  This is a ton for our baby that does.not.nap during the day.

Side-note, if someone told me this was a possibility I would have planned to be super productive.  We'll see what happens at the 4 month check-up. He's slightly a daytime insomniac and only sleeps in small 20-30min spurts, just doesn't want to miss a thing I guess? My mom always says he reminds her of someone ;) .  He sleeps like a champ at night so I am okay with however he wants to get the sleeping in. 

Our Bair is really starting to "wake-up" and notice other people and especially babys.  I can see him processing and wanting to interact but I know it's nothing like what we'll see him doing in another few months. 

When he sees other babies he will look at them and stare for a moment but doesn't reach out to play yet. Still just taking it all in.

That's it for this week!

Dear Charlee: 8 Weeks with You

Dear Charlee, 

Your eighth week began with a growth spurt or a Wonder Week or I don't really know what but I do know you sure did not want to be put down.  Your regular schedule of two 3-4 hour crib naps went out the window and for two days I held you basically 100% of the time. From about 5am-10pm you were by my side, nursing, sleeping, or awake and "playing" with my hands (so sweet, I don't ever want to forget that). This time was a reminder to continue to give in to the needs of the day letting the rest of the world pass by and just enjoy my "free" time with you.

On the third day of this I strapped you in to the k'tan because the house was looking pretty shabby and I needed to eat some real food and make sure the boys had clean clothes. Despite this bit of time I had to tidy and clean the house, the house is a disaster but that's ok. I wouldn't change it because we had some incredible bonding time and I know you better now.  

I can tell that you are "waking up" a bit more. You are noticing everything, sometimes I can't figure out what is so interesting but generally anything moving, shadows or lights and your brother catch your attention. You are really starting to connect with Mason and like to watch what he is doing. He is enjoying holding your hand and always tries to include you in his activities, he really seems taken by you and it is so sweet.  He is also taking his big brother responsibilities seriously and still vehemently dislikes when anyone besides Mama or Daddy holds you.

Thankfully you are still sleeping your solid 8 hours at night. Can't wait to see what next week brings!

Love, 
Mama

Dear Charlee: 7 Weeks with You

Dear Charlee,

You are still so easy going, I'm not sure how I was so blessed. You fit right in and are a dream second child, particularly when your brother is going and going all the time. 

You are smiling up a storm and cooing all the time, it's absolutely adorable and I can't wait for more of it. Sometimes it almost sounds like you are talking back to us, you use the same amount of syllables and level of inflection. Your eyes are starting to be expressive and fairly clear with what you want. 

We had quite the busy weekend bouncing from place to place and spending time with friends and family. By Sunday afternoon I could tell it was a little much and you were ready for some quite time.  You are very sweet and don't seem to fuss over much of anything but when you've had too much of something you are over it and want to retreat to a quiet, dimly lit place. Typically we sit on the couch or my bed and you eat/sleep while I take care of some emails or to-dos on my phone. Daddy and I will have to work to keep this in mind to make sure you get the space and quiet time you need.  We are typically always going in this family but as I get older I am happier to say no to some things and appreciate quiet and alone time with family more and more.

Love,
Mama

P.S. This is the week you started blowing bubbles  

Dear Charlee: 6 Weeks with You

Dear Charlee,

My sweet girl. It's been 6 weeks with you in our busy, wild world. You are the most relaxed, easy going second child I could imagine. Given your brother loves to be active I am very thankful for your demeanor. You nurse like a pro, we still have work to do to manage my oversupply but you're growing to handle it quite well. You generally nap in your crib, 2 solid 2-3 hr naps a day. When you don't want to sleep in your crib you typically want to eat or will sleep for hours in the baby k'tan carrier while I do house work. This easy going attitude makes me weary of your teenage years. I really hope you don't make-up for it then :)

Something unique is that so far I am pretty much the only one to hold you, a few offers have but not for long. It's been a busy busy 6 weeks for everyone around us so it's pretty much just been you and me, shopping trips, grocery runs, walks, park dates and mini manicures have filled our days. 

We love you so much already and as our second baby we have the luxury of knowing that this love will increase exponentially as we watch you grow and change. I look forward to the many memories, laughs, and even heartaches you will bring us.  

Love,

Mama

Pregnancy Week 32 - 3.25.13

Written 3.25.13...

Also known as the week I realized..."Wait I won't be pregnant forever?"

Happy, and scared, and excited, and worried, and thrilled really sums up this week although my husband might call it the week of the grumpies. We have had a lot going on with back to back baby shower weekends, my sister in laws wedding, crazy work schedules, realizing that I won't be pregnant forever (wait I won't?) and just general life occurrences.  We got in to major nesting mode, washing and hanging baby clothes, requesting delivery of furniture ASAP, cleaning everything top to bottom and sitting in the baby room imagining what it will look like when complete. It was stressful and emotional having the realization that I think hits most pregnant women, "HOLY MOLY I won't be pregnant forever? This isn't the new normal? We are having a baby, how are WE having a baby?".  Of course we are beyond thrilled but would be lying if we said we weren't nervous, in fact I think that's normal and if you never felt that and truly aren't kidding yourself then congratulations I think you are 1 in a million (probably more) and I admire your confidence :)   If you are feeling nervous talk to your partner, friends, parents, mom-in-law, other mothers or anyone else. It's not a comfortable or easy thing to say, no pregnant person wants to openly state they are nervous, unsure, don't know how they'll handle this life changing moment. As with anything this significant and incredible it is also scary and IT'S OKAY TO FEEL THAT WAY!!!! I was feeling guilty,  a terrible person for feeling this and I felt much better after the Hubs and I talked about it.  It almost relieved all of those feelings and who knew he was feeling the EXACT same way :). Now we can talk about how we have no idea what to do with a child without the stress and guilt of being terrible parents before we are actually parents.

Anyhow, by the end of the week the grumpies decreased and I was back to my normal self. Addressing the urgent need for chocolate frosting probably helped!  The weekend brought a fabulous 24 hours with my best girl friends and their husbands which also always warms my heart and reminds me that no matter what we'll always have an incredible group of people supporting and rooting for us. This is going to be one well loved baby!

I have been wondering when people will notice I'm pregnant, and the answer? I had to reach 32 weeks and 1 day before I was offered a seat on the train. I will spend the next few weeks working from home so there will only be a few more opportunities to take advantage of pregnancy perks before the little guy joins the world.

Cravings: Chocolate frosting and animal crackers.  Like homemade dunkaroos - legit. 

Sugar for some reason, maybe because it's Easter and I can't resist a cadbury egg, or two or lets be honest, 11 of them over the past 2 weeks which if you know me is way to much of a candy binge pregnant or not but I loved every single minute. I  have now had my annual fill and  am no longer eating a cadbury egg a day.

Aversions: Meat

Weight:  145lbs, gain of  21.9lbs