Adam is 3 Weeks Old!

Dear Adam,

Today you are 3 weeks old! Time is going way too fast. Here's what you are up to these days...

- You sleep ALL the time. You especially love to sleep in till about 8am. I knew you were going to like to sleep in because you were always so calm when you were inside me until late morning. I even said to your daddy, "I bet he sleeps in once he is born", and you do! It amazes me how your sleeping patterns and personality were evident before I even met you!
- Sadly, you have outgrown many of your newborn outfits. You fit very well in 3-6 month clothes.
- You gave your daddy and open eyed smile (twice!) and I got one only once. I told you that it is not fair because I am the one that gets up with you all night long, you should save all your smiles for me!
- You are looking more and more like your daddy. Tonight we were looking at daddy's baby pictures and the two of you are almost identical. I'm glad you look like him because your brother looks just like me. Daddy was hoping one of our children would at least resemble him a little bit.
- Tonight we will give you your first bottle. We will try to do one a day so mommy can have a break now and then.
- You hold your head up so well and make great eye contact with whomever is talking to you. Your eyes are really turning blue!

We love watching you grow!

Love,
Mommy

A Shave and a Haircut

Cheech is a great cat. We found him at our doorstep when we first moved into our townhouse almost 6 years ago. He is so friendly and loves anyone that will pay attention to him. He even loves kids. Owen runs in circles around him, pets him the wrong way, and sometimes grabs his tail and Cheech does not mind. Every spring we get him shaved. He loves it because his fur gets so matted and knotty and we tell him how handsome he looks (even though he really looks funny). I love it because it means less hair all over the place to vacuum up. We decided to get him shaved a little early this year.

1 Year Anniversary!

I just realized that I started blogging a year ago this month (February 21, 2009 was my first post). I always thought people that blogged were strange and wondered why they would write in an online journal for other people to read. Then, after reading other blogs I decided that it would be such a nice way to document our family's life together even if no one ever reads it. I have done a scrapbook for Owen and Adam's first year, but other than that, I don't scrapbook. I am not that creative, nor do I really have the time, so this is my way of scrapbooking. I am NOT a good writer and I know I make a ton of mistakes in my writing, however I figure one day, when I am no longer here, my kids or even my grandchildren will enjoy reading my blogs (mistakes and all). There is a great company (blog2print) that will take blogs and make them into hardcover books. I need to work on that. I think I will do one a year.

Adam is 2 Weeks Old

Dear Adam,

Today you are two weeks old! Here's what you are up to...

- At your weight check appointment on Wednesday you weighed 8 lbs 8 oz! That means you've gained almost 1 pound since you were born. I knew you were gaining weight because you are getting a double chin and adorable little rolls on your thighs. Yesterday, I was not able to button the top button on a newborn outfit you were wearing because your neck is getting thicker and your double chin gets in the way. The little hats we've been putting on you are starting to be too small. We only have a few newborn diapers left and then we will move on to size 1 diapers (sniff sniff).
- Your umbilical cord fell off so you can now have normal baths. You had one for the first time last night and hated it. I am sure you will learn to love your baths soon.
- You love to be held and snuggled. Daddy's favorite thing is to lay on the couch with you sleeping on his chest. When we have a lot of things to do around the house, but you want to be held, we put you in the front carrier and you are as happy as can be.
- You sleep pretty well at night. You are up every 3 hours to eat and usually go back to sleep without much trouble.

We love you so much!

Great Grandpa

Last night, Adam got to meet his great grandpa, Papa Doc, for the first time. Today Papa Doc turns 88 so we wanted to stop by and bring him dinner and have him meet his newest great grand baby. Hopefully we will soon be able to stop into the nursing home so Ollie can meet Adam too!

I Survived

Today was my first day home alone all day with both boys by myself. I was feeling a little nauseous last night and I think it was because I was nervous about how today would go. It went fine. Besides seeing cat puke all over our basement.... again... first thing this morning because Cheech keeps getting a hold of string and eating it, and besides Adam almost peeing in my mouth and Owen refusing to take his afternoon nap, things went relatively well. I was most nervous about entertaining Owen while nursing Adam and that was fine. Adam did nap most of the day, however, so that made it pretty easy. We'll see if he decides to be awake all night now.

Each day I am home with Owen I try to do something special. Today we made cupcakes. I am not sure every activity we do together will be that ambitious, but it was a good start.

This is what the cupcakes looked like after Owen put icing on them. I had to go back and try to fix them up. You should have seen my kitchen afterwards!!

Yummy!

Frosty the Snowman

The snow has finally melted enough to make it perfect for making a snowman!

Adam is 1 Week Old

Dear Adam,
Today you are one week old. Here's what you are up to:

- You are such a great baby! You sleep most of the time, but are starting to be awake and alert for longer periods of time. When you are awake you are usually very happy and pleasant.
- You are sleeping in your own room and crib at night and for at least one nap during the day.
- We started "tummy time"
- You had your first bath this week
- You love your swing
- You love your pacifier
- You hate getting your diaper changed
- You enjoy sleeping with your hat pulled down over your eyes
- You do not like camera flashes
- You are a good nurser and eat about every 3 hours. I have to wake you up most times to feed you or you would sleep right through your feeding.
- You are such a snuggle bug and I would hold you all day if I could
- Your big brother is really getting used to you being around and loves to hold you and give you kisses
We are so happy to have you in our family!
Love,
Mommy

1st Doctor Appointment

Tuesday was Adam's first doctor appointment. He did very well and slept through most of it. He is 20.5 inches (I guess he grew a half inch in 4 days?) and weighs 7 lbs 8 oz (only two ounces less than his birth weight). We go back again next week for a weight check.

Dr. Schaffer made us feel better about giving Adam a pacifier. I thought I had to wait till he was about 3 weeks old to give him one, but Dr. S does not agree. He said some babies just need to suck all the time and Adam is one of them. I really think that is going to help us out tremendously. Last night, Adam was up every hour to eat. I was getting cranky and wondering what was wrong that he was not getting satisfied. Finally, after an HOUR of nursing, I gave him to Mike (at 3 am) and said to go somewhere (like the basement) and not bring him up till 5am. He had to be able to go 2 hours without eating after eating for an hour straight. As soon as Mike brought him downstairs he slept on him for 3 hours. He was using me as a human pacifier.

We decided to take Owen along to the doctor because he has been pulling on his ear and I wanted to make sure he did not have another ear infection (he doesn't). Dr. Schaffer is a wonderful pediatrician. Owen loves him so much and does whatever Dr. Schaffer asks him to do. Dr. Schaffer asked him today what he wanted to be when he grew up and Owen said "You". If Dr. Schaffer told Owen to run a mile, we really think he would. He just has such a calm, sweet personality and Owen adores him.

Dr. Schaffer had a student intern who took a look at Adam before he came in. She really wanted to check his eyes, but he was refusing to open them so she turned off the lights for a bit to see if that would work. To try to keep Owen entertained I had allowed him draw on a piece of paper with a pen I had brought along to the appointment. The lady doctor turned off the lights for, honestly, 1 minute. Owen was sitting on Mike's lap and was so confused and kept asking what she was doing. I knew he had the pen in his hand, but had no idea he was using it to make himself look like a warrior. When she turned on the lights this is what Owen looked like...
I about died! Luckily, they did not turn us in for being bad parents and allowing our child to draw all over his face and eye with a pen. We have no idea how he did not scratch his eye. Dr. Schaffer was able to remove the ink with an alcohol swab. Next week I think I'll take Adam to the doctor without Owen. It is a lot of work taking two kids and I even had Mike along!

Watch What I Wish For

Just when I brag about how great Adam did two nights ago practically sleeping through the night, he did just the opposite last night. I think he finally fell asleep around 1:30ish and then I had to wake him up at 4 to eat. I can't wait till he weighs enough that I don't have to wake him up- I hate doing that! I think I got around 2 hours of sleep total. So he is acting like a baby should, I guess. He is usually so pleasant and yesterday I told Mike that Adam makes having an infant seem easy and he makes me want to have lots and lots of babies. Mike did NOT like the idea so maybe he is glad that Adam kept me up half the night. Hopefully we get some sleep today.