Good 4 month check up for Sam

Sam had his 4 month check up today. He is growing right on schedule. He came to work with me in the morning. Here is a picture of him playing with his feet (his new play toy)

Sam is a big healthy boy!

Weight - 16 lbs and 14 oz (82.30%)
Height - 27 inches (whopping 96.49%) - He has grown 3 inches in 2 months!
Head Circumference - 17 1/4 inches (85%)

After the nurse took his measurements, Sam fell into a deep sleep...

He was not a happy camper when we woke him up for the doctor to examine him. But Sam got over it pretty quickly.

He still has fluid in his ears from his ear infection last week. We go back in three weeks to have that checked out.

Sam was a great patient - even with the two shots and oral vaccine he received.

Sam is 4 Months Old

My baby is 4 months old. He is still my baby in every way possible. He likes his pacifier before bed time and in the car. He grabs onto you tighly and doesn't like to let go. This warms my heart. He gives the best smiles and talks to us. If I had to make a prediction Sam is going to be a talker and a social butterfly. He will sit in anyone's lap and coo and laugh at them. He truly engages your interest.

He likes the exersaucer but will get fussy when he is tired of it.

He is starting to smile when I see him or come and get him from school - again this warms my heart.

He is still nursing and getting breast milk in his bottles. He is starting to go 2 1/2 and 3 hours between meals. At home he eats a little more frequently but at school they feed him every 3 hours. He is better with the bottle but still seems to be a struggle for him. He eats 6 ounces in his bottles at school.

Sam got his 1st ear infection this week. Yep...three weeks into daycare and he has an ear infection :( However I didn't even really know he felt bad. He woke up alot one night and I thought that was strange. When he did it the 2nd night I knew something was off. And sure enough his left ear was badly infected. He is on an antibiotic now and does not take medicine very well. He doesn't swallow it very well so most of it comes back out.

Bed time is a dream with Sam. He takes a bath with Andrew and then we get two dressed in their pjs. Andrew and Daddy start dinner and Sam and I nurse and rock. He goes to sleep so easily. I love watching his eyes close and hear his breathing calm down. It is one of the most peaceful things in the world to me. I had been swaddling him. Then I started swaddling him with one arm out b/c he was doing that on his own anyway.

Two weeks ago I decided to see if he even needed to be swaddled and so far so good. He has more finger nail markings on his face but isn't waking up from startling himself. I love this baby so much. I wondered how my love would grow but that was such a silly worry in hindsight.

Here are some pictures of my baby this month

Sam playing with his exersaucer

Tummy time - I do think this was two different days. I love patty gowns so I put him in it a lot

Look at Sam's legs...he is outgrowing all of his cloths. This is a 3-6 month outfit and it looked like he was wearing capri pants.

He has his 4 month check up on Monday.

Andrew's Bed Time Last Night

Andrew has been going to bed a little later - around 7 pm. We have noticed that when I leave the room it takes him 30 minutes to an hour to wind down. However some nights he gets out of bed and plays. He likes to take everything off his bed and some times rearranges the same set up on the floor. He reads, plays with his cars, puzzles, etc...We actually rarely notice because he is quiet. Then all of a sudden we will hear a cow moo or banging of drums. Then we go in and check on him. His lamp is on and he looks us at with such a guilty face. Then we get him back in bed and he falls asleep. At first I thought he needed to stay up later but when I tried that he was extra grumpy. Just because he is going to bed later doesn't mean he wakes up any later. Andrew is up and playing at 5:30 am. This brings me to last night. He seemed really tired and it was a routine bed time. Same songs, same procrastination and then the final "I love you and good night". I thought he went to sleep pretty easily until I turned on the monitor at 10 pm before Owen and I went to sleep. On the monitor I noticed nothing was in his bed and his lamp was on. So Owen and I went in to find all of his pants out of his drawer (with the drawer closed), all of his books on the floor, all of the pillows, blankets, and animals on the floor and Andrew sleeping on his stomach cuddling with Carl the Construction worker puppet. Carl has to be the most uncomfortable toy to choose. He has a hard hat and a sticks for his arm. I can only imagine what happened for Andrew to pass out in mid play with Carl. So after Owen and I giggled a little we put everything back on his bed and tucked our sweet boy in for the night. It continues...this morning Andrew wakes up bright and early at 5:30 am and begins to play. We don't go in there until 6:30 after I get dressed. In the living room I hear Andrew's door open (he has not been able to open the door so this is shocking to me). Then it closes...almost like he is checking to see if anyone is awake. When I open the door he says "I opened door", "I poo poo" and "I play"...So much going on for a Tuesday morning :)

Sam's bed time routine

Sam has adapted so well to being in our family. Thank goodness the little man likes to sleep. He gets tired around 5:30 or 6:00 pm and I try hard to get him to bed at the time, but with Owen and Andrew's schedule Sam usually gets to go to bed between 6:30 ad 7:00 pm. He nurses while I rock him. I sing a couple of songs and then when he is full we keep rocking. He is my baby who enjoys a pacifier so I give that to him and watch as his eyes close and his breathing gets deep. I still swaddle him but only with one arm in the blanket. I then wake him up to nurse between 9:30 and 10 pm. After that he usually sleeps until 5 or 5:30. That has somewhat changed a little this week with him waking up earlier and needing to nurse one more time before he officially wakes up. I have been putting him back in his crib after I nurse him in the mornings so I can get Andrew up and fed. Owen is usually taking a shower at this point so when he is finished I can then go get Sam up. I am very blessed that this little routine has been working for a month or so. I like it and hope it continues.

Back to Work I go...

Last week (April 9th) I went back to work. I had a wonderful maternity leave. What a blessing to be off for 13 weeks! Going back to work was inevitable but having an extended leave really helped me enjoy Sam's newborn stage. We spent many mornings in January laying on the couch sleeping. I love having a sleeping baby on my chest. January is some what of a blur to me. Andrew still went to day care so luckily I was able to have a full day of Sam time and to transition into a life with two boys. Having two babies is such a blessing but it is a little daunting. I am afraid I have mentally let it become harder than it should be. So January I spent most of the time wondering what I was doing. February was a little easier. Almost like the fog was lifted a little. Sam is such a good sleeper that I started to feel rested. We didn't leave the house much at all during the day. On weekends we would go out to eat. Sam got his first shots at the end of February which brought a sense of freedom for us b/c we felt more comfortable taking him out in public. This is where my maternity leave became really enjoyable. I was able to have 5 weeks of mommy time with Sam and include Andrew because I had time off and we didn't have to stay around the house. March was the most blissful month. I started keeping Andrew at home on Tuesdays so we could all go to Mommy and Me. Then on Wednesdays I took Sam to mommy and me. Having that time helped me gain confidence taking both boys out and I learned more about their personalities. I know that seems odd but being a working mom during the day and only having weekends to "practice" taking everyone out in public doesn't leave a lot of time to really get the hang of it. Now being home alone with both or taking both out doesn't stress me out like the thought of it did in February.

I also got to enjoy three holidays with the boys with out worrying about taking time off of work. I can't explain how priceless that was. I often wonder what it would be like to stay at home. Our weekend routines are so different than what a day would be like if I stayed at home so I have really gotten a since of a long extended time home. This maternity leave really helped me realize that I could do it, if I got the opportunity. Not sure that is in the cards for me...but I did enjoy the 3 month preview.

I thought I was going to go back to work on March 28th but that got pushed back a week and a half. I decided to use the extra time as practice and dropped Sam off on March 27th. It was one the WORST days of my life. I am not as upset about it as I was because dropping both boys off now has gotten pretty easy. Sam doesn't cry and Andrew runs to his class. So I leave knowing all is well with the world in Sam and Andrew's life. I miss them terribly though. Andrew is at an age where the friendships he is making in his class are important and he learns something new every day. I know he enjoys his teachers and friends. He talks about them all the time. However, Sam is still so little. He is a flirt. He gives the best smiles and coos. I hate I am missing his facial expressions. When we get home I have 30 minutes or an hour of holding him before we get ready for bed. Even then Andrew also wants me to hold him so I am divided and feel like I am really missing Sam's cute smiles and happy attitude.

My postpartum bounce back has been harder this time around. Not just my body but my feelings are raw and I am very sensitive. I know my memory could be clouded a little but I remember being on cloud 9 a lot during Andrew's new born stage. I worried a lot but I don't remember feeling so emotional about life. When I stopped nursing Andrew I had a mental hormonal break but again bounced back after a month or so. I feel like I am going on month 4 of a hormonal roller coaster this time around. I have talked to my doctor and read the internet (to make me feel normal) and it is all normal. I think the phrase "this too shall pass" is my motto these days.

All of the recap for a "Back to Work" post is more than I intended. But want to remember what is on my mind. Getting back into the working mom routine is working out. I still leave work at 4 (thank goodness). All four of us are in a transition but life is about evolving and that is what we are doing.

New design

I thought I would try out a new blog design. I thought this looked boyish since I write mainly about my boys :)

Happy Friday.

Easter Weekend 2012

We had a great Easter weekend. Andrew enjoyed the festivities a little more than last year and Sam was a happy camper for his first Easter as well. Both boys had Easter parties at Mommy and Me.

Here are pictures from Andrew's party...





Sam's party was the next day. He fell asleep right before his egg roll/hunt.






Thursday, Andrew had another Easter Egg Hunt and a school party. This is the only picture I could get of him at school. He was very clingy and didn't want to participate in the party. He just wanted me to hold him.



Good Friday was a day off for Sam and Andrew. We had the Garden Club Easter Egg Hunt in the morning. Andrew was really excited about it but fell asleep on the way to the hunt so was just waking up when we got there. He didn't want to participate in this party either. Owen was able to come and Andrew stayed pretty close to his daddy.
These pictures are of Andrew playing at the ranch where the Hunt was held. Andrew just knew there were horses in the barn. He was so confused on why he couldn't find them. He looked more intently for the horses than he did for the eggs.




That afternoon we went the Canebrake Country Club for their Easter Egg Hunt. This was so much fun. They had a magician who entertained the kids in the beginning and then the Easter bunny came. Andrew loved seeing him far away but still didn't want to take a picture...but his momma wouldn't let a picture opportunity pass us by...



Sam was at this party too...and he didn't mind the Easter bunny...



Andrew hunted one egg and ate the candy in it immediately. I put one more egg in his basket for good measure :)



Saturday we died Easter eggs. Andrew really liked doing this. When I put the apron on him, he said "Like Aha"...I am always amazed how observant he is. Aha (Owen's mom) wears an apron every time she cooks.

Here are dying Easter Eggs.





Sunday we woke up bright and early to see if the Easter bunny hopped by our house...and he did! Andrew thought it was his birthday. Both boys got Cars, Andrew got Towmater and lightening mcqueen and Sam got a squishy Towmater. They both got an Elmo gift, Sam got a new bib, both boys got a new Easter book; Andrew got a children's bible and Sam got a peek a boo book. Grandmom and Granddad got the boys their Easter tins. I love these tins so much.




After presents and breakfast I tried to get a picture of the boys before church. This was not an easy task...but here is one good picture. I also tried to include Ralphie but that did not happen this year.



After mass we went to the Munton's for lunch. It was delicious! Here is a picture of our sweet Sam and Aha...



After all of the fun from the weekend we came home and snuggled to Fireman Sam on tv...definitely a busy weekend but a fun one! I love holidays :)

Andrew at 28 Months

My sweet boy is 28 months. I am not sure I will quit his monthly updates anytime soon. He is changing every day.

Some of the things Andrew is doing or is interested in are:
* He likes the cars from the Cars Movie (Thanks Dara :) He still loves reading his book that my sweet friend Dara gave him. Tow Mater is his favorite character. We recorded the original Cars movie last night to see if he would be into watching it.
* He likes to say things are his favorite
* He is becoming a picky eater and won't eat as much as he used to
* He is very shy in public. At home he is a chatter box and runs around like crazy. When we go some where he is not used to - he clings to us and won't speak. But he does warm up to the new place or person.
* Andrew takes care of Sam in little ways. He wants to know what he is doing, wants to make sure Sam will come with us if we are leaving the house...it is really sweet.
* He is going to bed around 7 now.
* He does not like to take naps - he doesn't mind the being alone in his room but the sleeping part is hard for him now. He will get out of his bed and play.
* Andrew's imagination is noticeable now. He likes to "fly" and is into spaceships.
* He likes cars (real and play ones). His Daddy's jeep is his "favorite"
* BIG NEWS!!! Today - April 9th he started potty training at school. I can't wait to hear how it went.

Those are just some highlights of Andrew at 28 months.

Andrew goes to the dentist

Also on Tuesday, March 27th Andrew went to his first dental appointment. I got a book about Elmo going to the dentist so he would have idea of what we were doing. Andrew had been on the grumpy side all week so he was hot and cold about the idea of the dentist. He became very shy in the waiting room but luckily they had Mickey Mouse Club House on tv so he was entertained. When we went to see the doctor they did not clean his teeth like I thought they would. The dentist just looked at the spacing of his teeth and felt around his mouth. All looked good. Andrew cried but got over it pretty quickly after the dentist was finished. He got to pick out a toy from the toy box and he picked a dump truck. He still plays with the truck.

After the appointment we went to McDonalds. We were too early for lunch so we had a 2nd breakfast.



Then Andrew got to play on their playground.


I would say Andrew's first dentist appointment was a success!

Sam's 1st day at daycare

Last Tuesday (March 27, 2012) was Sam's first day at M&M Learning Factory. He did amazingly well. Mommy and Andrew on the other hand did not handle the day well at all. I cried on and off all day. I am not even sure what emotions I was having. I think it was a little seperation anxiety, my time management skills failed me all day that day, and I was just sad.

I thought I was going back to work on March 28th but that got pushed back until April 9th. What a blessing that has been! So for a week and half I get to practice morning routines and get used to sending two babies to school. I am not ready to start back but am ready to get our life back on a routine.

Sam did so well. The teachers loved on him and he took his bottles well. When I picked him up he was sound asleep in a swing.

Andrew did not understand me dropping Sam off. I think that transition hit him harder than I realized it would. But he is getting better and better with every drop off and pick up.

There are two Sam's in Sam's class. Who would have thought??? His teachers are Ms. Debbie, Ms. Patsy and Ms. Angela.

I am glad this day has come and gone! It was one of high anxiety but luckily we all lived through it.

Sam at 3 months

Sam is 3 months old! That is so hard to believe! He is the most precious baby. So peaceful and content. I love him more and more as each minute passes. Some of the things he is doing now are:
* Perfecting his smile. He has got this one down. He smiles alot and coos. He "talks" to us and shows such happy emotions when you interact with him.
* Sam is a content baby. He loves to be held but will also be happy in his chair or on his back on the floor. We have a tummy time mat that has fun things for him to look at when he is on his back. He loves looking at himself in mirrors.
* He still eats every 2 hours and will fall asleep 30 minutes before he is ready to eat.
* He likes to suck on a pacifer before falling asleep.
* He watches everyone and everthing. We can tell his eyes are focusing better. He will watch you leave the room or turn around to see what a sound is.
* We got out the bumbo and exersaucer a couple of weeks ago. He likes the bumbo. He maybe a little young for the exersaucer but still enjoys it for short periods of time.
* He is taking a bottle better. The ladies at daycare said they had no problems feeding him. I am so happy about this because I was really worried.

Here is Sam in the exersaucer...


* So far he is a great sleeper. He has been going to bed between 8 and 9 and then waking up at 5 am or so and then sleeping until 7 am. Last night I put him down at 6:30 after putting Andrew to sleep and then fed Sam at 10 pm and again at 5:30 am. He still went back to sleep until 7 am. He still likes to be swaddled which is great but he is out growing his swaddle blankets. I tried to see if I could find a bigger size, but am not having any luck.

* He likes to hold your hand or grab onto your shirt while you hold him. He is a snuggly baby.

We can't wait to see what this next month brings with our baby boy.