Ben 1 Month

Sunday Ben turned one month old.

 

Outtakes

If looks could kill

We had his one month appointment today.

Weight: 8lbs 1.5oz (11th%)
Height: 21.5 in (47%)

I can't believe he is just over 8 pounds!  I figured  he was at least 7-something but I didn't think he'd be 8.  I can definitely tell he's getting bigger, heavier, and just filling out in general.  Soon all the newborn clothes will be put away.  And so it begins...

He is such a sweet little guy.  He will definitely let you know when he's hungry or too tired or just wants to be held, but for the most part he is a very happy baby.  He doesn't cry too much.  Evenings are his fussy time.  He doesn't care too much for any of the pacifiers we've tried, although sometimes he'll take one.  Other times he gags and almost throws up.  He has fallen into a pattern of sleeping from about 8 or 8:30 pm to about 3 or 3:30 a.m.  From there he'll go back down for another 2 to 3 hours.  Naps are somewhat inconsistent.  He tends to nap more in the morning than the afternoon.  He can be up for long stretches in the evening (yesterday he was up from 3:30 until he went to bed at 8 or 8:30).  His pedi said anything goes as long as he's getting 12-14 hours in a 24 hour period.

Now, if we can just get Avery to stay in bed all night we could get more sleep.

He has definitely smiled at us, which is incredibly cute.  Avery still adores him.  She likes to give him kisses, rub his back, talk to him, and so on.  I am so proud of the way she has handled being a big sister so far.  There has been nothing but love.  She was even kissing his little toes today (probably won't be able to get her to do that in a few years).  I don't think it hurts that she gets positive reactions from us when we see her do these things, but I still think she is genuine.

We had a nice weekend, much of it spent indoors.  The heat is ridiculous (110 degrees).

Smiles

Oh hi

Full and sleepy

Fun at the mall with Mom and Mimi

Putting her to work washing my car

More playing than working

Conversations with Avery

Avery: Mom, I just peed in the bathtub!

Me: Why did you do that?

Avery: Cuz that's my job!

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Rob:  I want to hear about your day at school today.

Avery:  Uh......I don't want to talk about that right now.

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Eating watermelon

Avery: I can't eat the seeds.  They will hurt me.

Me: Well, they won't hurt you. We just try not to eat them.

Avery: Yeah, they can't hurt me...they don't have any hands.

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Rob: Avery, your hair is trashed.

Avery, panicking: No!! My hair isn't trash. Don't throw it away!

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Bedtime. Repeated stalling tactics via requests for things like water, socks, back rubs, then...


Avery: I have to go potty.

Me: SIGH. Hurry up.  I think you're playing games.

Avery: well, it doesn't seem to ME like I'm playing games.

This Week

So far.


First sibling bath.  Avery was a great helper.  She was quite concerned he was going to pee on us, though (and rightfully so).

Right after this picture was snapped he peed on Rob.



Ben spent a little time on his playmat.

We went to the library.

We went for snow cones.

Today, Ben and I went to Rob's office and out to lunch.  Ben presented us with a gift so Rob found himself doing something he probably never thought he would be doing on his office furniture.

Ben must have figured out we were onto his schedule.  This week he's been waking up at 1:30 and around 4 and 6:30 a.m. They say  there's a three week growth spurt so hopefully he'll cut back a little bit soon (I know, I know, we're still lucky).

Avery has been asking to go to the playground and I feel bad saying no, but it's 107 degrees and that's just a little ridiculous.  Today she told me she had a terrible day at school.  Apparently her ponytail fell out (she burst into tears telling me about it) and there were too many kids (not sure what she meant by that).  Hopefully she has a better day tomorrow.

Happenings

We finished out the end of last week with a couple trips to the school nearby to play on the playground. It's so hot but we're trying to spend a little time outside in the evenings anyway.  Avery loves going over to the school, which she claims used to be her school, to play (it will be her elementary school).

Ben and I had lunch with Mimi on Wednesday and Gigi and Dad on Friday (we're very busy people).  Ben made funny faces.

Friday Avery went swimming at Marilyn's pool with Mimi and spent the night at Mimi's house.  The high was around 107 so it was too hot to have Ben outside all day.  Instead we went to my office for a baby shower (and to show him off to everyone).  Rob and I went to eat Friday night with Ben.  He slept the whole time so it was kind of like being on a date:)

We had a great weekend at home.  We spent time inside.

Smiles

And outside.

Gigi and Pepaw visited on Saturday.  Sunday morning we went to brunch with Stephen and Lynn at one of our favorite places downtown that's closing.  The Mickey Mouse pancake was clearly the menu item of choice.

Later that afternoon Jerry and Sanaz came over for a visit.

Avery played dress-up.

We got out the play mat for Ben.  He spent a little time on it.

Then Avery took a turn.

Hmmmmm

Things are starting to return to normal around here -well, a  new normal anyway.

Ben is such a sweet little snuggle bug.  We are starting to fall into somewhat of a routine.  During the day he naps on and off and eats about every two hours.  We have started putting him to bed between 8:30-9:30.  We tried to keep him up a little later, but he is ready to go to bed between 8 and 9.  Regardless, he wakes up at 3:45 a.m. to eat.  This guy has a serious internal clock-he never misses 3:45 (for the past week or so, anyway).  From there he will go back down, usually between 4:15-4:30, and sleep until 6:30 or so.  He might doze again after he eats at 6:30, but I try to get up so I can see Avery and Rob before they leave, make smoothies, maybe help with Avery's hair:)  They usually don't leave until around 8.  I wish Ben would sleep until 7:30 or 8.  Hopefully he will soon.  I know we get a huge, uncharacteristic stretch the first part of the night so I'm not complaining.

I try to take a walk in the morning before it gets too hot.  The rest of the day is spent taking care of Ben (duh), doing housework, etc. I have to leave the house at least once a day.  Otherwise I'll go insane.  If we don't have lunch plans with anyone then I'll go to Target or something.  This will probably be our routine for the next three weeks, then it will alter slightly as I start working from home for the following six weeks.

For now, I'm enjoying focusing on Ben and having all the time to spend with him and do as we choose.  It can be a little lonely but I know it won't last long.

7/17/12

My due date.

Months and months ago we assumed we'd be having him (or her) on the 17th, give or take a couple days.

Now he's two and a half weeks old.

Rob went back to work yesterday.  Ben and I are trying to settle into a new routine with just the two of us.  It can be a little lonely for me but of course I'm enjoying my time with him.  Before I know it I'll be back at the office.

We enjoyed our weekend.  My mom came over for a couple of hours Saturday evening and Rob and I went to dinner.

Sunday we enjoyed some time outside.

Ben slept in his room for the first time last night.  He did just fine.  Avery was in her own room from the beginning but we were a little afraid of him crying and waking her up since their rooms are near each other.  Since he has been sleeping so great and only waking up once, and with Rob going back to work and having his alarm go off and getting ready in the morning, we figured it was time to move him to his room.  We'll see how night two goes...

2 Weeks

Today was supposed to be my c-section, and Ben is two weeks old today.  We have spent a lot of time around the house this week.  It has been nice spending time together and I know I'll be sad on Monday when Rob goes back to work and Avery goes to daycare.  I foresee many trips to Target in mine and Ben's future over the next few weeks.

So what did we do this week?

Avery and I went to the library

We went to the doctor-a few times.

We relaxed on the front porch

Avery made a teapot

We caught Ben smiling

Avery has been very into her dress-up clothes

Ben slept

We walked

Avery rolled in the grass

We went to the mall

Avery played in the rain

Drying off

Benjamin has been sleeping pretty good-until last night anyway.  He was up way more than normal and Avery somehow fell out of bed and hit her lip on something.  She was in our room crying a handful of times.  Between the two of them I don't think we slept more than four hours.  Fingers crossed that tonight will be better.

Happy Friday!

Life with Ben, So Far

The past week.  In pictures.

Just napping

Coloring the mailbox

Ben's 1st doctor appointment last Tuesday

At the local school playground

Ben's first sponge bath at home

4th of July

Aunt Lynn and Uncle Drew came over

Kisses

First trip to Target

More kisses

Silly face

Last Friday

Reading to herself

First neighborhood walk

First lunch for party of four

Happy hour drinks

Silly girl

I know it probably looks like we've been doing a lot, but we really haven't.  The fact of the matter is that Rob and I are not very good homebodies.  We've been making one or two short outings a day.  Ben pretty much sleeps through everything so he's easy to tote around for an hour or two.  We just can't stay home all day every day.  Last week Avery went to daycare but this week she's staying home with us.  Next week Rob will go back to work and Avery will go back to daycare.  Sad face.

We took Ben for his third and final weight check this morning.  He gained the weight he lost after birth and then some.  He is up to 6lbs 3.5oz.

He is doing great in every way.  He sleeps quite a bit (so far, about 4 hour stretches at night).  He doesn't cry much unless he's hungry or getting changed.  He's a sweet baby.  Avery is still doing great with him.  For the most part she carries on with her own activities, but stops to give him a kiss and a hug.  If he cries, she says "it's ok baby brother, don't cry."

I have my follow-up appointment tomorrow.  Physically, I am feeling pretty good.  I am having less and less pain at my incision site every day and I should be released to drive this week.  We're all adjusting to the new addition to our family and trying to find our new groove.