He rolled over!!!!

Splish Splash Alex Takin' a Bath!

I know this is a naked baby but, hey, he is a baby and precious. Put your finger over the part you dont want to see if it bothers you.

He LOVES to take a bath. I started bathing him in the kitchen, but he made such a wet mess, I finally moved him into the big tub. This way, if he pees or poops in there, it is really easy to dump and refill the tub!

Swings and Screams

When I went to pick up Alex from daycare Monday, the teacher told me that he was a very good baby. He was so interested in everything going on there that he only took two 30-minute naps!!! That is quite different than the 2-hour naps he takes at home. The teacher tried to put him in a swing to get him to sleep, but when she turned it on he screamed! We don't have a swing at home so it was a new experience for him. He apparently did not like the automated movement.

It was a slow day for both of us. I have no kids yet and so spent the whole day trying not to watch the clock count down to when I could see my little one again. He was awake when I got there after just having had floor time talking to another baby, but very quickly fell asleep in my arms with a smile. I stayed for about 30 minutes talking to the teacher about his day and how the class worked. The staff there is so great. She didn't mind me hanging around and actually engaged in conversation as she went about her duties. There were only five kids that day and by the time I got there, only four remained including Alex.

Yesterday was much the same. . . watching the clock and racing to pick him up. This time he was fast asleep. They had used the strap-down method we taught them to keep his arms in the swaddle. (We use a cheap, thin cloth diaper to wrap up his arms inside the swaddler blanket.) He still can get out, but it makes for a longer nap.

I want to be a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) so bad! I hate leaving him all day with someone else and then getting to feed, bathe and swaddle him to bed for only 1 1/2- 2 hours a night. He went to sleep by 6:30 both nights! My house is getting messier because I am so tired after being at work all day (regardless of the work I have or don't have to do) and then making dinner while trying to spend some time with Alex before his bedtime and cleaning the house. When Patrick gets home, he has been taking over dinner prep and letting me attach to Alex. I love this, but then I am taking the one-on-one time away from Patrick, too. At least he gets to spend some time in the morning with him before he takes him to school. He is not yet awake when I leave.

First day of school

We got a call Wednesday from the daycare that we had been interested in. We were on a wait list that could last until October or later. Miss Michelle, the director, said that one of the people who was to start on Monday could not start due to her husband losing his job. So. . . we got the spot!

He will start on Monday. They provide all the diapers and wipes, burp cloths, blankets and his own crib! When he starts eating real people food, they will provide that, too. Pretty cool, huh?!

I don't know how we are going to afford it, but I feel that this was an act of God and He will see us through if it is His will. We have enough saved up for a month and a half of daycare so far and will penny pinch for the rest.

This will make birthdays and Christmas almost non-existent for us, but that is okay. All I really care about is that Alex is with us for his first Christmas. It isn't about the presents anyway.

We are so excited!!!! I am extremely comfortable with the daycare teachers and knew God wanted us there since I first stepped in the door of Buda's Bright Beginnings. Alex is going to school!

I Made It!!

Well, I made it. Yesterday was the first day of school for Austin teachers and my first long stretch without Alex. Sunday night I broke down in Patrick's arms thinking just how long that stretch would be and how I hadn't been away from him over 30 minutes in a full year now. Patrick offered to bring him up to my school for lunch. Patrick has taken off all this week and is being the Stay-at-Home-Daddy. I was much less scared of Monday.

Monday morning I had just enough time to nurse him before I left. Patrick held Alex and stayed in the drive until I left, both waving their arms. By 9:30 anxiety set it. I couldn't keep my eyes off the clock. Alex would be there at 11. At 10:15, my principal decided to switch around the meetings for the day and have lunch at 12 instead. That was an entire hour!!! I let Patrick know-he was having a hard time getting everything together and out the door anyway.

When he came, I was pacing outside my portable. I ran to the car and grabbed my little man and hugged and kissed him as only a mother could. They stayed for two hours until the next meeting was scheduled. So, I had about 4 hours away, two hours with, and then another hour and a half away until I got to be with him for the night. Alex was very tired with the excitement of the day (everyone at school had to hold him and get him to smile at them) and went to sleep a little early.

Today was a little easier leaving in the morning. We had convocation for half of AISD until 11. At 12 I made it back to my school where fifteen minutes later, my dear husband came bringing Alex and lunch.

This is a nice way to ease back into returning to work. Thanks for the prayers. God was listening.

Rattles

My Parents had just returned from watching the Cowboys at practice in San Antonio. Mom had bought this little outfit and we are so excited that it almost fits. I have been told that he is to wear it when The Boys are playing. Being that I don't watch football myself, she is going to have to let me know when that is.

We finally were able to capture his gorgeous smile. He has a tendency to get business-like when the camera comes out. I can't keep a straight face when he smiles. It lights up my life.

Ouch!

Yesterday was Alex's first set of vaccinations. I held him on my lap and the nurse held his legs while giving him three shots. One in one leg, two in the other. As soon as she poked him, his head turned bright red and he cried so hard. Then, with the other two shots, it got worse. I have never heard or seen him like that. I teared up too just thinking about how I couldn't make it go away for him. I had to let him hurt for his safety. Well, one of the side effects of two of them was vomiting. Dr. Collins said that it is more like spit up, so I didn't think much of it when he spit up his dinner yesterday. But today was different. While feeding him lunch, right before he finished, he acted like he had a big burp working up, so I decided to sit him on my lap and work the burp out. He vomited everything up. It was like I had the Excorsist on my lap. Milk went everywhere! Poor thing did not feel well after that and ate very little later even with an empty stomache. He is fussy and sleeping a lot today. Keep my baby in your prayers.

A visit at Grandma's

Last weekend, we went to visit my parents and had a special surprise. Gianna came too! We had a great time and ate very well.

Sweet Rolls

Smiles and Coos

Alex is beginning to smile and is trying out his voice quite often. He will coo, gurgle, and grunt to tell us his thoughts. It is very sweet to hear. I even love hearing him cry. (It reassures me that he really is real.) He has begun sleeping about 4 hours at night with an occasional 5-6 hour stretch. The longer he sleeps, the more cranky he is when waking because he is so hungry. He gets mad at me for taking so long to fill his tummy.

When I think I am beginning to learn a little bit of his schedule, he decides to change it up on me. Since he has been so gassy lately, he is more cranky and won't sleep as well. It has begun to settle down, though.

Last night, I had Patrick feed him formula because I heard he would be fuller and sleep longer. Patrick was a bit nervous, but enjoyed his first feeding time with Alex. I got to take Roman for a walk to get the mail and just sit around while Patrick did the feeding. It was nice. (Although, I was a little upset that he took to it so easily because Alex is supposed to want Mommy, not bottle and Daddy.) This morning he was really gassy. I am wondering if it was the formula because usually, his fussy/gassy time was in the evening, not first thing in the morning.

I am beginning to ready myself for going back to work. It is really upsetting. I am trying to gather a good supply of breastmilk for Anita and am planning for my excuses to run away from school early every day. I don't think I will get away with that for long, though. I think the scariest thing for me to think about is the fact that I might not be that upset to go to work because I will have rewired myself to accept it. (Would that make me a bad Mommy?) Deep breath and sigh. Boredom has not yet crossed my mind with all my at home time. I am even enjoying cleaning my house everyday while Alex naps. Will that continue after school starts back up?

Well, here are pictures to keep you updated on his temendous growth.

One Month Check-Up

He is now 10 pounds 15 ounces!!!!!!! Wow, that is 4 pounds in 5 weeks. He is in the 75th percentile for weight and at 21 1/4 inches, he is at the 25th percentile in length. I told the doctor, "So, he is basically short and fat." She laughed and said that since he just fine and I shouldn't worry. All of the questions I took to the visit were answered and all is well. The biggest problem is a little irritation on his bottom. Vaseline should help that, though.

I am so proud of my little boy! Almost 11 pounds. I wonder what he will be at the next visit. His vaccinations are scheduled for next month on the 4th.

How sweet is this?!

Look at what I can do!!

Not too exciting, but that's his life. We are getting very excited about how well he holds up his head now!

fun facts

Fun Birthday Facts:

Alex's half birthday is November 30
Alex's birthstone is Pearl (Health and Longevity)
Alex's Astrological Sign is Gemini
Alex's Flower is Rose or Honeysuckle (Light Blue, White and Cream)
He was born in the Chinese Year of The Brown Earth Cow

Alex will start kindergarten in 2014,
be old enough to drive a car in 2025,
finish high school in 2027,
and will graduate from college with the class of 2031, give or take a year. Can you imagine?

This time last year I wasn't even pregnant yet!

more pictures

Three Weeks and growing

My baby is getting a double chin! He is really getting chubby now. His clothes that were fitting are now a little tight. He can look at me and I think he actually sees me and knows who I am. Awake times are getting more often and longer which is kinda nice so I can spend tummy time with him. It is working out really well, because his little head is staying up instead of flopping all over the place.

I love being a mommy! I went to the store yesterday while Patrick stayed home with Alex. I felt so naked without my baby! It was as if I left my left arm at home. I try to hold him as often as I can during the day and my arms felt too light.

I am taking in everything I can in these few beginning days because I know he is growing up so fast. Three weeks is one week away from a month. My baby is growing up!

Update

Thursday, Alex went to the doctor for his 2 week check-up. He weighed 7 lb 10 oz! The doctor said I could start letting him sleep as long as he wants to at night and not worry so much about him eating every 2-3 hours. Of course, as soon as she says that, he goes from wanting to sleep 4-5 hours at night to 3 hours. I think he hit a little growth spurt because he is wanting to eat all the time.

Some of you already know that my little boy is quite a sucker. He was put on a pacifier the second day! Now, he doesn't want it anymore. He will spit it out when offered. He makes a really cute "that's gross" face before rejecting it.

He is filling out his wrinkles and is fitting into some clothes that were too big at first. His newborn diapers are getting a little tight already, too. Speaking of diapers. . . he goes through so many each day!!! I never thought a little baby could pee and poop that many times! I can't tell you how many times I have tried to change a dirty diaper, just to have him immediately potty in the new diaper-sometimes before it is even fastened. God bless those of you who bought diapers for us!

Here's More!

The proud daddy.

Hearing testing. They hook him up to a machine that measures his brain waves to see if he hears the sounds.

A very happy Grandma.

Baby Pix

IT'S A BOY!!

Alex came at 12:10pm 6/1/09. He weighed 7lbs 1oz and was 21" long. He came very fast. The doctor said it was a text book birth and Laura should write a book.