Heading Back to Work

I can't believe my maternity leave has come to an end. These three months flew by. On one hand, I am looking forward to getting back to work and being with grown-ups all day. On the other hand, I also know I am really going to miss having every day to spend with little Will. I know that balancing work with him will be difficult for a while, but I am sure (at least I hope!) we will work it out.

Will is 13 1/2 weeks old, and already Ellis and I are looking back at the first two and a half months and are able to say "wow - remember when..." (Like - remember when you had to stay up holding Will with a boppy pillow in your lap and Will in your arms until 2 or 3am while I got sleep, and then passed him off to me at 3am? or remember when I couldn't go anywhere with Will without worrying that he would scream the minute I walked in the door? or remember when Will cried all day long and there was nothing we could do to stop it? or remember driving Will to sleep at 2am round and round our neighborhood with me in my pjs in the backseat holding a pacifier in his mouth?) I will admit that it was tough, particularly with Will's tummy problems, those first two months. But it is really true - after about 11 or 12 weeks, things do get amazingly easier and, with every smile and coo from you baby, your mind begins to forget how hard it really was in the beginning because it is so wonderful now. I really love this age (stinks that now is when my maternity leave is over). But once your baby begins to acknowledge you and interact with you -- words can't describe it. Now, I know I really really love Will. I love him so much, my heart hurts, and thats about the only way I can describe it.

So, as my maternity leave comes to an end, here are the current "milestones" of my little boy:

1) He can roll over to his side and back again to his back. He often rolls on his side and stays there for a while to play.

2) He loves to suck on his whole hand or a finger or two. He has not found his thumb and is still working on coordinating his fingers. He loves to grab a burp cloth that is in his lap or a toy and bring it to his mouth to "taste" it. Other times, he'll jab his fingers in his mouth to the point he almost chokes himself!

3) He loves bathtime. Just in the last couple of days, he has learned how to splash with his legs and feet. Its hysterical.

4) So far, my boy is finally sleeping well at night, and just in time for both of us heading back to work. See the blog entry below about this.

5) Will still only sleeps in his car seat. He sometimes sleeps in his swing during the day for naps. I used to try every once in a while to get him to sleep in his crib - but he would fall asleep and then suddenly startle awake. He does this over and over again until he wears you out (and gets himself upset). He won't sleep in there despite the fact we have bought ever contraption on the planet to try and snuggle him in the crib.

6) Will's favorite "play thing" is a face (whether its yours or his in a mirror). Making faces at him and acting goofy is still the best thing to make him smile. Just recently, he has become fascinated with sounds that you can make too. Just yesterday, he learned to say "oo" like an owl. It was hysterical and I tried to capture it on video - but he stopped every time I turned the camera on. He'd sit there and pucker up his lips and just go "oo" "oo" "oo" over and over.

7) Will's favorite toy is this music and light thing on his activity gym. It hangs over him when he is laying down on the activity matt and plays music with lights. He loves that - makes noises, swats at toys and stares at the lights.

8) Will now loves to be carried more like you would carry a child upright - on your hip and over your shoulder. He just holds his head up and looks around everywhere. Its so much easier to carry him that way! (And adorable when he falls asleep like that.)

9) He loves his Bumpo seat. We put him in that a lot during the day. He just sits in it on the kitchen counter and watches me make lunch, do the dishes, etc.

10) I think Will is going to be a handful when he can crawl and walk. He is just so active. When he is awake, he just kicks and kicks and wiggles and wiggles! And he fights sleep hard - I think he is afraid he'll miss something.

11) He has outgrown all his cute little newborn and 3 month clothes. Stinks to have to put all of that away already! He is a long little baby - so he wears 6 month pajamas. If you put him in pajamas with feet that impedes his kicking ability in any way - he will fuss at you and cry until you change him.

12) Napping during the day varies. He usually sleeps in his swing during the day, although sometmes he still just wants a pair of arms to crash in. He usually is awake for about an hour or an hour and half and is then ready for a nap. Nap time is anywhere from a quick 15 minute power nap to a 2 hour long sleep.

13) Drool and spit bubbles! This boy is loves to slobber. God knows what its going to be like when he starts teething!

So there you have it. Ready or not working world - here I come!

Spring is Here!

Sleeping!!

PLEASE don't let me jinx myself by telling everyone about my baby's wonderful sleeping habits ...but its been over a week ago and I am so proud of him --

We now have a bed time routine of bathtime, change into pajamas, bottle and bed. Will is asleep by 8pm every night, and sometimes as early as 7pm if he is really tired and we need to do the routine earlier. Will loves bathtime. He is finally starting not to just stare at himself in the bathroom mirror the entire time with this pensive look on his face. He is beginning to look more at me, the water, and finding out how he can splash a whole lot and make Mom yell if he kicks his legs really fast. Its too cute.

After bedtime (PLEASE don't let me jinx myself!) he usually sleeps until about 2 or 3am. Ellis gets up to feed him, and Will goes fairly quickly back to sleep for him. Then, I wake up with him - usually between 5:30 and 6:00 am. All of us now get a good bit of sleep! Yea!!!!!!

Will is still sleeping in his car seat, but I don't think that will change anytime soon. He naps in his swing, usually. I talked with the nurse at his pediatrician's office - and she said some babies just like the confinement. Her granddaughter slept in a car seat until she was about 9 months old. She assured me it was nothing to really worry about, so I am not going to rush Will anymore. If he doesn't want to sleep in his crib, then that is okay, as long as he sleeps! The picture above is his classic sleeping position. Legs pulled up like a frog and hands on knees. That is the way my baby sleeps every night!

Who knew, when I bought the crib and matching sheets and bumper and such, that the car seat would be his bed and the receiving blankets would be his sheets!! :) Too funny!

(Cross your fingers our nights of blissful peace continue!)

Will Visits Nanny and His Cousins

Yesterday, we traveled to Union to see Will's relatives from his Daddy's side. He got to see his Nanny, his cousins, Aunt Kathy, Great Aunt Mary, Great Aunt Betty Jo, Great Great Uncle Ned and Great Great Aunt Laura, Great Great Aunt Katherine, and several other friends and relatives. Whew! (He has a big extended family from his Daddy!)

(Once again, I failed to take lots of good pictures. I need to improve this fault!!)

Will did okay. He was a bit fussy for a while because he was overtired and couldn't find a good place to sleep in a strange place. Eventually, he settled in Nanny's arms and slept for a good, long while. Ellis and I loved seeing everyone - especially our nieces, Kate and little Anna!!

Ellis loves to tickle some toes!! Anna did enjoy it - I just wasn't able to capture her smile on film.
Anna enjoyed borrowing Will's Bumpo for a while so she could sit up and see everyone.
Me with Kate, Anna and Will. What a cute bunch of kids!!

Kate holding little Will. Kate is such a good, big girl to her sister and baby cousin!

In case you are having a dull Monday morning ...

This should make you smile!! Happy Monday everyone.

A Fun Weekend With All the Boys

This weekend Will's friends from the upstate came to visit. I really think Will had tons of fun watching the kids play and just observing everything. Little Alex came down with Jennifer and Travis and Charlie and big Alex came down with Julie and Josh. We had a wonderful time with everyone. It was fun chaos at our house for 2 days. Our house was unbelievably quiet after everyone left this morning (amazing how loud it can be with a 5 yr old, two almost 2 year olds and Will).

Will was a wonderful baby. He hardly cried (expect at the zoo) and went to sleep from 8 until about 2:30 so Mom and Dad could hang out with their friends and have some much needed "grown-up" time.

First, we all met at the zoo. It was super hot, so Will did not sleep long in his stroller. For a short while, he had fun out in the sun staring at everyone . . .
But he quickly got very irritable. After I found some shade and a cool breeze, Will passed out in my arms. He stayed asleep there as I carred him out of the zoo, on to the tram to the botanical gardens and out of the gardens to the car. Whew! What a workout for me! But he was so adorable the whole time - it was worth it.

At our house, Will was in a great mood just soaking in all the noise and fun around him.

Ellis and I are already looking forward to the next time we can all get together again! :)

My boy is a genuis!

Okay, so maybe that is a slight exaggeration. But last Friday, for the first time, Will played with something and realized that if he did X, then Y would happen. I was so excited and thrilled when he did it over and over again. As the video shows, Will learned that if he kicks the shapes, then the toy will make sounds and play music. When he first learned it, he just squealed with delight. It is so cute!


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I really can't believe how fast he is growing -- and I know I say that all the time. But its so true, and I know it won't ever stop either! He has also learned to roll over on his right side, although he has a little trouble rolling back over on his back. He is almost able to hold his head completely steady - and does if he isn't tired at all.

He now has the biggest smile, which Ellis captured in the picture below. Getting the perfect photo is hard! We learned that first-hand yesterday when we went to a photography studio to get pictures of Will made. But I can't complain - he did amazingly well. He really enjoyed the lights and the big camera that kept being put in his face. He put up with a lot. We were there for 3 hours and he did a wonderful job for a good 2 hours. We were all exhausted afterwards, and Will slept for a little over 3 hours once we got home. We got some really adorable, wonderful shots. Its going to be hard to pick from them. But, I will hopefully have his birth announcement with one of the pictures soon! (Its about time, right?)

The Many Faces of Will

Finding my fingers!!!

I could just gobble this boy up!

Will is finding his hands more and more interesting each day. Its fascinating to watch him grow - he changes from day to day and sometimes from morning to night! He is discovering that sucking on his fingers is a pleasing thing to do!

And the pouty picture? In just the last 3 days or so, Will has learned how to stick out his bottom lip and pout. It makes me laugh when he does it, which I am sure is not the effect he is going for!

Out and About

Will heads to his first church service.

I love spring and warm weather. I am so happy it is finally here (well ... just about anyway). Will and I have gotten out of the house a lot this past week. I have grown more and more confident being with him. It started on Sunday a week ago when we took Will to church for the first time. He did great - slept through the entire service in his car seat on the pew in between Ellis and me. Then, last Tuesday, Will and I met Gwen and sweet Clare at the zoo. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time with them, walking around the zoo and the botanical gardens. Then, we had lunch at Atlanta Bread, which was the very first "public" meal I had with Will accompanying me. It was all non-eventful for Will - he slept through everything!

The rest of last week I ran lots of errands on my own with Will. For the most part, he just sleeps through everything. But when he is awake, I've learned I can handle him, for the most part. Saturday was a beautiful day, so Ellis and I went to Sandhills with Will in tow. We had lunch together and then walked around, doing a little shopping. Even ended up feeding Will on a park bench as we watched people walk by. Again, Will slept most of the time, fussing only to eat. The freedom and confidence-building is invigorating.

Today, we went with Grandma to do some more shopping so I could finally buy some new clothes!! I have not bought any new clothes for myself in almost a year - other than maternity wear. It was fun to be able to shop again at my favorite store - Ann Taylor Loft. :)

Tomorrow, Will turns 11 weeks old. It is hard for me to believe that he will be 3 months old next week! Even harder is to believe that I only have 2 1/2 weeks of maternity leave left. I am very ready to get back, and yet, I cannot believe I won't be spending every day with my son anymore.

BUT - on two great notes. First, Ellis and I suddenly realized this weekend that he still has 2 weeks of paternity leave left. He got 5 weeks, and we decided back in December that it would be better for him to take 3 weeks at the beginning and then save the last 2 for right before I went back to work. So, this is really my last week alone with Will. I can't wait for the three of us to have 2 full weeks together!!

Second, Grandma has WONDERFULLY agreed to watch Will the first week of April when I return to work. It is a tremendous relief to Ellis and I that we can make this transition a little smoother. We'll have a week to get used to both of us working before we have to figure out how to get Will out the door too. (Grandma is coming here to watch Will that week.) Plus, Will will be a little older before he starts day care - he'll be 14 1/2 weeks. I feel like every week he can get before starting, the better. Ellis and I are so thankful Grandma is going to help out. (And I know Will is really looking forward to all the rocking she will do with him!)

Holy Crap! (Literally)

Today, Ellis and I learned the meaning of s$#%ting up the back! OH MY GOD WHAT A MESS! Will was peacefully sleeping this morning in his car seat. He woke up at 12 crying and WHEW did we smell something not very good! Now, the boy has been having some not-so-pleasant farts lately, so at first I didn't think it was anything to worry about. But I told Ellis to take him upstairs and change him anyway, and he asked for me to come with him because Will was fussing so much. THANK GOD THERE WERE TWO OF US!!

I think numbers are the best way to recount this "episode" without grossing everyone out entirely:

1 really really really dirty diaper

1 outfit completely soiled

1 changing table cover that became soild after dirty diaper came off

1 burp cloth that got dirty to keep the "dirt" from further going all over Will's back

1 wall that got peed on

1 dresser that got peed on

1 bath needed to clean the boy

4 washcloths used to clean the boy

45 minutes it took to ultimately "change" his diaper

2 totally grossed out parents

0 the amount of prune juice I intend on giving him in the future!!

Ah - parenthood! :)

Dancing

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Will loves to just kick and kick and swat at that purple toy in his crib. Hopefully, he'll be sleeping in it soon. (Yes, that's Michael Jackson in the background. Will and I play to all kinds of different music. :) )

Will is now 9 weeks and one day old, and I find myself noticing all kinds of changes in him. He really is growing up and changing from a newborn to an infant. Here are some of the things I have noticed and "where we are":

1) He hasn't found his hands yet, but he now swats at toys like he is doing in the video above. During "tummy time" he often shoves his whole fist in his mouth.

2) I noticed about 5 days ago that, when his pacifier fell out of his mouth, Will searched for it with his mouth, trying to get it back in again. Seems small - but its the first time he really recognized that he can get something he wants without waiting for one of us to do it.

3) He loves to play like he is doing in the video - either in his crib or on his activity gym. He just kicks and kicks, cooing and smiling. Just in the last few days, he has become fascinated by the lights that light-up to music above him in the activity gym. He will just stare at it. Playtime has slowly become more independent time for him, which gives me about 10 minutes or so to do something without him in my arms. :) He is awake a lot more during the day than when he was a little newborn.

4) Will really likes to "see the world." He rarely likes to be carried or held with his body toward you. He likes to be held facing away and looking at everyone. Probably why he doesn't like the sling I have. :( He didn't like the Bjorn baby carrier either, until last Sunday I put him in it facing out. He has a little difficulty because the head control isn't there, but he loved it. Watched me do all kind of chores and eventually fell dead asleep in it while I did laundry and other things. It was so funny! (And such a work-out for Mom.)

5) He is not a "schedule" baby. Every day is a new adventure as to what he wants or when/how long he will want to sleep. Generally, he takes a big nap in the morning and a big nap in the afternoon after lunch - but the evening is pretty much up for grabs.

6) He still has his nights and days RIGHT. :) Big relief to Mom and Dad. He sleeps more and more in his infant seat (not needing to be held). But he can take a long time to go back to sleep once he wakes up to be fed. He usually eats between 10-11 and then again between 3 and 4. Right now, he sleep in the carrier at night on the ottoman that goes with the glider rocker in his nursery. I can lay in bed and stick out my leg, rest it on the ottoman, and rock it back and forth until he goes to sleep. Ellis and I both tend to get a bit more sleep that way. Sometimes it works, and sometimes he just does not want to sleep on his own. But last night, Will slept on his own all night until we all woke up around 7 this morning. I was so proud of him. (Of course, who knows what tonight will bring.) ... Oh - and he loves this "nature noise" that Graco products have. Ellis and I know it by heart because that's what we use every night to get him to sleep. I think its supposed to be a babbling brook - but it really just sounds like static with some tinkling noise in the background. But, hey, whatever works.

7) Brilliant Ellis thought to put one of Will's Snuzzlers in the swing. It worked! This is the second day Will has napped in the swing, which is where he is right now. Yea! The boy LOVES to be rocked, so we both just have to believe he can love that swing.

8) Thankfully, Will loves the car. He usually gets quiet when you strap him in the car seat and put it in the car, staring around in bewilderment or staring at himself in the mirror above the car seat. Normally, he is out within about 5-10 minutes of driving, especially when you hit the highway. He also sleeps when having "cart-rides" at the stores I take him to. He may wake up as soon as I put him in the cart and I think, "Oh God, this is it. I'm going to see what its like when he pitches a fit in public," and then he closes his eyes and drifts to sleep. It's almost like the stores are a little too much for him to take in.

I know there are other things that I wanted to post, but I can't think of them now. Since this blog is really his "baby book," I'm trying to keep a journal of his early life on it. (Because, really, when will I have time to do a good job of keeping up a baby book?! I haven't even gotten Will's birth announcement together!! )