So, I went back to work last week. After 5 months home, I guess it was time. I had really hoped to stay home for Colin's first 6 months, but I was encouraged to return so that I didn't lose my job. Not exactly the way I planned for things to go, but I need to go with the flow. We need the extra income--at least for now. I had planned to set up a budget while I was home, but I never found any time.
After the disastrous daycare visit, I wasn't expecting Monday to go very well. Little Man proved me wrong and was almost perfect. He was smiling and happy when I left and happy when Daddy picked him up in the afternoon. He had eaten, taken some short naps, and played well with others. It made me feel so much better that he was doing well.
What made the week miserable is that both Colin and I caught colds. It must be the same thing and I am thinking we caught it when we were out shopping last week. I went to JoAnn's and some rude lady was coughing on everything without covering her mouth. I tried to get away from her, but to no real avail. I should have known right then, but what could I do? Once we were exposed, it was too late.
Colin didn't sleep great most of the week and I was even worse. At least I am taking the brunt of it. He is recovering and I seem to be stalled out with a massively stuffy nose. I'm tired of all the drugs and just want to feel better!
So, I'm a working girl again. At least it is only 3 days a week. I can handle it. I like being with people. I miss my baby, but it is manageable. Plus, each day I am at work I look forward to the next when I get to be home with my special little man!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Nana & Papa Visit
My dad had yet to meet Colin and my mom hadn't seen him since he was about 5 weeks old. The planned this trip a while ago and it seemed like a great time until I found out about having to return to work early. Luckily all worked out and it was a great visit! My dad loved walking around holding Colin and Colin loved being walked around. it was a fun time for both of them!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Fussy, Fussy, Fussy
Colin is my happy baby. He smiles lots. He loves people. Since he turned 4-months (have I mentioned his age recently?) things have changed. He cries more and fights naps and even eating. I have no idea what is going on. I suspect some teething and a growth spurt. Either way, it is making me crabby as well as him.
Today we went in to do a daycare visit. It did not go well. He screamed almost the entire time we were there. I think we hit the double whammy of tired & hungry. He doesn't know what to do, so he just cries. I felt so bad for the daycare lady who tried to calm him down and even feed him a bottle. He finally fell asleep at the bottle and we got him in his car seat. Of course he woke up. At least he started smiling at that point. Talk about how to make a mommy even more nervous about going back to work.
We did have a nice visit with Chiara and Cayden at lunch, though. Both boys did well and were pretty happy little guys. I can't believe how much they are growing!
Today we went in to do a daycare visit. It did not go well. He screamed almost the entire time we were there. I think we hit the double whammy of tired & hungry. He doesn't know what to do, so he just cries. I felt so bad for the daycare lady who tried to calm him down and even feed him a bottle. He finally fell asleep at the bottle and we got him in his car seat. Of course he woke up. At least he started smiling at that point. Talk about how to make a mommy even more nervous about going back to work.
We did have a nice visit with Chiara and Cayden at lunch, though. Both boys did well and were pretty happy little guys. I can't believe how much they are growing!
 |
| Cuties! |
 |
| 2 big boys! |
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
4 Month Stats
Little Man is 4 months old! (as I have already said a few times.) Well, that means it is time for another doctor appointment and shots again. The 2-month ones went okay and I am hoping for the same again. He isn't helping me in the sleeping department. I have heard of the 4-month sleep regression and I think we are there. This morning he woke at 4:30am and was hungry. He downed a full 8-oz bottle! How did that happen? He usually is fine until 6:30am and has even been known to wake smiling. Not this time. I'm missing my happy morning baby. :(
He is still a big boy and in the 90th+ percentiles for height and weight. The nurse measured his height at 26.25 inches, but measured at the shortest end of the line (she drew a curve) and rounded down when it was actually 26 3/8 inches. So, I am rounding up and calling him 26.5 inches long. That is probably a bit more accurate, but with these little babies that don't stretch their legs out, it is hit or miss with accuracy anyway.
He is still a big boy and in the 90th+ percentiles for height and weight. The nurse measured his height at 26.25 inches, but measured at the shortest end of the line (she drew a curve) and rounded down when it was actually 26 3/8 inches. So, I am rounding up and calling him 26.5 inches long. That is probably a bit more accurate, but with these little babies that don't stretch their legs out, it is hit or miss with accuracy anyway.
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
Monday, October 10, 2011
The Most Adorable 4-Month-Old Pictures
My favorite day of the month has become picture day. Seriously. I look forward to it with immense anticipation. I sort through all of his clothes and think about what I should dress him in for the pictures. I think about it months in advance so that I can get all the outfits I want while he still fits in them. I love his cute little face and watching the smile and expressions change from month to month. I have way too much fun with it!
This month's theme is Halloween, so he had to go in his costume, of course!
This month's theme is Halloween, so he had to go in his costume, of course!
 |
| 4 Months Already! |
 |
| Happy Halloween from a little dragon |
 |
| Adorable in his dress outfit |
 |
| Who couldn't love this face? |
 |
| Love his profile! He was looking at his Mommy. |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
4 months!
I can't believe my baby will be 4 months old tomorrow! Where has the time gone? He isn't that little newborn anymore. He's a big boy. He can roll over from tummy to back, although he doesn't like to do it while Mommy & Daddy are watching or have a camera ready. Daddy has yet to see it happen, but knows it did because he was sitting on the couch with Little Man on his belly--looked up and he was on his back! Ha, ha...sneaky Little Man.
Last Thursday Little Man and I went to visit his birthday buddy, Cayden. They are so cute together! You can tell they are similar in size, but they are built so different! Cayden is solid and all around the middle while Little Man is long. Little Man actually seems smaller, but I think it is because his weight is distributed out over an extra inch or so. I'm sure Cayden will catch up on height, but I am not sure when. They both go in for their 4-month appointments this week, so we shall see how close they are. :)
The boys were very good and Little Man even napped for over an hour! I couldn't believe it! Just before we left, we put the boys on the couch next to each other and got a few pictures. Little Man gave plenty of funny faces while Cayden was either serious or smiling. He smiled lots when he looked at his mommy.
Chiara and I are both lucky to have such adorable little boys! I am so excited to see them get bigger and really begin to play with each other and have real play dates rather than mommy chat time.
The one downside to the 4-month mark is the sleep regression. Little Man still sleeps through the night, but getting him to bed has become a chore. He might be tired, but it takes nearly an hour to get him to fall asleep. He will talk to his mobile for a while, then get mad when it turns off. He pulls his pacifier out and holds on to it and cries because he wants it back in. I try so hard not to pick him up out of the crib. Most of the time I don't, but occasionally after an hour or so one of us breaks and picks him up. He easily falls asleep while one of us is holding him, but we can't do that for the next 18 years.
Napping is almost as bad. I'm not good about just putting him down for a nap, though. I tend to lay down with him and nap right along side him a lot. Or Daddy does. He gets lots of cuddly naps. He has been napping longer the last week as well. His 30 minute naps have turned into hour long naps and are only 2-3 times a day as opposed to 5-6 times a day. I'm not sure which I like better. I can get more done with long naps, but he wakes up cranky and wants to eat right away. Short naps make for a happy baby that just wants to smile and get hugs when waking. He isn't in a hurry to eat with short naps. Hmm...I think I like a happy baby better.
This also marks my last week home before going back to work. Little Man will start daycare 3 days a week next Monday. I am sure he will do fine, but me, not so much. I'm a wreck just thinking about it. I love being home with my Little Man. I am going to look forward to Tuesday and Thursday of every week.
So, I will enjoy every minute of this last week...pictures tomorrow morning, doctor (and vaccinations) on Tuesday, free day on Wednesday, and Nana & Papa arrive on Thursday. My birthday is Saturday, so I will celebrate with my whole family!
Last Thursday Little Man and I went to visit his birthday buddy, Cayden. They are so cute together! You can tell they are similar in size, but they are built so different! Cayden is solid and all around the middle while Little Man is long. Little Man actually seems smaller, but I think it is because his weight is distributed out over an extra inch or so. I'm sure Cayden will catch up on height, but I am not sure when. They both go in for their 4-month appointments this week, so we shall see how close they are. :)
The boys were very good and Little Man even napped for over an hour! I couldn't believe it! Just before we left, we put the boys on the couch next to each other and got a few pictures. Little Man gave plenty of funny faces while Cayden was either serious or smiling. He smiled lots when he looked at his mommy. Chiara and I are both lucky to have such adorable little boys! I am so excited to see them get bigger and really begin to play with each other and have real play dates rather than mommy chat time.
The one downside to the 4-month mark is the sleep regression. Little Man still sleeps through the night, but getting him to bed has become a chore. He might be tired, but it takes nearly an hour to get him to fall asleep. He will talk to his mobile for a while, then get mad when it turns off. He pulls his pacifier out and holds on to it and cries because he wants it back in. I try so hard not to pick him up out of the crib. Most of the time I don't, but occasionally after an hour or so one of us breaks and picks him up. He easily falls asleep while one of us is holding him, but we can't do that for the next 18 years.
Napping is almost as bad. I'm not good about just putting him down for a nap, though. I tend to lay down with him and nap right along side him a lot. Or Daddy does. He gets lots of cuddly naps. He has been napping longer the last week as well. His 30 minute naps have turned into hour long naps and are only 2-3 times a day as opposed to 5-6 times a day. I'm not sure which I like better. I can get more done with long naps, but he wakes up cranky and wants to eat right away. Short naps make for a happy baby that just wants to smile and get hugs when waking. He isn't in a hurry to eat with short naps. Hmm...I think I like a happy baby better.
This also marks my last week home before going back to work. Little Man will start daycare 3 days a week next Monday. I am sure he will do fine, but me, not so much. I'm a wreck just thinking about it. I love being home with my Little Man. I am going to look forward to Tuesday and Thursday of every week.
So, I will enjoy every minute of this last week...pictures tomorrow morning, doctor (and vaccinations) on Tuesday, free day on Wednesday, and Nana & Papa arrive on Thursday. My birthday is Saturday, so I will celebrate with my whole family!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Giggles & Cries
Giggles are my most favorite new sound. Cries are the most frustrating sound. Colin is really getting a personality and now giggles when something is funny and cries when he just wants something and isn't in need. He doesn't always like laying on the floor alone. I have to get down on the floor with him or look down at him and talk to him continuously for him to be happy. Otherwise he cries and it is not a quiet cry.
A couple of days ago I think he started teething. He just cries for no reason while I am holding him. I rub his gums and he calms down. Combine that with the massive amounts of drool coming out of his little mouth and I think we have the beginnings of teething on our hands. I am so not looking forward to this. Can't he just have all his teeth pop out overnight? I think I could handle one night of crying, but not months and months. I have started putting wet washcloths in the freezer to have on hand for him to chew. So far he likes them, but he can't hold them in his mouth, so I have to hold it for him. I get nearly nothing done during the day because of his need for constant attention.
To compensate for the fussiness, Colin started giggling. Real, honest-to-goodness laughing. He was doing "shrieking" for laughter, but now it is so cute! He does this little giggle that makes my heart just melt and I started laughing. I'm not always sure what will do it, but whenever he starts giggling, I keep doing whatever I am doing to keep it going. I love it!
I love being Colin's mommy. It really is the absolute most joyful experience of my life. Even with the teething. I'll take it all.
In less than 2 weeks I am heading back to work 3 days a week. I'm not excited about it, but everyday that I go to work means that I can look forward to the next day when I get to stay home with my little sweetheart.
A couple of days ago I think he started teething. He just cries for no reason while I am holding him. I rub his gums and he calms down. Combine that with the massive amounts of drool coming out of his little mouth and I think we have the beginnings of teething on our hands. I am so not looking forward to this. Can't he just have all his teeth pop out overnight? I think I could handle one night of crying, but not months and months. I have started putting wet washcloths in the freezer to have on hand for him to chew. So far he likes them, but he can't hold them in his mouth, so I have to hold it for him. I get nearly nothing done during the day because of his need for constant attention.
To compensate for the fussiness, Colin started giggling. Real, honest-to-goodness laughing. He was doing "shrieking" for laughter, but now it is so cute! He does this little giggle that makes my heart just melt and I started laughing. I'm not always sure what will do it, but whenever he starts giggling, I keep doing whatever I am doing to keep it going. I love it!
I love being Colin's mommy. It really is the absolute most joyful experience of my life. Even with the teething. I'll take it all.
In less than 2 weeks I am heading back to work 3 days a week. I'm not excited about it, but everyday that I go to work means that I can look forward to the next day when I get to stay home with my little sweetheart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)