2 Month Check Up

I took Nate to the doctor for his 2 month check up today. What a big boy. I couldn't believe it when the nurse told me he weighs 15lbs 12oz! He's off the chart! He's 25" long, which is the 95%. I expressed a little concern for his size, but she told me that since he is breast fed and proportional, that there's no need to worry. He's just a big, healthy boy! She said he looks really healthy and everything looks good. All the spit up is normal (he's probably eating too much, go figure) and obviously not affecting him because he's growing. She told me I can use Selsun shampoo for his cradle cap and rub it with a toothbrush (hopefully this will help as his cradle cap is getting pretty bad), and that I can give him a bath daily. I'm excited about this since all the books say not to bathe the baby every day, only a couple times a week. Nate enjoys his baths (he's no longer in the net and so he likes sitting in the water) and I like including it in the bedtime routine. He usually just cries when I take him out of the tub. And he's good about getting lotion on now too. At first he was too cold, but now I think he likes the little massage. He also got a series of shots. He does so well and only cries for a little bit afterwards, but I hate seeing him in pain. It's the worst. He was a little fussier than normal today so I did give him some Motrin.

He's still doing really well at night. He sleeps through the night more often than not now. I think the last time he woke up during the night was a few nights ago. He went to bed earlier than normal and still slept about 7 hours before waking up at 3am. I've switched to Huggies diapers and those seem to be working much better than the Pampers too. His clothes and sheets are staying dry now.

He's really such a good baby, I can't complain. I hear about all these other moms that have difficulties with their babies sleeping or eating or both and I feel very lucky that Nate is so good. It really helps since I'm doing this alone and I don't get a break. I need to have a good baby. Time is really going by quickly. I feel like he was just born and now he's two months old and smiling away. Before I know it, he'll be off to college!

KidsCommons

This past Saturday Jaime came up to Columbus with the boys. We took them to KidsCommons, a science discovery museum downtown. There are 3 levels, with different things to explore on each level. There is a bubble room to make big bubbles in, which I think was his favorite. And a miniature model house with a giant toilet slide. He was too afraid to go down it by himself so I handed off Nate to Jaime and went down with him. Definitely a tight fit for a grown up. I think Lucas had a lot of fun there, running around and exploring all the different things. Take that back, I know he had a lot of fun there because when it was time to go he ran up all three levels to get away from Jaime and she had to go chasing him with Landon in her arms. It was hilarious! I think we were more tired by the time we left than he was. But it was a lot of fun. I look forward to the time when Nate and Landon are big enough to enjoy places like that. It will be so much fun to watch them all playing together.

Church

Today was the first time I have been to church here in Columbus with Nate. As if walking in right when service was starting wasn't bad enough, he decided to announce our arrival by loudly crying. After I got him out of his car seat and settled, he did a pretty good job. I had pumped extra milk this morning and took that with me so that way I could just feed him a bottle if I needed to (which I did). There is a nursery there but I don't know if I'm ready to leave him with strangers yet. This is still a new church for us and not like the family we have at the Hanover church. And even though it's much harder to pay attention when I have a baby to tend to, I'm glad we went and it wasn't a disaster.

2 Dogs and a Cat

No, I didn't get a cat. That's the last thing I need, another pet. Yet, somehow I was still dealing with it this morning. I let the dogs out and they instantly started barking. Okay, not that this is really that different from a lot of mornings, but today they wouldn't stop. So I look outside and see a cat on top of the swing set (on the roof part of the little fort section). Crap. Of course calling the dogs to come in does not work so I get out the cheese. It's six o'clock in the morning and I'm yelling "cheese" in my pajamas in the backyard. No success there either. So I go out to try and grab them. This must have spooked the cat because it leaps off the swing set and the chase begins. All I can picture in my mind is cat carcass all over my yard. Luckily, the cat made its way under the shed. I have to go back in the house because Nate is starting to cry. I think to myself, cat, just stay under the shed until I can get to the dogs. About 15 minutes later, Benny comes to the back door. Now all I can think is that Sammy got the cat and won't give Benny any so he might as well come in. But then I hear Sammy still barking so I figure the cat must still be safe. After Nate fell back asleep I went back outside to try and coax Sammy in with a piece of cheese. Of course this doesn't work and we play a game of chase around the shed, with me failing miserably. She's too smart to get any where near me. So I pull out my last resort, the collar. Now I hate to do it but desperate times call for desperate measures. So I go back out again with the collar and wave it. Sammy sees this and comes running. For those of you that don't understand, Sammy believes she will be going for a walk, which trumps all. Both dogs were covered in mud so I took them straight upstairs for a bath. Afterwards, they wanted to go back outside, but needless to say, they'll be staying in the house for awhile. All of this before 7am. I think they do these things so that I will have something to blog about.

Water Heater

We had to replace the water heater today. Last night I noticed a small wet spot on the carpet. I thought Benny had peed on the floor in a act of rebellion for being gated in the front room while Nate played on the floor in the living room. But when I smelled it, it didn't smell like pee, it didn't smell like anything for that matter. So I just shrugged it off as a "I probably spilled something and just don't remember it." But a little while later there was another wet spot. And then another. Then I heard dripping. Sure enough, the water heater was leaking. Ugh. I called my dad right away. He walked me through the steps of shutting the heater off and the water to it. And then calmed me down as I was in tears. I know it's stupid, but I hate dealing with things like this all by myself. So this morning I called around and found a plumber with a decent rate. He came out this afternoon and installed a new water heater. So a couple hours and a few bucks later, I have hot water again. Yay! And of course, to make the story more interesting, the dogs decided to escape while the plumber was here. He went out the front door to get something out of his truck and there was Benny. Go figure. So I checked on Sammy, but she was still in the backyard. Well, I guess she was for awhile. After the plumber was done installing the new heater, packed up and left, there was a knock at the door. There he was with Sammy. I don't know why they even escape. They come right to the front door. I guess they'll show me if I won't let them in the house.

He Drinks From a Bottle

When Nate was sick a couple of weeks ago I tried to feed him pedialyte from a bottle. He wasn't having it. He wouldn't take formula either. I knew he would need to feed from a bottle eventually, so I decided to try it again with breast milk this afternoon. He was hesitant, making faces, not really sure how to react. The familiar taste with the not so familiar nipple. After he was done making faces and playing around with it, he finally began to drink. Since it was only a couple of ounces, when he was done with the bottle I rewarded with a drink at the ol' boob.

Grandma's Visit is Over

My Grandma was here for a month to help out and went back to her home in Arizona today. I can't believe a month has gone by already. I must say it went much faster than I thought it would. I cannot express how much of a help she has been. She helped with the cooking and cleaning and the dogs (she became their best buddy), but best of all was just the company. It was nice to have someone to talk to at dinner, about what was on tv, or just life. She would get the nightly sleep report first thing in the morning. We played cards and scrabble. I had such a nice visit with her that it is hard to see her leave. I love you Grandma! Thanks for everything while you were here!

I just put Nate up to bed so I'm headed up there as well. I'm exhausted and need to learn to take naps during the day. I just hate to because then I can't fall asleep right away when I do go to bed. He's been sleeping pretty well. The average is 4-5 hours but the other night he actually slept through the night! I couldn't believe it. Not that I did, as I kept waking up to check on him. Eventually I might get used to longer sleeping periods, just not yet I guess.

So we will see how tomorrow goes, the first day back on our own again. I have high hopes to be cleaning and taking care of baby and still getting a work out session in each day. We will see how long that lasts or how well it goes. For now, my ambitions are high and I will ride on that.

Settling In

I think things are starting to smooth out. We're getting into more of a routine. I wouldn't necessarily say a schedule yet though. I've been keeping track of when he sleeps and for how long and so I can make a pretty good guess at the next time he will nap. I'm learning his cries and his behavior; I can tell when he's tired or wants to eat or just wants some love. He turned six weeks yesterday and I really don't know where all that time has gone. Although he has made progress in six weeks. He sleeps 5 hours at night (okay, crossing my fingers on this one--it's only been a couple nights like that so it might be a fluke) and had a bath the other night and for the first time did not cry or poop. I don't take him back to the doctor until the end of the month for his 2 month check up, so I'm not sure how much he weighs but most of his 0-3 month clothing is getting too small. There's a couple of brands that still work but I'm sure he'll be in 3-6 month clothing within the next couple of weeks. He's getting chunkier-I can really tell in his legs and belly how big he's getting. And he's starting to smile more now too.

I'm really enjoying being a mommy. And while I say things are starting to smooth out and we're settling into a routine, we will really see how this goes when Grandma leaves next week and I no longer have the help. I know I will be much busier than I am now. She has really helped me out with the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the dogs. We even have time to sit down and play cards! So I might be back in a few weeks and be worn ragged. We shall see what is to come. For now, I am enjoying the company and help and the longer sleep nights.