Odds and ends...

So apparently, this is why I haven't blogged before. I'm not so great at keeping things updated. With that said, a lot has been happening the past week and a half. When you have a 5 week old, every day is filled with new things.

H is doing well and has reached the 8 lb mark. We are thrilled he is growing so well! We visited some friends of ours, Allison and Jerrad, this past Saturday and their one week old daughter, Lily. I didn't realize just how much H has grown until seeing a little one the same size as he was just 3-4 weeks ago. It wasn't even his physical size that has grown. He has matured so much in his facial expressions and body activity. He will relax on a blanket and just kick his legs around and move his arms around for a good while. He also is constantly looking around and taking in everything. His vision has still has a ways to go, but he loves looking around.

He is also finding his voice. We will occasionally get a coo from him. We, of course, make a big deal to reinforce the "talking" and he looks at us like we are crazy!

Sleeping is improving each day and night. We have nights and days finally figured out. What was once a middle of the night wide awake period now comes about 5am...a little more manageable. H is however, the most awake one month old I know. He takes one, yes ONLY ONE, nap a day. Mommy has taken advantage of this opportunity to catch a few Zs a few times. However, he usually chooses to nap when mommy and daddy can't, like during errands, when there are visitors or while at church. In addition to being awake so much, he is very active while awake.

Last Monday, we celebrated his one month birthday. Conveniently, he was awake at the exact time he was born - 5:09am. It is hard to believe it has been an entire month! One month of sleepless nights. One month of hugs and kisses. One month of constant feeding. One month of indescribable love. One month of being a mommy and daddy. One month of getting to know our little miracle that God made to perfect! It has been a huge adjustment, but worth every bit of it. He is amazing!

We have also found his middle name to be very fitting this week. Since in the womb, H has loved daddy's music. J would play the guitar and sing for us at night the past 9 months. We chose the middle name Taylor because that is what kind of acoustic guitar daddy plays. The name fits perfectly! Daddy's playing and singing can be the answer to tears. And if daddy is unavailable to play, then iTunes with praise and worship music does the trick almost as well.

With all that said, here are a few pictures of our growing little boy over the past week.

Here H is chilling outside in his bouncy seat. He LOVES being outside.

This is during a nap with mommy...sprawled out!

Mommy is working on H taking a pacifier so that Aunt Whit doesn't go crazy when mommy goes back to work. Look how well it is going.

H FINALLY fits this newborn outfit. The pants were huge until this week. Look how cute!

Mommy and daddy threw a party for the season premiere of "The Office" and this is what I did the entire time. Then of course, I was WIDE AWAKE when mommy and daddy were ready for bed.

I've been smiling in my sleep for a few weeks and am starting to smile while awake. But only mommy sees them and can't catch me with a camera. So here is a sleeping smile.

I like any time with daddy...especially tummy time!

Mommy and I caught a nap this morning. I started off with my head elevated for all this congestion...but slid down.

Sleepless nights and stuffy noses

So as the week has gone on, H has found 2 am as a prime time to be awake, bright eyed and bushy tailed. I spent Tuesday night and Wednesday night on the sofa, for several hours, with H so that J could get some sleep. He is the most awake 4 week old I know! He will take only one nap during the day and still be up for 2-5 hours in the middle of the night. I kept feeding him, hoping it would lead to sleepiness. No such luck.

Tuesday night at 3:20am. What a look he is giving me when I try to explain that no one should see 3:20am on a clock.

Wednesday night at 12:15. He still isn't concerned about my sleep!

I believe these sleepless nights made me weak and vulnerable to a cold. I've had a sore throat, congestion and earaches. I tried to keep my hands clean and kisses away from H...but how do you keep from spreading germs to a little one you literally spend 24/7 with? If there is a way, I have not found it, because H is now sick. He is so pitiful with congestion. His breathing sounds so awful and he has this little cough. It makes me feel so bad to spread it to him. We have found sleeping sitting upright helps...so the swing and my chest have been his place of rest. I'm hoping the weekend brings wellness and rest!

The nap began in a comfy position that encourages drainage.

At some point he ended up like this...but seemed comfortable still. Maybe smelling his foot helps clear his congestion.

The beginning...but not the real beginning

So I finally decided a blog would be the best way to keep friends and family updated on our growing and busy family. To quickly bring anyone and everyone up to pace, I'll do a quick recap of the past 3 1/2 weeks.

HT was born on Friday, August 22nd at 5:09am. He was 7 lbs 2.8 oz and 20 inches. We came home from the hospital on Saturday and were thrown into the life of parents. As new parents, you hear from everyone what it will be like...but you have no idea until you are in the middle of it all. Sleepless nights and unconditional love came in this amazing 6 lbs 13 oz package (down from birth weight, as usual). H had some medical issues at first and we made a visit to CHKD the first Thursday, for a renal and bladder US. Everything is doing well now, so that is good. He also had some trouble gaining weight, which has lead to me feeding him every couple hours. It is quite exhausting, but he is my life for the time being.

We have had 3 weeks filled with firsts: trips to the doctors, trips to Target (followed by daily trips to Target), Sundays at church, washcloth baths, holding his head up, trips to school (Tallwood), swing time with tears...and without, and many many more firsts. Though there is far too much to include, that sums up the past few weeks.

This past weekend we had our first road trip, with a weekend getaway to Nags Head. J took off on Friday so that we could head down Thursday evening. The trip was great, as H slept the entire way. But you can guess what that means...a long nap in the evening leads to a long night for mommy and daddy. While we were there, we visited the sound, went outlet shopping and spent many hours out on the deck. Maybe it is the fact that I spent the last 2 months of pregnancy lounging by the pool, Hudson is a sun baby. He LOVES the sun and a step outside can fix any tears. It was also a great break for J and I, as between grandparents and great-grandparents, there was always someone wanting to hold H. We got a few naps! Saturday night was another memorable moment, as we finally lost the umbilical cord!! Which ment swimming and a real bath would come quickly.

On Sunday, when we returned home, we were invited for an afternoon of swimming at the Jones house. H did a great job, considering it was his first time in the water. He did however show his true colors during the swim (see below).

We headed to church that evening...and got a good night's sleep after so much fun during the day! On Monday, yesterday, we gave H his first real bath. He just chilled in the tub for the beginning. Ironically, during washcloth baths, his favorite part was shampooing his hair. During a real bath, it was the only time he fussed. I think it had to do with being chilly since I lifted him out of the water. Here are a few pictures from the bath.

In addition to starting a blog, I've been posting pictures weekly of H to easily share. Check them out, if you would like...http://s393.photobucket.com/albums/pp12/anjarrett/. They do require a password that I do not wish to post. But feel free to email me for it!