Bumper

So Jack went down around 9:30 last night and fussed a few times throughout the night. All it took to get him back down was placing our hands on his chest and making the Shhhhh sound. Well around 4:30 this morning he was at it again but the sound was more like a whining talking nonsense. Nick and I both groaned and were calculating who's turn it was to get up to go tend to him. Nick won and while walking out the room was damning the fact that the work alarm was going to be going off all to soon. When he gets to Jack's room I hear...."Don't worry Jack...Dad will get it out." I go running to find Jack as Nick had with one leg (swaddled mind you) stuck in between the bars of the bed. We had taken off that one bumper because even swaddled in the sleep postitioner Jack seemed to migrate towards it in the middle of the night. Scared that he would suffocate we took it out....looks like it will be going back in and we'll trust that the Angel Care Motion Monitor would alert us if his face was too close to the bumper. The story's ending worked out well for Jack...special visitors and attention at 4:30 in the morning, Mom fed him, and he got to finish out the night in the big kid bed :)

Nick took Jack to dayare for another trial run this morning...I'm couting the minutes til I can break him out of Dayhell and am curious to see how Nick's reaction to dropping him off in reality is vs. what he thought previously.

"Yee Haw!"

Mrs. Stephanie had us over to swim....it sure was hot after getting out of the pool

Mrs. Patterson fed Jack his bottle and played with him in the shade

Jack in his "cowboy" gear resting up while we packed for the Hill Country

We have been non-stop since Friday. Jack and I woke up to hit Mom and Me where a guest speaker taught us all about child brain development....it was very interesting but being a teacher a lot of it was old school news to me but the provided lunch was tasty. One interesting fact is that you should never wake a sleeping baby unless it is time for them to feed because it disrupts their dendrites from forming...who knew? From there we headed over to Stephanie's house for an afternoon swim. It took forever to gear up Jack, we swam for a little while, but it was really hot and I was worried about the sun burning him so we spent the rest of the afternoon in the shade visiting. Once we got home it was time to bath off all the sun tan lotion and chlorine, get dressed, and make side dishes for dinner at the Tavares's. We had a nice visit and of course Nick and Patrick played Wii but we had to call it an early night so we could pack up for our Saturday morning departure.

We picked Angela up and headed towards the Hill Country...the drive was nice with a few stops for us to eat, Jack to eat, and for Angela to buy a treat at the Coach Outlet we got to her sister's just outside of Austin in just enough time to change and head to the Hill Country which was about an hour North of her sister's. We arrived a few minutes late but these Cowboys didn't seem to mind. The wedding was very fun even though I am sure Anderson would have hoped for her original setting of outdoors by the lake...but the weather wasn't on her side. The wedding and reception was at Cowboys for Jesus Church (aka a Red Barn). Jack did absolutely wonderful! The reception was lovely, the Bar B Que was delicious, and the wedding cake was a great way to end the evening. With the weather and it being so late we decided it best to stay with Melanie, Angela's sister, for the night and head back on Sunday. Again we had a nice drive but it was nice to get home and nap in our own bed with no where to be....of course there was a trip to Target for some more baby food...but other than that....resting up for the week ahead.

Jennifer & Rocky tying the knot

Jack stealing a kiss from the bride

The Cowboy Crew cutting up the Bar B Que

After being so good, eating such tasty food, and dancing with Mommy...Jack was done

Back home getting used to his high chair

First Day at Daycare....

Don't really want to talk about. Driving home after picking Jack up with his eyes all red and swollen from crying so much it was hard not to say F%$# It, pulling into the Administration Building, resigning, and dealing with the debt later. I HATE THIS!!!!!

Playing and Food

Today was a busy day. We woke up at 9:30 (Wha Who!!!) and Aunt Ashley came over to play and have lunch. At 2:30 we headed to a playgroup at Karen's house in Wylie and hung out there til after 5:00 playing with all the other babies (and talking with the other Mom's). Jack and Travis had a lot of fun together. By the time we got home Jack hadn't napped at all other than a 30 minute catnap while Ashley rocked him...but he was a trooper and went to Target with Nick and I to start stocking up on baby food that he isn't even able to eat yet. We printed a ton of web coupons for $1.00 off two Gerber baby/toddler foods and went crazy. They were between $.50-$.88 cents so we were getting some for only $.04 a jar.....how can you beat that and they don't expire til December of 08' so he'll be able to eat them before they expire. Got home, made a label, and stored them in a tupperware til we need them. Tomorrow is Jack's first trial run at day care and I am going to lay out.....we'll see how that plays out won't we.

Today's Word is High- Highchair & High Photo Prices

Dad putting together Jack's new highchair

Monday Jack had another choking spell so Dr. Guetersloh put him on Axid 3 X a day for a week and we will talk again on Friday to see where we are going to go from there. I had planned to take him to Daycare for a few hours this week but with these choking episodes I am not comfortable leaving him in fear that he will have one and someone won't notice....just one more reason that I think that I should stay at home with him next year. The medicine tastes horrible and his face showed (I tasted and it was gross) and his afternoon was really fussy so hopefully he'll get used to it by tomorrow and have a better day. We went to Babies R Us and bought his highchair so that he can get used to it before we start cereal....too many new things at once might overwhelm him so we are going to ease into it. Nick put it together and we tried it out but it wasn't received very well. A little at a time.


Out of control

Now let's talk about that huge ass stack of pictures above. For 4 months we have taken countless pictures of Jack to share with family and friends but we never order any hard copies for us. In wanting to start Jack's scrapbook I needed some of the pictures to work with so we burned them onto CD's to take to Sam's to order what we wanted. Nick suggested that I just give them the 4 CD's and have them print one of each picture for us. ASSuming that he had already thought through things I went with it. Tonight when picking up the pictures when I said our last name the Photo Lady said....Oh, you are the one with the 1200 pictures and she hands us this stack of envelopes. The grand total was $183.54. I thought I was going to throw up!! Apparently Nick hadn't thought through after all. Now we have entirely too many pictures and spent more on them than on Jack's new highchair. Plans are already in motion in my mind on how we can handle this situation. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Till later....

What a Wiikend!

"I love my Grandparents!"


Bebe & Papa C take Jack on a stroll

The Pantry for lunch in McKinney

Jack was 2 weeks old in these pics...

4 months old here....can you see a difference?!?

The weekend was a blast. Saturday we tried out Jack's new car seat on a trip to McKinney for lunch at The Pantry. It's an old wooden floor/ceiling building in the precious downtown square that serves good home cooked lunches. Afterwards we walked around town popping in a few shops and ending with malts and root beer floats from the Soda Shop. On the way home we made a quick trip to the Container Store. Jack stayed with Mom and Dad for a bath and bonding while Nick and I went to the movies (and it wasn't the Cry Baby Matanee). He was still up when we got home so it was nice to be able to kiss him goodnight. Sunday we woke up and after lunch Mom and Dad headed back to Louisiana. It is always so hard to see them go because we know how fast Jack grows and the next trip for us to LA, or them here is never soon enough. Overall it was a great weekend and now we have a week to rest up before our adventure to Jennifer Anderson's wedding in the Hill Country next weekend.

PS- Feel free to post comments so Nick, Jack, and I know that ya'll are enjoying reading the blog of our life :)

Everyone had an Electrifying Wii bit of fun..

Papa C controlled Nick's new pit with: Southwest Chicken, Lemon Pepper Chicken, Southwest Catfish, Sausage, & Prime Sirloin- Do you think we had enough meat?


After dinner the Wii games began




Bebe gave Wayne an electric shock treatment to help with his Wii elbow



In the end who knows if it was playing the Wii, the electric shock treatment, or a combo of both but Wayne's shirt didn't make it



Last night Jack had his first Bab-B-Que with Dad and his new grill (although Papa C ended up being the King of the pit). Ashley and Wayne (& Nathan) came over to enjoy all the festivties...We bar-b-qued, ate, played the Wii, did some electric shock treatments, and overall had a great tme. Jack was up way past his bedtime (1:00 AM).....does that make us bad parents?!?! More adventures today once we are able to get up and moving after the long night.

Wii Have Company

Papa C and BeBe arrived in record time (wonder what their motivation was). We feasted on pizza, Dad bathed Jack (with a second bathing in baby powder), and then it was time for treats from the Granparents. Jack got a bunch of outfits that are too cute and his first Christmas ornament. I got some tasty treats and Nick got Papa C and BeBe's ploy to get as much time as possible with Jack....a Nintendo Wii. This gift was a replacement for the black market one that feel through and took a few Wal-Marts between Baton Rouge and Dallas to get it...but it worked because once it was hooked up Nick played for one hour and four minutes. It got so rowdy that Jack had to be put down because of the noise and Papa C ended up with an ice pack on his knee and his wrist. I'm sure the weekend will have more pictures and stories to come...

NUMB

is what I feel right now. As I have been told over and over...I knew before we had kids that I would have to work and they would have to be in daycare. My response to that...no one told me before I had kids how much I would absolutely love my little boy making the thought of someone else raising him all day while I raise other people's children so paralyzing to me. This pain has been in my heart since the day he was born, but now with Back to School rapidly approaching and Jack's personality starting to bloom it has consumed me. I have tried to think of any way in which it would work so that I could stay home just a year with him or part time with him...but with every great idea (lottery, night jobs, selling my soul)...there are about 5 drawbacks (insurance, daycare if I worked part time, draining our savings, etc.). Every time I think I have cried out all my tears...more come. This sucks!!!!!

What a Great Day to Play

Ethan, Grace, Jack, & Katie

What a great day today was to play with our friends at Lisa & Patrick's. We woke up, got dressed, and headed over for lunch and good times. Jack had fun watching Grace and Ethan play around with the toys and what a special treat, Grace read him a book on the couch. It must have worn him out because he napped for 3 HOURS when we got back home. Hope he sleeps tonight...

4 Month Check Up...

Daddy holding Jack whle waiting for the rude awakening from the nurse



Jack had his 4 month check up this afternoon with Dr. Guetersloh. Dad left work early to met us so that he could hold his hand during the shots. The Doctor checked him out, answered the page long list of questions that I had, filled out his report card, then sent the nurse in for the dreaded shots. He was given an A+ for both his Physical Exam and Development! This report card like the others will be proudly posted on the fridge. We have decided to wait until Jack is closer to 5 months to introduce solids because of his weight and because he has been choking lately after feedings. This is something that we are really going to watch closely because it might require additional tests to be run if it continues. The four shots that he got today were the DTap, Hib, Polio, and Pneumococcus. He also got the oral Rotovirus vaccine. No more shots til 6 months thank goodness. Jack did a great job only crying for a few minutes, but now he is really sleepy and on edge. Every little sound sends tears pouring out of his red, puffy eyes and he has to be rocked to get calm again. Right now he is napping in his swing so hopefully the Tylonel and us being low key will help make this evening better for him.

Stats:
Weight: 12.5 lbs. (10%)
Height: 24.8 in. (50-60%)
Head: 16.5 in. (50-60%)




Daddy holding Jack's hands during his shots




Being such a good boy while getting dressed after his shots



Out to the world in his swing back home

Happy 4 Month Birthday Jack!

At 5:59 PM Jack turned 4 months old! No longer is he considered a newborn (0-3 months), but now he is officially an Infant (4-11 months). Everyone tells you to soak it all in when they are tiny because they grow fast...boy were they right. We spent the day as a usual Sunday...sleeping in, eating, playing, and napping with a trip to Target and Tom Thumb. To continue with tradition we took his picture with Mr. Plump, in his "rocker", measured him on his growth chart, and made a clay imprint of his hand. Tomorrow is his 4 month doctor's appointment and this time Dad is coming with us to hold his hand while he gets his 6 shots in the thighs :(. If it is anything like his 2 month shots we are in for a very fussy afternoon...but we'll survive. Keeping our fingers crossed that the doctor will tell us that we can start introducing solids...mainly because the whole milk only routine is getting old. We'll see...

Shell Breaking...

This week I feel like Jack has really broken out of his shell. He smiles all the time, giggled out loud, grabs really well at his toys, and found his toes although for only a second. His fingers are still constantly in his mouth and his hair is growing like a weed.