Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Growing Boy: 4.5 months

We went to his 4 month appointment today. The babe is actually 4.5 months old now.
Weight: 13 lbs 8.2 oz (12%) [so surprising, we thought more around 15 lbs]
Height: 25" (39%) [he may not be a shortie like his mom!]
Head: 16 3/8" (22 %)
Doc said Allstar is the perfect, healthy looking baby. Awesome!
He loves to be outside. We've just began using our our Chicco Umbrella stroller and love it. It is lightweight, small [as in not bulky] and smooth.This guy loves to stand, and is growing to love the Johnny Jumper, lasting 15-20 min.
He has started this, bringing his feet to his hands and grabbing his toes, it is soo cute!
Still loves the bath, and is slowly learning how to splash
He really is a happy little guy for the most part, hence all the smiley pictures. However, don't be fooled, because under all those smiles are a few tears too...he sure can belt out some good, sad sounding cries.

Number 4, ugg

I say ugg, because it is the 4th feathery friend [no more] that has been inside our basement in the last 2 months, this last one being the worst! The bird hunting season is in full swing for Jynx. I'll bet the birds will be happy to fly south come fall/winter!
THE HUNTER, watching for his next prey
#4 put up a good fight. Poor thing left dead by the curtains, not even eaten. Jynx just uses them as a game. He has to drag them through 2 kitty doors to get them inside, guess he's determined to torture & kill on his home turf, sick! Guess our carpets will be getting frequent cleanings. He's only 1.5 years old...still have like 15+ years to go!
#3, not sure what Jynx did, but I looked behind my sewing table [a fav spot of Jynx's to hide] to find a large, full, dead bird!
#2 my mom heard flapping around the laundry room, trying to stay high enough from the hunter while tyring to escape. My mom set him free, lucky one, but surely injured pretty good!
#1 left some remains, but Jynx kept this first one pretty clean so I wouldn't freak out too bad, just a few feathers scattered about...until I walked down the hallway to his old room...and found the huge, silver wing [SHREIK! It was disgusting, I couldn't bear to take a picture and have that imprinted in my brain! Spencer cleaned this guy up when he got home, I just couldn't do it.]

Monday, June 14, 2010

A day at Work

I have been SO fortunate to have a job that let's me bring the babe with me to work. I went back April 9th, it's been 2 months now. [I wouldn't have it any other way, I don't think I could do it; you women who do are stronger than I!] It really is working out great. We have a great routine throughout the day. The first month I didn't feel I was giving him the attention he needed and felt bad about that, so I just started taking more time off throughout the day to give him more attention. I figure whether I am at home or at work, it's the same, so I just take more time off the time card to make us both happier! I work 3 days a week, on a flexible schedule. Being the one in charge really has it's perks! So here is a little peek at what our days look like.
Sometimes he likes to act like the boss, he definately makes a much cuter one!
he sleeps, in the swing [thank's Cocho's]
sometimes right after eating
He Plays
and sucks on his hands and drools a ton
Seriously, this is what I get to look at all day, I am so lucky!
And he sleeps in this too, most of the time. I put the blanket over the top to make it more dark, and keep the AC from blowing on him.
My 1st day at the office, April 9th...
And now...just a bit more mess!
I am grateful to continue working for this first little while. People ask what I will do when he starts to crawl...we'll continue on, possibly w/the door shut so he can mosy around my room. We'll see how long this lasts, I think my time of working will be shorter than I ever thought it would be, but I am so ok with that! I used to be a work-a-holic, but when I married Spencer and we started to travel work slowly began to take the back seat, now w/Allstar it is taking the Trunk space. But for now, I will bring in a little extra cash. I also owe my boss some time for being so great about the baby thing!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

The Ultimate Infant Swaddle Wrap

**Click on the picts to see larger. Call me if you need some help!**
1: Start with a 45x45 single piece of flannel, sew the edges.
2: Lay it out like shown below, folding the top side over 2 inches
(Try to keep the baby's arms down by their chest or sides, especially when they get a few months old.)
3: Tightly flap one side over, tucking under baby's back, then do the same for the other. Tuck under baby's back, keeping it tight.4: Criss Cross your botom corners up across the baby's chest, to their shoulders.
(if you flip flap right then left, then criss right then left, and vica versa)
5: Tie your ends by one shoulder or the other, so it is not in the back underneath them.
6: Then enjoy a good nights rest...hopefully!

Thanks to my mom for teaching us this sleep-saving, amazing technique! We have now moved up to the 60x60 swaddle wrap. Allstar has been sleeping 5 hours since 2 weeks, and is now sleeping 7-10 hours at each night.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

First Camp, Smore and Hike of the season

Allstar is now 3.5 months old, and we were ready to begin the camping & hiking w/him to see how he would do! We began Thursday night up Little Cottonwood Canyon at Tanner Flats Campground. There was still snow at a lot of the campsites! But it was 60 degrees at 7:00 p.m. We got a great site by the waterfall, but it was like 5 deg colder than all other sites. We had Allstar in a longsleeve shirt and his jacket to begin with. He just hung out while we got set up! Then we attempted a cute fam pic by the waterfall! This was best out of 10.
Then we went for a walk around the place, with Allstar in his new backpack carrier.
We are so happy to announce that he LOVED it!!! Woo woo and phew for us!
After 1 more fleece layer added the temp was dropping fast. But he didn't mind, and was mesmerized by the fire, and eventually just fell asleep.
He was swaddled in 2 blankets, then wrapped w/a fleece blanket, then surrounded and covered by a double fleece blanket...he stayed plently warm and slept 10 pm to 7 am. [We didn't come prepared ourselves and were very cold all night!] We guess it dropped just below 40 deg.
Next we traveled up to Park City for a couple nights. We did our first hike, some random one that lasted about 1.5 hrs rountrip. Again, Allstar did awesome and fell asleep on the way down, soo cute!
We ended our long Memorial time-off hiking in Corner Canyon, behind the Draper Temple. Actually tons of trails out there. We hiked about 6.6 miles, were out there for 3.5 hours. We fed and diapered once on the trail, and he did awesome. So far so good, we are so excited for such a great baby.
We ultimately made it to Ghost Falls, then made our way back home. This was a very busy, but accomplished Memorial Weekend!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Baby Einstein? what else?

So Allstar is growing like crazy, smiling like you wouldn't believe and doing a little "talking". We would like some feedback on what you felt worked to help your babies grow and discover the world, and also communicate with you. Baby Einstein DVD's, books, etc? Please give us some quick feedback, as we know most of you have little ones of your own. Thanks!