It was!

Houston, we have a giggler!

A Giggle?

Good morning, Wombat!

Last night, you slept like a champ.  I hesitate to even talk about it because it might jinx it.  You were in such a good mood, we called Grandma and Grandpa so you could Skype.  You skyped for a little bit  before you got fussy.  Don't worry, you had time to play patty cake with Grandma.  You yelled at us for a bit and then you conked out.  Typically, you get almost hysterical when you're overtired or overstimulated and then you crash.  Out like a light.

We put you to bed figuring you'd be up like usual around 10 or 11 for your final meal before going to sleep.  When Daddy got up at 5 this morning to go to work, you were still sleeping.  At 6, when Daddy left to go to work, you were still sleeping.  Finally, at 7, I started hearing gurgling.  You didn't cry.  You didn't wail.  I got up and made your bottle.  Then we changed your diaper (note to Mama: overnight diapers start at 7PM from now on...sleeping in a regular diaper for 10.5 hours not what Mama wants for your bum).  Once your tushie was happy, I gave you your bottle.  You didn't devour it like you usually do.  No, you played with it for a while and then leisurely drank it with frequent stops to curl the paint with your burps.  Still no yelling.  Cue the Mama panic.

You seem to be just fine.  I've checked your temperature.  You're not in pain.  I'm confused, Little One.

Then, as we were playing with Mickey and Cookie I felt your cold little hands.  Brrr!  For once, my hands were warm so I wrapped mine around yours in an effort to warm them up.  We danced with our hands for a few minutes and then I heard it.  I think it was a giggle, but I can't be sure.  You did it twice. But when I called Daddy to get his opinion you wouldn't do it again.  Binker Stinker.

For the rest of the day we're going to try to get another giggle out of you, Wombat.  What's worse is I'm going to try to get it on video.  Yes, I am going to have that annoying camera in your face again.  Someday you'll thank me.

It's amazing the joy that your laughter can bring to others.  Laughter and a sense of humor makes everything better, Little One.  Never forget that as you grow older.

"A day without laughter is a day wasted."  ~ Charlie Chaplin

Love,
Mama

2 Months

Dear Wombat,

It is hard to believe another month has passed.  You are now two months old.  This month brought lots of changes.  I went back to work and Daddy took over your care during the day.  While it is hard for me to leave each morning, knowing your daddy is taking care of you all day makes it easier.  There is no one I trust more than your daddy (and not just because he's willing to try to do things my way).  This month also brought your first walks.  Daddy would bundle you up and bring you over to work to see me some days and we've even done family walks when the weather was warm.  

Let's roll, Dad!

You like your stroller, but you reach a point where you have had enough.  I'm hoping as you get older you'll continue to enjoy your stroller rides.  Now for the run down:

Age: 2 Months 

Oh!  Hello!  Are you here to play with me?

Weight:  12 pounds, 12 ounces

Height: 23.5 inches

Favorite activity:  You love playing with your Cookie Monster stuffed animal and your Mickey cuddle blanket.  You realized during our trip to South Carolina that you could grab and hold things in your hands.  You've been grabbing and shaking everything you can since then.

Hey, are you new around here?

Honorable mentions:  You really seem to enjoy your bouncer lately.  Just last month, you hated that thing.  Now, you enjoy sitting there and watching what is going on around you.  We put it in the middle of the kitchen counter, strap you in, turn on music, and have a good time.  It's a great way for me to actually get something to eat without you crying.  Plus, you love music.

Least favorite activity:   Riding in the car/your car seat.  Generally, you don't mind your car seat, but there is a point where you have had enough.  When we reach that point, holy mother of pearl do you let your displeasure be known.  You also get very angry when we take the food away so you can burp.  Wow, do you yell. 

Me? Yell? Never!

Milestones:  You slept!  8 hours!  In a row!  You're also smiling real smiles now.  You grab and hold your Mickey cuddle blanket and put his nose in your mouth.  I have no idea where you got that from (I did the same thing when I was little).  You're also trying to giggle, but we haven't gotten an actual giggle yet.

Yum!

Words: It's not a word, but hearing your "iiiiii" battle cry is adorable.  It's fun when we say, "Hi!" to you and you respond,  "iiiiiiiiii."  It sounds a whole lot like hi. 


 

Sleep: You're getting so much better!  There was the 8 hour night (a night that will live in infamy), but generally, you're sleeping from 10 until 2 or 3.  Daddy changes your diaper and gives you a bottle (hey, I make the bottle!) and you go back to sleep until 8-ish.  Daddy says you don't sleep much or long during the day, but sleeping at night makes that ok in my book.  Have I mentioned that you snore?  It's so cute!

Falling asleep holding Mickey...my heart melted when I saw this.

Best Moment:  Everyday I come home from work and attempt to make up for all the kisses I've missed giving you throughout the day.  I'll kiss you 10 times in a row on your cheek over and over again.  You grin the biggest grin I've ever seen and it makes being away from you all day a little bit easier.  Getting to come home to you and Daddy is the highlight of my day.

Worst Moment: The screaming meltdown on the way home from South Carolina was pretty bad.  I've never heard you scream like that before.  You were a millisecond away from making yourself sick.  Boy, you were mad.  After 5 minutes of screaming, BAM!, you fell fast asleep.  But not before you and Mommy were both a sobbing mess.  Thank goodness Daddy was calm and drove us the rest of the way home.

Prior to meltdown

Eating:   You're still eating about 4 ounces at each feeding, but you're able to go longer between feedings.  I keep trying to convince Daddy to give you 5 ounces at night before you go to bed so that you'll sleep longer.  In the next few weeks, I think we'll slowly switch you over to the bigger bottle.

Teeth:  None yet, but you are quite the drool monster these days!

Red chair picture at 2 months

We're so thankful to be your parents, Little Man!  We love you to the moon and back.  

Love,
Mama

8 hours!?

Dear Wombat,

You're growing and changing so quickly!  It seems like you are learning something new every day.  You love your Cookie Monster stuffed animal and your Mickey cuddle blanket.

Last night, you did something amazing.  You slept!  8 hours!  In a row!  I was startled awake at 4AM by the realization that I hadn't heard you cry since I fell asleep.  I immediately woke up your daddy and asked him if he had gotten up with you without telling me.  No, he hadn't.

"IS HE BREATHING!?" I almost shouted.

Daddy, being the great daddy that he is, got up and tiptoed around the bed to check on you.  Halfway there, the floor creaked and your arms started flailing,  We took that to mean you were just fine.  Daddy crawled back into bed and we fell back asleep (well, Daddy did...I like to worry so I watched you sleep a while).

At 6 o'clock I couldn't stand it anymore so I picked you up, changed your diaper, and gave you a bottle.  You were the happiest, silliest baby.

You're such a ham, little Cheeseball.  We love you!

Love,
Mama

Busy, busy

The Wombat liked watching I Love Lucy with Mama on New Year's Day

We're busy adjusting to the new year.  Mama is back at work and Daddy is on Wombat duty.  Being together as a family during Christmas break was a wonderful gift.  Now, we're counting work days until the weekends so we can have lots of adventures together.

Until we have more time...a few pictures:

Oh!  Hello....

We're going where?

That's right, she is!

This weekend we're off to South Carolina to meet Mommy's surgeon.  Wombat's first road trip!

One Month

Age:  1 month old!

Weight: 10.4 pounds

Height:  23 inches

Favorite activity: Eating or sleeping...though you get a kick out of watching the ceiling fan.

Honorable mentions: Staring with rapt attention at the ceiling fan.

Least favorite activity:  Burping, Lord how you hate it when we take the food away.

Milestones:  You are holding your head up quite well.  Sometimes you still look like a bobble head, but we're constantly amazed at how strong you are!

No more baby bobblehead!

Words: none

Sleep:  2-3 hours at a time with increased wakefulness during the day

Best Moment: Taking you to the faculty Christmas party where you were ooo'd and ahhh'd over appropriately.

Worst Moment: The night you wailed (not cried, the angry scream that you do when you're ticked) for 2 hours.

Eating:  You are thriving on formula and while me not being able to breastfeed you breaks my heart every day, it's getting a little easier.  A lot because I've put away/gotten rid of any and all reminders of how my body let us both down.  I know it's not the best way of coping, but right now, I just need those things to go away.

You take about 2 ounces at every feeding.  Sometimes, though, I swear you have a hollow leg because you'll do two or three 2 ounce bottles in two or three hours!

Teeth: None, but your front teeth look like they might pop out at any time.  They've looked like that since you were born.

Even the nurses in the hospital commented on your "teeth."

We love you to the Moon and back, buddy.  We can't wait to see what the next month brings.

Red chair picture - 1 month

Giggles

Even though you've only been here two and a half weeks, Little One, you keep us laughing constantly.  For example:

• One morning, I asked you if you were hungry and wanted a bottle.  As soon as I said bottle, your eyes lit up and you made what I can only call your "Oooo" face.  Your mouth made this perfect O.

• While in the hospital, I was burping you.  You were almost asleep when you let out the loudest belch I've ever heard (not just from a baby).  It scared me so badly, I almost dropped you!

• Even though we know your smiles are gas related, you smile at the funniest times.  Last night, Daddy was up for your 2 hour dance party from 3 - 5, and he tried to give you a bottle.  You locked your lips together and grinned an evil grin.  Tired as we were, we had to laugh.  You stinker.

• One evening, I decided you needed some diaper rash cream on your bum.  Well, it must have been cold because as soon as it touched your bum your teeth started to chatter.  Such the little drama king.

• It's no secret that Daddy needs more sleep than Mommy.  However, Daddy has been helping out on everything since you were born.  He doesn't want to miss a minute of your activity.  I knew Daddy needed some sleep one night though.  You started to cry so I got out of bed to make your bottle.  Daddy sat up as I walked to the bathroom.  You fussed while I got your bottle ready.  When I came out and started to feed you, I looked over and Daddy was still sitting up on his side of the bed.  Only now, he was burping and shushing his pillow.  Oh, how I giggled at that one.