A View from the Floor

Hi everyone!

So, its been 4 weeks since Conor joined our family.  Erin has been writing all about Conor's updates but I'm here to tell you what we have all been up to.

Erin has been home everyday which has been awesome!  I love having her home.  What do I love most of all?  I love having her home and not in her office!  She has been hanging out with me in the living room and not stuck in her office all day doing whatever it is she does in there.

Conor has been in the living room too.  Sometimes Erin puts him on the floor so that he can hang out.  I sometimes sniff him but I have to tell you - he doesn't smell all that great most of the time and so there is no way I am kissing him!

But when he is on the floor, I am very careful to make sure that no one else comes near him without getting past me first.  Here I am at Christmas making sure that Erin and Josh didn't step on him (plus his toy is very soft to sit on)!

It's such hard work protecting a baby that sometimes I get a little sleepy on the job.

Sometimes a big brother has to lecture the little ones about the rules of the house - like no crying during mid-morning naps!  That Baby Conor sometimes doesn't like to nap and I have to tell him that if he can't nap then he has to sit quietly because I need MY nap!

All-in-all it hasn't been that bad having a baby here in the house but we do have to work on the crying thing!

xoxo

Hunter

First Playdate with Gordon V

Dear Conor,

On December 31, 2011 you had your first play date with Baby Gordon (Gordon V).  He is the son of my best friend from high school - your Auntie Ana and her husband (my good friend from college) Uncle Gordon.  Baby G was born 2 weeks early and because you were born 2 weeks late you two are 10 weeks apart.

Auntie Ana was very excited to meet you - and she couldn't wait to hold you....neither could Uncle Gordon!

The first time Auntie Ana held you

Uncle Gordon held Baby Gordon for a while because Auntie Ana simply wouldn't let you go :)!  Baby Gordon had grown so much since the last time we saw him - back in October!

Uncle Gordon and Baby Gordon

Auntie Ana with you and Baby Gordon (he is asleep and you are just waking up).

Unfortunately, you and Baby G didn't have an amazing play date.  When he arrived you had just fallen asleep.  Then, by the time you woke up - Baby G fell asleep.  But, Auntie Ana and I were determined to get a few pictures of you boys together.  They aren't the best pictures but they were the best we could get. 

The two Besties and their babies

Pals!

Thankfully, there will be plenty of future play dates and lots of opportunities to get more photos of you and Baby G together (like when we go to a Red Sox game this spring/summer)!

xoxo
Mom

PS.  The whole time you babies were napping and visiting - Hunter was close by making sure that nothing bad happened to either of you!

Growth Spurt & Baby Class

Dear Conor,

Wow!  And we thought Friday and Saturday were tough.  Sunday (01/08/2012) and Monday (01/09/2012) were your worst days yet.  You spent the majority of the day screaming and fussing and doing everything but being quite.  Because of this you spent the majority of these days in my arms - the only place you seemed to be content and nursing.  You went from eating every 2-2.5 hours on Saturday to eating every 30 to 60 minutes.  It felt like you and I did nothing for that 48 hours stretch other than feed and change diapers. 

On Sunday your Dad took care of you for a little bit so that I could get a little break from you (and your BAD attitude).  What did Mom do?  She took a nice long HOT shower and I cut my finger and toe nails - nothing spectacular I promise!  I guess this is my official "welcome to mom-hood". 

You might look like a sleeping angel in the above photo but I assure you - you really did spent the majority of the two days screaming your little head off.  Of course, what kind of a mom would I be if I didn't carefully document this growth milestone!

The face of a growing boy!

Your Dad and I also found you to be suffering from extreme gas which only added to your pains and troubles this past weekend.  We ended up having to purchase you some tummy medicine (Little Tummies) which we give to you a few times a day after you eat.  After talking with some of the other mommies from the baby class we go to and reading online and watching you eat I believe that I have an overactive milk supply and a forceful let-down which means you have to work twice as hard to keep up and therefore you gulp a lot and air gets into your little digestive system.

To help with the gas you and I are feeding in particular positions, I am giving you the tummy medicine, we are rubbing your belly after feedings in a clockwise motion and exercising your legs in a bicycle motion.  All of this is to help the gas make its way out of your system - one way or another.  And come out of you it does!  Your burps and toots rival your Dad's!

My nautical boy!

 On Tuesday we took a risk and went to baby class despite your behavior over the previous few days.  Of course, you were as good as gold there!  Of course, I put you on the scale - you weighed 9lbs. 14oz.  This as an increase of 10 oz. from last week!  You are my growing boy!

Because you were SO good at class I thought we both deserved a little shopping trip.  I needed to purchase some pants (your mom is officially out of maternity clothes but not quite into her pre-pregnancy size) and while we were at the mall I noted that The Children's Place was having a sale and they had a preppy nautical line.  Of course, that meant that I needed to purchase something for you so I did!  I bought you the outfit above (in 6m-9m size) as well as a navy blue polo shirt and Nantucket red pants.  I can't wait for you to wear them this spring/summer!

Hopefully we are over this growth spurt and you will go back to my wonderful and good natured little boy :)

xoxo

Mom

PS.  After we got home from shopping we moved you up to a SIZE 1 diaper!

A Growth Spurt

Dear Conor,

Week 4 started off pretty well.  It was the first week since your birth that didn't include a holiday celebration of some kind and therefore we were able to just relax and get to know each other better.  We took advantage of this new found freedom and went to visit GG Irene at the Rehab Center.  This was your second visit there.  GG Irene was so happy to see you and she loved your little blue mittens!

Conor and GG Irene 01/04/2012

Conor & Dad 01/04/2012

You enjoyed your time at the Rehab Center.  We went for a walk up and down the halls with GG Irene and you were simply the star of the show.  All the residents (and nurses alike) came out to greet you.  When we got back to GG Irene's room you spent some time hanging out on her bed.

On Thursday, January 5, 2012 your Dad had to work so it was just me and you.  You were a little grumpy and wanted to be held quite a bit.  But you did spent a little bit of time on the couch in your Boppy right next to me while I did some blogging and catching up on paying bills.  The cute little turtle toy you are looking at was your Christmas present from your Aunts Danielle and Sarah.  You love this little turtle and it is usually on your carseat if we go anywhere!

On Friday, January 6, 2012 I had to go to work for two hours and so you stayed home with Dad all by yourself.  Dad sent me this picture of you waving to me.  I missed you very much while I was at Court and I hurried home as quickly as I could to get back to you all!

Saturday morning started out with a nice warm bath.  We splished and splashed until you had wrinkles on your fingers and then it was time to get dressed.  You had a very touch day on Saturday - you didn't spend much time sleeping and that made you even more grumpy.

Loving your Saturday Morning bath!

After a lot of work I finally was able to get you to rest for about 15 minutes - just enough time for Mom to take her own shower and switch the laundry.  This was your first little rest in your crib.  The sheets were very chilly and I was afraid that the change in temperature on your back would cause you to wake up so I put the blanket Grandma Mary made for you under your back.

It is clear that your growth spurt has begun because you are very cranky and you are wanting to eat all the time.  You used to eat every 4 hours and all weekend you ate every 2.5 hours during the day.  You used to sleep quite a bit during the day but this past weekend you barely slept - something that was very tough on both you and us!  But, we will get through this one and the ones that follow.

xoxo

Mom

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR CONOR!!!

The year 2011 has come and gone and 2012 is just beginning.  This year is going to be an amazing year as your Dad and I watch you grow.  By this time next year (2013) you will be one year old and likely walking (or pretty close to it).  You will have doubled your current size (potentially tripled it) and will have learned so many things - I wonder if we will be able to keep up with all your accomplishments!

New Years Eve night we hung out at home.  Your dad and I decided that we would stay home and just watch some LOST and maybe watch the ball in NY drop.  At one point I turned my head on the couch and you had fallen asleep on your Dad (he was pretending to be asleep in this photo) - just before midnight!

New Years Eve 2011 11:45pm

The next day it was beautiful outside...a great way to start the new year!  You had some tummy time and then we set you up in your Boppy so that you could relax while we got dressed and cleaned up the house a little bit.  You don't LOVE the Boppy but you tolerate it enough for us to get at least one task complete - especially if we put some toys in front of you.

Once everyone was dressed we loaded both you and Hunter (and the stroller) into my truck and we went to the beach.  This was your FIRST trip to Kennebunk's beaches.  As a family we have always spent a lot of time here and it is my hope that this will continue throughout the upcoming year.  We enjoy walking with Hunter on the beach.  He is permitted there year around and during the summer when he can't be on the beach during the day we take nice long walks during the evening hours.  So, we decided that the best way to start the new year is to introduce you to the beach and practice our walking as a family!

The next day (January 2, 2012) you were a little cranky so we spent some time with you in the Moby wrap.  Being close to my chest seemed to be what you wanted and you quickly fell asleep.  You can thank Jill for your Moby wrap because she insisted that it was a great thing for me to have and that I should start using it with you very early so that you would get real used to it.  This is our second time using it.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 we went to baby class at Mercy.  You had a GREAT time there!  You and I arrived on time (again!).  You slept the entire car ride to the hospital and woke up after about 30 minutes of being in class.  You nursed well and you also got weighed. 

This week you weighed 9lbs 4oz.  This was a gain of 8oz from last week.


Happy Baby at Class!

 Week 3 was a busy week but it was one more week that we got to know each other.  You were a little fussier but overall you continue to be a good baby.....we think we will keep you :)

xoxo
Mom

Week 3 - The end of 2011

Dear Conor,

We make it through the first two weeks and in that time we made it through your Grandpa and Great Grandma both going into the hospital PLUS Christmas and the chaos that comes with it! 

On Wednesday we hung out at home and tried to give your poor little purple butt some 'no diaper' time.  We broke out your activity mat to entertain you a bit and we sang songs.  I am not sure if you can see all the toys on your activity mat yet but we tried hard to make you comfortable.  You weren't a huge fan of hanging out in the boppy pillow - we will be trying to help you get more comfortable with it because your butt needs a lot more 'no diaper' time.

Dad put your pee-pee tee-pee on you because he didn't want you spraying our living room (and wanted your privates to remain private).

 On Thursday I gave you another bath.  This time Dad was home and so he got to play in the bathtub with you.  You really loved having him here - he played and splashed with you and ran the water over your belly.  You loved having the water trickle down from the orange fish.

After your tub we dressed you up in your tiger outfit and settled you in on the couch.  Dad and I thought it would be fun to give you the remote control to his playstation and send the picture to Uncle Justin.  You seem to love the idea of being in control of the television!

After playing with the remote you did some more 'no diaper' time which you tolerated for about 10 minutes and then you quickly let us know that you wanted a diaper back on and you wanted to be held!

On Friday the visiting nurse came to check you out.  She said that you looked fantastic and she gave us some tips on how to get your medicine to stick to your butt!

After her visit your Grandma Mary and rest of the family came up to visit you and we had our Christmas with them.  We had already opened your present from Grandma Mary on Christmas Day because she insisted that we do it but you had not opened your gift from your Aunties.  They got you an adorable little turtle toy that we attached to your carseat so that it can go everywhere with you.

After your Cape Cod family left we went over to visit Great Grandma Irene.  She was so excited to see you and she perked up when she held you.  You were the best medicine that anyone could give her.  We stayed and visited for about an hour or so and then it was time to take you home for the night.

Great Grandma Irene 12/30/2011

When we got home we all got into our jammies (well - you were already in yours) and we settled in for what would be the last full night of 2011.

xoxo
Mom

Week 2 - post holidays!

Dear Conor,

Well, we made it through the holidays intact.  The rest of week 2 was pretty uneventful.  On Monday, December 26, 2011 we hung out at home and you did some tummy time with no diaper on (which you were not in love with and it hurt me to listen to you cry). 

Then, in the afternoon, the entire family went for our first family walk in the neighborhood.  We put you in your bunting that Grandma Mary bought you and then placed you in your bassinet and around the neighborhood we went!

You did really well on this walk except towards the end.  It was a rather cold day and I think that the cold ended up getting to your cute little face even though I had a blanket covering the bassinet and so you started crying!

On December 27, 2011 we went to Baby Class at Mercy.  When I weighed you I couldn't believe that you had grown so much!  You gained 6oz - you weighed in at 8lbs 12oz. 

Your winter hat is adorable!

You are always such a good boy at class - I call Tuesdays our special days (the best days of the week) and I look forward to them each and every week and I will be sad when I go back to work because we may not always have our Tuesdays - so I am cherishing every one of them right now.

xoxo
Mom