SO MANY UPDATES!

I know, I know.  It's been too long.  Whoops!  It's hard remembering to blog, especially when I am on limited time home with my baby boy.  I'll do my best to be more punctual!  For my amends, I promise to include lots of pictures in this post. :)  To start off, here's a picture of the dude bundled up for the Christmas light/tractor parade in our town:

Christmas has come and gone and this sweet little man made out like a bandit!  Maddox got the cutest gifts ever.  Some of my favorites include a personalized blanket I ordered for him, a personalized puzzle of his name, blocks that have special sayings and info on them from when he was born, and his future jumper/exercauser!  He got even more gifts than Andy and I did, and his pile is still sitting at the Christmas tree waiting to be put away.  I guess he needs to start putting things away. ;)

 The dude is jacked about Christmas.

Lately Maddox has been sleeping pretty well.  I know I was interested before on moving him into the crib, but after much feedback from several of you via Facebook, I'm no longer in a hurry.  He is sleeping well in his rock and play and I see no need for all of us to miss out on sleep just because he is a certain age.  The fact of the matter is, Maddox has clearly expressed that he isn't really ready to sleep in his crib and I am totally okay with that.  Our doctor did confirm that Maddox has acid reflux and he is now on medication for this, which contributed to my decision not to move him to the crib just yet.  He does need to continue to be elevated after he eats and this includes bedtime, and the rock and play allows this.  He likes sleeping in there and pretty much goes right to sleep most nights after our routine.  Perhaps I'll post more about our bedtime routine and see if you think I'm leaving anything out.

Today Maddox had his two-month checkup and his first round of shots (besides his HBV as a newborn).  We took both a before and after picture which I've included below.  He was very happy after being weighed and measured and I even snapped the picture of him smiling!  Maddox was examined by the doctor who agrees that Maddox is very strong for his age and is very cute. :)  He then was given his first round of shots and HATED EVERY SECOND OF IT.  He was even mad afterward while getting dressed.  We immediately gave him tylenol afterward and then fed him a bottle.  After this, we strapped him into the carseat and he slept like a champ for 2.5 hours while we ran errands and drove home.  When he awoke again, he was a super angry little wild thing.  He ate and then was still angry.  I gave him his pacifier and held him on his side and he went quickly to sleep again.  He's now sleeping on my Aunt's lap as I type.

Before...

After being weighed/before shots...

After :(

My Aunt Brenda is here visiting again and (I must say) appears to be quite enamored with Maddox. I mean, he is pretty damn cute, right?

Maddox just completed a wonder week/leap and it really wasn't as bad as the first.  Tonight after his shots was actually much, much worse than his recent leap.  I can only hope he continues to be as easy this week as he has been! :)

Maddox has newly discovered his love of lights and has been completely preoccupied with all things lights over the past few weeks.  This week he discovered the TV and is totally obsessed with it--especially the Harry Potter marathon that has been on this weekend.  Can you blame him? :)

Finally, today I made several bottles before we left the house and took four with us-three in the collar pack and one in the side of the diaper bag out to warm up.  Sadly, the three in the bag got turned over and leaked out of the tops of the bottles/into the cooler bag.  Every.  Single.  Drop.  Nine ounces of wasted milk.  This mommy was very, very sad about the wasted milk. :(

Until next time...Xoxo

Christmas Traditions

Before we had Maddox, we had simple Christmas traditions.  We would go to Andy's parents' house on Christmas eve to celebrate, then come home and watch Christmas vacation and have cocktails and spinach dip.  We started this tradition a few years ago and there was more than one occasion that ended in me being slightly drunk on Christmas Eve... :) Andy and I have typically been irresponsible and can't seem to wait until Christmas day to open our presents, so we typically open them on Christmas eve with continued cocktails.Then on Christmas morning, there is usually a firetruck that delivers goodie bags to little ones that I always received when I was little and look forward to Maddox getting one next year!  Then we head over to my parents' house and open gifts at their house and have a late lunch with wine.  For fun, here's a throwback from a few years ago at our old house on Christmas Eve (the date is wrong--it was more like 2011)

This year, we have baby Maddox and I feel more traditional than normal!  I feel pressure to celebrate all of his "firsts" and want to try and make every moment with him special.  I've been working this week to try and compile the list of things I'd like to do for/with him this holiday season, and have included it below:
-Picture with Santa
-Pictures at the Magic Tree
-Christmas Eve box (see below)
-new ornament for the Christmas tree each year
-Picture with first snow that sticks
-Baking day with me
-Special cookie and milk plate and mug for Santa on Christmas eve
-Watching Rudolph (even though he won't know it this year)

The Christmas Eve box I've created this year includes a new Christmas book and a new set of pajamas because he's so little. In the future, I'd like to include some hot chocolate and popcorn for him to enjoy as we read said book or watch a Christmas movie together as a family.

What other ideas do you guys have?  Are there things that you do with your little ones that you think might be fun ideas for me to start with this sweet little face this year?

I leave you with a picture of this smiley, happy little man. :)

Xoxo, Sarah

To crib or not to crib...

Welcome, friends!

During the past two weeks we have been quite busy!  We had newborn pictures taken with Maddox, put up our Christmas tree, went shopping and got all of our presents wrapped! (along with so many other things...)

We managed a shopping trip while I wore Maddox in the baby carrier.  He absolutely loves the carrier and tends to just fall asleep as soon as I put him in there.  I actually really love having him in the carrier!  I love having him close to me, and I think he loves it too!  He lets me get so much done when he's in there!  I ended up putting up our Christmas tree this year while I was wearing him in the carrier.  I managed to put up the tree, move furniture, and clean the floors all while wearing him!  So glad he is now big enough that I can enjoy it!

We also think Maddox has some reflux issues.  Lately, he's been spitting up and often it's chunky (no bueno).  A lot of times after he burps or spits up, he cries for no reason and we have to hold him, rock him, or just pat him/try to burp him again.  It's really sad because most times we don't know what the problem is until after he's spit up again or burped again or gets himself calmed down.  I feel like I'm rambling here but...you get the idea.  His spit up issues are not fun.

Yesterday we attempted to put Maddox in his crib for his first nap.  He was already asleep when I put him down, but Andy reminded me I should try him in his crib.  I put him in there with his favorite sound app on and the door cracked.  He slept for around 20 minutes.  He then woke up and wanted to eat again and after that, it was game over.  I couldn't get him back down in the crib for longer than 8 minutes.  We decided last night we would try to just get Maddox sleeping in his bassinet, which is a flat sleeping situation.  Prior to last night, he'd been sleeping in his rock and play.  However, while trying to get him to sleep last night (and while Andy and I were drifting off to happy sleepy dream land), we both awoke to what sounded like Maddox spitting up and weird breathing sounds.  So...for now, I think the crib AND the bassinet are out.  I'd really rather him just sleep and be able to sleep without me having to stare at him all night to make sure he's breathing.

Speaking of, this little monster might be getting a cold.  His little breaths are sounding sorta ragged as I type tonight.  Isn't he about the age he's losing some of my antibodies and starting to form his own immune system (or lack thereof)?  I hope he's not getting sick.  Poor guy.

Today something amazing happened.  Maddox and I awoke after a long night of several feedings.  I fed him and got a washcloth ready to clean his booty for a diaper change. (We are still not using wipes to help heal his diaper rash, which is almost gone!)  I was talking to him in a happy little voice, and guess what happened?  This sweet little man smiled at me.  Not an asleep smile, not a smile that was from gas, but a full-on, "hey mommy" smile!  And then again while I was changing his diaper!  My heart melted and I of course started crying.  I love this sweet little munchkin so very much.

I'm sad to think that as of today I have only 30 days left with my baby boy before I have to go back to work.  I am only able to take ten weeks of maternity leave for financial reasons, but feel truly blessed that I was able to have more time than most women get to stay home with their little ones!

I leave you with a couple of our pictures done by the incredibly talented Jocelyn Bernard.  They are absolutely stunning and I'm so excited to share them!

Until next time...Xoxo