The Last Bath

Last week Luke took his last bath in the kitchen sink :( I figured that he was starting to get a little big for the sink considering he could almost stretch from one end to the other [he kind of reminded me of Macy in her infant carrier ;)]. Bathing him in the sink was great while it lasted and I am going to miss the days of him being so small. Here are some pictures for us all to remember his last bath in the kitchen sink.

Hand in Mouth (11 Weeks)

Luke is 11 weeks old, which means only 1 short week left at home full time with my baby boy.....so sad. I could seriously cry if I spent too much time thinking about it, so I try not to. To get me prepared for the dreaded return to work (and Grandma too) Andy's mom kept Luke all day today as a "practice" run. I was able to get a lot of things accomplished so I would say that it was definately a success!! The good news is that he had a good day with Grandma. It was sad not to have him around all day, but I kept telling myself that I would spend the next 6 days with him -- not real sure what I will tell myself next week. Don't worry, I have already bought some water proof mascara :)

Eleven weeks has brought on something new for Luke - we think he is teething. I am not sure if this is a good thing or not, but it is definitely early to say the least! The reason we are suspicious of teething is that Luke has been drooling like a bulldog, he is chewing on his pacifier towards the side of his mouth, he likes to chew on my knuckle, and if that isn't available he trys to stick his entire fist in his mouth (see pic). He has been a bit more fussy this week, but nothing in comparison to his 6 week growth spurt!

I just wanted to include this last picture for laughs (for some reason it will only attach sideways). As you all know, Luke has a head FULL of hair (I don't think he has lost a single strand). I brush it every night after his bath so that it isn't too out of control (it is curly when wet), but I thought you all should get the chance to see what it looks like untamed! He is so cute -- even with out of control hair.


Waiting on a tooth - I think,
Kays

My Little Man

Happy Birthday Brittany!

Tonight we finally all went out to celebrate Britt's 30th birthday. Gigi and Gin Gin kind enough to watch the boys while we went to Yucatan Taco Stand (I haven't had YTS since before I had Luke and I must say I missed it!!) While we were there our babies, of course, dominated the conversation, but Sarah and Josh didn't seem to mind it too much. I am so thankful to have such great friends.

Thankful that my friends married each other and that Sarah found Josh,

Kays

Too Worried to Enjoy Sleep

Last week Luke did something for the very first time.....he slept through the night - yes, the ENTIRE night!! My mom and I had tickets to the show on Thursday so Andy was on baby duty for the evening. When I got home Luke had already been put to bed (around 9pm). This was a little earlier than his 'normal' bedtime so I knew for sure it was going to be a long night. I went to bed almost dreading waking up. At about 3:30am I woke up in a panic - Luke was still asleep. I laid there for a bit and then convinced myself that I needed to check on him. I did not check on him when I got home so I figured I would feel better to know that he was still breathing. I went upstairs, sneaked into his room, and touched his hand - ICE cold. CRAP! My heart was pounding. I then proceeded to touch his face - warm, and then a stir. I immediately pulled back and got out of there before he woke up. When I got back in bed I could not go back to sleep. I spent my time worrying about him breathing and worrying that the minute I fell back asleep that he would wake up and I would be miserable. I got myself so worked up that I woke up Andy and asked him to check on Luke. To sum up the night, I did not sleep until Luke woke up at 6:00am - Yes, he slept 9 hours!! Luke was perfectly rested and I had wasted my first opportunity in 10 weeks to sleep all night long.......BUMMER!

On the bright side, Luke has since slept another night from start to finish without waking up. I, of course, woke up, but did not get out of bed to check on him. I fell back asleep and believe it or not, Luke was alive in the morning!!! I have a feeling that he should be getting the hang of this sleep thing here in the next couple of weeks. I know enough not to get too excited just yet, but you better believe that I have faith in my little man!!

Amazed that a good night's sleep could be so exhausting for a mom,

Kays

SpongeBob Party!

This weekend was full of parties! We celebrated mom's birthday on Saturday night and celebrated Jacob's 6th birthday today. Luke was asleep for the majority of the party, but woke up in enough time to get his party on! Here are some pictures of the festivities.....isn't he cute??

Fussy Boys!

Today is Brittany's 30th birthday (we will celebrate the occasion next week)!! She came by our house today after Colin's doctor's appointment and I was able to get a quick shot of the two boys simultaneously fitting!! I am thankful to have Brittany as one of my closest friends and I hope that the boys are as close as we are.

Thankful for friends,
Kays

6,048,000 seconds

Luke and I have been camping out at Gigi's house since Tuesday because of the whole A/C debacle. The good news is that the A/C is now fixed and the house is on its way to cooling off! While I have enjoyed our time at Gigi's, I will be very thankful to sleep in my own bed tonight. Luke has been back in the bassinett in the room with us for the past 2 nights and I will say I prefer that he sleep in his own room! Apparently he is a morning person (he woke up early the past 2 mornings and entertained himself by talking/cooing/grunting/kicking) -- who knew?? Apparently he takes after me and not Andy!

Luke is now 10 weeks old. This number in itself does not seem too large, but when you think about it 10 weeks is 70 days or 1,680 hours or 100,800 minutes or 6,048,000 seconds -- aren't you glad we don't report age as seconds?? No matter which way you say it the past 10 weeks have flown by and Lucas is growing and growing. I am absolutely dreading going back to work on June 2nd. Do you think if I start crying now that all my tears will be dried up by the time I have to go back to work?

Trying not to think about the inevitable,
Kays

Happy Little Boy!

This is a picture of Luke hanging out at Gigi's house this morning. Our A/C is broken so we are hanging out here until cool can be adequately restored. He has gotten used to the diaper only look given the temperatures at home have been a bit warm. Isn't he a doll?? He is going to love the summertime if he can hang out in his diaper all day long!!

I love this kid!
Kays

Ode to Baby Gear - Top 10

I was up early this morning (2:45am) feeding Luke and I got to thinking about the baby items that I use the most. Not sure what sparked the thought, but it is not uncommon for me to think about random things early in the morning (mostly to keep myself awake). Since I spent some time thinking about it I decided to dedicate an entire post to the topic. It doesn't mean that I don't use or appreciate any of my other baby gear, but these are the top 10 items that have gotten the most use over the past 2 months (no particular order).

1. Rocker/Glider chair - I have used this since we bought it! It has helped me through bed rest (propped my feet up on the ottoman), 24 hour a day pumping early on, countless night feeds, and rocking Luke before naps or just because. Mr. Glider chair, I could not have done it without you!!

2. My Brest Friend - This is something that has been incredibly helpful for those late night feeds. It actually attaches around you and allows the baby to lay comfortably while nursing.....the best part, you can nurse hands free if needed! It is very similar to a Boppy, but better!! I would highly recommend this item if you are planning on nursing.

3. Sleep positioner - Thank you Amy for recommending that I get this!! It is a contraption that the baby sleeps between prevening him from rolling from one side to the other (kind of like a baby bumper). It allows us to let Luke sleep safely on his side at night (no fear of him rolling over). Thanks to the sleep positioner Luke has the most beautifully shapen head!

4. Sponge bath pad - We registered for this not knowing exactly what it was, and boy am I glad we did. This simple item makes bathtime with a little guy (with incomplete head control) a lot easier! We will most likely transition over to the infant tub once he has full contol of his head.

5. Bottles - My little boy likes to eat, enough said!

6. Microwave sterilizer - I think I use the sterilizer on average 4 times a day. Boy, am I thankful that I don't have to boil water on the stove!! I have become rather good at hitting the automatic 3 minute button on the microwave! I love things that make life easier.

7. Burp cloths - Wow! Who knew kids could spit up/spit out/drool so much over the course of the day. We go through burp cloths like crazy. After my shower I asked my mom, "Will I need all of these?" I now know how silly a question that was!! It seems like I spend the most of my day looking for a burp cloth!

8. Bouncer chair - This little chair has been my life saver. I actually have 2 of them and I use them both daily. I will put Luke in this while I do things like sterilize bottles, shower, laundry, etc. I will just pick the bouncer up (with him in it) and move it to the new location for the activity. I also need to take the time to give a shout out to the swing. It is equally good at entertaining my child; however, it just isn't as portable.

9. Clothes - I know that this is broad, but I had NO idea such a little guy could go through so much laundry in a single day!! One of the best items of clothing that we have encountered is the infant gown. I love to put Luke in gowns at night (don't worry, they are blue) because it makes changing a diaper a whole lot easier. If he isn't in a gown then I prefer the zippered sleeper. I will do anything to avoid having to snap those stinking snaps in the middle of the night!

10. DIAPERS!! - Again, enough said.

Thankful for all of my baby gear,
Kays

9 weeks, 6 hours, and Macy!

Luke reached 9 weeks old yesterday!! It was an exciting day because his friend Macy came over to visit him for the first time. She has been quite the little petri dish over the past 9 weeks, so we were happy she was finally germ free! While she loves Luke, she is secretly practicing how to be a big sister for Baby Z who will be arriving later this summer!

Now to report late breaking news....last night Luke slept a total of 6 hours and 25 minutes CONSECUTIVELY, which marks the longest stretch of sleep yet!! I am hoping that he continues to extend this stretch over the next 3 weeks so that we are both rested for when I return back to work!

Well rested,
Kays

Before I was a Mom

This was sent to me from Andy's Grandmother, Dorothy. I really enjoyed it so I thought I would share it with all my mommy friends.

Before I was a Mom (Vivian Vega)

Before I was a Mom,I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous,
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on.
Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late at night watching a child sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle
of the night every ten minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never know n the warmth,
the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn' know I was capable of feeling so much
before I was a Mom.

Movin' On Up!

It is hard to believe that my baby is already 2 months old!! We went to his 2 month check up today and he was a champ. Poor guy had to get 2 shots in his little legs :( He was so happy this morning and next thing you know he was offended to the highest degree. He started to cry after that first shot, but really amplified the volume once that second one hit. Why is it that it hurt me and I was on the other side of the room?? As for his stats, he weighed in at 13lbs, 12 ozs (95th percentile) and was 24.125 inches long (90th percentile). He is growing like a little weed!!

Now at 2 months old Luke is following things really well with his eyes and he turns towards noises when he hears them. He interacts by coo talking and smiling which still melts my heart. He grabs onto things like my shirt, hair, or necklace with a death grip and he can turn over from tummy to back. He is getting close to having full control of his head and he loves to look at lights. His has many friends around the house, including Mr. Curtain and Mr. Stairs, but I would say that Mr. Fan is his favorite. Luke typically sleeps for about 3 to 4 consecutive hours at night, but will occasionally sleep for a bit longer or even shorter if it is a rough night. All in all, he is a very loving little boy and I just can't get enough of him!

Now onto the title of this post.....Luke hit 2 more milestones this past week!! First he has moved to his room upstairs!! I started by putting him in his crib for naps, but at 8 weeks old he made the complete move. Each night we tuck him into bed and off to bed we go, just the 2 of us! It was sad for me at first, but I am proud of myself for sticking with it. The bassinet is still set up in our room, but mostly because I have not taken the time to take it down and pack it away. I think I might cry when this actually occurs :( The second big thing that happened this week is that Luke graduated to a rear facing 'big boy' car seat!! Not because he out grew his infant carrier, but because he would do nothing but scream as soon as we put him in it. I am convinced he hated that thing because he was getting too hot. The good news is that he is doing really well in his new seat!! He has fussed a little, but for the most part I would say the screaming is gone (for now). Another bonus is that I don't have to lug that carrier around anymore - that thing is heavy when you put a boy of Luke's stature in it!!!

Loving Luke,
Kays

Happy Mother's Day!

Today was my very first Mother's Day!! The day started rather early, at 1:30am, but it got off to a great start. Andy got up and gave the baby his bottle after I nursed and then he got up again (without me) at 5:45am to do the next feed! I slept for the longest stretch since Luke was born 2 months ago (total of 4 hrs and 45 minutes -- woo hoo). I know this may seem trivial to some of you, but it was what made this Mother's Day special. To round off my day Andy made me breakfast, we went to church, and then we spent the day with our moms and Nana. All in all, despite the yucky weather, it was a great first Mother's day.

Just to fill you in on what I got for my very first Mother's Day......a new car!!! I have been wanting to get and SUV now that Luke's baby paraphernalia takes all of the room in my trunk and it just so happened that we found the car I wanted - a Lincoln MKX. I really, really love my new ride!! Wonder what I will get next year....???

I love my family,
Kays

He makes me smile!

Cinco de Mayo y Ocho Semanas

My baby boy is 8 weeks old. He is growing too fast :( It is the weirdest thing - you want your child to grow and learn new things, but at the same time you want to freeze time so that they stay little forever......I guess I have no choice but to let him grow considering I have not mastered the art of freezing time!

Luke hit a very important milestone this week -- he rolled over (from tummy to back)!!! The first time he did it I thought it was just an accident, but then he did it again. It wasn't until he did it for a third time the next day that I truly believed it! I checked my developmental milestone chart and it says it is normal to roll over anywhere from 2 to 5 months old.....is he considered brilliant since he did it at 7 weeks and 5 days?? ;)

We had one more milestone this past week....Luke started wearing size 2 diapers. It is another sign of him growing up too fast. I am not sure of his weight these days, but we have a doctors appointment on Monday to find out. In addition to his diapers, he has also out grown of some of his 0 to 3 month footed sleepers due to his length. His poor little toes were starting to curl so we were forced to retire a few outfits. Slowly but surely we will be phasing in the 3 to 6 month clothes and saying goodbye to his 0 to 3 monthers.

Cherishing every moment,

Kays

My Little Napper!

This post is brought to you by a morning nap.....

Hallelujah, Luke takes naps!! This may sound weird to those of you who have not met my little boy, but he is NOT a sleeper. When he was born the nurses told me to make sure that I nursed during the first hour because newborns are typically only awake for the first hour after birth. Others told me that newborns are supposed to sleep something like 18 hours a day and that they are pretty much only awake at feedings.....NOT MY CHILD!!

Luke has been awake since he left the womb. He was born at 7:58pm and did not even begin to think about sleeping until 2:30am. My newborn was awake for 6 1/2 hours right off the bat! Once we got home he still didn't sleep much and he pretty much continued the trend for the first 6 weeks of his life. We have taken a turn in the road! Luke took his first long nap at 6 weeks old and is now taking a morning and an afternoon nap!! Some days are better than others of course, but we are finally getting a routine!! In general, he still isn't a sleepy kid so we will celebrate any and all naps he takes!!

Have to go, I hear him crying -- morning nap is over :(

Kays