Pages

Monday, July 30, 2012

Leo likes to talk

Some videos of Leo that Mom took. Just ignore my chatter in the second one. How many times can I ask him if he's comfortable? Hard to believe almost a month has gone by since I've posted anything. He's keeping us busy! More soon.





Friday, July 06, 2012

2 months!

Where is time going? Seems like the first month was a blur and not all the pleasant. But the inconsolable crying has stopped and Leo is sleeping longer stretches at night - one 4-5 hour block then another 2-4 hour block. I don't sleep that well during the second block but it's more than I was getting before! And he's napping during the day, still sleeping longer when he's in a baby carrier than he does in a swing or in his cradle. When he goes down for a nap, I find myself madly dashing around the house to get stuff done: dishes, lunch and dinner meal prep, scarfing down food, cleaning, checking email, blogging, organizing, going to the bathroom. I will never take going to the bathroom whenever I want for granted anymore. We are getting better at anticipating what he needs: sleep, milk, clean diaper, entertainment etc. He usually wakes from a nap and needs his diaper changed, then some milk and then he's happy between 30-60 min before getting tired again. We are settling into life with an infant, our life before seems like a distant memory.
13 lb 6 oz, 24" at his 2 month check-up

He has so many funny expressions now

Bonnie came to visit for a week, helped watch Leo.
 Dave has someone else now to play dress up with besides Emma
Oui Oui! I am a French Jewsian!

Leo's friend Espen mesmerized by Leo's mobile



Thanks for my big boy outfit Auntie Adrian!

He loves to smile and coo

Telling Nana a story

Caught him happy after his bath

Reading time

Wait Mom, what does this say?
 Leo went through a phase last week where the only person that could get him to sleep was Mom. Thankfully, it only lasted several days.


Hanging with Uncle Lincoln. Staring at the boppy. Eventually fell asleep on him.

Asleep on Dad again!!
We celebrated his 8 week birthday by going to Taco King for dinner. First meal out with Leo. He did great and food is served quickly enough that he started getting fussy right when we finished.
Yum! Carne asada!
He's really strong - likes to stand up on our legs, and in the past couple weeks has gained a lot of strength in his neck and back, holding his head up for longer stretches now. And he loves to tell stories. Lately, he's been taking breaks during nursing to look up at me and babble. Too cute. Time is flying by way too quickly.

Dave is leaving for Barrow tomorrow for 10-14 days. Mom is arriving tonight. I'm fine single-parenting during the day but by the time evening rolls around, I'm pretty tired and it's nice to have another set of hands around. Especially since he's more restless during the evening and doesn't nap for long before going to bed. Wonder what this month is going to bring!

Growing, growing, growing

Lucky for us, Leo seems to like taking a bath. Being in the water seems to calm him down. The books say the best time to give a baby a bath is in the evening right before bed time. Unfortunately, Leo is sort of cranky in the evening. We're finally figuring out the timing. Bath time has to be during his content, happy time not too soon after eating (so he doesn't spit up too much) but before he gets sleepy for his next nap. He doesn't like the transition from the tub to the towel. We're refining our technique each time.
First bath
Who knew heading out of the house with him would be so terrifying. We're also figuring out the timing with running errands with Leo in tow. I started out going to 'safe places' like friend's houses. We took a drive to Adrian & Dan's on our first solo outing to see Adrian's mom while she was in town. That was successful. Next, we went to Julie & Lincoln's when Kristina was in town. We went on a lot of practice runs while Kristina was in town, building my confidence with heading out in public with an infant. Since then, I've braved a 90 min grocery shop, running multiple errands and taking Leo in and out of the car seat into the baby bjorn, having to nurse in various parking lots, changed a diaper in the car. Time and practice has built up my confidence and comfort level and it is getting easier every day. Leo's been very good lately at running errands, usually falls asleep in the car seat and in the baby carrier and I make sure I don't over extend him and make him wait for a meal.
Espen and Leo at 5 weeks!
We've been taking lots of walks in the Chariot stroller. Kristina put it together while she was here. Both of us were getting too hot walking with him in the baby bjorn or sling. This tank of a stroller gives us more freedom and he loves to take a ride.
First stroll in the neighborhood

Ready for his first ride!
So fun to watch him in the mirror while he's in the car seat.
What's up, yo?

Auntie Kristina says he sleeps with attitude

going for walks at the UAF botanical gardens
Aunt Mandy came up to visit from Anchorage. Leo says, Oy vey! I keep telling these people what I want and they just don't get it yet!



His 'I'm thinking about pooping' face

His 'I'm pooping' face
Not too manly to wear a peach sun hat!

My parents don't know how to put these stupid onesies on correctly.

Super smiley guy!

He rarely falls asleep in the swings.