the bald and the beautiful: September 2009

September 12th marked the 3 month anniversary of Elijah's arrrival. To celebrate, we spent several hours waiting to get his pictures taken. We had scheduled an appointment at Target and had timed things perfectly...he was fed, napped, changed and totally happy and smiling. Then we waited...and waited...and waited. They were running behind and an hour and a half later (with a seemingly content baby) we began our photo session. All it took was one pose to send him into a mini-meltdown. He was in desperate need for a nap, he had just fooled us into thinking he would stay in a good mood. We should have known, and we should have left after 30 minutes. I mean seriously, a 3 month old's window of happiness is so short before they need to eat or sleep (or at least our 3 month old's window is short). So we went home and relaxed for awhile and scheduled an appointment for later that day at JC Penney. Attempt #2 was slightly more successful. They, too, were running over an hour behind, but we managed to get some decent shots despite an unimpressive photographer. After getting home and looking at the photos again (I was in a very bad mood at that point), I decided I wanted to try one more time. I just didn't love any of the photos. So I scheduled another appointment at Target (a different one) for another day (Thank you for no sitting fees!). We had to take a break because he skipped his nap that morning, but we finally ended up getting some really cute pictures. Moral of the story...don't try to get a 3 month old's photos taken professionally? Leave immediately if they tell you they are running behind? If at first you don't succeed, try again? I don't know, but look at this cute baby!

Well I guess it is finally time to write something on this pathetic blog. I know this will come as no surprise, but we have been very busy over the past (nearly) 3 months. We absolutely LOVE being parents to our sweet baby boy Eli. Sure, we have had many many challenging moments while trying to get the hang of this parenting business, but seeing Eli grow and develop new skills makes it all so worth it. The first month was really just survival. I tried not to lose my mind when Eli nursed for HOURS on end. It got to the point that Andy would jokingly moo at me any time Eli fussed or cried and he was always right--Eli was ALWAYS hungry. Prior to Eli's arrival I had mentally committed to breastfeeding for a year. That first month made me question if I would make it another day, much less a whole year!!! I hate to admit, but at times I let the stress and the fatigue win. Eli was a pretty needy newborn. It seemed like I was always nursing and the few minutes where he wasnt he still insisted he be held. With his demanding feeding schedule I didnt have time to shower and get dressed, clean or cook, and definitely didnt have time to just relax. I would get frustrated, cry (blaming it on the crazy hormones), and tell Andy I didn't think I would make it (nursing). Andy was so great and would always ask how he could help and tell me that I could do it and that it would get better. He would also always say that if I couldn't do it anymore it was ok with him. We both would prefer breastfeeding for lots of reasons, but he was always so sweet to make sure I knew that he was more worried about me/my sanity than the money we would have to spend on formula. The next month was slightly easier. Month 2 was more about learning Eli's routine--learning to read his cues and intercept problems before they became meltdowns. We began to establish an eat, play, sleep routine and he also started to sleep slightly longer stretches at night (4 hours or so). We did pretty well during the days. Because I was getting better and knowing what he would need and when, Eli spent less time crying during the day. The evenings were a different story. It seemed like when it hit 5 or 6 he would start. It wasn't severe enough to be colic, but he was fussy for a couple hours each evening. We could calm him down, but only temporarily. I felt sorry for Andy, who would come home from working all day to a crying baby. As always, Andy was a great sport about it and spent many hours with Eli in his favorite football hold, often outside playing fetch with the dogs. Month 2 also brought some really GREAT moments. Eli flashed me his first REAL smile the day he turned 6 weeks old and he hasnt stopped smiling since. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, melts my heart like this little boy's smile. Oh just thinking about it almost makes me want to cry (can I still blame it on the crazy hormones? :) haha) He put on weight like a champ--thanks to the constant feeding--which was so great to see since he started out so small. He started getting strong, holding his head up better, pushing up/lifting his head during tummy time, occasionally and accidentally rolling over, and did i mention SMILING? :)
His 3rd month has been my favorite so far. While I do miss the snuggly little guy who was always curled into a little ball and would sleep so peacefully on daddy's chest, we are starting to see a little personality. He smiles more and more and is starting to giggle and talk a little. We get some precious ooohs and aaaahhs followed by some heh heh hehs and we just cant help but laugh. He is getting stronger every day. He sits up well with support and LOVES to stand up. We are on a pretty good eat, play, sleep routine during the day and E can sleep up to 6 straight hours during the night (not always, but sometimes), almost always giving me at least 4 1/2 or 5hrs after he first goes down for the night. Andy has taken over the bedtime routine. I feed E then hand him to daddy who changes him into jammies, swaddles, sings and rocks, and puts him in his crib. (Eli moved out of the pack n play in our room into his own room and crib at about 6 weeks) He is now going to the nursery at church (still a little rocky because it usually interrupts his nap) and is staying with our friend Katie 2 days a week while I go to work (new job). He is very interested in the world around him and gets mad if you make him sit reclined or where he cant see things around him. He wants to be sitting or standing up with your help, looking out at all the interesting things he hasnt ever seen. He likes to look at mom and dad, the ceiling fan and sadly, the TV--so sorry we are starting this so early. He has started to like his swing and will sit for quite awhile entertaining himself and will often drift off to sleep without any help from us. We still have rough days, especially because he has reflux. He has days and times where he doesn't feel well, and he cries because he hurts. Those times break my heart, but all in all we have more good time than bad now. It is just so amazing to think that 3 months ago I didnt know Eli. I knew his kicks and wiggles, but I didnt know his face or his cry or his smile or his little laugh. Needless to say, now that I know him, I am in love.