Mommy started to play with me in my gym that I think Mimi and Grandpa bought for me a long time ago (June 2007 — when I weighted less than 1 ounce).

It is great! Daddy started to play with me tonight and started to act like Uncle Danny and began to take video of me. Daddy and Mommy are always taking my picture with a phone or a camera. Can you say Paparazzi?

Tonight, Mommy and Daddy took me out to dinner at a place called Applebees. I slept the whole time as Mommy and Daddy enjoyed their dinner and dessert. I opened eyes a few times just to keep Mommy and Daddy on edge.

Daddy asked for the check a little early just in case they had to leave early. I don’t know why he was so worried. I heard him tell the waitress that “we’ve got a ticking time bomb here” when he asked for the check.

Grandma, Mimi, and Grandpa — can you tell Daddy to please talk nice about me in public. I was very well behaved, I don’t know what the problem could have been.

Love,

Connor

This is what I wore out to dinner:

Mommy and I continue to do a great job with the breastfeeding.  Mommy and Daddy think that I weigh around 7.5 lbs, but they will find out officially next Monday (that is my 1 month checkup).

I am no longer wearing the “newborn” diapers and I have graduated to size 1’s now.  They fit so much better, but I think the diaper rides a little high on me.  I mean, come on…it is nearly up around my armpits.  But they have so much more room which allows me to shoot a little surprise at Daddy when he sneaks a peak in my diaper to see if I went to the bathroom.  I got him on his finger the other day…next time, I’ll aim at the face!  😉

…that I might be going to Grandma’s house this weekend.  This will be my first visit to her house.  Daddy’s family is visiting from New Jersey and I will get to meet everyone for the first time.  I hope she has some cool toys and a warm house for me.  Daddy told me that Grandma likes to open the window in the kitchen during the winter.   😉

Next week I plan to go over Mimi and Grandpa’s house to see my Great Grandmother and Mommy’s Aunt who are visiting from Florida.  I can’t wait.  I also get to see my cousin Brenna.

Love,
Connor

Tonight, Daddy pulled out a “new toy” for me. It had some weird name (Baby Bjorn) that I can’t say and probably won’t be able to say for another 10 years.

Well, once he figured out how to get it on he put me in the carrier and we walked around the house. Mommy took a video of it. You can see that I loved it because I fell asleep within 5 minutes of being in it. It kind of reminds me of sleeping on Daddy’s chest, so that is why I feel asleep while I was in the carrier.

Mommy tried it on too and liked it. Mommy and Daddy think it is cool and are going to start using it around house so they can get things done (like cook, eat, and/or folder laundry). Daddy already tried to eat with me in the carrier and he dropped pineapple juice on my head. Can I get a mini-umbrella to protect me from Daddy’s messy eating habits?

Love,

Connor

Alright, I have to admit that I have not been flawless in this entire process (imagine that). Victoria and I read books, listened to others, and attended several classes as well as observed others. I felt pretty confident in our skills and figured since we were raised from such wonderful parents that “the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree”.

Well, we lined everything up. We have successfully tackled breastfeeding (I am very proud and happy Victoria and Connor were able to do this even after introducing a bottle during the first 7 days). We have him sleeping in his crib. We have him in somewhat of a routine. We are not totally exhausted like we were led to believe. We still find time to spend as a couple (ie. having breakfast together). Check, check, check, check…

Well, let’s just say I figured the “old school parents” had nothing on us. (I am saying this jokingly, so don’t start sending me hate mail.) Well, I was wrong…

Rubber donut:

About 2 months before Victoria’s delivery, my mom suggested that I order Victoria a rubber donut for her to sit on once she had Connor. She said that it would make her feel comfortable. Well, I had heard from a couple of other “newer moms” that the boppie would work just as well. So, Victoria and I decided against it and figured she could use the boppie. Well, let’s just say 2 days after we were home, my mom had picked up a rubber donut, blew it up, and hand delivered it to Victoria. Victoria carried it with her everywhere she went (even to the doctor’s office) for the next week. Chalk one up to Grandma.

Treating diaper rash:

All I remember from the childbirth class was not to use baby powder to treat diaper rash. Well, I lumped corn starch in with it. Connor has developed a diaper rash and the creams don’t seem to be working too well. My mom has been telling me about corn starch for the past week and I keep telling her it is not good for the baby. Well, after some reading and a suggestion from Victoria’s friend I broke down and bought some corn starch tonight. It seems to do a better job on Connor’s bottom. Chalk another one up to Grandma.

I guess what I am saying is, continue to make the suggestions — we listen but sometimes we just have to try it our way for a while. If and when we have another child, you can bet I will have that rubber donut handy for Victoria!!!!

Love you Mom!

The first night Connor was home, he slept in our room in the pack-n-play.  I don’t know how anyone can sleep on a lopsided board, but he did.  I figured since he has a comfortable, clean, quiet, and freshly painted room, why not let it get some use.

I have had several parents warn us not to allow Connor to co-sleep with us because it would be a bad habit to break later.  I listened and tried him in his crib the second night he was at home.  It seemed to work well for him and for over two weeks now, he has been sleeping in his crib like a big boy.

Our house is not enormous and since I am the one who retrieves him for his nightly feedings, I don’t mind walking an extra 20 feet to get him.  The monitor works well and even lets us know if there is no movement for a period of 20 seconds.  If there is no movement for a period of 40 seconds it really sets off an alarm and I spring out of bed.

So, the three of us (and the cats) get a good night sleep.

Swaddling has worked wonders with him.  We swaddled him in the hospital and then purchased a couple of the SaddleMe blankets and have used them every night since.  He loves it and it definitely calms him down.  I remember being a little skeptical when I saw it in the class we took, but figured it would be worth a try.

We are sure glad that we took that class (“Happiest Baby on the Block”).  There is a DVD and book out about it as well.  I remember saying in class, “It’s magic” when one of the screaming babies stopped crying after being swaddled and shh’ed.  Well, it is not magic and it truly does work on Connor.

Well for a little over two weeks now, Connor has been in a pretty good routine.  We usually get the last feeding in somewhere between 10 and 11pm .  Prior to going to bed, I turn on his lamp and night light in his room, swaddle him, and read him a story.  That usually signals to him that it is time for bed and he usually starts to fall asleep while in my arms.  He then sleeps for about 4 hours (which gives us about 5 hours in between night feedings).  After his middle of the night feeding, he then usually goes right back to sleep and gets his morning feeding right around 6:30am or so.

Now that I am back to work, Victoria has settled into her own little routine.  She feeds him before I head to work and hops in the shower as he relaxes after his morning feeding.  She usually takes the baby monitor downstairs with her as she has a quiet breakfast.

During our childbirth class that ran for 12 weeks, we learned quite a bit and they helped us think about things you might not regularly think about.  One such thing was how to continue to do things for yourself, as a couple, and as new parents.  One exercise was to write down 5 things that you would miss most once your child is born.  Victoria and I love when we have a quiet breakfast on Sunday mornings and read the newspaper.  Well, Connor has been quite accommodating (so far) and has allowed Victoria and I have to have our quiet breakfasts while I have been home.  The first week I was home, we had a quiet sit down breakfast each morning and every Saturday/Sunday we have had so far, we have been able to enjoy breakfast together as Connor was in his swing or pack-n-play.

Connor has been such a good baby as far as allowing us to sleep that I am constantly waiting for “that night”.  You know, the one where he is up all night crying and fussing.  So far, so good.  I am sure since I am writing about this, he will be sure to get even with us sometime soon.

Good night — it is almost our bedtime because he is getting his final burps now.

took a great picture of me today while Daddy was giving me a bath. I enjoy being in the bath tub and don’t cry at all. Afterwards, I smell so fresh and clean and my hair is brushed and I look so cute.

Look at the great picture Mommy took of me today!