Iron Bowl

Family picture before the Iron Bowl

So upset about our dismal football season that he passed out

I'll be overnighting Reese's Florida onesie to the house this week. Go Gators. Chomp, Chomp!

doctor

Reese won't be two months old until next Thursday, but we went to the doctor a week early so I could get it done before I go back to work. He was a trooper- getting two shots in his left leg, one in his right, and one by mouth. He only cried a little bit, but I did as well!

His two month stats are:
Weight: 12 pounds, 12 ounces
Height: 23 and 3/4 inches long
Head: 15 and 1/2 inches

Dr. Greer says that he is growing really well. A happy, healthy baby is definitely something to be thankful for!

I captured a smile on camera this weekend. I know, it makes you melt. Ladies, he's a heartbreaker. Watch out!

My mama is SO funny...

She makes me laugh...

Literally right after I took this picture his face went from happy to this....

Seriously? This kid cracks me up!

Road Warriors

This weekend Reese and I traveled home to see the fam. We pretended it was because we really missed our Nonna and Buck (which was true but not the reason for the trip). We really just wanted to put as much distance between us and Lofton as possible. We love him a lot, but we do NOT like him on inventory weekend. It happens twice a year and puts him in a stinky mood. This is why all weekend whenever Reese and I would talk about Daddy we called him stinky Daddy.

Anyhoo, Lofton packed up the car on Wednesday night so I only had to add the essentials on Thursday. I should have taken a picture. As Dad pointed out yesterday when he re-packed the car so we could head home, there isn't going to be room for Lofton to have luggage when the three of us travel home for Christmas. You never know wheat you might need though. Luckily, Nonna has her own pack and play and stroller. We just had to take clothes, diapers, food, the bathtub, our activity mat, the bumpo seat, and my suitcase. It's a haul, but that's why God created SUV's (Just kidding Cassie and Hugh, obviously God didn't create gas guzzling SUV's).

After my check-up on Thursday morning, I fed Reese lunch plus extra and put him in his seat for the ride. It's worth noting that we had about a fifty percent chance of getting home without a lot of screaming in the car. Reese is a great car rider approximately half of the time. He started screaming when we left the house and I told myself as I pulled onto the interstate at Exit 58 that is he was still screaming at Exit 22 I would pull off and sit in the back with him until he fell asleep. * Does that seem like a long way to let him cry? * A short five minutes later he was napping, with his neck bent forward and head straight down. I didn't actually realize this was his position until I navigated through Montgomery traffic and looked in the rearview mirror. I wish I could have taken a picture. I called Lofton my mom for confirmation that Reese was A) safe in that position in the event of a crash and B) could breathe with his neck cocked at such an odd angle. They both said he was fine. Never the less I stopped at a rest stop in Greenville to be sure. We made it home a short 3 1/2 hours later.

Home was uneventful and wonderful. I don't get home very often, in fact I hadn't been home since July (and before that it was March). Mom and I took little man shopping for some warmer clothes. Yes his closet is well stocked, but unfortunately nothing fits right now. For such a child with a weight problem he is very slender. He wears 0-3 month pants even though he far exceeds the weight on the tag. I bought him his first pair of jeans. They are too cute!

Reese spent lots of time talking and smiling at Buck and Nonna. I got to eat a meal using both hands, not just one. And he even took a three hour nap on Saturday. It was fabulous.

Yesterday we loaded up and drove back to Opelika. The return trip was as uneventful as the trip down. He slept most of the way. We were cutting it close on mealtime though so once we got to Montgomery I kicked into high gear. I made it off the interstate before he woke up and to the Piggly Wiggly (which means nothing to you if you haven't been to our house) before the screaming started.

Tomorrow we head to the doctor for our shots. I wonder who will cry more? Me or Reese.

genetics

Lofton has been asking me to post these pictures for weeks, but he doesn't read my blog so I haven't been in big hurry.

Who do you think Reese looks like?

Elizabeth

Reese

Lofton

Happy Birthday

Before I met Lofton and we had our beautiful baby, there was only one love of my life, Jackson. When I was younger, I secretly worried that my parents would die and I would not only grow alone, but that my children would grow up without an aunt or uncle. I prayed every night for a baby. Jackson was the answer to my prayers. Fifteen years ago today, at 1:33 in the afternoon, he was born.

We have shared many fun times in the last fifteen years and I'm so excited for Reese to have such a sweet and fun uncle to play with as he grows up.

I love you, Jackson!

good morning

Good Morning!

The Bear

This is Lofton's solution to the sub-zero temperature in our house. Put Reese in a Winnie the Pooh eskimo outfit. It came complete with mittens and ears. As you can see it was not well received.

Never did I think

Little man has not napped well for me today. Sleep has come in short intervals and not in his bed. This lack of mobility has given me time to ponder my last few weeks at home. I have mixed emotions about going back to work. I love my job. It fufills me in a way that I wish everyone's job could, but I also love being at home. I get to see my sweet baby grow and change everyday. When we first got home it was long afternoon naps together in the bed. Now we have mornings full of talking (kind of) and almost smiles. These last six weeks have been amazing...

My pondering also led to this:

Never did I think I would bite someone else's fingernails and think that's totally normal and not at all gross

Never did I think I would be fine with someone's urine, snot, or spit-up in my hair, on my clothes, or down my chest

Never did I think I would cheer someone on as they try to burp and then issue a proud "good job" at their success

Never did I think I would be so glad to see a stinky diaper after a few days without one

Never did I think I would allow someone to scream at me for no reason

Never did I think I would take so many pictures of one person

Never did I think I would want someone to smile at me so badly

Never did I think I would appreciate my parents so much

Never did I think I would love my husband more than I did six weeks ago, and in such a new a profound way

Never did I think I would love someone so much, so fast

Thanks Reese, for everything you've taught me thus far. Our journey together is just beginning.

In case you forgot...

In case you have forgotten what I look like...

This is me. And yes, he is screaming.

Oprah

On Monday's Oprah she is featuring talented kids. From what I've seen on previews she is going to have some acrobatic kids on the show that can contort their bodies in weird ways. Do you think Reese is a candidate?

Saturday night nap position

This is how we hang...

Hey Daddy, is this safe? I'm sitting in my seat ON THE BED. Obviously Mom was not in the room.

sweet face

exaggerated yawn

sleepy face

playing with Daddy one night

He's boring. Mama is way more fun:)

please don't make me take a bath

and please stop taking my picture

My husband

My husband is a great Dad. Really he is. He gets up with the baby during the night so I can get extra sleep, he washes bottles, helps me with bath time, the whole nine yards. My husband does not however want to participate in anything that might a) make the baby upset (he doesn't want Reese to have a negative association with Daddy) or b) be a little gross. What this means for me is that if I am home I change dirty diapers, I clean up spit-up, and I have to use the nasal aspirator (which I'm still having a hard time with).

Case in point, last night Reese was still struggling to go the bathroom. My little man grunted and grunted for twenty minutes and had very little to show for it in his diaper. So after a quick call to Nonna, we decided it was indeed time for a glycerin suppository. Not pleasant, I know. Lofton and both have terrible memories of them from childhood (as does Aunt Cassie), but it was necessary.

As I walked down the hall towards the nursery I called over my shoulder for help. Lofton reluctantly followed. Helpful behavior would have been distracting Reese as I tried to painlessly (yeah right) stick the suppository in the first time. * Side note- I thought I could lift his legs (as if I were cleaning him after a diaper change) and stick the thing in. It didn't work. Helpful also would have been holding Reese down (gently, this is terrible I know) as I put him on his belly so I could insert the suppository the other way. My helpful husband was participating in none of this!

Anyhow, the medicine was a success.

And on a brighter note, Reese slept from 9:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. without a feeding last night. And after his late-night-snack he went back to sleep until 6:00 a.m.. He only woke up then because he lost the (damn) pacifier. He didn't eat again until 7:00.

I'll post later about my love/hate relationship with the pacifier.

Bundle up...

It's chilly outside!

We went on a stroller walk this morning. One of us was warm and cozy, sleeping most of the two mile route. The other of us was tired and out of breath. It was great to be outside getting some exercise. I'm so pleased Reese enjoys strolling.

I'm not sure if you can tell, but his new fleece hat has ear flaps. Too cute!

relief

Relief comes in many forms when you are a new mom. As I have said to many people over the past few days, I never anticipated that I would be so concerned with another person's bathroom habits as I have been over the past few weeks.

After a few days of trying the new Similac formula, Reese was not feeling any better. In fact, things had gotten worse. He was not only screaming after meals, but his little tummy was so tight from not going to the bathroom. Friday was the proverbial straw (you know the one that broke the camels back?). Reese cried/wailed all day. If he wasn't sleeping (which let me tell you, didn't happen often) he was wailing. The screaming was horrible. He would draw his legs up to his chest- then push them out all the way. His little fists were so tightly clenched one of them turned purple. It was clear he was in pain. At one point Lofton suggested we go to the emergency room, but I knew that was not necessary.

My research/gut told that he was either colicky or lactose intolerant. The two are very closely related. In fact, almost half of colicky babies are lactose intolerant. Their symptoms mirror each other. Pain after eating, hard time staying asleep, gas, even nasal congestion and eczema (both of which we suffer from).

Luckily, Dr. Greer had given us a sample of some ready to use Similac Sensitive R.S.. A lactose free formula for lactose intolerant babies. After almost two full days on this formula I can (knock-on-wood) say that we are feeling much MUCH better. We have even been to the bathroom:) I am optimistic this means we are just lactose intolerant (easily dealt with) and not colicky (not fun for at least six more weeks).

My little man is napping in his bed, sweet as he can be. I have been able to bake a cake, do laundry, and even blog. I'm hopeful this behavior will continue. We might even be able to move him back to his own bed at night!

So thank you Abbott Pharmaceuticals for making Similac Sensitive R.S. I would pay much more than the $5.50 you charge per bottle to have a happy baby.

Also, I purchased something called Gripe Water at Target. It is for colicky babies also. Gripe water is an herbal supplement I read about in American Baby magazine and I researched online. It is a mixture of Ginger root, Fennel seed, and a component found in baking soda. We have been giving this to Reese also, in conjunction with his Mylicon, and it seems to help as well. A little odd I know, but we were desperate.

Sleep

This is how little man likes to sleep...

which is clearly against the recommendations of any doctor or book. The catch phrase is "Tummy to play, back to sleep." Whatever. He won't sleep on his back, and if he isn't sleeping neither are we. After five weeks i have given up on "training" him to sleep on his back which is what the books suggest. Therefore I have purchased this...

Meet the Angelcare Deluxe Movement Sensor, otherwise known as my new best friend. Here is the description straight from the website:

The under-the-mattress Movement Sensor Pad detects your baby's movements and sends the signal to the Nursery Unit, which sounds an alarm ONLY if no movement is detected for 20 seconds. It also transmits all other nursery sounds and has a Movement Indicator Light showing if movement is being detected. The Parents' Units receive the alarm and all other nursery sounds.Two Parents' Units give you the flexibility of always leaving one in your bedroom while moving the second unit to the room you are in while your baby is sleeping. Additional features include a nightlight on the nursery unit, color LCD displays, out or range indicator and temperature feature. Both units are rechargeable and include 8 channels with a range of 820 ft. Includes an under-the-mattress Sensor Pad, a Nursery Unit, a Parents Unit (sound monitor) and two AC adapters. Requires 12 AAA batteries (8 AAA batteries included).

Basically the blue mat goes under the mattress and is detects motion/movement. If there isn't any for twenty seconds an alarm sounds. This way, Reese can sleep on his tummy and we (as in me, because Lofton can sleep regardless of the situation) don't have to worry that he is going to stop breathing (which is the concern with tummy sleeping, i.e. SIDS).

I'll update tomorrow and tell you how our night goes. Pray for us.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Paw-Paw! We are so excited we got to celebrate with you last night! We love you!!

Stomach problems

We took our first non-required trip to the doctor Monday. Little man has been having some serious stomach issues. He was screaming everytime he ate and pulling his little legs up to his belly in pain. It was not fun to watch, so we decided to take a visit to Auburn and see Dr. Greer.

I had researched a lot about digestive problems and i had previously talked to Heidi (the nurse at the office) when we changed his formula. She told me then that it takes a while for babies stomachs to develop and adjust to eating outside th womb. Regardless, I decided that we would take Reese in anyway. If the doctor told us everything was fine then so be it. At least we would know a screaming baby is normal.

Well, we found out that Reese weighs a heaping twelve pounds. Much too big for where he started and his age. Evidently we are stuffing him too full! Dr. Greer explained that Reese doesn't know the difference between gas pain and hunger pain. Therefore he acts like he's hungry even when he isn't. We were feeding him about five ounces every four hours, and calorically he only needs four.

So Reese will be spending some time on the treadmill this weekend!

Dr. Greer also changed his formula again. This time to a different brand. We are now on Similac, not Enfamil. After a week, if Reese is still not feeling better, we are to switch him to a lactose free formula.

It makes me so sad to see him in pain. I hope this issue is resolved soon.

*spell check isn't working and i'm typing with one hand, so please ignore my errors