I have really enjoyed our morning routine and so thankful I can be home during this time in our child's life.  Tank will nurse about 5 am ish and I can put him back down until 8 am.  If we don't have to be anywhere I nurse him again at 8 am in our bed and we watch the Today show together.  He is really interested in tv these past 2 weeks!!  uh oh!!  We'll usually stay in our pjs for  most of the morning.  That is why a lot of pics you see posted are in his pajamas!

Today he woke up at 5 am to eat and I put him back to sleep, got dressed and went to the gym.  It worked great!!  Chip gets up at 6 am and starts working from home and carried the monitor with him.  I was gone about an hour, got home, ate breakfast, took a shower, laid back down for about 15 min. before Tank woke up at 8am.  He is now taking his morning nap (a new thing!) and its been about an hour!  I think I am going to try this 2-3 times a week since it gets dark so early these days!  We'll see...

I clipped his nails for the first time on 10/24. I usually just file them down because I get so afraid of clipping too much and he doesn't sleep much for me to do it then.  Trysta and Joe were scheduled to arrive later that day so I took the plunge.  It went great.  His nails grow so fast and he nicked himself the day before.  Trysta and I have a joke about inspecting his nails/fingers/toes for "toe jam!"  He gets those fuzzies between his fingers and toes all the time!!  So I "floss" between them with a baby wipe to get him clean each day!  LOL

Tank loves shopping and is much better at restaurants these days!  Grammie came up this past weekend 10/24 and we ate at TGIF.  We had an adventurous time changing the diaper in the ladies room and all was well.  He stayed up and socialized and Grammie took him for a walk while we took turns eating.  Sometimes he'll sit and keep entertained in the carseat and sometimes not!  We stopped at Joann fabrics to order his last frame from his newborn photos and the sales lady tried to get him to smile,etc. and he wouldn't take his eye off me!!  So funny!!  I love that he is a mommas boy!!

I keep going back and forth about using the breast pump.  Our goal is to start cereal after Christmas once we return home from visiting family on both sides for the holidays- less to hassle with while we travel.  I want to mix the cereal with breast milk so I eventually have to do it.  Right now I plan to just get some supply in the freezer and we'll see where it goes from there.  Nursing is going so well I don't want to give him the bottle, just go to the sippy cup of breast milk when that time comes. Fingers crossed.

Fantastic Fall update

I have posted a lot of pictures and not a lot of info.  Sorry.  Most of the time I am typing with one hand!  I intend to keep a journal updated on here of Tank's latest happenings!

In the hospital the doctors commented of his perfect health, perfect this, perfect that!  Every mothers dream come true to hear that!  I didn't doubt that perfectness that the drs. where telling us from the start and ever since!  We are very thankful for our baby boy that is finally here with us and doing SO well:)  He has just fit into our lives so easily and we have adapted to his needs as well.  Ever since Scooter's party on Aug. 28th, Tank has slept up to 9 hours straight at night.  The day time schedule is another story where the multiple hour newborn naps wore off quickly.  I adjusted quickly to his patterns and kept up with him being awake all day and sleeping very well at night:)  At first it he would wake me in the 3 am range.  The past four weeks or so he will go to sleep for the night at 8:30 pm and wake me anytime between 4-5:30 am. to eat then go back to sleep until 8 am.  I am so thankful I am home with him so he can get the sleep and care he needs.  I nurse him on demand so during the day its about every two hours.  We have had a couple growth spurts where I end the day feeling like the "milk wagon" and didn't get much accomplished otherwise.  Feeding and taking care of a baby to me is an accomplishment within itself!

At 7 wks old, Tank was smiling:)  and smiling, cooing, babbling, almost laughing as each week passes.  Its been great fun interacting with him with our voice, singing, talking, cooing back, reading, playing, etc.  He has noticed his hands as of 11 ish weeks.  Lots of hands in the mouth, no thumb yet and we haven't offered him a pacifier yet.  Even 12 weeks he was drooling excessively to the point I was sure he was complaining about his gums.  The cool teethers seem to provide some relief.  I haven't relied on Oragel yet.  Chip has made up 2-3 different songs.  I'll have to write down the words and post them!  Its great!!  He really responds to Chip well and he can calm Tank down very easily.  As I continually nurse him quite often and take up Tank time during the day, Chip bonds with him after work and is looking forward to doing the spoon feeding after Christmas.

Our friends told us about the inferred tv monitor.  We got it and have been loving every minute of watching him in his crib.  Our DVD set up lets us record him!!  The past 3+ weeks he wakes very happy, babbling, hanging out while I restrain myself from going in his room too quickly and soak up the sweet noises he makes.  So before I go in I press record on the monitor and see him smiling, talking, and enjoying waking up that morning.

As I wrote in the other post about our IL trip, Tank really started being verbal then.  He held his hands together a lot and started making eye contact and being interested in toys!  Once I arrived home it was a wonderful milestone to pull out the age appropriate toys, etc. for him to enjoy:)  He slept great in my infant crib as well~ 9 nights total.  It was hard being away from Pop Pop I think he wants to be called, but we skyped everyday!  It was great to see my parents and for Tank to spend more time with them:)  The Aunts and Uncles have made visits as well.  Emilee and Nathan, Jared and Betsy, Trysta and Joe have enjoyed holding him and seeing what new things he is up to!  Grammie and Paw Paw came for a visit as well.

At Tank's 2 mo. appt. he weighed 12 lbs. 12 oz.  I am sure he is 14-15 lbs. now!!  We measured him the first week in Oct. and he was 26" long.  I can't wait to see how much he has grown at our 4 mo. appt. on 11/17.

Oct. 14th Tank rolled from tummy to back!  I did get his first two times ever doing this on film!  I stood there for a moment and said, "He's going to go over!"  and he did!!  Chip saw the third time and several since.  Just as of yesterday 10/25 he is moving around a lot.  I'll lay him in his play gym on his back and he'll do a 360 by just kicking his legs and squirming his body.  He is about to roll back to tummy.  He gets to his side then he falls back onto his back again.  He has taken a liking to one of the blankets!  Its really cute.  This past week 10/14 he has almost in a day routine of a morning nap for sure, sometimes an afternoon nap then sleeps his usual 12 hours only getting up once at night!

We renewed our gym membership.  I have spent the past two weekends swimming laps at the pool.  I nurse him and change the diaper (cloth by the way are going pretty well), then Tank is good for a couple of hours until I come straight home.  The weather has been wonderful so I have taken Alvin for a couple of runs and I enjoy riding my bike.  I still walk with friends 1-2 times a week and stroll with Tank or walk with him in the Babyhawk. Its been wonderful to get out and exercise like I was when I was only a little bit pregnant!  LOL

We have enjoyed going to consignment sales!  I found some unique/quality outfits and costumes.  We also picked up a few toy items.  He is going through clothes so fast!!  At 14 wks. 6 mo. outfits fit him to a "T".  The 6/9 mo. clothing seem to fit him a bit better, especially the sleepers.   My neighbor, Marie went with me to one sale and we loaded up!  We waited in line to check out for an hour!  It was crazy!  Grammie just attended the second fall consignment with us and I think she was very impressed of the great quality of the items as well as what people get rid of at cheap rates!  I told Chip when we get out of the baby business we'll be rich!!  ;)

My neighbor, Julie has a son 7 weeks older than Tank.  We were just over there and they stared at each other, talked, laughed, etc.  It was so fun!!  Julie has been a huge help with my questions and trial and errors of cloth diapering.  I finally found a system that works for us.  Though one night we went through 3 outfits I haven't tried the cloth through the night since.  I plan to keep working on that.  During the day the cloth work great.  I have even taken him out and about for a few hours, changed him and he's fine. I have ordered some items from Diaperswappers and waiting for them to arrive.

Tank is 14 weeks!

Tank rolled over!!

Tank rolled over for the first time on Oct. 14th!  I got it on video as well!!  He has been rolling again and again!  We are so proud of him!

Chip was in DC for work this past week and it was the first time Alvin had really attended to Tank!!  He actually noticed him the first time and was trying to calm him and let me know he was crying- really hard crying.  Obviously I wasn't sure what was wrong but was right with Tank the whole time.  Before I realized Alvin was right there putting his paw on Tank's arm, licking his leg and arms, and telling me something was wrong with him.  Alvin then laid right next to him and they took a nap.

12 weeks

Tank's trip to IL-10 weeks young!

Tank made his first trip to IL at 10 weeks old.  I thought about booking the trip for a couple of weeks prior, thinking, "How in the world can I do this?"  Surprisingly I had two friends with babies right about Tank's age who just returned from traveling on an airplane themselves.  I contacted both friends to get the 'skinny' on flying with an infant.  I was also determined to carry-on our luggage for a 10 day stay with my parents.

The flight we were originally booked on got canceled.  To my surprise United re-booked us automatically and I became away of the situation before leaving the house!  We arrived to Dulles for our second flight, went through security beautifully, then found out that our new flight was delayed 1.5 hours.  I was so thankful the airport wasn't busy and a nice man behind us in security had two children and one on the way!  He was very patient and helpful to us.  I tied Tank on my using the Babyhawk (LOVE, LOVE) pushed the car seat in the snap and go and threw my SBC hiking backpack onto the car seat.  We (Tank) received many compliments throughout the trip of how well we were doing and what a good traveler!!  We were the only ones boarding the train to get to the gate!  And he slept through the frenzy of people getting anxious to board the flight as well as in the air.  He nursed at take off and landing with no problem.  His ears didn't seem to bother him at all.  Mom picked us up at O'Hare, circling only twice!  Tank was tired and ready to 'stop' moving on the car ride home.  He slept like a champ in my crib that I had as a  little baby!

We had a very adventurous time!!  Tank attended his first stirrup cup with many oohing and auhhing friends of the family:)  He was excited to meet his Aunt Sheri and Uncle Kevin,  Great Aunt Terri, Uncle Julie, Patti, and many friends from elementary school through HS years.  Mia, (pictured) is 5 days younger than Tank.  She belongs to a close friend from Jr. High, Melissa.  It was great to always see Adrienne, Mel and her parents, and many other family friends who watched me grow up!  Oh, and can't for get Reverend Purser, who married us in my parent's backyard.  Tank had a special introduction with Flash (the horse) and Denny (my dad's dog).  Dad even made it possible for me to Fox Hunt on Sunday while he escorted Tank in his first WDH car caravan.

We took lots of clothes and even over-packed for the trip.  The weather was changing so the first night was a bit chilly!!  Tank slept great the whole week!  He started babbling more, holding his hands together in front of him, smiling as always and becoming more aware with toys and music to entertain him.  Grandma T worked with him on tummy time quite often too!  We skyped with Chip every night.  It was challenging being away from Daddy and Alvin, but all did quite well.  As always, its hard to leave.  We had a wonderful time and can't wait to visit again soon! 

Funny story along the way:   We arrived at O'Hare airport and a man asked how old he was.  I said 10 weeks.  He said why did you cut his hair??  I chuckled!  I replied, I didn't, he was born with this much hair.  Apparently his son (10 mo.) was born with a lot of hair!!  LOL

Lots of people stop to talk or see the baby etc.  Its a whole new world of flying for me!  We received lots of compliments of how well he behaved as well as all the stuff we had with us and how efficient we were!!  People even commented on my carrier!