Shots!

First, thank you all for your hugs and kisses that were sent Ben's way when he wasn't feeling too well. I am still not 100% sure what was going on, but he is feeling much better.

Today, Ben had his well-baby exam and first round of vaccinations. I was glad this exam fell right after him not feeling well so the doctor could check him over and put my mind at ease. Our sweet doctor said we are doing everything right :) because Ben is growing and developing wonderfully. He now weighs 11 lb 8 oz and is 23 inches long (both 50%). I must admit, Ryan and I both thought he would be a little longer - he seems pretty long and skinny to us. I do think Ben got my small, round head though. His head circumference is 14.75, 15%. Oh well. He can still get his brains from him daddy, he will just have to cram it all in his little head.

Ben did get 5 shots today. Whew. I have never seen anything like it. The nurse put on quite a performance. She had all 5 shots given and two band-aids applied all in 8 seconds (like a bull rider). It might have been more like 10 seconds, but it was the fastest, craziest thing I have ever seen. Ben only screamed while she was actually giving the shots and calmed pretty quickly as I was able to immediately pick him up. He seems pretty settled, just extra sleepy. The nurse told us he might want to be held more today, but so far he has been snoozing in his crib. I kinda miss him :(

See my Spiderman band-aid? I have a racecar on the other leg.

Other than that, we are doing well! We are excited about the sunshine finally coming out and warming things up.

It has been cloudy, but I love sitting in my pool in the living room and looking out the window (he really does have a thing for windows). Aunt Can Can bought him these swim trunks and terry cloth cover-up.

Here are some recent pictures of our handsome son.

My sneaky face.


My headshot for the modeling agency.

Not Feeling Too Good

Ben hasn't been feeling very good today. He has had some rumblings in his tummy, some diarrhea (tmi?) and is not sleeping and eating anywhere near his normal schedule. This morning, he refused to sleep in his crib, but was more than happy to sleep while I held him. So, like the strong-willed, stick-with-the-schedule mom that I am, I held him while I read a book I have been wanting to finish! I don't think I would have taken a shower yet today except that he spit up all over us both around noon, so I decided it was not ideal to put clean clothes on a dirty body and so Ryan held Ben while I showered. He has seemed better this afternoon though, but we are all sitting around the house in our comfy Saturday clothes and watching how he feels. Maybe he just needed to clean out his system a bit, we will wait and see.


He has been noticing his own hands more lately and today he found his thumb! He has been getting his fingers to his mouth, but this is the first time he actually sucked his thumb. He refuses any and every type of pacifier (yes, thanks to Mama-D we do own any and every type of pacifier), so maybe this will help him self soothe rather than needing pats from mom and dad to get back to sleep. That would be lovely.

Send your "feel better" hugs and kisses our way and we will be sure to pass them along! He has been super cuddly today and I have totally been giving in to that!

So Handsome

Ryan and Ben took me out for our lunch date today and I was even treated to ice cream after lunch. I am so loved! Ben wanted to make sure he was lookin' handsome for me when he took me out.

New Trick

Ben held a toy for the first time this evening. I put it in his hand and he held on. He has been holding our fingers for a long time now (and grabbing my hair), but this is the first time with a toy. It is also the first time he has really looked intently at a toy. Usually, he just stares into space if he isn't looking at me or Ryan.

My sister Candice found these amazing socks and my mom brought them last weekend. They are too cute!

Missing Baby Model

I found a missing baby model at my house!
I am sure all the magazines will be calling any minute.

Mama D Visit

My mom came to visit for the weekend. She just couldn't stand that Ben was getting so big and she wasn't here to see him. I thoroughly enjoyed her visit and I am sure Ben loved the extra hugs and kisses and free passes from having to sleep in his crib and being cuddled instead.

Just hanging out at home.

We went for a stroller walk at the Arkansas River. It was so windy that day that it was a real workout.

She gave him one of his baths.

My sister bought Ben a swimsuit and sent it along with my mom. Too cute! I will get a picture posted soon. If Ben has a swimsuit, he needs a pool, right? We were at Babies R Us and I just couldn't help myself. He hasn't gotten in water yet, but I think he likes his new pool.

I usually am not a fan of things printed on the rear - babies or grown-ups. But, this is a cute little outfit and he looked even cuter in it while he slept.

Latest News

I started writing this blog last night like this...

But, the bedtime feeding called and I am here finishing the post this morning.

For all you Ben-picture-lovers, I apologize for the delay, but here are some new shots throughout this long update. Ben is starting to offer some real smiles, but very infrequently and maybe one a day if we time it just right (right after he gets a full belly is the best time). We haven't gotten a still picture yet, but there is a video with two good smiles. I am not above trying to induce it :)

I can't help myself with these towel pictures. Here is another one. He does seem to enjoy his bath.

Ben continues to grow so fast. I have a hard time remembering how tiny he was when we brought him home. He is finally out of his newborn onesies and into 0-3 month clothes. The sizes of baby clothes befuddle me. He can wear most all his 0-3 outfits, but also all his 3-6 onesies, but none of his 3-6 outfits fit. Oh well, that just means more fun trying on clothes to see what fits, which he doesn't seem to mind too much as long as he can stare in his mirror on the changing table.

Just for fun.

Ben has been adjusting his schedule without telling me about it. He has been wanting to eat every two hours these days. That doesn't allow mom much time to get anything done around the house. I have taken the advice of many other mothers and only have one household chore per day on my to-do list. Some days I get my chore done and even some extras. Some days I don't get any chores done. Thankfully, for my sanity, I do get a shower eat morning and get my hair done, make-up on and dressed each day. It keeps me feeling normal.

Matchy Matchy with Dad.

Ben sleeps well at night, most nights. On good nights, he goes about 5-6 consecutive hours and then 3-4 after that to be up for the morning. I would prefer for him to not wake until 7am each morning, but I am not sure that has ever happened :)

Yawn

I went to my 6 week postpartum doctor appointment yesterday afternoon. My weight loss was encouraging and my doctor said everything has healed up well. It was fun to see my nurse and doctor again after 6 weeks and to show off Ben. They said the same thing that most people say - he looks like an old man and he has such a serious look all the time! He must be taking after his father as far as the serious face - must be a thinker.

Loving my sweet baby boy.

Motherhood has been quite an adventure for me. The first few weeks were the easiest - I know, it seems backwards. Ben slept so much and I was able to rest and didn't put stress on myself to keep up my house too much and so I just enjoyed him and enjoyed discovering my life as a mom. These last couple of weeks have been a little more difficult as life around me has resumed, but I am still not real sure of myself as a mom. I find myself questioning everything I do and everything going on with Ben. Am I doing this right? Why does he only stop crying when I hold him on my chest while sitting on the couch and lightly patting his back? Why didn't he eat as well this time? Why is he awake right now? And on and on. I know I shouldn't second guess myself like this, so I am trying very hard to not judge Ben by all the books I have read and blogs I read, but rather to get to know Ben. I am a work in progress and probably always will be.

That is about all the news from here. The weather is getting warmer, so we are trying to get outside more. Ryan went on a walk with us at the nature park not far from our home. Oh, how I miss the Dallas Arboretum right now! My friends' pictures with their babies at the arboretum make me so jealous.

It is hard to take your own picture and get a stroller in the shot. We are on a bridge and there is actually a river behind us.