Sunday, January 31, 2010

Still snowed in!

C-Dawg

Like Father like Son!

Playing with toys

Little C fell asleep one night at 5:30,
while we were eating dinner.

Sweet Sleepy Boy

We went for a one and a half hour walk in the snow.
(usually it takes us about 40 minutes)


Bundled up baby
]

Using our new Jogger (again!)


3 Months old


Caleb is now 3 months old. Time is really flying.  Here are some Caleb tidbits:
  • Smiles and laughs more frequently
  • We hear new noises from him daily
  • Sitting in the bumbo (most times with his head propped on the back of it though)
  • Sleeping a lot longer stretches now, Max time=9 hrs and 54 minutes! Whoop Whoop
  • Has a favorite book, its a Elmo puppet one. He laughs at it everytime.
  • We had to adjust his carseat straps, made them a little bit bigger
  • He almost always has his fists in his mouth now.
  • He is eating 4.5 oz at a time. We went up an ounce after Josh's first night alone with him and realized he was NOT getting enough!
  • We aim for a bedtime of 7pm, although we are lucky if we make it past 6:30 sometimes.
  • He loves his new Nanny, Mrs. Jennifer and has a bestest bud, Russell
  • Moved up to size 2 nipples for his bottles
  • Loves walks, puts him right to sleep everytime!
  • Goes to playgroup every week, and is making lots of friends. (Mommy loves this!)

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Snowed In

That's right, snow is upon us again! I took LA to work last night and picked her up this morning. Caleb really enjoyed the slip sliding around the Greensboro streets, but LA sure didn't. Anyway, we're snowed in now, so I thought I'd post some of my favorite Caleb pics. Enjoy!

 
Pants on the ground with your hat turned sideways! 



Caleb just got his first teeth in!

Do what?

 

Here we go again with the reindeer suit!!?



  

Mommy showing Caleb the snow!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Mommy's Top Ten

(in no particular order)

1. Itzbeen. We both agree "itzbeen" a lifesaver! We still depend on it every day. It has died or gotten reset a couple of times on accident, and there was a bit of panic trying to remember when I had fed him last. Love it!

2. Cradle. Ours of course is beautiful and handmade. But really any one will do. I think I would have been happy to keep him in our room until he was walking! But Daddy made me move him to his crib. Caleb just makes the cutest little sounds when he sleeps, I do miss those now.

3. Hooter Hider. It's really called that. My breastfeeding cover. Stylish, concealing, and practical.

4. Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags. They are very easy to use. We probably have 60 or so bags in our freezer. #11 on my list would probably be a deep freezer, if we had one. Maybe or next purchase?????

5. Diaper genie elite 2. A must have for your nursery. I would almost consider having 2, one for downstairs too. We didn't use it a first when he was a newborn trying to save it(the liner bags are a little pricey) and his nursery really started to stink. The "elite 2" part means there is a step, hands free way to open it.

6. Pack-N-play. My beloved pack-n-play, Oh how I love you so.! We have it set up downstairs for our diaper changing area and naps. Plus its just so cute. We will be taking it down to travel with it for the first time next week.

7. Burp Cloths. We have cute designer ones. They are really cloth diapers, with a little decorative fabric and some embroidery! Because they are really cloth diapers they are very absorbent. I am a burp cloth snob, and I know it!

8. MyBrestFriend. A breast feeding pillow. I didnt want to use this at first because mine was a handmedown one with a denim cover. (sorry if you like denim, I personally think the 90's were calling and wanted their denim back!) Once I got over the denim, it was awesome! Josh even used it at the beginning when he fed Caleb the bottle. I love the boppy just not for breastfeeding.

9. Strollers. Our first one is the metrolite. It's the one that matches our carseat. I love the pattern and it is great because our carseat just snaps in and it is very light and easy to use. Our newest one is the City jogger. Love that one too. I must say I love walks! Oh and we might have bought a cheap(used off of craigslist) double stroller for our Nanny(yes, Jennifer, you are a Nanny!) to use with Caleb and Russell. And we can use it if we ever babysit another baby(Maybe #12 would be our babysitting Co-op, another must have!)

10. Consignment Sales. My most favorite, cutest clothes of Caleb's are from consignment sales. They have them twice a year(fall and spring) at local churches and you get cute and cheap! Can't wait for the spring edition. I did the fall edition while I was still pregnant and not really knowing what I liked or would want.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Daddy's Top Ten

With so many of our friends who are pregnant and/or just had babies, it got me thinking: what are the top ten things I would recommend to a dad to be? What are the "must haves"? Well, here they are (in no particular order):

1. Itzbeen: let's face it, there is so much going on with your first kid, you don't know if you're coming or going. Not anymore! This handy dandy item has kept us in line with feedings, changing, sleep times, medications and so much more, all with a push of the button. We use it's convenient light all the time to get around in the dark. It's really the #1 thing I would recommend.

2. Baby Jogger City Stroller: Since the time I heard that we were pregnant, I couldn't wait to begin looking for an all terrain stroller. Originally, we were set on a Bob Revolution, but the price always scared us off. After much research we settled for the City and love the purchase. After miles and miles on trails and the road, it's still holding strong. At three months, Caleb can fit in it and it lays all the way back.

3. Man-gown: I hate the name, but these things are so practical, particularly when changing him at 2 am in the morning. There's no buttoning him up, just lift up the man-dress and change him. Simple!

4. Infant Sleep bag: Our little guy would not swaddle, so we settled for the next best thing: the sleep bag. It gives him liberty to kick his legs and stay warm in the winter. It's zippered in the front, giving easy access for changing a screaming kid in the middle of the night.

5. Pacifier: This is a life saver. I would not recommend allowing him to fall asleep with one, because he'll wake up every time it falls out. At first, you may be put off by the prices (they tend to be expensive), but if you have a 2 story house, it is imperative to have at least 12 of them! Trust me, when the little guy is screaming his tiny head off, the pacifier will pacify him. You can never have too many.

6. Bottle warmer: You'll see plenty of high tech ways to heat up a bottle, but nothing works better than a large cup full of hot water. Just pop the bottle and bam! in five minutes the bottle is ready to go. I love technical gadgets, but trust me, save your money (you'll need it for his college fund) and settle with large cup of hot water.

7. Homemedic Steamer: What does a steamer have to do with your baby? Well, nothing! However, your time is valuable, so don't waste it waiting for your iron to warm up. In 45 seconds, I have it screaming steaming and in a few minutes, my clothes are crisp and wrinkle free...just in time for him to spit up on them.

8. Monitor(s): Originally, we started with the Sony Baby Call. The Sony has been excellent and it picks up the slightest sound he makes while ignoring the white noise. The "voice activated" feature allows the monitor to alert you only when he makes noise. LA eventually bought a video monitor. Initially, I was not a fan, there really isn't too much to watching a baby sleep, but our other friends who have it swear that as he grows, it's nice just to view the monitor to see what he is crying about.

9. Playgroups: Men, we don't do playgroups...in fact, the kids don't even do playgroups, but it is vitally important that you get your wife plugged in to some type of playgroup. All it is some friends who get together to talk babies (that is what you will do from now on). Trust me on this: keep her happy and everything should go over well.

10. Frozen pizza: Say goodbye to your gourmet meals and hello to a last second meal plan! We have at least 2 on hand for all times we had when we're so busy with little him that we forget to thaw something or cooking something will take an hour. Just pop this in and in 15 mins you have a quick meal that you'll both enjoy. Take a chill pill mom and dad, there will be plenty of time to cook, just sit back and enjoy having a family.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Dedication

Here is our story of God's Faithfulness and Blessings!
On January 10th, 2009 we had a miscarriage with our first. On January 10, 2010 we dedicate our first born son, Caleb Anderson. Truly what a difference a year makes. A year ago today was a very sad and emotional day. That was a dark time in our lives where we had to rely on God and each other to get through. I was comforted through the Word about God's promises. I came upon Psalm 113:9: "He makes the barren woman to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of [spiritual] children. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)". I held on to this Word as a promise to me. And look at where we are exactly one year later. We are able to stand in front of our church family(and real family too) and dedicate Caleb to the Lord. Psalm 127:3 says "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him." Thank you Lord for giving us Caleb and letting us be apart of his great story. We would have done this anyway but when you dedicate your child at our church you have to pick out a life verse. We picked Proverbs 23:19 "Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path." This is our hope and prayers for Caleb that he would keep his heart on the right path.

Some of our family (Papa, Grandma Vicki, Chris, Nicole, Morgan and Cate) came to stand with us and watch as we made this public profession of our intention to raise Caleb in a Godly direction. Caleb was great all day. We had to manipulate his feeding and sleeping times, because he always has to eat during church. We ended up leaving home really early because he was due for a nap so we had him sleep in the car and then we fed him at 10(at a strategic time to have him happy at 11). He was clean, awake and happy for his debut! Although we had extra clothes we were extra careful to keep him from needing to use them. He never has to wear a bib but he wore one from the moment he got dressed until it was time to go on stage! As soon as he was done on stage, worship started and he fell asleep(perfect timing!). After church we headed back to our house for a little lunch reception and fellowship.

At church extra early waiting for the 10:00 feeding time

Cuddling with Mom with my bib on

Sharing his life verse

Praying for Caleb

Pastor Don and Caleb praying
Giving Caleb back to Mommy and Daddy
Family, Food, Fun and Fellowship



Friday, January 8, 2010

"Not me Monday", Wednesday, Friday

There are some blogs that do "Not Me Monday" posts. You write things that of course wouldn't have happened to you! I definitely wouldn't have any moments, but "if I did it would go like this..."

I didn't go to the grocery store with my 2 month old to do "super doubles" during naptime. I didn't purposfully put his carseat in the big part of the buggy, to make room in the front for my big old dorky coupon binder, no not me! And I didn't walk in circles or pace the aisle, passing the product I wanted to look at just to keep the buggy in motion to get/keep my baby asleep. Nope, not me! I definitely didn't get too many items to properly fit in my already overstuffed buggy, and have items falling out. Other customers didn't pick items that fell out of my cart and hand them back to me while keeping my buggy moving. Nope, didnt happen to me! When I was ready to go to check out, I didn't figure out that I had left my entire diaper bag with my wallet in the car. No, Not me! Since all that didn't happen, I didn't have to go to the customer service counter and ask him to follow me out to the car with my loaded cart and sleeping baby to get my wallet. And since, I didn't have the nice guy walk with me, I didn't have to stop in the middle of the parking lot on a cold winter day with my sleeping baby because 3 frozen pizzas fell out of my cart. No, not me! If all the didn't happen I wouldn't have saved $80! No, not me!

P.S. And I don't have a friend that went "superdouble" shopping that same day and forgot her wallet at home, nope not me!

My "Not me Monday" happened to me on Wednesday but I am posting it on Friday- So here we have it my Not me Monday, Wednesday, Friday!


Daddy Bootcamp Part 1

My maternity leave is quickly coming to an end. I have to go back to work on January 18th. The good news about that is that I get to go part time, well its kinda 3/4 time! Full time for me is 3, 12 hour nights. Part time is 2, 12 hour shifts. I will be doing 3 shifts one week and 2 shifts the next. I am so excited and it is such an answer to prayer to be able to not have to work full time! Praise God for working out all those details of something we thought would be impossible! With me working nights, I have to get Josh comfortable with doing all things baby by himself! Tonight's lesson was bathtime. He has helped me many nights but tonight he did it all by himself, from start to finish!

Caleb watching daddy learn the ropes

Bath baby
Sweet Daddy time
Josh gives Caleb "blubber" everytime he changes his diaper.
Look at Caleb's face "Look what Dad is doing again!"

Getting his nightly massage before putting on his jammies.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Friends

We are in a playgroup that meets once a week. This week it was at our house. The oldest kids are 6months and Caleb is the youngest. The kids sleep, eat, lay there and sometimes "play"! Before I had Caleb I thought that playgroups were a little lame, but I really enjoy them now and think that Caleb will too(one day!). They are definitely just as much, if not more, for the moms than the kiddos.

Today, 4 of us, met at the mall to go walking. We put on our walking shoes and did laps. All the kids did great and it is a really good way to get in a walk(and talk) on these cold winter days. We will definitely be doing more of these!

Caleb looking cute in his carseat today

Nana got him a "CozyCover" for his carseat for Christmas. He sure is cozy!

The playgroup boys:
Cole(5mo), Caleb(2mo) and Russell(6mo)

Look at Russell and Caleb holding on!

Some of the babies.
Lily, Cole, Caleb and Russell.
Eliza was in her carseat already so she missed the picture.

Add Image

Caleb's 2 month Update

Here is what is new with "Little C":
  • Weighs in at 13 lbs 10 oz (remains at 80th percentile)
  • Measures 24 inches (75th percentile down from 80th)
  • Head is 92nd (Down from 95th)
  • He is smiling a lot now. Sometimes with a lot of work from us and sometimes just when he is staring at the wall! haha. And we have gotten an occasional little laugh.
  • Sleeping in his crib like a big boy, don't think he noticed the change. (Daddy made Mommy do it!)
  • Moved up to size 2 diapers
  • Loves sitting in his highchair that he got from Santa
  • Going to bed anywhere between 6:30-7:30 and usually does a stretch of 5-8 hours. We let him cry it out (max 15 min) when trying to get him to bed and he is doing great with that. Most times he goes to sleep right away but if not, he does great getting himself to sleep!


(He went to the doctor today and got shots so he is not his happy, active self. Poor baby.)