Valentine Snowpocalypse

This has certainly been a very interesting week.  Mom came for a visit since Marshall had to travel all week for work.  She arrived on Sunday afternoon and Marshall left early Monday morning for Laguna Beach, CA.  Mom and I nervously watched the weather/news channel as the impending winter storm moved closer and closer to the Carolinas.  We stocked up on food at the grocery store and hunkered down for the next few days as "Snowpocalypse 2014" made it's way into town.  The snow began to fall around 9 am on Tuesday, and continued straight through Thursday afternoon!  I've never seen so much snow in the 10 years that I've lived in Charlotte...all in all, the news reports say we got 9 inches total!  Needless to say, our city completely shut down - we just don't do this kind of weather in the south!  School was cancelled for the rest of the week and kids all over the neighborhood (both big and small) were building snowmen and sledding.  We stayed cozy next to the fireplace and watched the world outside turn pure white.  It was so beautiful!  Marshall sent us a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean from his balcony, but he was really wishing he was here to see this too (well, maybe he was wishing for the snow to come next week so he could have the best of both!).  While Mom and I are now starting to develop a little bit of cabin fever, we had fun talking, watching trashy TV, and of course snuggling with the baby.  Colin is both of our valentines this year!

SnOMG!  Take a look at this!

And because it's Valentine's Day, I have to share a few of my favorite pics from a V-Day photo sesh I had with my little cupid :)  Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

Success! Video of Colin "talking" on the changing table

A Very Busy Boy!

Throughout the last week or two, we've been taking Colin out and about in the car and stroller!  He's been on two shopping trips to Southpark Mall, for a stroll along the 4-Mile Creek Greenway, to happy hour at Napa on Providence to meet Marshall's EMBA classmates, and to a few friends' houses for dinner and even a Superbowl party!  While Colin still fights getting into his carseat at first, he usually falls asleep after riding around for a few minutes in the car.  The carseat attaches directly to the stroller, so it's an easy transition when taking him out of the car.  I'm starting to get more comfortable with taking him places, even though I usually pack as if we're going to the moon for a week!  My next venture will be to take him to the YMCA with me so I can get back into my gym routine.  Our Y branch has a great drop-off child care service, which my neighbors use regularly and all rave about.  You can drop in with your child during the morning or evening hours and they'll babysit for up to 2 hours at a time.  I stopped by last night to register Colin and check it all out.  The facility seems nice, and I'm currently working up the courage to drop my little baby off sometime in the foreseeable future!  I'm ready to get back into ALL of my pre-preggo pants, and am eagerly anticipating warmer weather and spring clothes.  Bathing suit season will be here before I know it!

Colin's little personality is really starting to shine these days!  He smiles at me all the time, and makes lots of cute noises...his version of conversation with me.  He also mimics sounds that I make and even sticks his tongue out to copy me!  Marshall and I are amazed at how strong he is.  He can easily hold his head up on his own now, and he pushes out his legs as if he's trying to stand.  He loves laying on his activity mats and kicking the keys on the piano.  He notices his reflection in the mirror that hangs above him and reaches for the other dangling toys as well.  Colin is very alert and it's so cool to watch him interact with and explore the world around him. 

Here are some photos of our outing on the greenway, and a couple new ones of Colin playing on his activity mat (I'm working on figuring out how to upload videos...having some technical difficulties at the moment!)

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The Great Diaper Disaster

I'm staring at a sinkful of yellow-baby-poop stained clothes, which are soaking in a mixture of water and vinegar...amazed at how such a pleasant morning could have gone downhill so quickly.  Allow me to give you a glimpse into the dreaded progression of events, which eventually lead to the glass of wine I am drinking as I compose this blog.

Last Wednesday, Colin had his 1 month check up with the pediatrician.  He weighed in at almost 9 lbs!  "Best not to buy any more newborn diapers!" said the doctor.  After all, we had plenty of size 1 diapers ready to go, and the newborn ones were seeming a bit snug lately (plus, we had had a few leaks to boot).  So yesterday, we used up the last newborn diaper and transitioned to the big boy size 1s!  They did seem a little big, but the package claimed they were appropriate starting at 8 lbs.  So onward and upward...I'd just make sure it was extra snug.  Fast-forward to 5 am - as I'm feeding my sleepy angel, I notice a wet spot surrounding his little leg.  Guess I hadn't quite made it snug enough!  The next round of diapering held fast, so I assumed we were in the clear.  We had a very typical morning of feeding, singing, playing on the activity mat, snuggling, and napping.  I was even able to get a lot of chores done while Colin took his morning nap!  Just as I was feeling very accomplished, it happened - the biggest blowout to date.  The yellow liquid seeped through Colin's onesie, and onto the seat of the swing as he was swaying side to side.  I rushed him upstairs to clean up the mess.  After wiping him down, the pee pee fountain began!  Colin tinkled all over me, the wall, his Gloworm, and himself.  So, we began the entire process again.  Finally clean and cozy in a new onesie and an extra snug diaper, we headed downstairs for the next feeding and cuddling session.  Then, much to my dismay, IT HAPPENED AGAIN.  Only this time, it seeped through Colin's clothes and onto my pillow!  Those of you who know my love affair with my pillows can probably imagine how distraught I was!  It was back to the changing table for yet another cleanup...only this time, the bag in the very full diaper genie became stuck and impossible to change.  Once I finally figured it out, Colin decided he had had enough, and was ready for a nap.  I laid him down in his crib - this time, in an all white bleach-able outfit, on top of a waterproof pad - just in case!  Marshall is picking up some more newborn diapers on the way home from work.  I think we need to create a diaper size between newborn and 1...and if any other mommies have also had an experience like mine today, I think we'd make a fortune!  In the meantime, I'll just enjoy my glass of wine, and hope that the stains will come out.  Here's to a much drier and cleaner evening :)

All Smiles!

Colin's latest cute milestone is smiling!  We've seen him smile (probably unintentionally) as he's dozing off to sleep...he usually does this just after nursing, and it melts my heart.  But yesterday, he gave me his first real smile after gazing into my eyes!  I was just getting him up from his nap, and before picking him up from his crib, I talked sweetly to him, making happy and overly expressive faces.  He responded to my gestures with a great big smile!  I have read that this is something babies typically do around this time, at 5-6 weeks.  Colin gave me another sweet smile today on the changing table, and I'm doing my best to encourage him by making all the silly faces I can think of.  He also had some great big smiles while his cousin Evyn was holding him during their visit.  He did this for long enough that we were even able to snap a few pictures!  Here are some for you to swoon over :)

ONE MONTH!

Colin is officially one month old today!  I'm amazed at how fast the time has gone since that wonderful day when he came into our lives.  He has already grown so much, and his little personality is beginning to take shape.  He's almost grown out of newborn clothes and diapers, and he is totally fascinated with the world around him.  He's even beginning to make little cooing sounds, especially when laying on his activity mat and reaching for the dangling toys.  I'm also happy to report that he has slept for over 5 hours in a row for the past 2 nights, and is taking regular lengthy daytime naps as well!  To commemorate this special day (using an idea found on Pinterest!), I updated our chalkboard wall with some of our little guy's accomplishments and interests.  Here's a photo of the finished product:

Bath time continues to be our favorite time of day...Colin loves the feeling of the warm water and is so alert as he lays in his bath seat.  Marshall and I are getting more comfortable with it as well!  These are some of my favorite bath time photos:

Aunt Adrienne and cousin Evyn also came for a visit today!  We're excited about spending a few days together just relaxing and cuddling the baby.  Here's a couple cute pics with "Auntie A" and cousin Ev:

Now I know that Colin is still too young for birthday cake, but I just couldn't resist :)  So we had a little one-month birthday celebration for our cute little boy after dinner.  Happy one-month, Colin!  We love you!

To Sleep or Not to Sleep...

Monday began my first week home with Colin, doing the stay-at-home mommy thing, all on my own!  Mom and Dave left on Sunday morning, and I was sad to see them go.  The help and support that they gave us in the first few weeks made our transition so smooth, and we are forever grateful to them!  Marshall and Dave also managed to finish the half-bath remodeling project, and it looks amazing!  Dave hung the wallpaper, and Marshall used all of his new tools to cut and install the wainscoting and chair rail.  I, of course, was in charge of decorating, and found some cute towels, a mirror, wall cabinet, and accent pieces to tie it all together.  We still need to get the cabinet hung, put the crown molding up, so I'll post some before and after photos next time.  Mom also helped me to take down all the Christmas decorations, which is always a huge project.  But at least life feels as though it's starting to get back to normal.  This week, I'm working on developing a loose routine with Colin that revolves around eating, activity, sleeping, and my time.  He seems to be comfortable with our nighttime routine...he wakes up about every 3 hours to eat, then falls back to sleep pretty easily (on most nights).  Nap time seems to be more of a struggle.  Yesterday, Colin was particularly fussy, a result of being overtired for much of the day.  So, after consulting a few books on sleep strategies, and countless articles and forums on the subject, I decided to try a timed schedule to help Colin establish more regular daytime sleep patterns.  As today is the first day of this, I would consider it mostly a success, seeing as how I am able to update my blog now as he snoozes peacefully upstairs!  I think the biggest difference has been to put him down for a nap in his bassinet, where he sleeps at night in our bedroom.  The shades are down, and the environment is dark and quiet.  He takes a bit to get calm and settled, but so far I'm happy with the progress he's making, especially for being only 3 weeks old!  We'll plan to transition him to his crib once his schedule is more constant. Since I function so much better with a predictable schedule and routine, I'm hoping Colin will learn to do the same :)  For now, we're both still learning the ropes.

Here's a photo of Colin snoozing in his bassinet:

Colin's favorite toy is his Gloworm, which was also his very first toy, sent to him buy his Aunt Adrienne.  Gloworm has made changing diapers much more pleasant, as Colin studies the lights and enjoys the songs it plays. 

He also found his thumb this week! (But he still prefers his paci!)