Oh Wait - You like to be on a schedule? ME TOO! We were meant to be together!

As Jack turns 3 months old (WHAT?! where did my mini baby go?) and weighs in at over 13 lbs, we've come to realize that he loves his schedule - and it should NOT be messed with.  He's up around 7 am and passed out by 7:30 pm with a couple of naps in between.  He's almost like clock work...and that's a good thing, because this little momma is all about the schedules and the checklists!  

Our Big Boy!

As I worry less about if he's eating enough (um, duh.) and sleeping enough (finally!), I find myself finding new things to obsess over....

1.  Making Baby Food.  I can barely make food edible enough for Matt and I.  Poor Jack!

2.  High Chairs.  I hate them all.  They all look silly and plasticy and like a lot to clean up after a feeding frenzy gone bad.

3.  Wipes.  We used to use about 10/diaper change.  Well, we got better at that, but now we use about 100/day wiping down toys and his hands and Lucky's mouth.  Ok, not really wiping Lucky's mouth, but close.

4.  Pacifiers.  Wait?  I thought you only like soothies!  I bought a million of them and now you like this other kind?  Good grief.

5.  Milk.  What if I don't have enough milk stock piled in the freezer for when I go back to work?!

6.  Milestones.  What if I am not doing enough with him each day to teach him things?  He already rolled over (you knew this already because I told EVERYONE!), but he doesn't like to grab onto things much (I thought all men were grabby?)...although I read that's a 3-4 month thing, so we'll see how it goes.  He HAS found a fondness for my shirt, my necklace and Matt's chest hair, though - LOL!

7.  Swim Lessons.  We've signed him up for swim lessons, which are less "swim" lessons and more about "water survival."  They basically teach the babies how to survive should they fall in a pool....by rolling over on their backs and holding their heads up.  I AM NERVOUS, but it's a parent/tot class, so Matt or I will be right there with him.  (and the other will DEFINITELY be videoing!)

8.  Lucky's Balls.  No not THOSE kind (he doesn't have those kind anymore!)....but his tennis balls.  They are icky...and I just know Jack is going to want to play with them.  I wonder if I can sanitize them without killing the dog.

9.  Swaddling.  Every book says something different, but most say to stop around 3-4 months.  Well, we'd love to stop except that when he's NOT swaddled, he attacks his face with his hands and it wakes him up.  So, we swaddle or we don't sleep.

10.  What if Jack forgets who I am when I go back to work?  (April 18)  I won't be able to handle it because my heart simply bursts with love every time I see/think of/hold this kid....and if he decides that he doesn't like me that much.... I. Will. Die. 

All in all, month 3 brought all good stuff.....and less confusion.  We were also able to schedule his Baptism to be on his 1/2 birthday (6/23), since our boy is a Christmas baby!

We did a whirlwind maternity leave tour in FL...visiting Becky and Jimmy in Jacksonville, my parents and Jaime in Pensacola and our St. Pete crew for KB/Emmalee's wedding.  

Meme getting her time in with sweet Jack.

Granddaddy Bullard getting in his time with Jack too!

He rolled over for the first time at my mom's house:

We even hit up Jack's first baseball game with his buddy Liam (our friend's Katie and Bill's baby boy who is two weeks older thank Jack):

Our Tiny Little Yankee Fan

This is Jack's friend Liam:

As Liam looks down at Jack laying in my lap, he's like "Holy Crap!  There's another little dude like me!"

Jack even had his first slumber party - sans momma! - at the Bells' house.  He loved watching their three kids and the chaotic bliss that comes with a big household.  And no one is a better momma than Amy, so he was in great hands!  (He even wanted to come back to us the next day, so it was a successful night away from us!)

We've also started the "Your Baby Can Read" program....and I know there are a lot of mixed reviews out there.  We just wanted to try it to see how Jack reacted to it - and he absolutely loves it!  I love doing this program with him to see his reactions.  It makes him so happy and gigglyl...which makes us happy!

Someone asked me recently: "What has changed the most?"  

The only answer that I could think of was "EVERYTHING" .... every cliche about having children is true.  

A baby changes everything....and you won't believe to what extent until you have one.  And I don't mean the small stuff like, not going out to dinner on Friday/Saturday nights or rearranging your entire life....I mean, it changes you in ways that you didn't think you could change.  Like, I have more patience now than when I didn't have a child.  How is this even possible?  Screaming children don't bother me anymore - in fact - I always think "I wonder if they could use an extra hand to help whatever is ailing that baby at the moment"

Matt is still a germ-o-phobe, but really has no issue wiping spit up off his face with his bare hand....nor does he mind catching poop/pee/puke with his bare hands.

Most of all, I didn't know I had this much love to give another person, least of all one that pukes on me on a fairly consistent basis.

I just hope he likes me as much as I like him.

All smiles all the time!

All giggles with Sophie the Giraffe

Jack grew a mustache

Lucky watching over Jack during play time.

Going old school with his Run DMC Tee.

Raising one eyebrow like his momma and Meme!

"I wore my tie to the office today for all of the Gator fans there!"

Dinner with Grandpa Schneider

This is my Aunt Teen!

Hi, We Are Your Parents. Are You Worried?

http://www.emaphotography.com/slideshow/jackson/

Last we spoke, our little dude was 5 weeks old weighing in at 9lbs, 2 oz and 21 3/4 inches.

On his two month birthday (Feb 17 he was 8 weeks), we are happy to report that he is: 11.5 lbs and 22 inches!

Like Father, Like Son

We must say - before we forget - Happy Valentine's Day!

Growing like a little weed.  A little weed that eats a lot, poops a lot and sleeps a little....and, now GRABS things and holds on....like my hair or necklace or chin.

But, 

Who needs sleep?  I don't need sleep.  Accenture trained me to not need sleep.  Except that....they didn't train me be teased with 1-2 hours...only to have to get up, walk to the crib in another room, change a diaper, feed, burp, swaddle and rock another human being.  

But, it's absolutely amazing what one can do even sleep deprived!  It's just that some days....I have to choose between eating, sleeping or showering.  I most often choose to eat.  Don't judge.

So, Jack - he has good nights and he has bad nights.  Needless to say he's not an awesome sleeper, but he's not terrible either.  We count our blessings that we get the 5-6 hour stretches that we get (which are pretty often these days!)....and we laugh off the "cluster feeding" sessions where he's up every hour.  (What do you mean there's a growth spurt at 6 weeks?!  Someone should tell us this stuff!  I need a calendar of events!)  Luckily, he hasn't had one of those cluster feeding sessions in a couple of weeks.

We mostly just do what feels right....and let him lead the way on most days.

Hell, sometimes?  We just sleep in the bouncer.

And, sometimes?  We all sleep in the same bed:

Uhm, Dad?  I'm awake.  Are you?  No?  How about now?

Sometimes?  We pass out while mom is trying to make the bed.



And, sometimes....we just pass out in mom's arms while she's trying to get a burp outta me:

....or while laying on mom's lap.



Mornings are the best....when Jack hangs with his momma...and we talk about his tubby little belly:

....and his big boy yawns:

...and how he makes the cutest stretchy face:

Some days, we hang out in our sock monkey gear (and watch the Super Bowl):

Along the way, we've learned what we need....and what we don't need, that's for sure!  We know there's so much more to learn, but it's CRAZY how much stuff we thought we needed....and how much we've really used.  Honestly?  This is our list of newborn must haves:

• A white noise machine (Thank You Becky!):  Because apparently, babies like it to sound like it did in the womb....and this machine mimics that....and, well, he sleeps.  Thank God.
• The "Miracle Blanket" (Thank You Oscar and Steph!):  It's a swaddle blanket on crack...helping you to tie down even the most hulk-like little arms.  Jack is going to be a professional wrestler (Jack the Ripper, duh.) with the amount of wrestling he does to get out of a tightly swaddled blanket.
• The Happiest Baby On The Block DVD (Thank You Oscar and Steph!):  This DVD is all about how to calm your baby down....and it is SPOT ON.  I can't believe we waited until week 4 to watch this!  It changed our lives.  And Jack's.
• Nice Burp Cloths:  ....are the ones that are actually cloth diapers.  Never buy the ones that are technically called "burp cloths."  Only buy cloth diapers...and use them for everything (even diapering, if you so choose, which we didn't...but to each their own!)
• Baby Socks:  Buy lots of them.  Thanks to Matt's genes, Jack has constantly ice cold hands and feet.  Also thanks to Matt?  We lose baby socks like it's our job.  Actually, we've been losing adult socks like it's our job for quite some time, but those little bastard baby socks?  Holy crap are they hard to keep up with!
• Nipple Cream:  Let's just say this isn't for Matt.
• White Onesies:  Because on most days, it's not a fashion show....and we change clothes a lot around here.  I mean, with the peeing and the pooping and the rookie parents/diaper issues....there are a lot of wardrobe changes.  Again, we aren't talking about Matt - although he does contribute to the overall gas problem in this house.  Living with boys is tough.
• Video Baby Monitor:  Nothing says neurotic (uhm, ME) like waking up every hour of a 6 hour sleep stretch to check the video monitor.  To be perfectly honest, I get up A LOT to make sure he's still breathing.  Do not judge.

Then, there are those day to day items like aquaphor, stain remover, snot suckers, saline, gas medicine, hand sanitizer, etc....that you must have on hand to survive.  Thanks to my friend Amy for a goodie bag with all of those items and more.  She knew this ahead of time....because she's got three little angels of her own!

With all of this excitement, you'd think Lucky would be bouncing off the walls, but honestly - Lucky is less than amused with the whole night time production.  He generally finds himself back downstairs on the couch rather than on his dog bed in our room.

Lucky isn't so much interested in all of Jack's amazing feats like grabbing things and holding on....or mimicking what we do with our mouths....or smiling/laughing/swatting at the little animals that hang from his activity mat.

Lucky isn't so much impressed that our little guy scootches himself across the room during tummy time or that he presses up on his (ever thickening) little legs to "stand up."

This is my rock n roll onesie from my friend, Jeneane.

Who is this weird man?

Yeah...Lucky, he'd be just fine snoozing the day away rather than be bothered with the achievements of Jack.

Lucky:  "This is my fur-less little brother"

But, he knows that he must always be calm and submissive....and patient, because Lord knows it takes us AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF TIME to get ready to go anywhere.

He Peed On Me Again?!....or, How Life With a Newborn Will Humble Anyone.

http://www.emaphotography.com/slideshow/jackson/

There are things no one tells you about what happens during labor and delivery....and then what happens to your body POST delivery.  And, while, I will talk about MOST everything on this blog - I won't talk about ALL of that here in an effort to suppress that from my memory.

Otherwise?  Jack will be an only child.

The good thing about C-Sections?  Percocet!  They send you home with that stuff....and that's really the only reason that Jack got fed and changed those first few days after we got home.  The walk from the bed to the crib....is WAY longer than I anticipated, which is why smart people have a bassinet.  We wanted to start with the crib though and so we did.  And, I became a zombie walking back and forth.  

The bad thing about C-Sections?  See first paragraph.

Otherwise, 

We have been pooped on, peed on, puked on....

We have wasted more diapers than we care to discuss....

We use more baby wipes than will ever be necessary for any activity....

We do at LEAST 2 wardrobe changes a day because we can't seem to keep that little wee-wee under wraps....  I mean, he peed on the wall.  And, on his own head.

We have WAY over analyzed where to buy diapers and which coupons to use.... Have you met Matt?  He hates math unless doing a little means that he's going to save $1.  

We have bought contraptions to help him sleep....

We have read more about newborn sleeping issues, patterns and solutions than we thought existed....

....but, we are having a ball!  We are over the moon in love with him and no amount of sleep deprivation prevents us from enjoying the sweet moments.  Like, when he is waking up in the morning and likes to stretch and grunt and roll around in the bed.  My fave!

We have figured out a "hungry cry" vs an "uncomfortable cry" .... and we've learned not to JUMP through the ceiling at every single coo, grunt and whine.  Sometimes, he just likes to hear himself make a noise. :)

He does have a little reflux, but I understand that most babies do...and if nothing else, they all struggle with gas.  Well, let's just say he gets that honest.  Thanks Matt.  

Living with three boys has been interesting....and for those of you worried about Lucky.  Refrain.  Lucky is well under control and doesn't even bat his fuzzy little eyelashes at Jack's screaming, cooing and grunting.  He's not even interested with Jack's tummy time.  Lucky is just as exhausted as we are....since he's up for every feeding/changing too!

The boys are adjusting very well.  Lucky gets daily loooooong walks...and if the weather permits, Jack goes along too in his Bugaboo.

See?  He even lived to be a month old!  Who knew?!

He had lots of visitors.....like Auntie DJ, MeMe, Grandpa Mayo, Granddaddy Bullard and GGMama:

Grand Daddy Bullard and GG Mama

Grandpa Mayo

Mayos and Schneiders
(yes, I look near death)

Quit it, Auntie DJ!!!!

Here are a few of his professional newborn photos: